The Lord gives to his church “mercy servants,” whose deeds of compassion complement the gospel witness of his “Word servants.” As a result the Word continues to increase, to grow, like fertile seed planted in soil softened by the sovereign Holy Spirit. Jesus had used pictured the spread of his gospel as seed broadcast throughout the world (Mark 4:2-9). Both Luke (Acts 6:7; 12:24; 19:20) and Paul (Colossians 1:3-10) use the same imagery to teach us that Jesus grows his church and expands his kingdom of grace through the dynamic, organic power of his Word, planted in human hearts by his Spirit.
Church Growth Is Word Growth
