GROWING UP TOGETHER

In the aftermath of Easter, we were thinking about growth in the church - NOT about numbers but spiritual growth. In an individualist society we are led to think of our own personal spiritual growth. However, in the Bible, the focus is on corporate growth… on "growing up" together as a Christian community. One of the obvious ways to see this is in Paul’s use of “you” in his letters to the churches - “you" is always plural, addressing the community first, and the individual only as part of the community. For example, “... just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your (pl.) lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you (pl.) were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness”.

When it comes to corporate growth the sum is greater than the parts, and we had a wonderful experience of this as we prepared for this past Easter, in our early morning prayer meetings, Easter Mission, Fellowship Meal and Last Supper Service. Hence, our Good Friday and Easter Sunday services were all the richer for the “growing up together" we experienced in the build up.

Yours in Christ,

Gavin