The first in a three-part series on measurable growth in the church—and whether it matters. The simplest answer to the question “Does God care about numbers?” would be to point to the God-breathed book Numbers within his holy Word. Now, this might seem a reductionist, disingenuous attempt to answer a complicated question—especially since God did not entitle the book. Still, the book was given its title for a reason: there are a lot of…
In Acts 6:1-7, we read of a strange moment in church history. Some in the church have begun to complain (this is nothing new under the sun) because a certain group, it seems, has been privileged over another. They bring their complaints to the Twelve. And here is where it gets interesting. Rather than mediate the dispute, offer counseling, throw a pot-luck dinner, the apostles send the complainers away—because they have more important matters…