"Research has been done relative to church growth and love.

The following are some of the things that were learned:

1. Most people rated the love they received from church members to be only slightly above what they received from a casual associate or neighbor.

2. Visitors received significantly less love than even the members.

3. Only about 70% felt loved by the preacher.

4. In a study, 26 religious groups were surveyed as to how loving the church was. The Assemblies of God group rated high in saying to fellow members "I love you" and demonstrating love for each other. They had an approximate 50% increase in attendance in the 10 years previous to this study.

5. A study of 168 churches that had a 5% - 10% growth rate in five years showed that 90% felt loved by the preacher.

6. In the same study, the churches with the highest growth rates showed a higher percentage of love felt by fellow church members, as well as higher in love given to other church members, visitors and community. The faster growing churches also highly rated the love they received from Sunday school classes and/or care groups", and they highly rated hugging and/or touching as a way of expressing love.

I suggest that you read the book Who Cares About Love? For a more complete study of this subject. It is published by Church Growth, 2670 S. Myrtle Ave. #201, Monrovia, CA 91016. Another valuable study is Loving One Another by Gene A. Getz, published by Victor Books.

Love is to be the supreme characteristic of a Christian. Paul said, "Though I speak with the tongues of angels, but have not love, I become as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing" (I Cor. 15:14 NKJV).

The first and greatest commandment involves love for God with all of one's heart, mind, soul and strength (Mark 12:29 - 30). This refers to the whole man. The love of God produces obedience to His commandments, and when combined with love of one's neighbor, it will result in obedience to the great commission, thus going and teaching the gospel (Matt. 28:18 - 20).

I want to show in this article that the many situations in the church that require personal visitation and soul winning arc acts of love. They cannot be reduced simply to "duty".

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

This verse has been called the golden text of the Bible. It glows with the flame of divine love for a world of lost souls.

After demonstrating His concern for Zacchaeus, a man in need of a savior, Jesus said, "For the Son of man has come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10).

He illustrated the value of one soul in the parables of the lost sheep, lost coin and lost son (cf. Luke 15). The concern that was felt by the loss and the joy felt when that which was lost was found shows the love of God for lost men.

Jesus selected His apostles, and they traveled among the Jews, preaching and teaching, seeking the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Compassion was behind every act. Love and compassion are the moving and motivating forces that cause men to do the work Jesus did.

Jesus showed compassion for the:

1. Lost."But when he saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd" (Matt. 9:36). He grieved over the city of Jerusalem. In Matt.23:37 He said, "0 Jerusalem,, Jerusalem, The one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!”

2. Sick. “And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them and healed their sick.” (Matt. 14:14).

3. Hungry. “Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, 'I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry. lest they faint on the way.” (Matt. 15:32).

4. Blind. “So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.” (Matt. 20:34).

5. Bereaved. When He saw the only son of a widow being taken for burial, He raised him from the dead, . . . “He had compassion on her and said unto her, Do not weep . . . so he that was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother.” (Luke 7:13,15).

6. All who had a physical and spiritual need. “The blind see and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them” (Matt. 11:5).

Love manifested itself in the form of compassion for others. Someone has described love as “intentionally doing something caring or helpful for another person, in Jesus' name, regardless of the consequences to oneself.”

The love of God for the human family was being revealed through His Son. Jesus would demonstrate this to those whom He trained. They would then be a model to all those they would teach.

The way they loved each other would be a factor in others believing in Christ. Jesus prayed that they might be one as He and God were one that they would believe (John 17:21). The apostles love for each other would set them apart from the world. He said, "By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35).

The disciples were to love each other as Christ had loved them. He had given them an example. Their success was based upon being what they should be. They were to be a living demonstration of what the followers of Christ were to be like. They would be known and read of all men, as Paul later writes of Christians: "You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart" (11 Cor. 3:2,3).

While the Jews disputed about which was the greatest commandment, Jesus made it clear which was first and which was second. He said,.... . You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Matt. 22:37-39).

