Applying church growth principles of the Book of Acts in Chinese churches

This dissertation seeks to identify church growth principles in Acts. The methodologies employ by this research are: first, reflection on the Biblical texts, which includes exegesis; second, identification of the principles, using church growth eyes to identify the principles; third, transferability of the principles, utilizing contemporary cases to substantiate the transferability of the principles, and finally the applications of these principles in Chinese churches.; This study identifies eight church growth principles. First, the Holy Spirit is the facilitator, missionary promoter, energizer, administrator, communicator and mobilizer for church growth. Second, prayer is the spiritual force which energizes the early Christians to speak boldly, to serve sacrificially, to suffer unwaveringly and to die gloriously.; Third, persecution pressurizes the early disciples to grow upwardly in faith to God, inwardly in interdependence for one another and outwardly in evangelism. Fourth, dynamic leadership of the apostles and the non-apostolic leaders guided and shaped the expansion of the primitive church. Fifth, speeches are the powerful communication tools for mass conversion of the unchurched. Sixth, household gatherings are a sanctuary for worship, a school for discipleship, a temple for prayer and a station for evangelism.; Seventh, evangelism is the heartbeat of church growth. The early disciples' evangelistic passion and zeal are the foundational factor for church expansion. They employ lifestyle evangelism, public evangelism, household evangelism, personal evangelism and power evangelism to reach the lost. Finally, miracles which attracted enthusiastic hearers, authenticated the messages, inculcated the faith, and victory over evil powers helps the establishment of Christianity in the first century.; The Chinese churches need to reclaim the power of the Holy Spirit and the power of prayer in order to grow. These spiritual dynamics enable the Chinese churches to react positively to persecutions which strengthen their faith. The health of the Chinese churches depends on strong leadership and powerful preaching. Utilization of home cell groups, enforcement of evangelism and employment of miracles will cause the Chinese churches to grow in quality and quantity. Therefore, this study concludes that the Chinese churches will be richly blessed, if they apply these eight principles.