When Civility Fails: A Pastor’s Response to Violence, Rage, and the Hard Work of Truth

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  by Bart L. Denny, Ph.D. Introduction — Why I must speak I have been reflecting on recent events in our nation and wrestling with how best to speak into them. As a follower of Jesus Christ and as a pastor, I believe my calling is to shed more light than heat in times of turmoil, and to offer the seasoning of grace in a culture that often tastes bitter. This will not be an exercise in soft-peddling. It will be frank, pastoral, and, where necessary, unflinching. Somewhere, this post will fail to address a consideration that it might have spoken to. I own it, saying in my defense only that space prevents my discussing everything that might be said on a subject and my views on it. Yet undoubtedly, this will cover more ground than most newspaper op-ed articles. Some readers may focus on one thing I say in the post without taking the entirety of what I said here in context. I pray you won't. But I resign myself to the likelihood some will. What I saw this past week I saw a young...
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How Can a Church Grow? Part One: Start with the Soil

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Acts 2:37–47

by Bart Denny

A few years ago, a friend moved to a new house and tried to plant tomatoes in his backyard garden. He had all the right tools—good seed, fencing, fertilizer—but nothing grew. Not even a decent sprout. After two failed seasons, a neighbor finally said, “Get your soil tested.”

Sure enough, the soil lacked the nutrients tomatoes need to grow.

It wasn’t a problem of effort. It was the condition of the ground.

The same is often true for churches.

We pour our energy into ministries, programs, events, and even aesthetics. But sometimes, despite our best efforts, nothing seems to grow. And we’re left wondering: What are we doing wrong?

In those moments, the real question might be: How’s the soil?

In Acts 2, we see the early church explode in growth—not because they stumbled on a new strategy, but because the spiritual soil was ready. God moved because hearts were open, the Gospel was boldly proclaimed, and worship was central to life.

So what made the ground so fertile? Let’s look at two of the key principles found in Acts 2 that still grow churches today:

1. We Grow When We Boldly Share the Gospel

Church growth begins with evangelism—real, personal, Gospel-sharing evangelism. Not flashy slogans or polished outreach events. But everyday believers sharing Jesus with real people.

In Acts 2, Peter didn’t hold back. He preached the truth of Jesus' death and resurrection—even to those who had shouted, “Crucify Him!” And 3,000 were added to the church that day.

But it wasn’t a one-time revival—it was a lifestyle. Acts 2:42 tells us they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching. This wasn’t shallow belief; it was deep discipleship. And disciples make more disciples.

At the root of their Gospel-boldness were four beliefs:

  • People are lost without Christ (Romans 3:23)
  • Only Jesus can save (Acts 4:12)
  • Lives can be radically transformed (2 Corinthians 5:17)
  • Eternity is at stake (John 3:18)

They didn’t just agree with these ideas—they were convicted by them. And that conviction turned into motivation.

Want to grow your church? Start with one person. One neighbor, coworker, friend—your “one.” Pray for them. Love them. Share Jesus with them. That’s how it begins.

2. We Grow When Worship Becomes Our Lifestyle

Acts 2 describes a community devoted to teaching, fellowship, prayer, and breaking bread. That’s worship—and it wasn’t limited to a Sunday gathering.

They met in homes. They praised God together. Their daily lives were marked by reverence and awe. Worship wasn’t something they attended—it was something they lived.

True worship has two marks:

  • Jesus is at the center.
    It’s not about style or preference. It’s about giving glory to the risen Christ (Colossians 3:16).
  • Lives are transformed.
    Worship reveals God’s greatness—and our need for Him. It humbles us. It changes us. (Isaiah 6:5; Romans 12:1)

When worship becomes a lifestyle, it spills into everything—our relationships, our homes, our decisions. And that kind of worship attracts a watching world.

So, How’s the Soil?

The early church didn’t grow because of gimmicks or celebrity pastors. It grew because they had the right spiritual conditions—bold Gospel proclamation and everyday worship. And those same conditions still matter today.

If you're part of a church longing for growth—start with the soil. Let the Holy Spirit do a work in you. And then boldly plant Gospel seeds.

Let worship rise not just on Sundays—but on Mondays, in kitchens, in conversations, in prayers.

The ground will change. And when it does, fruit will follow.

Coming Soon:

In Part Two, we’ll unpack three more principles from Acts 2 that grow a church—deep love, continual prayer, and generous giving. Stay tuned.

About the Author

Dr. Bart L. Denny is the lead pastor of Pathway — A Wesleyan Church in Saranac, Michigan, and a retired U.S. Navy officer. He also serves as an adjunct instructor of Christian leadership and ministry. His passion is to see churches revitalized and believers grow into fully devoted disciples of Jesus Christ.

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All comments are moderated. I welcome respectful disagreement with my posts. Such discussions can cause me to consider perspectives I hadn't examined before. However, I also reserve the right to delete any comment for any reason. Why? Simple enough, this is MY blog, with MY thoughts, and I want to have a civil conversation that is, at all times, God-honoring in nature.

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