How to get the Church to Grow

     You know when you are excited about something and you are practically dancing in anticipation of telling someone.  Well, as a believer, that is how we should be about the "Good News".  I was talking to a friend a couple of days ago to get a little perspective from a nonbeliever.  I was told flat out that they were not interested in discussing God.  It unsettled me, but they did give me perspective.  Just not what I was expecting.  
     As a church, we have to do better.  We are running more people away from the church and soul saving opportunities than we are drawing them in.  We need to talk about Jesus with the excitement of a special relationship.  We cannot use Him as a reason to judge other people.  It is the only way people will be able to get where they need to be to make an informed soul decision.
     Peter led people to know Jesus with passion, but he helped them grow through encouragement.  Everyone has struggles, even with their Christianity at times.  Instead of making things harder, maybe we should remember how we have struggled and what it took to get through it.  We need to be committed to fast and pray together in order to build trust.  Be committed to applying God's grace to your life.  
     It is a choice to open the door to faith or to slam it in someone's face.  However, if you chose to open the door, then you need to be committed to discipling them or help finding someone whom can.  Hold each other accountable to report all God has done and how you responded. (Acts 14:21-28)

^21" After they had preached the gospel in that town and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, to Iconium, and to Antioch, ²² strengthening the disciples by encouraging them to continue in the faith and by telling them, “It is necessary to go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” ²³ When they had appointed elders for them in every church and prayed with fasting, they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.  ²⁴ They passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. ²⁵ After they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. ²⁶ From there they sailed back to Antioch where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. ²⁷ After they arrived and gathered the church together, they reported everything God had done with them and that he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. ²⁸ And they spent a considerable time with the disciples."  Acts 14: 21-28 (CSB)