Have you ever marveled at the growth of a Chinese bamboo tree? For five years, it appears dormant, growing only a few inches. But in the sixth year, something remarkable happens – it shoots up to over 80 feet tall, growing as much as three feet a day. This incredible plant offers a powerful metaphor for our spiritual lives and the growth of the church.
Just like the bamboo's unseen root development, our spiritual growth often occurs beneath the surface. It may not always be visible, but deep within, God is at work, preparing us for explosive growth. This process of growth isn't just individual – it encompasses our personal faith, our church community, and our impact on the world.
Let's explore the three dimensions of spiritual growth: growing up in Christ, growing together in love, and growing out to the world.
Growing Up in Christ
Personal spiritual growth begins with a transformed heart, overflowing with joy, authenticity, and hunger for God. But it doesn't happen automatically – it requires intentional effort and divine partnership. Consider Max Anders' equation for spiritual maturity:
Wg + Pc + B + Ob + T&T = Spiritual Maturity
• Wg: Work of God – recognizing that spiritual growth starts with God's initiative
• Pc: Personal Commitment – our active participation in the growth process
• B: Bible – immersing ourselves in God's Word, our instruction manual for life
• Ob: Other Believers – engaging in community for support, encouragement, and accountability
• T&T: Time and Trials – understanding that growth takes time and often involves challenges
As Philippians 2:12-13 reminds us, "Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him."
We must remember that nobody gets holy in a hurry. Just as a child takes time to grow and mature, our spiritual development is a gradual process. God often uses trials as catalysts for growth – think of Job, Joseph, or David. Their stories remind us that even in our darkest moments, God is laying the foundation for future growth and purpose.
Growing Together in Love
The early church understood that faith isn't meant to be practiced in isolation. They met together daily, prioritizing worship, learning, and community. This wasn't just a checklist item; it was central to their lives and growth.
As Hebrews 10:25 exhorts us, "Let us not neglect meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another." We need each other to grow. The Holy Spirit didn't just bring individuals at Pentecost; He gathered them into a community.
Throughout the New Testament, we see the emphasis on churches being planted, not just scattered believers. Even Jesus Himself, in the book of Revelation, addresses seven churches, confirming the importance of belonging to a local body of believers.
When we commit to growing together in love, we create a community that others notice. The early church enjoyed "the favor of all the people" (Acts 2:47) because their love and devotion were evident to all. Are we creating that kind of attractive community today?
Growing Out to the World
The natural result of personal and communal growth is kingdom growth. As the early believers grew in their relationship with Jesus and love for one another, their faith couldn't be contained – it spilled out into the world.
Acts 2:47 tells us, "The Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." This reminds us that while kingdom growth is ultimately God's work, it requires our participation. We can't manufacture growth through clever marketing or slick presentations, but we do have a part to play in planting and watering the seeds of the gospel.
The Apostle Paul captures this partnership beautifully in 1 Corinthians 3:6-7: "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow."
We're called to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). This means we can't just focus on our own spiritual growth or even the growth of our local church – we must have an outward focus, sharing the hope and peace we've found in Jesus with the world around us.
Embracing All Three Dimensions
Like the Chinese bamboo tree, our growth – personal, communal, and kingdom – may not always be visible at first. But as we sink our roots deep into Christ, nurture our relationships within the church, and reach out to the world, we prepare ourselves for the explosive growth God has in store.
We must be patient, understanding that growth takes time. We must be persistent, not neglecting any area of growth. And we must be participatory, recognizing that while God is the one who ultimately brings growth, He invites us to be active partners in the process.
As we embrace these three dimensions of growth – up in Christ, together in love, and out to the world – we position ourselves and our churches to experience the kind of vibrant, transformative growth that characterized the early church.
So, let's commit ourselves anew to this holistic vision of growth. Let's dive deep into God's Word, invest in our church communities, and boldly share our faith with the world. As we do, we can trust that God will bring the growth, both in our lives and in His kingdom.
Are you ready? On your mark, get set... grow!
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