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Christ's Expectations

     What are Christ’s expectations when it comes to growth?

   In my last post I pointed out the 5 things that don’t fit. Those are 5 things that man places importance on when it comes to the growth of the church. 


So How Do We Grow?

Simply put, there are three things that Christ expects. Isn’t that amazing that there are only 3 things that Christ expects from us for the church to grow. For us we emphasize 5 things. Almost as if more is better.  Wait though, that is how we think. The human mind set  thinks that bigger, quicker, faster, more and multiplying is the best way to go. That is not always the answer. Possibly for man-made things it is. The church is not man-made.


The Mustard Seed

Christ expects the church to be as a mustard seed (Matt. 13:31-32; Mk. 4:30-32; Lk. 13:18-19). He expects it to start out small. He doesn’t expect it to stay that way. Although the mustard seed is the smallest seed it becomes one of the biggest plants, a tree.  When you take this view with the parable of the leaven (Matt. 13:33; Lk. 13:20-21) you glean the idea that it does not take much to grow the church. It takes the right things though. Mk. 4:26-29 points out the spontaneity of the kingdom growth.  This same verse points out that it is not us doing the growing, just the planting. The Lord adds the increase (Acts 2:47).


The Organism

Christ expects the church to be a growing organism. We are one body (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18,24; Eph. 4:1-6; 1 Cor. 12:20).  The church needs to be growing. There are only two options for the church. You are either growing or dying (Luke 13:6-9). Location, culture and society have no role or influence on the church. The church has grown everywhere. You are either bearing fruit or not (Matt 13:23).


The Stone

Christ expects the church to grow as Daniel prophesied it would (Dan. 2:43-45). Starting out as a small stone it would grow until the whole earth was filled.  Acts 4:11-12 lets us know that the cornerstone of the body is Christ. We see such growth today and in the early church. The question is, are you a part of it? It’s not about how big you are but how faithful you are. The Lord is the one who adds to the church (Acts 2:47).  We are to be working according to His will (Matt. 28:18-20). That is observing everything He commanded. This includes making disciples and immersing them into Christ authority for the forgiveness of their sins (Acts 2:38; 1 Pet. 3:21; Rm.6:1-6).


No Bones About It!

The early church made no bones about it. They did what Christ commanded and they grew. The first assembling, on the first day of the week, 3,000 were added that day (Acts 2:41). That was the first time the gospel had ever been preached. God added to them daily (Acts 2:47). There were 5,000 men who had obeyed by the time we get to Acts 4:4.  Then in Acts 5:14 there were even more believers added both men and women. This was even after church discipline was taken care of in Acts 5:1-12.  Then Acts 6:7 the number of disciples had multiplied greatly in Jerusalem.  The church had grown so great that they had to install 6 deacons just to do the work of serving the widows. A great persecution arose in Acts 8:1-4 which speared them on even the more. The church went about preaching the word. As far as Antioch where a great number believed and turned to the Lord (Acts 11:26).  They grew because they continued steadfastly in the apostles teaching (Acts 2:42). These three things not only apply to the body but each individual member. 


Ask Your Self 

  All of this growth was from the obedience of just 12 men. The whole church was started and salvation is free for all from the obedience of the Son (Heb. 5:8). So that anyone who obeys the gospel can have eternal life (Heb. 5:9). Are you growing as Christ commands, in accordance with His word? Are you growing via mans standards? It makes all the difference, one is the body of Christ, and one is the body of man.  What did that growing church look like? Is that the body you assemble with? Which soil are you (Matt 13:1-9 & 18-23)? Are you growing like the mustard seed? Are you growing with the body? Are you apart of the bodies growth?

*Note*
When we speak of growth is not by numbers or dollars signs that we measure such success or lack there of. It is by faithful souls maturing in the body. Yes, by each living faithfully there should be more souls added to the body (Rev. 2:10; Matt. 13:23; Matt. 28:18-20). However our goal is not to fill pews with well off  warm fleshly bodies who are spiritually dead.

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