The growth of the Church

"The assemblies, therefore, were established in the faith and grew in number every day." Acts 16. 5

"You have anointed my head with oil, my cup overflows." Psalm 23. 5 (Segond)

We would tend to think that growth is mainly the result of evangelization. Yet this verse of the Acts puts the spiritual strengthening of the churches in the first place, before their growth in numbers. It is therefore a priority to let God work in us and through us if we really want to have a real impact on our contemporaries. This is what has been called "overflow evangelization", echoing Psalm 23 also cited.

In practice, this involves three attitudes :

1. The renunciation of activism. Jesus did not run! Faith is entering the works of God, being guided by him.

2. The prayer to hear God. Ananias listened to God, and Paul had the revelation (Acts 9:12).

3. Silent evangelization. A cup overflowing, a fruit, a lamp, salt in a dish, perfume, an open letter, a vase carrying a treasure ... make no noise, but bring something. Now, these are images of the testimony that we find in the Word !

In fact, to evangelize is above all to live the gospel, and for that, it is imperative to pursue holiness of life, spiritual unity and fraternal love. These three virtues summarize almost all the exhortations of the Word of God. To each of them is attached the promise of an impact on those around us :

- A purified and welcoming cup of grace, will soon be filled and overflow. It is the natural evangelization that stems from the life of the church.

- Brotherly love is Christ who loves this brother, this sister through me ; it is Christ whom I love, through this brother, this sister !

Spiritual unity is the unity of God, the unity of Christ with us and that between us ; they are of the same nature ! And it's not enough to be together to be united, of course ...

A church that lives this triple dimension not only testifies, even without a word, but is ready to welcome those whom God will send.

Source (To pleasing the Lord)