Topic: How Do We Emerge as a Growing Church? By Pastor John Elekwa Ibe

Topic: How Do We Emerge as a Growing Church? By Pastor John Elekwa Ibe Prayer Points: * Lord, I am available for Your plan. Make me available for Your purpose. * Lord, I am ready. Use me for the advancement of Your kingdom. Scriptural References: Isaiah 43:5; Matthew 6:33; 1 Timothy 3:15; Ephesians 4:9–12; Acts 6:1–7. Introduction Pastor John Elekwa Ibe ministered on the topic, “How Do We Emerge as a Growing Church?” He emphasized that every living church must grow, and that genuine church growth goes beyond an increase in the number of people attending services. It also involves spiritual maturity, godly character, commitment to service, unity, prayer, the teaching of the Word of God, and the effective use of members in fulfilling God's purpose. The growth of a church is not the responsibility of the pastor alone. Every member has a role to play in ensuring that the church moves forward. God desires to use available, willing, faithful, and spiritually prepared people to accomplish His purpose on the earth. The central message was that for a church to grow, the people who make up the church must also grow. Members must be willing to submit themselves to God's Word, develop the right character, serve faithfully in their various departments, and contribute positively to the spiritual and numerical growth of the church. 1\. Making Ourselves Available for God's Purpose Scriptural reference: Isaiah 43:5 The minister began by emphasizing the importance of availability in the fulfilment of God's plan. One of the prayers every believer should constantly offer is, “Lord, I am available for Your plan. Lord, make me available. Lord, I am ready.” God has a purpose for His church, and He desires to use people to accomplish that purpose. However, believers must be willing to make themselves available for His service. It is not enough to desire the growth of the church; we must be ready to participate in making that growth a reality. Availability means presenting ourselves to God for His use, whether in visible or less visible responsibilities. Some people want to be used by God only when the assignment is convenient or when they will receive public recognition. However, kingdom service requires a willing heart, humility, and obedience. Every member should therefore ask themselves: * Am I available for God's work? * Am I willing to serve wherever I am needed? * Am I ready to obey God's instructions? * Does my attitude contribute to the growth of the church? * Can God depend on me when a responsibility is entrusted to me? A growing church needs members who are not merely present at services but are actively involved in the work of the ministry. Key lesson: Our availability is important to the fulfilment of God's purpose. When we make ourselves available, God can work through us to strengthen His church. 2\. The Word of God Is Our Final Authority Scriptural reference: Matthew 6:33 Pastor emphasized that the Word of God settles the matter for believers. The church must be guided by the principles of Scripture rather than personal opinions, emotions, or worldly standards. Jesus instructed His followers to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. This means that the advancement of God's kingdom must remain a priority in our lives. A growing church must be built on the foundation of God's Word. Every decision, department, leadership responsibility, and relationship within the church should reflect biblical principles. When members understand the Word of God, they become better equipped to serve, relate with one another, resolve disagreements, and pursue the vision of the church. The Word also corrects wrong attitudes and helps believers develop the spiritual maturity required for effective service. The church cannot experience sustainable growth when its members ignore the instructions of Scripture. Growth requires obedience to God's Word, not simply the desire for visible results. Key lesson: A church that desires to grow must remain committed to the Word of God and allow Scripture to guide its beliefs, conduct, leadership, and service. 3\. Age Is Not the Primary Factor in Kingdom Responsibility Scriptural reference: 1 Timothy 3:15 The minister referred to Paul's instructions concerning Timothy and the house of God to emphasize that age alone should not determine whether a person can be entrusted with responsibility in the church. Timothy was given significant ministry responsibilities despite being relatively young. His example demonstrates that young believers can contribute meaningfully to God's work when they possess the necessary spiritual qualities, sound doctrine, and commitment. However, the minister also emphasized that age is not the only consideration; attitude and behaviour are critical. Being young does not excuse a person from discipline, respect, humility, or accountability. Likewise, being older does not automatically make someone spiritually mature. What matters is the person's character, wisdom, conduct, and willingness to follow godly principles. In the house of God, everyone must learn how to relate appropriately with others. A person may possess gifts and talents but still struggle to function effectively because of an improper attitude. The church needs people who can receive correction, respect leadership, cooperate with fellow workers, and carry out their assignments responsibly. The importance of proper conduct The minister highlighted the importance of knowing how to relate with people, especially when serving in church departments. For instance, ushers play an important role in maintaining order and directing members and visitors to appropriate seats. Members should cooperate with them rather than create unnecessary disagreements over seating arrangements. The principle is that church workers must understand their responsibilities, while members must respect the systems established to ensure that services run smoothly. Key lesson: God can use people at different stages of life, but every person must develop the right attitude, character, and behaviour to serve effectively. 