Charles Spurgeon preached a message on church decline and growth from Isaiah 49:20–21. The following post is adapted from the text and sermon notes of that message.

The children of your bereavement will yet say in your ears: ‘The place is too narrow for me; make room for me to dwell in.’ Then you will say in your heart: ‘Who has borne me these? I was bereaved and barren, exiled and put away, but who has brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; from where have these come?’” (Isaiah 49:20–21)

Those who have no grace in their hearts despise the church of God. Those who have only a little grace have but slight sympathy with her condition. Those who have great grace and are conscious of having received much mercy from God have great sympathy with the church of God, and a deep regard for her.

I shall come at once to the text and notice that, first, we must expect a measure of decrease in the church. But then, secondly, we may expect a great increase in the church. And, thirdly, from what this text has to say upon that subject and also for other reasons, we ought to be encouraged to seek the increase of the church of God.

In the church there are decreases

Zion is represented here in Isaiah as mourning for the children that she had lost. The Jewish church in the olden times saw her sons and daughters slain with the sword, or carried away captive. Afterwards, she saw the great majority of the nation refusing Christ and turning away from him—and thus the Jewish church was diminished and brought very low. The same thing has happened in many other cases and I am going to apply the text to ourselves and our own churches. We must naturally expect to see, in each separate church of Jesus Christ, a certain process and measure of decrease.

We ought to be encouraged to seek the increase of the church of God.

I have brought this subject forward because I may be addressing some brothers and sisters who see the tide running out in their churches, and they are very sad as they watch the ebb. I have not seen much of that sort of thing, myself, but the least ebb troubles me and I go before God in prayer about it. I cannot bear to lose one of the members of my church, or to see one of them turn aside from the company of the faithful. Yet there is another side to this picture and we must not shut our eyes to it.

In the church we should look for increase

There are new converts yet to come in, as says my text—these children which Zion is to have, after she has lost the others.

And, brothers and sisters, these new converts are necessary. No church can be healthy without the constant infusion of fresh blood. Unless there are new converts, you cannot see the church built up.

1. Increase is needful, or what will become of the church?
2. Increase is prayed for, and God hears prayer.
3. Increase can only come through God, but he will give it, and be glorified by it.
4. Increase is promised in the text, and in many other Scriptures.
5. Increase is to be labored for with agony of heart. “As soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth children.”

So you see that the church needs new converts and, therefore, she ought to have every preparation for their reception.

In the church increase should be prepared for

There should always be an arrangement in every church to afford a welcome to the coming ones. Everything should be in readiness for the reception of the newborn converts.

1. By intense united prayer for it.
2. By the preaching of the gospel, which is the means of it.
3. By every form of Christian effort which may lead to it.
4. By enlarging our bounds: “The place is too narrow for me.” To provide a larger audience-chamber may be a true act of faith.
5. By welcoming all true-born children of God: who say, each one, “make room for me to dwell in.”

Churches need converts and they should be on the lookout for them, and all who love the Lord should labor earnestly on their behalf. All of us who believe in Jesus should seek, as God helps us according to our individual talent, to bring others to the dear Savior's feet.

In the church increase often causes surprise

Take comfort then, beloved, from the fact that whatever the decreases in the church may be, we may also expect increase—and in their number, the converts will surprise us—and in their being converted at all, we shall greatly marvel!

1. Because of the time: “Behold, I was left alone.”
2. Because of their number: “Who has borne me these?”
3. Because of their former character: “These, where had they been?” They were not after all so very far off. Some of them were quite near to us and near to the kingdom, in the family, school, class, congregation, or inquiry-room. Others were far off in irreligion, and open sin. Others were opposed through rationalism, superstition, or self-righteousness.
4. Because of their good nurture: “Who has brought up these?”
5. Because of their eagerness and courage. “Will yet say in your ears, the place is too narrow for me.”
6. Because of their constancy. “Make room for me to dwell in.” They come to remain.

Where had they been? Say rather, “Where had we been?” that we had not long ago looked after them, and welcomed them.

This post was adapted from Charles Spurgeon’s sermon, Church Increase. He originally preached this message on August 18, 1881, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle.