UNDERSTANDING CHURCH GROWTH: Building The 21st Century Church

“That He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:27).
“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).

As we step into the 21st century and the new millennium, the Church of Jesus Christ faces both tremendous opportunities and urgent challenges. Many prophetic voices believe this could be the final stretch before the return of our Lord. The Great Commission now seems more achievable than ever with the aid of global connectivity, technology, and divine urgency.

The heart of God in this age is clear: the preparation of a glorious, rapture-ready Church. Jesus is not coming for a weak or worldly church, but for a radiant Bride — holy, strong, and without blemish. Therefore, the assignment for us in this generation is to build up the Church to meet God’s heavenly expectations.

A. TEN REVELATIONS ABOUT THE CHURCH

In this end-time move, the Church must stop functioning as a passive figure and become a powerful force. The Church must stop merely consuming spiritual content and start contributing actively to God’s kingdom agenda. We must shift from being a thermometer (responding to the world) to being a thermostat (setting the spiritual temperature). Here are ten divine truths about the Church:

The Church is a Living Organism – It must grow continuously in every way (Ephesians 4:15).
The Church is an Organization – It must be structured for effective ministry (1 Corinthians 14:40).
The Church is the Body of Christ – It can either be healthy or sick (Romans 12:5).
The Church is the Temple of God – It must be a house filled with lively worship and God’s presence (1 Corinthians 3:16).
The Church is the Gateway to Heaven – It must lead people into eternal life (Genesis 28:17).
The Church is God’s Only Earthly Possession – It must reflect Heaven’s purity and glory (Titus 2:14).
The Church is the Dwelling Place of His Presence – It must be a place of healing, restoration, and divine help (Psalm 46:1-5).
The Church is the Ekklesia – A called-out people living a consecrated and distinct life (1 Peter 2:9).
The Church is God’s Weapon Against Satan – It must engage in spiritual warfare (Matthew 16:18, Ephesians 6:12).
The Church is God’s Only Strategy for Saving the World – It must go out and win souls (Matthew 28:19–20).

B. CHALLENGES FACING THE 21ST CENTURY CHURCH

The Church today stands in the middle of a spiritual battlefield. These are some of the forces contending against her purpose:

Overflow of sin, wickedness, and immorality (2 Timothy 3:1–5)
Sickness, poverty, and sorrow
Rising crime, violence, terrorism, and civil unrest
The urgency of time – the day is far spent (Romans 13:11)
Intense demonic activities and dark spiritual agendas
Rapid shifts in ideologies, values, and worldviews
The digital revolution – emails, internet, social media, AI
Spread of false religions, cults, and radical movements
Shallow Christianity – long in form, but short in depth

The Church must not sit idle while darkness covers the earth. The Church must arise, shine, and conquer (Isaiah 60:1–3).

C. BUILDING THE END-TIME CHURCH (Matthew 16:18)

The Lord Jesus is still building His Church, but He is doing it through us. For the Church to be glorious and rapture-ready, leaders and members alike must work with God intentionally and strategically. Here are six major dimensions of a Church that is built for the 21st century:

1. A GOAL-ORIENTED CHURCH (Proverbs 28:19)

Just as no football team can score without a goalpost, a church without divine goals will drift aimlessly. Church goals must be birthed from a clear vision from the Lord. Pastor David Yonggi Cho called goal-setting the “number one requirement for church growth.” These goals must be:

Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Realistic
Time-bound

Your activities, programmes, fastings, and prayers must all align with these Spirit-led goals to build a purpose-driven and glorious Church.

2. A GROWING CHURCH (Acts 2:42–47)

Growth is God’s will for every church. Churches that are not growing are either spiritually sick or structurally stagnant. Growth includes:

Numerical Growth – Reaching more people
Spiritual Growth – Maturity and holiness
Material Growth – Improved facilities and location
Physical Growth – Quality buildings and tools
Social Growth – A positive community presence
Financial Growth – Abundance for ministry
Extension Growth – Planting new churches
Health Growth – Strong discipleship and unity

Unless you’re in a very unique situation (e.g., a church in a deserted area, military camp, or special prophetic calling), your church is meant to grow. Growth is the pathway to being caught up when the trumpet sounds.