4\. Understanding the Purpose of Ministry and Service Scriptural reference: Ephesians 4:9–12 The minister explained that God gives gifts and establishes ministry responsibilities for the perfecting and equipping of His people for the work of the ministry. Ephesians 4:12 explains that ministry leadership exists: * For the perfecting of the saints. * For the work of the ministry. * For the edifying of the body of Christ. These three purposes reveal that church growth requires the participation of the entire body of Christ. A. For the perfecting of the saints God's desire is for believers to mature spiritually. The church should be a place where people are taught, corrected, equipped, and prepared to live according to God's standards. Spiritual growth should produce visible changes in people's attitudes, decisions, relationships, and service. A person who has been receiving the Word of God should gradually demonstrate greater patience, humility, discipline, love, and faithfulness. B. For the work of the ministry Every department in the church provides an opportunity for service. Whether a person serves in the ushering department, media department, choir, prayer unit, welfare department, evangelism team, or another ministry, that person is participating in the work of the kingdom. The minister emphasized that every department is a place of service and ministry. Therefore, members must not regard their responsibilities as ordinary duties without spiritual significance. Serving in a department requires commitment, preparation, cooperation, and a willingness to fulfil assigned responsibilities. A department that is not functioning effectively can hinder the overall progress of the church. For this reason, every worker should contribute to the effectiveness of their unit rather than become a source of discouragement or disorder. C. For the edification of the body of Christ To edify means to build up, strengthen, and encourage. Every believer should contribute to the spiritual and practical development of the church. Our words, attitudes, decisions, and actions should strengthen the body of Christ rather than weaken it. The minister encouraged members to adopt this personal declaration: “Lord, I will not be an agent of destruction in Your church. I will not be an instrument for bringing the church down; I will be an instrument for lifting the church up.” This means refusing to participate in gossip, division, unnecessary criticism, rebellion, and behaviours that discourage others or undermine the work of God. Instead, believers should promote unity, peace, respect, encouragement, and cooperation. Key lesson: Every member must become a builder of the church. Our presence should contribute to the strength, unity, and progress of the body of Christ. 5\. Respecting Spiritual Leadership and Protecting the Unity of the Church The minister emphasized the importance of respecting spiritual leadership and understanding the spiritual implications of how we relate to those God has placed in positions of responsibility. Attacking, undermining, or deliberately dishonouring spiritual leadership can create division and weaken the unity of the church. Members must therefore learn to handle disagreements maturely and address concerns through appropriate channels. Respect for leadership, however, should be expressed through godly conduct, truthfulness, accountability, and a commitment to biblical principles. The minister also spoke about the importance of the covenant of life and the spiritual realities that sustain believers. His emphasis was that Christians should not take God's grace, protection, and spiritual covering for granted. Believers must remain committed to God, maintain a sound relationship with Him, and avoid attitudes that create unnecessary conflict within the church. A growing church needs leaders and members who understand that the church is not merely an organization but a spiritual family entrusted with God's purpose. Key lesson: A healthy church requires honour, unity, accountability, and respect for godly leadership. Every member should contribute to peace and spiritual stability. 6\. Transmitting the Core Values of Christlinks The minister emphasized the importance of transmitting the core values of Christlinks and ensuring that the church operates as more than a gathering of people who attend services. The church is also a family. Members should develop a genuine sense of belonging, responsibility, love, and commitment to one another. When people become part of a church, they should gradually understand its biblical values, vision, expectations, and culture of service. These values must not remain statements that are merely announced from the pulpit. They should be demonstrated through the daily conduct of leaders, workers, and members. For example, if the church teaches love, members should show love to one another. If it teaches integrity, members should be honest and trustworthy. If it teaches service, members should be willing to contribute to the advancement of God's work. The transmission of core values requires intentional teaching, personal example, mentorship, discipline, and consistency. A church grows stronger when new and existing members understand not only what the church believes but also how those beliefs should influence their behaviour. Key lesson: Church growth becomes sustainable when the values of the church are understood, practised, and passed from one member to another. 7\. The Qualities Required for Effective Service in God's House Scriptural reference: Acts 6:1–7 The minister used the account in Acts 6 to explain the kind of people required for effective ministry. In this passage, a problem arose in the early church concerning the distribution of food to widows. Rather than ignore the problem, the apostles addressed it by organizing the work and appointing qualified men to take responsibility. Acts 6:3 identifies important qualities for those selected: a good reputation, fullness of the Holy Spirit, and wisdom. This passage teaches that church growth requires proper organization and the appointment of people whose lives reflect the standards of the kingdom. A. A good reputation The people chosen to serve were expected to have an honest and credible report. A good reputation means that a person's conduct is trustworthy and that others can recognize evidence of integrity in their life. A church worker should be dependable, truthful, responsible, and consistent. People should be able to trust such a person