Mapping the DNA of a Growing

Church

Acts 1:1-11

John Lau
Sep 7, 2019
IFGF
Mapping the DNA of a Growing Church

Introduction
• Book of Acts: A Church Growth manual.
• Context: Chapter 1 - Jesus’ commissioning His disciples
before His ascension back to heaven.
• Why church DNA? DNA determines our traits and is the key
to replicate and function as designed. Damaged DNA will
damage traits, hence replicate damages and distort functions.
• As Jesus’ follower and the church, what traits are
important to produce & re-produce?

Clues from the keystone chapter of Acts 1?

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Mapping the DNA of a Growing Church

What are 3 essential growth traits in the following text…?

1In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until
the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to
the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave
many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty
days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with
them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my
Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized
with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to

restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own

authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you
will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the
earth.”
9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their

sight.
10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men

dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand
here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven,
will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
3
Mapping the DNA of a Growing Church
1) Jesus Gospel (Word)（1-3)
1In my former book, Theophilus, I
wrote about all that Jesus began
to do and to teach 2 until the
day he was taken up to
heaven, after giving
instructions through the Holy
Spirit to the apostles he had
chosen. 3 After his suffering, he
presented himself to them and
gave many convincing proofs
that he was alive. He appeared
to them over a period of forty
days and spoke about the
kingdom of God.
How will you grow in the knowledge
FAITH
1. The gospel of the kingdom of God:
“All that Jesus…Holy Spirit”
2. “Convincing proofs…He is alive”
3. “40 days” (complete test and trials);
40 years from the crucifixion of Jesus
to the destruction of Jerusalem; 40
days of Moses on the mount
receiving the Law; Moses' life being
divided into three sections
of 40 years; 40 days given to
Nineveh; 40 days of Jesus ...
4. Four ways to feasting scriptures as a
lifelong learning practices
of God? 4
Mapping the DNA of a Growing Church
2) Holy Spirit Transforming (Power)
（4-6)
4 On one occasion, while he was eating
with them, he gave them this
command: “Do not leave
Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my
Father promised, which you have
heard me speak about. 5 For John
baptized with water, but in a few
days you will be baptized with the
Holy Spirit.”
6 Then they gathered around him and
asked him, “Lord, are you at this
time going to restore the kingdom
to Israel?”
HOPE
1. “Wait for the gift my Father
promised”
a) Wait-mindfulness (active
anticipation, expectation,
submissive)
b) Promise of the Holy Spirit
infilling for empowerment,
transformation and equipping
2. Baptism of new birth: from John
(water) and from the Holy Spirit
(for ministries & witnessing)
Is the Spirit dwelt
and working in you?
5
Mapping the DNA of a Growing Church

3) God Redemption (Lifestyle Witness)

LOVE
（7-11)
7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the 1. Power (transformation,
times or dates the Father has set by his own
authority. 8 But you will receive power when equipping, enablement)
the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will
be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all
2. Witness (credibility through
Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the words, deeds and
earth.” experiences)
9 After he said this, he was taken up before their

very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their 3. Scope of witnessing (geo +
sight. inner most)
10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he

was going, when suddenly two men dressed a) Jerusalem (local)

in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of b) Judea (neighbors)
Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here
looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who c) Samaria (enemies)
has been taken from you into heaven, will d) Ends of the world (all)
come back in the same way you have seen
him go into heaven.”
How would you want to bring transformational change in
others? When have you seen Christ reflected through the 6
life of another?
Mapping the DNA of a Growing Church

The Power of Lifestyle Witnessing

Lifestyle
Witnessing (Prompting
Tools Questions
about Life)

Invitational Relational
(Faith (Trusting
Events) Moments)

Serving Testimonial
Needs (Gospel
(Hands & story
Feet of according
Jesus) to you)
Situational
(Life
Events &
Opportuniti
es) Which style brings
more fruitfulness?
Source: www.whatsmissionu.com, John Lau 7
Mapping the DNA of a Growing Church

Healthy Church DNA

3 Kingdom Pillars in Believers’ Lives

Word Power Witness

Are your
DNA
genetics
sound?
Jesus (Gospel Holy Spirit (New God (Lifestyle
How are
Promises) Birth) Witness) you or
church
mitigating
the DNA
risks?