Glendale Church of the Brethren

Matthew 13:3, 7, 23

³And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow.”

⁸Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

 ²³But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

It was a wonderful visit, the young couple had attended the church just last weekend.  They were expecting their first child.  I went away from the visit with only one thought in my mind – “You could build a church around this couple.” 

New Testament Church growth is based on Quality, not Quantity.  While many “seeds” go to waste, a few, a precious few, are planted in fertile ground and they give a tremendous return – out of all proportion.  Sometimes the person or couple have grown up in Christian homes where spirituality, understanding the Bible, and faith were truly taught and exemplified.  Other times you meet a person who has undergone a personal transformation – so even though that person did not grown up in Christian home – they have a faith that is real and genuine.

You can sense the faith in the way they talk, carry themselves, and in their genuine humility.  Having a person with that kind of faith in the church will attract many, many others.  When I meet believer’s like that, I am proud to be their pastor.  It makes all the work and previous disappointments all worthwhile.

Peace

Doctor “J”