with responsibilities without constantly questioning their motives or honesty. The minister raised an important question concerning consistency of character: Can the statements people make about you be consistent with the person you claim to be? In other words, is there a difference between how you present yourself in church and how people experience you outside the church? A person should not appear spiritual during services while demonstrating dishonesty, pride, or irresponsibility elsewhere. B. Full of the Holy Spirit Being full of the Holy Spirit is essential for effective Christian service. Church work is not sustained by human strength, intelligence, or talent alone. Believers need the guidance, empowerment, and influence of the Holy Spirit to fulfil God's purpose. Spiritual fullness should influence a person's character, decisions, relationships, and commitment to the things of God. C. Full of wisdom Wisdom is necessary for handling people, managing responsibilities, resolving conflicts, and making sound decisions. A church worker may be willing to serve but still cause problems if they lack the wisdom to handle situations appropriately. Wisdom enables believers to know what to say, when to speak, how to respond to correction, and how to protect the unity of the church. God prepares the individual before entrusting greater responsibility The minister emphasized that God desires to work on an individual before entrusting that person with greater responsibility. This means that personal development and spiritual preparation are important parts of ministry. Sometimes people desire greater positions, influence, or recognition without allowing God to deal with their weaknesses and attitudes. However, effective service requires inward transformation as well as outward activity. Godly character, integrity, wisdom, and spiritual maturity should accompany every increase in responsibility. Key lesson: Before seeking a greater position in the church, believers should allow God to develop their character and prepare them for the responsibility that comes with it. 8\. Visible Increase in Numbers, Affluence, Influence, and Authority The minister explained that a growing church should experience visible evidence of progress. Such progress can include an increase in the number of people attending, greater spiritual maturity among members, stronger ministry departments, improved capacity to serve the community, and a wider influence for the kingdom. A. Increase in numbers Numerical growth is one possible expression of church growth. More people should be reached with the gospel, welcomed into the church, discipled, and helped to grow in their relationship with God. However, numerical increase should be accompanied by spiritual development. The goal is not simply to gather a crowd but to build disciples who understand God's Word and live according to it. B. Increase in affluence and resources The minister also mentioned affluence, pointing to the importance of resources in the advancement of the church's work. A church needs people, time, skills, finances, facilities, and other resources to carry out its responsibilities effectively. Members should be encouraged to develop their capacities and contribute faithfully to the work of the ministry. Resources should be managed with integrity and directed towards the church's mission. C. Increase in influence and authority A growing church should have a positive influence on its members and the wider community. Its impact should be felt through the preaching of the gospel, the transformation of lives, compassionate service, godly leadership, and the promotion of biblical values. The authority of the church should be demonstrated through its faithfulness to God's Word and the spiritual fruit produced in people's lives. Key lesson: Growth should be visible not only in attendance but also in spiritual maturity, resources, service capacity, and positive influence. 9\. Prayer Is Essential for Church Growth The minister emphasized that prayer is one of the foundations of a growing church. A praying church is a spiritually alert church. Prayer helps believers seek God's direction, receive strength, confront spiritual challenges, maintain unity, and remain committed to the assignment God has given them. The church must not depend solely on planning, organization, human ability, or financial resources. These things have their place, but they must be supported by a genuine dependence on God. Prayer should be part of the life of every department and every member. Workers should pray for wisdom, strength, unity, and effectiveness in carrying out their assignments. The minister's emphasis was that a praying church will break loose from limitations and become better positioned to fulfil its God-given purpose. Prayer should also lead to action. Members must be willing to obey the direction they receive from God and put their faith into practice. Prayer points * Lord, make me a person of prayer. * Father, revive the spirit of prayer in Your church. * Lord, empower every department to fulfil its assignment. * Father, remove every attitude and weakness that hinders the growth of Your church. * Lord, let Your purpose prevail in Christlinks. * Father, grant us spiritual strength to overcome every challenge confronting the work of the ministry. Key lesson: Prayer is not an optional activity in the life of a growing church. It is a vital expression of dependence on God. 10\. The Word of God Must Remain Fresh and Powerful The minister emphasized that the teaching and preaching of God's Word are essential to the growth of the church. A church cannot sustain spiritual growth if its members are not continually fed with sound, relevant, and life-transforming biblical teaching. He illustrated this with the picture of sheep that need green pasture. Just as sheep need proper nourishment to remain healthy, believers need the Word of God to grow spiritually. The church must therefore ensure that the Word is taught with spiritual depth, clarity, understanding, and practical application. Fresh teaching does not mean changing the message of Scripture to suit people's preferences. Rather, it means presenting the unchanging truth of God's Word in a way that ministers to people's present needs and helps them apply biblical principles to their lives. When people receive sound teaching, they gain understanding, develop faith, grow in character, and become more effective in their service to God. The minister also connected the freshness of the Word with the character of those who minister. When ministers and workers allow God to correct their attitudes and develop their character, their service becomes more effective and their lives provide a stronger example of the truth they teach. The church must therefore pay attention to both the content of its teaching and the character of those who communicate it. Key lesson: The Word of God must remain central to the life of the church. Sound teaching nourishes believers, strengthens faith, corrects behaviour, and prepares members for effective ministry. 