Life on the West Side

Everyone I know longs for genuine happiness, lasting peace, real beauty, ultimate purpose, and honest, sincere and overwhelming love. I want you to know that Jesus came so that you can experience rich, abundant life and overwhelming love! Join me, Nathan Guy, preaching minister for the West Side Church of Christ in Searcy, Arkansas, as I share my passion for Jesus Christ in weekly teachings, conduct exciting interviews with other ministers, authors and church leaders, and discuss things learned along the way. Each episode will offer a recent sermon or interview with inspiring guests intended to encourage you in your faith formation as disciples of Jesus Christ. In addition, I will link to further resources such as a discussion guide, points to ponder, and recommended resources. You can watch these sermons and find more resources at nathanguy.com, follow me @nathanpguy and subscribe to my weekly e-mail at nathanguy.substack.com.

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Life on the West Side

How Churches Grow

July 17, 2023 • Nathan Guy • Season 2 • Episode 93

Church growth is about the Spirit at work through genuine relationships. “Our good news didn’t come to you only in words. It came with power. It came with the Holy Spirit’s help. He gave us complete faith in what we were preaching. You know how we lived among you for your good” (1 Thess 1:5).

The sermon today is titled "How Churches Grow." It is the final installment in our "Community" Series. The Scripture reading is from Acts 2:47 (ESV). Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on July 16, 2023. All lessons fit under one of 5 broad categories: Begin, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under DISCOVER: A New Community.

Click here if you would like to watch the sermon or read a transcript.

Footnotes (Sources and References Used In Today's Podcast):

Rodney Stark, The Rise of Christianity (San Francisco: HarperOne, 1996), p. 7.
James Bryan Smith, The Good and Beautiful Community (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 2010), p. 13-19, 30.
Samuel Totten & William S. Parsons, Centuries of Genocide, Critical Essays and Eyewitness Accounts (New York: RoutledgeFalmer, 2009), p. 421.
Lee Camp, Mere Discipleship (Brazos Press, 2008), p. 20.
“Religion: The Nondenomination,” Time Magazine (Monday, August 5, 1957)
Flavil R. Yeakley, Jr., Why Churches Grow, 3rd ed. (Broken Arrow, OK: Christian Communications, 1979, rep. 1986), pp. 57-58.
Norman Bales, A Sense of Belonging (Nashville: 20th Century Christian, 1989), pp. 77-80.

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