Two key responsibilities for growth:

The pastor must desire growth and be ready to pay the price.
The congregation must desire growth and support it with prayers, time, giving, and service.

3. A GROANING (PRAYING) CHURCH (Acts 2:42; 6:4; 12:5)

The church that groans in prayer will grow in power. Jesus declared, “My house shall be called a house of prayer” (Matthew 21:13). A prayerless church is a powerless church. To raise a strong altar of prayer:

The pastor must lead by example.
There must be consistent corporate prayer times.
Organize fasting and prayer seasons.
Teach and preach about prayer regularly.
Create a School of Prayer.
Raise intercessory teams.
Initiate community prayer walks.
Appoint ministers dedicated to prayer.

Such prayers must be:

In faith (Mark 11:24)
From a clean heart (1 Tim. 2:8)
According to God’s will (James 4:2–3)
With fasting (Matt. 17:21)
Fervent and persistent (James 5:16)

Samuel Chadwick once said: “Satan laughs at our labor, mocks our wisdom, but trembles when we pray.”

4. A GLOWING (SPIRIT-FILLED) CHURCH (Acts 1:8; 2:17–18; Luke 5:17)

The early Church glowed with the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Divine Administrator of the Church Age. He is the One preparing the Bride for the coming of the Bridegroom. The Church must:

Welcome the Holy Spirit’s presence
Seek constant infilling (Ephesians 5:18)
Conduct Holy Ghost services
Teach the baptism of the Spirit
Encourage manifestation of spiritual gifts
Pray in the Spirit regularly (Jude 20)

To neglect the Holy Spirit is to hinder the life of the Church. We cannot build a glorious Church without the Spirit of Glory.

5. A GOING (EVANGELIZING) CHURCH (Matthew 28:19–20)

The Church must go! Evangelism is not an option—it is the heartbeat of God. We must not be content with internal growth alone. To win the lost, churches must adopt effective strategies:

Make evangelism the pastor’s passion
Raise soul-winning believers
Preach and teach evangelism often
Use friendship evangelism – reaching your circle
Family evangelism – invite your relatives
Cell evangelism – home fellowships as outreach hubs
Power evangelism – signs and wonders
Prayer evangelism – intercession for souls
Confrontational evangelism – bold street witness

6. A GIVING CHURCH (Acts 2:44–45)

The first-century Church was a generous Church. They gave their money, materials, and even people to the work of God. A stingy church will remain small and spiritually impoverished. Teach your congregation to:

Give tithes and offerings
Make faith pledges and vows
Support missions and projects
Give generously and cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:6–7)

God blesses giving churches so they can be a blessing to others, not for selfish consumption.

D. THE PROCESS OF CHANGE

Building a 21st-century Church requires strategic transformation. Change is not always embraced the same way. People usually respond in these categories:

Innovators (2%) – They birth new ideas.
Early Adopters (10%) – They quickly support the new vision.
Middle Adopters (60%) – They follow the trendsetters.
Late Adopters (20%) – They accept change with resistance.
Laggards (8%) – They resist all change and cause division.

To lead a Church through change:

Build trust with your people.
Undergo personal change as a leader.
Understand the church’s history before changing systems.
Win the support of influential members early.
Let these influencers spread the vision informally.
Explain how the change benefits everyone.
Allow the people to own the vision through openness, prayer, and collaboration.

Remember: “Not all change is progress, but without change, there can be no progress.” The Church must never get stuck in yesterday’s methods while trying to reach a dying world.

CONCLUSION

When the Church embraces these principles—becoming goal-oriented, growing, groaning, glowing, going, and giving—it will become a glorious Church. The Lord is coming back for a Church without spot or wrinkle. Let us build in alignment with Heaven’s pattern and get ready for His soon return.

Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus.