Growing a Healthy Church Sample

Healthy Churches Grow and Reproduce

What does an apple tree produce? This might seem like a simple question, but many times our answer is incomplete. The answer “apples” is correct, but on its own, it misses the true scope of the apple tree. Apple trees were meant to create more apples, which were meant to create more apple trees, which were meant to create more apples, which were meant to create more apple trees. You get the idea. Apples alone are not what apple trees produce. A healthy apple tree has the potential to not only produce many apples but many apple trees.

We love this picture of the apple tree as a metaphor for healthy churches. Healthy churches are not only passionate about growing their church but also growing other churches. Their influence and growth go far beyond their walls. In the early church, you see this explosion of growth. It was not just people in one area being reached and changed, but pockets of people coming together from different areas to reach more people.

By the end of Acts, we see that the churches (plural) were strengthened and growing daily. That explosion of growth is why we are even reading this plan now! Growth isn’t an option for healthy churches; it is a responsibility. And, growth isn’t just about a single church. It’s about the “capital C” Church—the global body of Christ. Healthy churches grow and reproduce.

As you read today’s passages, I pray you’re stirred by God to embrace the power and responsibility of His church and recognize the seed of greatness that He has planted in you! Just like the early church, we’re still called to grow and reproduce!