Growing

Last week we reflected on what it means to be ROOTED — and how being rooted deepens our long-held value of BELONG.

This week we turn to the next word: GROWING.

In Ephesians 4:15–16, Paul describes what growth looks like in the life of the church:

“Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped,
when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”

Notice what growth is centered on: Christ.
We grow “into him who is the head.” Growth is not self-improvement. It is Christ-formation.

And Paul says we grow up in every way.

Growth is not compartmentalized. It isn’t just about knowing more Bible verses. It touches our minds, our speech, our relationships, our habits, our service, our generosity, our courage. Christ intends to shape every dimension of our lives. To grow is to allow Jesus to form us — in every way.

For years, we have used the words BELIEVE and BECOME to describe this part of our life together. Those words still guide us. To grow is to believe the truth about Christ more deeply — and to become more like Him together.

Paul tells us that growth happens as we “speak the truth in love.” That means we open Scripture together. We encourage one another. We correct gently. We pray. We remind each other what is true when life feels confusing or heavy. Growth requires both truth and love — not one without the other.

And notice something else: growth is communal.

“The whole body… joined and held together… when each part is working properly, makes the body grow.”

Spiritual growth is not a solo project. Every member matters. Every gift contributes. When each part participates, the whole body becomes stronger, steadier, and more loving.

At Living Hope, we don’t simply want people to attend. We want to be a church that is growing — connected, engaged, and built up together. We want to be a body where every person is learning, serving, encouraging, and becoming more like Christ.

To be GROWING means we expect transformation. It means we speak truth with love. It means we embrace our role in the body. It means we are becoming a mature, connected, Christ-centered community — shaped by Jesus in every way.

Next week, we’ll consider what it means to be FRUITFUL — and how that connects with our long-standing call to BE BOLD.