He asked Peter about his love for Him. Peter was a fisherman. Would he go back to fishing and quit fishing for men after Christ would ascend to the Father? After eating breakfast with Peter and other disciples. He said to him, ". . . 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?' He said to Him, Yes, Lord; You know that I love You. He said to him, Feed my lambs. He said to him again a second time, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?' He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.' He said to him, 'Tend My sheep.' He said to him the third time, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me'?' Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, 'Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed My sheep' "(John 21:15-17).

The proof of Peter's love for Christ would be his doing the will of Christ. James admonishes Christians, ". . . Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works." (James 2:18).

Jesus was born, grew, wept, toiled, suffered, died, arose, ascended, intercedes, and is coming again that he might save that which was lost (cf Luke 19:10).

Ten days after His resurrection just before ascending to the father He issued His most far-reaching command. He said . . . All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matt. 28:18-20).

Forty days later the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles to bring to their remembrance what Jesus had taught them and to guide them into all truth. On the day of Pentecost some 3,000 were added to them. This was the beginning of the church.

Those who became Christians now knew that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah. The happiness and love for God and man is seen in Luke's description of the early Christians (Acts 2:46,47). The Lord was adding to the church daily. Their love for God and man is seen in Acts 5:42~"And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ."

In Acts 4:4 the number of men who had become Christians had reached 5,000. It has been estimated that there were some 15,000-20,000 members by this time.

We cannot separate love for God from love for man. We cannot separate love for God from love for lost souls, as seen in the example of the early church. The love for each other included physical assistance for those Christians in need (Acts 6). Paul said, "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith" (Gal. 6:10).

The statement, "No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care," will always be true. People are drawn to people who care about them. They are drawn to organizations where they find a caring fellowship, though sometimes they may be with the wrong kind of people and in the wrong places. If the church attracts and holds people it will be because it is a loving church. I believe that many who occupy the back seats are those who do not have many close friends in the church. They may represent some of the most lonely members and may be nearest to falling away. One writer reports on a wide-ranging study in which he interviewed members who had recently dropped out of church. He said the majority of persons said they left the church because they did not feel needed, wanted or loved. The people at church need to be loved by preachers and leaders. They should best demonstrate love. The members will learn to love when they receive love.

Consider the following statements:

1. "Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love..." (Rom. 12:10).

2. "Let brotherly love continue" (Heb. 13:1).

3. "And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins" (I Peter 4:8).

4. "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another" (I John 4:11).

5...... with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love" (Eph. 4:2).

6. "And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more ."(Phil. 1:9).

7. 'That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love." (Col. 2:2).

8. "And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another.. . "(I Thess. 3:12).

Love means that we do things for those who have special needs. Think of the acts of love that we are to perform:

1. Help lift or bear burdens. "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Gal. 6:2).

2. Pray for each other. "Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another" (James 5:16).

3. Being helpful to each other. "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms" (James 5:13).

4. Visit and personally encourage. "Therefore comfort each other and edify one another... "(Thess. 5:11).

5. Invite people into your home. "Be hospitable to one another without grumbling" (1 Pet. 4:9).

6. Visit the sick and pray for them. Jesus said,". . .1 was sick and you visited Me. . . " (Matt. 25:36). The sick may call for Christians to come pray for them. James mentions the elders-"Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord" (James 5:14). (The healing that James speaks about is thought to be miraculous.) We believe that God works for our providential care -- that He hears and answers prayers.

7. Restore the erring."Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted" (Gal. 6:1).

8. Provide food, clothing and shelter. Jesus in the judgement scene said, "For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger an you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me..." (Matt. 25:35 - 36).

9. Visit those in prison. . . . I was in prison and you came to Me" (Matt. 25:36).

10. Encourage Christians in good works. "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works" (Heb. 10:24).

11. Visit those who neglect their salvation. "How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation. (Heb. 2:3).

12. Visit to win the lost. " . . . Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15).

13. Visit to invite people to church services. "Then the master said to the servant, "Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled" (Luke 14:23).

14. Elders shepherding God's flock. "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood" (Acts 20:28).

Love brings warm handshakes, smiles, people who listen, statements of love and appreciation, welcomed visitors, providing meals during illnesses, providing transportation to church services, helping family members who are in trouble, sharing vegetables from the garden, baking a pie for a neighbor, helping care for the sick, etc. It is easy to see that the Lord's church can truly be as a light of a city that is set on a hill that cannot be hid (Matt. 5:14).