11\. The Relationship Between Prayer, the Word, and Church Growth One of the major lessons from the message is that prayer and the Word of God must work together in building a growing church. Prayer strengthens the church's dependence on God, while the Word provides direction, instruction, correction, and spiritual nourishment. A church that emphasizes prayer without sound teaching may struggle to develop balanced spiritual maturity. Likewise, a church that teaches the Word but neglects prayer may fail to cultivate the depth of spiritual dependence needed for effective ministry. Both are necessary. The church must create an environment where members are taught the Word, encouraged to pray, equipped to serve, and guided towards spiritual maturity. Furthermore, members must practise what they learn. The purpose of preaching is not simply to increase knowledge but to transform lives and equip believers to do the work of the ministry. When prayer, the Word, godly character, and faithful service come together, the church is better positioned to experience sustainable growth. 12\. The Character of Members Can Either Promote or Hinder Growth The minister's message repeatedly highlighted the importance of character in the growth of the church. A church may have talented people, good facilities, and well-organized programmes, but poor character among its members can undermine its progress. Pride, dishonesty, gossip, disobedience, division, and unwillingness to cooperate can weaken relationships and disrupt the work of the ministry. On the other hand, humility, integrity, love, discipline, wisdom, respect, and faithfulness create an atmosphere where people can work together effectively. Every member must therefore recognize that their personal conduct has consequences for the entire church. The question is not only whether we attend church, but whether our presence and participation help the church become stronger. Before blaming others for the challenges facing the church, each person should examine their own life and ask God to address their weaknesses. A growing church is built by people who are willing to grow themselves. Key lesson: Correct character is an essential part of spiritual growth. The church becomes stronger when its members allow God to transform their attitudes and behaviour. 13\. Every Member Must Become an Agent of Growth The minister's teaching calls every member to take personal responsibility for the growth of the church. It is easy to expect the pastor or church leaders to do everything, but the work of the ministry belongs to the entire body of Christ. Every member can contribute through prayer, evangelism, service, giving, encouragement, discipleship, and faithful participation in church activities. Workers should take their departmental assignments seriously. Leaders should demonstrate integrity and wisdom. Members should welcome visitors, encourage new believers, and avoid actions that create division. The church must also be intentional about identifying people's gifts, developing their capacities, and placing them where they can serve effectively. No department should become inactive because its members lack commitment. Instead, every unit should seek ways to become more effective in fulfilling its responsibilities. When each person understands their role and performs it faithfully, the church becomes stronger, more organized, and better equipped to reach more people. The responsibility for church growth is therefore shared. Every member must be willing to say: “Lord, I will be part of the solution. I will not bring Your church down. I will contribute to its growth, unity, and advancement.” Conclusion Pastor John Elekwa Ibe's message, “How Do We Emerge as a Growing Church?” emphasized that the growth of a church begins with the spiritual and personal development of its members. A living church must grow, but such growth requires more than an increase in attendance. It demands sound biblical teaching, consistent prayer, godly character, spiritual maturity, faithful service, unity, effective leadership, and the active participation of every member. Isaiah 43:5 reminds believers of God's promise and the importance of trusting Him, while Acts 6:1–7 demonstrates how spiritual qualifications, wisdom, organization, and effective service can contribute to the progress of the church. The church must remain committed to the Word of God, ensure that its members are spiritually nourished, and create an environment where people can develop their gifts and serve effectively. Every believer must also examine their character and attitude, recognizing that their behaviour can either strengthen or weaken the church. Ultimately, if we desire to see the church grow, we must be willing to grow ourselves. We must make ourselves available for God's purpose, submit to His Word, embrace prayer, develop godly character, and serve faithfully wherever we are placed. May every member become an instrument of growth, unity, and spiritual advancement in the house of God. Personal Reflection and Closing Prayer Personal declaration: “Lord, I am available for Your plan. Make me available for Your purpose. I am ready to serve You. Address my weaknesses, transform my character, strengthen my prayer life, and give me a deeper understanding of Your Word. Help me to become a faithful worker and a blessing to Your church. I will not be an agent of division or destruction, but an instrument for building up the body of Christ. Let my life contribute to the growth, unity, and advancement of Your kingdom. In Jesus' name, Amen.”