The Gospel of Growth

The directive of the gospel message is “go ye out.” The disciples were to bring the good news to communities in Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts. The gospel has always been about growth and expansion. Many of Jesus’ parables discuss how faith could grow and how God expects us to produce good fruit. There was never a command to form walled fortresses for believers to live within. The gospel flourishes where men and women of faith are active witnesses to their surroundings. In this way, faith is built for the existing community, and those in darkness are invited into light. We must always commit to growth.

Whether one is a young person in Sunday School or one in the twilight of life, the Lord offers continual growth for His children. There is no time in life when we should not be growing. I’ve heard faithful elders in their last years of life proclaim that their senior years have blessed them with greater clarity about the Kingdom and the character of God.

Hymn 377 is one of my favorite hymns. Written by Bro. Joseph Bland (1850-1916), it describes the “seasons of life” for believers. Each “season” provides a unique experience. In the Springtime, we learn when the “heart is fresh and tender.” It prepares us for the evil that lies ahead. As Solomon writes, “put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.” (Ecclesiastes 11:10). In the Summer, we reach the peak of our strength, producing fruit in abundance. We have reached a mature stage, where we can devote our energies to serving God. In the Autumn, we enjoy the storehouse of wisdom gained throughout our lives, for the harvest has come. The faith and wisdom we gained in the Spring and Summer determine the abundance of that harvest. Finally, Winter brings a certain dreariness, as health fails. But this is more than countered by the assurance of coming glory. In the Winter, we see the glory of the Kingdom with a level of acuity that we may not have had earlier. Every season of life, by God’s grace, builds on what we have learned and how we have grown.

Even a weathered vine, through the power of our Lord, can bring forth an abundant harvest. We should never see aging like the world does.

We must bear fruit in all seasons of life. Even a weathered vine, through the power of our Lord, can bring forth an abundant harvest. We should never see aging like the world does. Secular thinking about aging is that our value is tied to our vitality. This notion is the opposite of how God sees us. He sees carefully shaped minds, modified to be more like His Son. What is happening with our bodies is irrelevant to Him. Instead of dismissing us in old age, He sees us as “jewels,” His special treasure resulting from decades of an intimate relationship.

Speaking of the commitment to growth, Paul wrote:

The parable of the vine in John 15 tells us that we abide in Christ, the vine, only if we are bearing fruit. The husbandman (the Father) will cut off branches that are not bearing fruit, purging the vine so it can produce a greater harvest. We glorify God when we are fully committed to serving Him. Fruit isn’t limited to good works that only a young, vibrant body can perform. As Paul describes, the fruit has characteristics that reflect the presence of God in our lives. It is Him working through us.

Not Just Holding On

Ecclesias exist for two reasons: edification of members and outreach to those in darkness. We do His will when we are committed to both of these pursuits. Though we may see infrequent interest in the gospel when we speak to our neighbors, we cannot shrink back into an unhealthy practice of only considering and feeding ourselves. We don’t hold onto the Truth, like we would prepare for a hurricane, shuttering the windows. That is losing the perspective of the gospel of growth. Life in the Truth, and life in healthy ecclesias, is active and faith-driven. We know God can give us strength in our weakness to do His work, and we can rejoice in this. Ecclesias must be a microcosm of people who are committed to growth. We read how the Lord added to the church daily in the Acts of the Apostles. It was His work. They were the means of His operation. Paul wrote:

Paul understood that having the proper foundation is essential. But a foundation is of little use unless someone builds on it. That structure, Paul says, “grows into a holy temple in the Lord.”

I sometimes hear a sad misuse of Revelation 3:2, “Strengthen the things that remain.” This expression is often used when ecclesias are not getting the expected preaching results or are losing members. This situation understandably ushers in thoughts of just trying to hold on, laboring to keep what you have. It may seem better to focus on the consolation and edification of members. The conclusion is that growth is impossible, so just hold on and pray our ecclesia will last until Christ returns. But this interpretation is a misuse of this passage in the Apocalypse. It was spoken to Sardis, an ecclesia whose majority were not walking with Christ or meeting the requirements of God. They were alive, but they were dead. Strengthening what remained was to reinforce the faith of the few who were listening, and a call to the rest of the ecclesia to significantly change their lives. So, “strengthening the things that remain” was never about faithful ecclesias deciding to batten down the hatches, hold on to what they had, and gravitate to an exclusively internal focus. It was about an ecclesia in real trouble, whose judgment was coming soon. The call to Sardis was to help them see their need for repentance and spiritual growth was urgent.

Nature teaches us there are only two states of life—growth and decay. Most of us reach the peak of our physical growth by age twenty-one. The body begins a slow decline from that point forward. If we neglect a healthy diet and exercise, our bodies will teach us that this comes with consequences.

What Does This Look Like “Operationally?”

So how do ecclesias remain focused on the gospel of growth?

The effort begins with a sincere recognition that through Christ, anything can be done. It is not about us. It is about him and his unlimited power. We know this on a personal level. We may be powerless to overcome a lust of the flesh, but the Lord promises to succor us when tempted. (Hebrews 2:18). He does not neglect those who prayerfully ask him to help them fulfill God’s will. Growth is the will of God, and He will not disappoint. Growth may come in ways and timing that are often quite unexpected.

For ecclesias striving to jumpstart growth, knowing what we should not do is essential. Sometimes churches, in order to find growth, or limit their losses, take on a “market-driven” strategy. This involves finding out what people want, and giving that to them. But that is flipping the purpose of worship services upside down. Our commitment must be to let the Word guide us, educate us, and inspire us.

One example of this market-driven strategy was seen in the Anglican Church in the UK. Membership dropped 90% from 1930 to 2024, down to about one million members. The church heavily debated what to do to mitigate these losses. In the end, the Anglican Church determined to be more culturally relevant to emerging views in current society. This strategy has been a woeful failure, as many perceived the church had compromised Scriptural principles to chase membership. Here’s what one journalist wrote:

The question is: how did we get here? The answer lies in the choices made by the Church itself. In a world increasingly captivated by secular ideologies, the Church of England has floundered. Instead of standing firm against the tide, it has sought to ride the waves, abandoning timeless principles in favour of fleeting trends. Its leaders, once unafraid to speak truth to power, now seem more concerned with appealing to cultural sensibilities than with safeguarding the eternal truths of the Gospel.¹

We may decide it is appropriate to adjust certain practices, such as worship music, the Bible version used, or how we conduct our Memorial Services. However, we cannot compromise truth. The gospel of God is beautiful and requires no censoring. It is the power of God unto salvation.

We must start by praying to God about our concerns about stalled growth. He knows we have lost members in our ecclesia, even those just hanging on. He knows our once-vibrant ecclesia is aging, and the future of our lightstand appears to be at risk for us. He knows we have faithfully preached in our communities, spending many hours distributing handbills, arranging talks and seminars, speaking to our neighbors. Our Lord Jesus Christ knows exactly how it feels to speak gracious words, only to be rejected. He knows this can be a challenge to our faith. Take these concerns as an ecclesia to God in constant prayer. Identify the presenting need for your ecclesia and engage everyone in personal prayers about it. Include this petition every week in your worship service prayers, including each week in the opening prayer by the presider.

We are reminded that the ecclesia was huddled together in prayer at the time Peter was in prison and Herod had killed James. Prayer was their only option, as they were powerless to save Peter. They must have believed logically that the Lord could arrange the release of Peter, but they doubted it would happen. Imagine their shock when Peter knocked on the front door. It was too much for them to believe. “It is his angel,” some replied. (Acts 12:15). Peter kept knocking. Finally, they saw him and were astonished. Even these faithful in Jerusalem had difficulty believing God could answer their petitions. But that is precisely what is required by faith. Ask and believe that our God will perform.

Small Ecclesias

Bro. Harry Tennant once gave a class on “The Joys and Sorrows of Small Ecclesias.” I remember it well, since I was once part of a smaller ecclesia. The joys are realized in the level of intimacy that exists. The ecclesia feels like your family. We all know each other, and there are opportunities for all to contribute. But the flip side is that we can feel overwhelmed by the many responsibilities. Brothers may exhort at least once a month, lead Bible classes, and support other ecclesial activities. Sisters carry similar responsibilities week to week. Many take this burden with grace and love. However, these internal requirements make it challenging to think about outreach work and growth. Hands are full. We feel that if we can just do an adequate job teaching our own children and encouraging our members, this is likely the best we can do. However, the ecclesia, perhaps understandably, is out of balance.

The Lord knows we are working faithfully. He knows we must consider the few in our flock and provide encouragement and sustenance. But He also knows how to help the ecclesia grow. He can introduce us to people we did not know, add new families that bolster our ecclesial life, and lead us to the individual in our community we had never met but who yearns for truth. We must have the faith to ask and believe He can do this.

Growth is an Assurance

Growing is so much better than declining. But growth is more than the number of people sitting in seats. It is about excitement for the gospel and a nourishing fellowship. In the end, we cannot grow spiritually on our own. This growth is a gift from God through the Lord Jesus Christ. When we grow, personally, ecclesially, or as a community, it is evidence our faith is genuine and the Father and Son are with us. As I look at our global community today, there is overwhelming evidence our Lord is blessing our work, helping us to grow and bear much fruit.

Dave Jennings