Unlimited Growth

A Faithful New Testament Church

By Al Felder

“Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).

Every congregation wants to grow—spiritually, numerically, and in influence for good. But growth cannot be separated from faithfulness. We cannot preserve something unless we know what it is. And we cannot build something lasting unless we are building the thing Christ actually established.

So before we talk about “unlimited growth,” we have to define the foundation:

What is a faithful New Testament church?

A faithful New Testament church is not simply a group that carries the right name or checks a few outward boxes. It is a congregation committed to restoring and practicing what the New Testament teaches—organization, worship, doctrine, and the spirit that must exist among God’s people.

The seed principle: if we plant the Word, we reproduce the church

Jesus taught that “the seed is the word of God” (Luke 8:11). That simple truth explains why the New Testament pattern matters. Seed reproduces after its kind. If we plant human tradition, we get human religion. If we plant the New Testament, we reproduce what Christ built.

That’s why a faithful New Testament church treats Scripture as sufficient for:

• moral conduct

• worship

• church organization

• Christian living

• doctrine and practice

The goal is not novelty. The goal is faithfulness.

The mission is clear: make disciples and teach obedience

Christ’s commission is straightforward: make disciples and teach them to observe all He commanded (Matthew 28:19–20). That leaves no room for adding doctrine that comes from mere human thought. The church’s work is not to invent new religious ideas but to teach and obey what Christ gave.

When a congregation truly accepts that, everything changes. The question becomes:

“What does the New Testament instruct us to do in this matter?”

That single question—asked consistently—protects the church from drifting into denominational thinking and keeps it anchored to Christ.

Faithfulness begins with the gospel pattern

A faithful New Testament church handles the gospel the way the New Testament handles it. For example, when teaching baptism, the New Testament pattern is clear:

• the candidate is a believer

• there is repentance from sin

• baptism is immersion in water

• it is connected with remission of sins

• it results in entry into the body of Christ

A church that changes the pattern changes the doctrine. Faithfulness means following the pattern—not revising it.

Ephesians 4: the heart and structure of a faithful church

If you want to know what a faithful church looks like, Ephesians 4 is a powerful starting place—not just for organization, but for spirit.

A New Testament church is marked by:

• humility

• meekness

• longsuffering

• forbearance in love

• a serious commitment to unity

That means faithfulness is not merely about correct externals. It is also about the body's internal life.

A hard question must be faced: Are we shrinking our pride? Are we shrinking our will? Are we shrinking our ambition to build unity? Are we holding our tongues? Are we treating people kindly because it is right—not because they “deserve” it?

A church may be correct on many outward practices and still fail at the weightier matters—judgment, mercy, and faith. And when the heart of the religion is missing, growth dries up.

Christ alone is Head—and the church must be organized His way

A faithful New Testament church understands that Christ is Lord of the church. No tradition, no human committee, no popular opinion, and no “church politics” can take His place.

That conviction shapes how the church is organized and how it functions.

Ephesians 4 describes gifts Christ gave for the building up of the body:

• apostles and prophets (foundational in the first-century revelation)

• evangelists

• pastors (shepherds/elders)

• teachers

And the purpose of these roles is clear: the perfecting of the saints, the work of ministry, and the edifying of the body.

A church that wants to grow must not only be sincere; it must be organized in harmony with the New Testament.

The role of evangelists

Evangelists proclaim the gospel, help plant and organize congregations according to the New Testament pattern, encourage the church toward what is right, and help develop leadership.

The role of elders

Elders guard the flock—protecting against false doctrine, helping the spiritually weak, and providing godly oversight and example.

The role of teachers

Teachers help the congregation understand and apply God’s word. Teaching is not optional for church health. A church will not mature without strong teaching.

When these roles function properly, the body is built up, stability increases, and the church is less vulnerable to “every wind of doctrine.”

What real maturity looks like

The New Testament goal is not merely correctness—it is Christlikeness.

A faithful New Testament church should reflect Jesus:

• compassion like Jesus

• speech shaped by His words

• a pure heart

• helpful hands

• feet ready to go with the good news

Yes, outward practices matter. But the church of the first century was also known for its love, moral purity, and faithfulness to Christ. Those qualities must be replicated if we want genuine growth.

The final requirement: everyone must change

Here is the simplest truth—and the one most easily avoided:

A faithful church is made of changing people.

God works on individuals within the group. The congregation becomes stronger as hearts become more Christlike. Every time one member grows in obedience, humility, knowledge, or compassion, the whole body is affected.

Unlimited growth does not happen by slogans. It happens when:

• the Word is planted

• the pattern is followed

• the spirit of Christ is cultivated

• and members are continually renewed

Nothing changes unless a change is made—and the first change always begins with me.

Practicing what is taught

• Return to the “New Testament question”: How does the New Testament instruct us in this matter?

• Pursue the weightier matters intentionally: mercy, faith, forgiveness, humility, compassion.

• Support godly leadership and teaching: pray for elders, strengthen teachers, encourage evangelistic work.

• Refuse drift: don’t let tradition or convenience replace biblical pattern.

• Choose one area of personal growth now: identify one change you will pursue this week.

  
  

Reflection questions

1. If someone examined our congregational spirit, would they see humility and forbearance—or pride and tension?

2. Have we emphasized externals while neglecting the weightier matters that actually produce spiritual vitality?

3. Do we truly operate under Christ’s headship—or do human preferences quietly control decisions?

4. Are we building stability through teaching so we are not tossed by every wind of doctrine?

5. What is one specific change I need to make so the body can be stronger through me?