by Bruce Stroud

It is extremely important for a congregation to grow spiritually. Paul says in Acts 20: 29-32, “I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Wherefore watch ye, remembering that by the space of three years I ceased not to admonish every one night and day with tears. And now I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you the inheritance among all them that are sanctified.” Paul warns the elders at Ephesus about the problems that will arise. Pay special attention to verse 32. “The word of grace which is able to build you up.” This is spiritual growth, and it is the responsibility of the elders to help a congregation grow spiritually. It is interesting that the four elders that we know of in the early church all write concerning spiritual growth.

For example James writes in the 1st chapter “2 Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into manifold temptations; 3 Knowing that the proving of your faith worketh patience. 4 And let patience have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing. 5 But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” James makes it clear that we need to grow. Overcoming temptations helps us grow, as does prayer.

Peter says we need to grow, in 2 Peter 1: “5 Yea, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply virtue; and in your virtue knowledge; 6 and in your knowledge self-control; and in your self-control patience; and in your patience godliness; 7 and in your godliness brotherly kindness; and in your brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful unto the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Spiritual growth is a necessity.

Jude tells us in Jude 1: “ 3 Beloved, while I was giving all diligence to write unto you of our common salvation, I was constrained to write unto you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints.” We should be able to stand up for our faith.

In 2 John: “6 And this is love, that we should walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, even as ye heard from the beginning, that ye should walk in it. 7 For many deceivers are gone forth into the world, even they that confess not that Jesus Christ cometh in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves, that ye lose not the things which we have wrought, but that ye receive a full reward.” John emphasizes that growth is the key to not loosing the reward that we have won.

And of course Jesus himself set the example for us. In Luke 2: “52 And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” We are to grow as Jesus did, in wisdom and stature and grace.
So where are we going with this? Spiritual growth is a necessity for Christians. There is no way we can be pleasing to God without growing spiritually. So the question to ask is, are you growing as you should?
One of the major jobs of the local eldership is to encourage and aid spiritual growth. One of the ways this is accomplished is by teaching. In 1 Timothy 3:2 “The bishop therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, orderly, given to hospitality, apt to teach.” Paul stresses apt to teach. This doesn’t mean will teach if forced to. It means eagerly willing and desiring to teach; always standing ready to teach on every occasion.

I think it is important that we understand that the elders of the local congregation will have to give an answer for the spiritual growth of the entire congregation. This doesn’t take away the responsibility of the individual into grow, but it does tell us that our elders should be concerned with how the congregation is growing. God will hold them accountable.

With this in mind, it seems that elders would take a leading role in helping each member of the local congregation study. We also find that our elders are supposed to encourage us in every aspect of our walk with God. In this regard, elders are shepherds. Their job is to feed the flock over which God has made them shepherds.
The role of the shepherd or elder in the spiritual growth of a congregation is key. It is ordained of God. It is not to be taken lightly. Elders are to lead wisely, warn of danger, pray for those in distress and encourage the weak as well as those who become weary. The congregation is to follow and support those men who lead wisely. This is God’s plan.

Bruce Stroud is an elder at South Cobb Church of Christ