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What measures success? What is the measure of success for the eMinistry of Acts One Eight? It is the same as that in any part of
today’s church. Success must not be measured by the worldly standards of Web-traffic hits, gigabytes, popularity, head count, budgets, membership roles, or buildings. Conformity to the Word, rather than to
the world, gives us the standard. The Biblical standard is, “Until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the
fullness of Christ … we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ”, Ephesians 4:11-16. Success is achieved as the Body grows up. Numbers are important as seen in the early church, Acts 2:41 and 4:4.
However, quantity alone generates neither enduring quality nor enduring growth. True success is measured by quality rather than quantity. It is interesting to note that none of the seven churches of
the first chapters of Revelation were criticized quantitatively ... not for low attendance, not for meager budgets, and not for inadequate square footage. All the criticisms directed toward them were
qualitative. Quality produces enduring growth. Success is achieved as the Body grows to match the Head.
His blueprint for growth. Jesus initiated His plan to reach the world through quality rather than
quantity. He equipped eleven men to be His disciples … equipped them for the work of service. Large numbers were attracted to Jesus. However, multitudes were not His methodology.
Thousands did follow Jesus when He performed miracles as in John 6. They even followed Him across the Sea of Galilee after a free meal. However, when He taught of the deeper things, many of
that multitude withdrew from following Him. But Jesus was not taken off His plan when they left. He did not call them back in desperation. Instead, He turned to the twelve and asked if they too wanted
to leave, John 6:66-67. It was not the quantity of followers that was important to Him … it was the
quality. A small number of dedicated followers were better to Him than a multitude of the uncommitted. The numbers did come later … but only on the firm foundation of committed and
equipped disciples. That was His blueprint for growth.
Building the house of God. In a large stone structure, the foundation’s cornerstone should be the
strongest. The rest of the foundation would need to be strong as well. Strong granite would be much better than mudstone shale. The next courses of wall stones, layered one upon another, could stand
securely for generations on such a strong foundation. Layer after layer, granite would continue to be a wiser choice than shale. We, as believers, are the house of God. “Christ was faithful as a Son over
His house - whose house we are”, Hebrews 3:6. We are His house. Jesus is the cornerstone … and the apostles and prophets are the rest of the foundation, Ephesians 2:19-20. Believers are
the living wall-stones, I Peter 2:4-5, laid course after course upon the foundation. As the building
project continues, the stones of each layer must be solid and strong for continued and accelerated growth. Growth in the church has progressed in many parts of the world. However, it has slowed
and faltered in the past few decades in America. Quantitative growth has flattened out. The creative efforts to bring more to the Savior have fallen short. Quality control has faltered as well. The stones
are much weaker today than they were before. Those claiming to be born again are less knowledgeable of the Bible, have weaker beliefs in Christianity’s core truths, and are less
committed to the Savior than those of a few decades ago. Too many are more shale-like than granite-like. Beautiful new edifices, large auditoriums, and sprawling church campuses
accommodate the multitudes of believers relocating to bigger churches. However, true construction on the house of God is suffering. What blueprint for church growth should be followed throughout the
world? It is time to prioritize the quality of the building materials over the quantity of them. It is time to refocus on His blueprint for growth. Church structures can be wonderful and effective tools.
Nevertheless, the true building project falters when the focus shifts from living stones to inanimate bricks and sticks.
The history of success. The crowds marveled as Peter and John spoke with confidence, Acts 4:13. These two were uneducated men by the world’s measure. However, Jesus said, “Everyone, after
he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher”, Luke 6:40. They were His disciples … He had been their teacher. Many other great disciples stand out in the early Church. Paul is certainly one of
those … as are Barnabas, Timothy, Titus, Silas, Luke, Tabitha, Aquila, Priscilla, and Apollos. Others could be included from Romans 16 such as Phoebe, Mary, Andronicus, Junius, Urbanus, Julia,
Nerius, Gaius, and Quartus. Others stand out through the centuries … from Ignatius, Justin Martyr, and Augustine … to Wyclif, Hus, Luther, Zwingli, and Tyndale … to Bunyan, Edwards, the Wesleys,
and Carey … to Moody, Lewis, Elliot, Chafer, and Schaeffer. These disciples were strong living stones built into the walls of the house of God. The measuring rod of church success is etched with
their names. Christians recognize a good number of their names as significant successes in church history. However, few could name the specific ministries, churches, or organizations through
which they served. That is because the history of the success of the church is composed of the stories of real people rather than the stories of edifices, programs, and organizations. The history of
the church is the story of strong living stones being built into a dwelling place for God.
Disciples or believers? Disciples are not just believers with their intensity and audio cranked up.
Believers are those who come to Jesus for salvation. Disciples are those who also pay the high cost to follow Him. The New Testament gives us four important distinctives of a disciple. Distinctive 1:
Disciples know and are rooted in the Word ... they are set free by the Word, John 8:30-32.
Distinctive 2: Disciples love one another in deed and in truth ... with the unconditional co-liability of agape love rather than just the phileo love of friendship, John 13:35. Distinctive 3: Disciples bear
fruit ... they prove themselves to be (i.e. “become”) disciples by bringing others to the Savior, John 15:8. Distinctive 4: Disciples pay the high cost of putting Jesus first above all relationships, above
themselves, above all that they might hold dear, Luke 14:25-33. They have unconditionally
presented themselves to God as living, holy, and acceptable sacrifices, Romans 12:1 ... wholly
submitted and holy sacrificed. All disciples are believers ... but not all believers are disciples. The world needs more disciples.
Working in the quarry. How will success be measured in Acts One Eight’s eMinistry? Success will
be measured in disciples ... in those adequately prepared and presented to God in an open hand for His use. It is time to produce more stones for the Master Builder. Success in the eMinistry, and
throughout today’s church, will be measured by strength rather than size … by depth rather than breadth … by obedience rather than attendance … by commitment rather than membership … in
granite rather than shale. Jesus has given us our Great Commission. 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 the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age", Matthew 28:18
-20. It is time to make disciples ... to make more strong living stones for the house of God. It is time to enthusiastically work in the online quarry of Cyberspace.
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