People know they are loved when they see it, experience it, and feel it.

1. Acts 2:46,47 describes the early Christians in Jerusalem.

"Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common' (Acts 2:44). This church was united. They enjoyed being together. There was a bond between them. The church today should be so bonded together that the members enjoy being together. Unity is vital for a people to work as a group to accomplish the Lord's purpose. Any division, even in understanding the work of the church can defeat the church's efforts to accomplish the works of love. This entire issue could have been written on how division in God's own church family has handicapped His cause. Someone has well said, "The price of a divided Christendom is an unbelieving world."

2. A loving church holds and involves members.

When love does not bind Christians together, some ask the question, how many times a week is one required to attend church services. Love in the Jerusalem church enabled Luke to say of them, "So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart" (Acts 2:46). The writer has reached the conclusion that the need for close friends in the church and the fellowship that binds cannot be achieved in large groups. While some may at first question the value of small groups, their value is seen in the fact that we are social creatures whose needs will be met by somebody somewhere. Large churches face a greater problem than small churches. I would urge you to read more on this subject. Write the Center for Church Growth, P.O. Box 691006, Houston, TX 77269-1006.

3. A loving church will see souls being saved.

When people praise God for His blessings, have favor with fellow Christians and keep their focus outward, souls will be brought to Christ. There is grave danger of the church turning inward and becoming a chubby collection of nice folks existing only for the edification of the saints. Instead of being fishers of men, they are keepers of the aquarium! When they reach that point there is more joy on earth over one new church building than 99 souls that repent! Not so with the Jerusalem church whose leaders were the men Jesus trained. Luke writes, " praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved" (Acts 2:47).

Dale Pauls applies the principles of I Cor. 13:4-7 to evangelism in the following way:

Evangelism is patient.
Evangelism is kind.
It does not envy; it is not competitive.
It does not boast;
It points away from self to God.
It is not proud;
It is neither arrogant nor self-righteous.
It is not rude;
It does not approach people gracelessly;
It is courteous, respectful, and sensitive.
It is not self-seeking;
Its purpose is not personal aggrandizement;
Indeed, it surrenders personal rights.
It is not easily angered, or exasperated.
It keeps no record of wrongs, or rejection, or failure.
Evangelism does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth; it finds no pleasure in wordly techniques of persuasion; but is confident that truth honestly proclaimed will prevail. It always protects others, their vulnerabilities, and their confidences.
It always believes the best.
It always hopes the best.
It never gives up.
Such evangelism never really fails.

Is your congregation seeing edification that results in love and multiplication? (Acts 9:31) if not, do not be misled, it is losing its direction!

The church at Ephesus is the story of a church who left its first love (Rev. 2). Many good things were said about this church. They were holding fast to the correct doctrine. They apparently knew the difference in truth and error. They apparently did not know that they had lost the zeal that was characteristic of them when they left worshipping idols, burned their books, and turned to the true God and obeyed the gospel (Acts 19).

There are churches today that are straight as a gun barrel doctrinally, but just as empty spiritually. The carnal nature can fight but cannot perforrn spiritual works. Whatever devotion is left is largely focused on negative things. Its lovelessness may manifest itself in a number of ways: 1) Very conservative, unable to distinguish between the changeable (methods) and the unchangeable (doctrine); 2) Attitudes like, "I don't think that will work here." "We are doing alright as we are," "if thc lost were interested they would come to our services," "We tried that once before, and it didn't work," "It costs too much," "I don't believe we are ready for that." They major on the defense of the gospel and minor on the advancing of the gospel. Oftcn these churches are like James said: "But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there" (James 3:14-16).

The admonition of the Lord to the church at Ephesus is applicable to church members whose love has deteriorated: "I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works They were warned of what would happen if they did not!

Where are you and your congregation in relation to being the loving person or people that we must be? if you claim to be a Christian but are not concerned about others, not concerned about helping carry out the great commission (Matt. 18:18-20), are you really obeying the great commandment (Matt. 22:37 - 39)?