Acts 2:41 KJV
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
The numbers game for want of a better term, of which I am open to, started that very day; The Day of Pentecost. There were no Church buildings, no organizational structure and only one mission statement.
Matthew 28:19,20 King James Version (KJV)
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Simple, pure and to the point; the number was important to the story and notice it referred to souls. Saving souls is far more worthy than just filling pews. They had a number, they had a mission statement and now they needed a way forward and a plan. Whoa! How are we going to do this, everyone will have a way they think is best. Now past events should tell us that God’s way is often high jacked by well-meaning people but we seldom learn from history. They had a way which they received on that day…The Holy Spirit would be their guide.
This is going to be a short blog today. There is a numbers game going on in the church. We have in some instances become too caught up with structure, what kind of music people like and if we build it they will come. Yes I heard you Pastor, you said it was a numbers game, you can’t deny that. But……then you went and spoke about bringing people to Jesus. Whoa! You are counting souls. Now that is a numbers game worth playing; preaching the word to all people, loving all people, studying to grow in faith and seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance through pray and Christian fellowship. Yes I heard you Pastor. We are going to fill the pews with souls, not numbers. I will be here in the pew next week, come back and bring a soul or two with you.