Does God care about numbers? Does God care how big our church (or any church) gets? Do numbers really tell us anything about spiritual growth or health? 

Well, God gave us a book of the Bible called Numbers. He counts the stars and the hairs on our head. The Bible tells us how many of Abraham’s descendents got to the Promised Land. We know how many fought and died in the various wars of Israel. We know how many were fed by Jesus in the wilderness. God seems to keep track of numbers. But what numbers are most important to Him? What numbers should we care about because He cares about them? I would suggest three (because it’s one of the Bible’s favorite numbers)!         

The first, appropriately, is the number One. In Deuteronomy 6:4 we read, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” This is true and foundational to our faith, but the “one” God cares about is you! Yes, God loved the whole world enough to send Jesus, but the salvation He offered is only received one at a time. We are not saved in groups. Redemption is Jesus dying on a cross for YOU! Jesus called Himself the good shepherd who “calls His own sheep by name... and his sheep follow Him” (John 10:3-4). As a believer He knows your name and it is written in the Lamb’s book of life (Revelation 21:27). Yes, you are #1 in God’s eyes!

Second, God also cares about big numbers. As the Gospel was proclaimed in Jerusalem it is recorded that 3000 were baptized on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:41). Later “the number of men grew to about five thousand” (Acts 4:4), and eventually they stopped counting because “the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly” (Acts 6:7). So it seems that the number God desires to be in Heaven is “a great multitude that no one [but He] could count” (Revelation 7:9). What number of humans does God want saved? EveryONE who will repent! (See 2 Peter 3:9.)

But the third number God seems to focus on is fuzzy. It seems to be somewhere bigger than three, but not much over 12. Jesus said where two or three are gathered He would be there (Matthew 18:20), and He spent considerable time with 12 disciples so they would be equipped to take His message to the whole world. Apparently God likes small groups of believers to get together.

This is certainly an area we here at GCC can improve on, and the Staff and Elders are committed to model, encourage and promote for the health and growth of our congregation. Beginning April 24 (with this article and the preaching) we will learn together how to B.U.I.L.D. a better network of small groups in the life of the Body.

We believe this is important because small groups:

Bring glory to God – because God cares about relationships and He wants us to take what He has given us and pass it on to others, one person at a time;

Uphold the faith – regardless of how we may learn the Word, it is mostly with a few other believers that the Word comes alive in our lives, and we are held accountable to staying faithful;

Invite the lost – we get lost in big crowds, but find Jesus when a friend cares enough to introduce us to the best friend we could ever have;

Love one another – the Church cares, but it is those closest to us who really see our needs and are able to demonstrate the love of Christ to us in real and meaningful ways;

Disciple to serve – nobody figures out how to do something by watching from the sidelines, but when somebody shows us how, then we can learn how to do it too. Yes, God deals with us one-on-one. He comes to us face to face with His offer of salvation.

Yes, God wants His Church to be big. He wants as many to be saved as are willing to come to Him, and He has prepared Heaven to be big enough for all who are saved. But often the bridge between these two numbers is a small group of believers helping each other grow in Christ. God’s plan is that small groups build His Church!

Denis Whittet