We Must Grow!

Growth is a necessity for individual Christians as well as for congregations of the church of Christ. We are commanded to grow in 2 Peter 3:18, which says, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” We know that God expects the church to grow, because Jesus gave the great commission so that more people will be added to the Lord’s church.

Paul speaks of the church growing in Ephesians 4:15-16; “...but speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him, who is the head--Christ; from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”

If you are going to grow as an individual Christian, you must have a desire to know more of God's Word. Peter says in 1 Peter 2:3, “as newborn babes, desire the spiritual milk of the word, that you may grow-up unto salvation.” The writer to the Hebrews also expresses the need to grow in the Word of God, as he says in Hebrews 5:13, 14, “For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age (mature), that is, those who by reason of use (practice) have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

If we are going to grow, we also must be involved in good works. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” You will grow spiritually if you become more involved with doing good works.

The congregation will grow when all the members are working together in love and unity.

Notice again what Paul said in Ephesians 4:15, 16, “But speaking truth in love, may grow up in all things unto Him ... according to the effective working by which every part, makes the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love.”