Biblical Study that the Church as God's People and Its Significance for the Growth of the Church

Abstract

Church growth is God's will. Church growth is often interpreted as an expansion of the body of Christ both in quantity and quality. However, in understanding church growth, of course, it is not only limited to understanding growth in terms of quality or quantity, but growth must be correct, namely in accordance with God's will, where the church must grow according to its identity. The Bible records that the identity of the church is the body of Christ, God's people who are built up in Christ and grow toward Christ (Bnd. 1 Peter 2:9-10; Ephesians 4:12-16). By understanding his identity as God's people (Bible Hub.) the church will have clear guidelines and indicators in viewing a growth, so that the church is not trapped in an understanding that limits the meaning of growth to only narrow terms of quantity or quality.