Church Growth Through Home Bible Studies

By: Wayne Huntley

The key to the remarkable growth of the Book of Acts church is revealed in Acts 6:7: The Word of God increased and the number of disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly. Methods and means are transient and variant, but the Word of God is forever settled (Psalm 119:09).

I. The Success of this Principle of Growth is as Sure as the Holy Scripture

Joshua 1:8, Success is sure because we are obeying the Word. Related Scriptures: Matthew 28:19, Isaiah 55:11, Psalm 126:5.

II. Home Bible Studies Bring Growth in Many Various Areas To The Local Assembly

A. The Local Assembly grows in its city wide ministry.

B. The Local Assembly grows in its maturity.

C. The Local Assembly grows in its membership.

D. The Local Assembly grows in more money.

III. The Home Bible Study Ministry Satisfies the Spiritual Depravity of this Hour.

(Amos 8:11) “…not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.

IV. The Total Productivity of this Principle is Contingent Only Upon One Thing: How much do you want?

(II Corinthians 9:6) Sow sparingly, Reap sparingly, Sow bountifully, Reap bountifully!

V. A, B, C’s of Church Growth Through Home Bible Studies

A. Attitude –Your attitude will determine your altitude (I Corinthians 13:1-8).

B. Burden –Jeremiah 13:17.

C. Confidence –Ecclesiastes 8:4.

VI. How Do I Get Started In The Home Bible Study Ministry?

Three Necessary Components To Start

A. Vision Proverbs 29:18 Eyes

B. Passion Romans 9:3 Heart

C. Action Matthew 20:3-6 Feet

Practice It!
Preach It!
Teach It!

FESTIVAL OF EVANGELISM

By: Marrell Cornwell

INTRODUCTION:

Why have a home Bible study program in your church? The last commission given to the disciples before the ascension of Christ was Matthew 28:19-20. It contains 3 parts:

A. Teach all nations who Jesus is.

B. Baptize them into Christ.

C. Teach them to be disciples.

Home Bible studies has been shown to be the most effective way to carry out this commission.

Related Scriptures, James 5:20, Psalms 126:5-6

I. WHAT CAN HAPPEN IN YOUR CHURCH AS A RESULT OF HOME BIBLE STUDY?

A. A healthier church family (involved people are happier people).

B. Many new families can be added.

C. Finance will increase (home Bible study is most economical form of outreach).

D. Revival will break out and retention will be higher.

E. Baptisms will increase.

1. 10 Bible studies per week yields monthly baptisms.

2. 25 Bible studies per week yields monthly baptisms.

3. 50 Bible studies per week yields family per week baptized.

4. 100 Bible studies per week yields a family per week retention in the local church.

With these proven statistics it’s time to put forth a great effort toward home Bible studies! Note these statistics below:

A. 7,000 preacher X 1 Bible study per week X 4 Bible studies per year
= 28,000 Bible studies per year X 25% success X 4 people per household
= 112,000 per year added to United Pentecostal Church by ministers.

B. 3,500 churches X 10 Bible studies per week/ church X 4 studies per year:

= 140,000 studies per year X 25% success.
= 35,000 families X 4 people per family.
= 140,000 people added by lay people.

140,000 + 112,000 = 252,000 people per year.

Is it possible to double the membership of the United Pentecostal Church in a short time?

II. HOW TO START A SUCCESSFUL HOME BIBLE STUDY PROGRAM:

A. Determine that home Bible studies will be the hub of your evangelism.

B. Home Bible study is the thing that make the others successful.

C. Motivate your congregation. May be done by a series of special services. Bible studies cycle, motivate often.

D. Have a commitment service.

E. Set your goals – determined by the size and determination of congregation.

F. Train your congregation. (More on training later).

III. CHURCH LEADERSHIP MUST BE INVOLVED.

A. Pastors

B. Assistant Pastors

C. Sunday School Teachers

D. Bus workers

E. Every Leader

NOTE: Be cautious in putting someone over Bible studies in order to fill a position. A suggestion is for pastors to be over it in smaller congregations.

IV. KEEP GOOD RECORDS

A. Know who is teaching.

B. Know who is being taught.

C. Know the progress of each lesson.

D. Knowing how many Bible studies are going on and how far along they are will help to have a reaping harvest.

NOTE: Pastor, work with your soul winners.

V. TRAINING OF WORKS

A. Motivate your church.

B. Get commitments to teach.

C. Teach all 12 lessons in 6 nights. Monday thru Saturday night. Two lessons each night.

D. Give certificates to all who attend all six nights.

E. For the instructor (pastor), you must keep your training lessons to one hour.

F. One fatal mistake in starting Bible studies is taking a long time to train your people. Many pastors have spent 6 to 8 months to teach the charts. This is a disaster.

G. Follow up training:

1. Sunday morning 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

2. Class last 12 to 14 weeks.

3. Again the instructor must go through lessons in one hour.

* Reason for this is to give confidence to the student that they can do it in one hour.

4. Limit the class to 12 to 15 students

VI. HOW TO GET BIBLE STUDIES

A. Visitors.

B. Prophecy Sunday.

C. Classified Ads.

D. Direct mail.

E. Bus Ministry.

F. Film ministry.

G. Relatives.

H. Friends.

I. Co-workers.

J. Dial-A-Prayer.

K. Survey – Finding The Field – Lincoln, Nebraska.

L. Referrals.

M. Prison Ministry.