Rick Warren, a well-known pastor and author, argues that the global church needs to rekindle the spirit of the early Christian community to effectively meet the Great Commission by 2033, which marks the 2000th anniversary of Christ’s resurrection and death.
“Most churches today seem to focus primarily on trends,” Warren shared with participants at the World Evangelical Alliance meeting in Seoul, South Korea. This event occurs every six years.
“I’m really not concerned about how things are done in America, Europe, or anywhere else,” he explained. “If a principle is truly Biblical, it will apply universally. God’s Word is flawless. It’s the best model we have.”
Warren emphasized that Christians should emulate the dedication of early believers, showcasing their love, fervent prayer, and urgency in spreading the message of Christ.
“Love is what attracts people to Christ,” he noted. “If the church genuinely loved others, it would have to close its doors to keep people away, because the world is desperate for love. They don’t really yearn for much else we offer.”
Warren remarked: “I’ve never encountered anyone who didn’t crave love.”
He pointed out that many church leaders often lack the love they aspire to instill in their congregants.
“I’ve met numerous pastors, especially in larger congregations, who may adore the crowds but struggle with genuine connections,” he remarked.
Warren mentioned that it’s prevalent for Christians to gain Biblical knowledge without putting it into action. He urged pastors to cultivate a congregation that becomes active practitioners of their faith.
“Simply knowing the Word isn’t satisfactory,” he stated. “What’s the core issue with Christianity today? Many of us know significantly more than we enact. But we don’t experience blessings merely by understanding God’s Word. We are blessed when we practice it.”
According to Warren, the early church experienced remarkable growth, increasing by approximately 50% every decade, due to its adherence to Jesus’ model of evangelism, education, healing, and church establishment.
“Every church, no matter its size, can achieve this,” he affirmed.
“The early church started with just 120 believers praying together. Yet by 360 A.D., about half of the Roman Empire—around 30 million out of 60 million—had converted to Christianity, even drawing in the emperor himself,” he stated.
“How did they expand from 120 to encompass half an empire?” he posed. “They followed Jesus’ example in making disciples.”
