Like a train hurtling toward its destina­tion, the early church was unstoppable. Despite persecution from civil and ec­clesiastical authorities, internal divi­sions, sinful behaviour on the part of members, and massive cultural and so­cial barriers, the church constantly ad­vanced, grew and spread as it moved from Jerusalem to Rome. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, there was a spiritual dynamic in operation that guaranteed effectiveness.

Strikingly, however, the book of Acts that records this remarkable story, is almost totally silent on matters of form, structure, methodology and strategy. We are told little about internal church structures, particular approaches to personal witness, how the apostles shepherded this growing church, how the elders appointed in every church carried out their functions, how fellow­ship was organised, or how the believ­ers conducted their prayer meetings. Luke clearly intends to convey that the effectiveness of the church was not related to their forms, structures, meth­odologies or strategies.

It was related, rather, to the spiritu­al dynamic operating in that communi­ty. It was related to the intensity of their love and fellowship as a community, in which they would even sell proper­ties to provide for those in need. It was related to the free and powerful proc­lamation of the Word, which was preached not only in churches but in synagogues, market places, private homes, prisons and on river banks. It was related to the raw energy and passion of the leaders who could not help speaking about what they had seen and heard. It was relat­ed to the urgency and earnestness of their corporate prayer. It was related to the ability of the church to respond to the unexpected, whether that be an unexpected stop in prison, an unex­pected call to another land, an unex­pected church planting venture, an unexpected martyrdom. In short, it was related to the inward working of the Spirit's power, changing lives, opening hearts, giving gifts, empowering wit­ness.

If we take a 2000 year, 10,000 mile leap to our own country at the end of the 20th century, it is sobering to ask whether the same dynamics are in op­eration. How healthy are our churches spiritually? How effective are we in reaching the lost for Christ? How unstoppable is the spread of the gos­pel in this land?

These questions ought not to be lightly or defensively dismissed. The sad reality is that the Church in New Zealand as a whole is barely growing. That is true whether you look at reformed churches or at more broadly evangelical and charismatic churches. There is often an appearance of growth, because of the extensive movement of people from one church to another (musical churches), new immigrants, and natural growth. And yes, there are some genuine converts. But most denominations are static or in decline. New mem­bers are frequently only filling the place of others who have left. Net growth across the board is close to nil.

The result is that many churches as well as individuals struggle massively with evangelism, not really knowing how to make progress. In desperation, they tend to fall back on the very things Acts says so little about: forms, structures, strategies and methodologies. Some churches buy into every latest resource, seminar, video, book and conference, that offers help in becoming an effective, growing church. They will clutch at any straw that offers the promise of re­vival or growth. Yet the rapidity with which one approach is replaced by the next bears eloquent testimony to the ineffec­tiveness of many of these resources to deal with underlying problems. After a number of different approaches have been tried and ditched, a certain disillu­sionment often sets in, and evangelism is left in the "too hard" basket.

Other churches, generally those that are more conservative and theologically astute, avoid the pitfall of lurching from one method to the next, and instead fall back on established forms and struc­tures. They emphasise defence of the faith more than advance of the gospel. They value their heritage, despise change for change's sake, and prize order and structure. Yet sadly, despite their ortho­doxy, they also are largely ineffective in winning the lost to Christ. Although sound in theology, the spiritual dynamic is of­ ten missing.

It is with such realities that we must grapple if we would aspire to being evan­gelistic churches. We cannot simplisti­cally think that a particular programme or strategy (or minister) will make us effective. Nor can we simply rely on hav­ing existing structures fine-tuned and well-ordered. We must, rather, seek to recover the essential spiritual dynamics of the early church. We must look afresh at how to deepen fellowship and prayer, how to foster a heart for the lost and a readiness to spread the Word, how to utilise people's gifts, how to disciple young people and new converts, how to develop ministries that reach beyond the church into the community, etc.

No slick answers or quick-fix remedies should be sought. The process, rather, must be one where we seek, by the Spir­it's enabling, a revitalisation of every facet of church life. Out of a deep concern and prayerfulness for the reviving work of the Spirit, we must be prepared to reform all that we do in the light of God's Word.

We would do well to begin with hon­est self-evaluation, asking the hard ques­tions about the inner spiritual life of our church. Are people growing in spiritual maturity? Are they being equipped to share their faith and use their gifts? Are new people being reached? Are those on the fringe of the church being drawn into the heart of church life? Is the preaching ministry bearing fruit? Are meaningful relationships being formed between church members? Existing forms and structures (including bible study groups, catechism classes, home visits, session meetings, ladies' fellow­ship meetings and youth groups) need to come under the spotlight. Are they proving to be spiritually effective? Such a process of evaluation, if undertaken with brutal honesty, should quickly dis­pel any smug Laodicean complacency which is always the enemy of vital evan­gelism.

We would also do well to ensure that we have a clear sense of spiritual pur­pose in every facet of church life. Con­scious that even the best activities can degenerate into empty formalism, we must work at keeping a sharp spiritual focus in all that we do. The pastors' use of time, the preaching ministry, the cat­echism classes, Sunday school, fellow­ship groups and youth work, should all proceed with a distinct sense of purpose, clearly defined goals and obtainable ob­jectives. We ought not to plod on with any activity or approach for the sake of it. If we are pouring time, energy and re­sources into something then it must be for a very definite spiritual purpose. In­deed the church as a whole must have a clear sense of its overall mission. With­out this, we will find ourselves in main­tenance mode, just going through the motions, doing what we've always done in the way we've always done it. That can indeed keep us very busy and we may well find ourselves lurching from crisis to crisis. But such churches are seldom effective evangelistically.

Another concern must be to deepen the relational, inter-personal dimension of church life. The New Testament con­stantly stresses this. The church is a body. It is to be a place of radical love. People are to be discipled, nurtured, en­couraged, equipped. Older members are to model the faith to younger ones. Be­lievers are to join in earnest corporate prayer together. Fellowship is to be spiritual, not just social. Bible study should never be purely cerebral, but an opening of hearts as we look together into the mirror of God's Word. People are to care for one another, carry one another's bur­dens, pray for one another, teach and admonish one another. Churches are to be filled with the fruit of the Spirit. The fact is, it is possible to have many involvements in church life, but little depth of spiritual relationship with anyone. When that is the case, however, it is unlikely that members will invite others along or share their faith spontaneously with them. It is the loving church that is evangelistic.

By this will all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

It would not be hard to add many other aspects of church life where we must seek spiritual revitalisation. But there is no need to. The point is this: the evangelistic church is the spiritually revived church. We must long, pray and labour for a work of the Spirit that is deep, penetrating and all-pervasive. Of course we cannot make revival happen, but we can do much to ensure that we are keeping in step with the Spirit, and neither griev­ing nor quenching Him. Then, by God's grace, we will become like that unstoppable train of the early church. We won't just have an evangelistic pro­gramme; we'll be an evangelistic church.