April 28, 2022

Does HOW We Do Church Matter? Candid Conversation with Church Growth Strategist Stephen Atkerson

In this broadcast I'll be sitting down with local pastor and biblical church growth strategist Stephen Atkerson discussing New Testament Church Dynamics. Is there a biblical way to grow and plant a church? Does how we do church matter? What kind of spiritual blessings can a new testament church realize this side of heaven? Should we examine some of our modern day church practices and traditions? These are just a few of the questions and topics we will address and more. If you are a layman who loves the local church and endeavor to see it flourish, or if you are a pastor or church leader, this broadcast is for you.

Christian Living Church Life
  • The Lord s Supper: Fellowship Feast--The early church celebrated the Lord's Supper in conjunction with the Love Feast (Agapé). This relaxed fellowship meal with God s family is a significant means of edifying the Church, building community and cementing ties of love.
  • Participatory Worship: Unleashing The Laity--Ordinary believers regularly and significantly contributed to the corporate worship of the first century church. Those prompted by the Spirit were free to offer testimony, share a spiritual experience, give an exhortation, lead out in prayer, testify, sing, give praises, etc. Congregational interest is heightened since the worship service can be contributed to and impacted in a truly meaningful way.
  • Elder Rule & Congregational Consensus: Dance Partners--An essential role of first century church leaders was to build congregational consensus. The mind of Christ is more likely found when leaders guide the whole congregation to wrestle corporately with major decisions. Church members are encouraged and fulfilled as they realize that everyone s thoughts and inputs are respectfully weighed in accordance with the Scriptures. Unity is strengthened.
  • Small Churches: Divine Design--Everything in the New Testament was written to churches that met in someone s home. The types of relationships taught in the New Testament work best in situations where everyone knows each other. A loving, family-like atmosphere is more easily developed. Church discipline takes on genuine significance. Participatory worship fits smaller settings better and the things shared are much more meaningful. Celebrating the Lord s Supper as an actual family meal is more natural in a smaller setting. Achieving congregational consensus is easier when everyone knows everyone else and open lines of communication genuinely exist with one another.

Get the book: https://amzn.to/3OUZOjk

Learn More: NTRF.org

Stephen AtkersonProfile Photo

Stephen Atkerson

Pastor

Stephen helps church leaders discover how the early church approached worship, communion, decision-making, and optimal congregational size. For over 30 years, he has worked with evangelists, missionaries, church planters, and pastors in Asia, the Americas, Europe and Africa. He is one of the leaders of a Southern Baptist church he planted in 1991, is on the leadership team of the Greater Atlanta Baptist Network, and is President of the New Testament Reformation Fellowship (NTRF.org).