Grow Together

We’ve created a version of Christianity that God never intended. We’ve turned it into a solo sport when God designed us to be on a team. You can see this all throughout the Bible. God never meant for us to grow alone.

Think about the isolation of Adam in Genesis. God looks at Adam, surrounded by the perfection of Eden, and declares “It is not good that the man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18). This was before sin entered the world. Before anything was broken. In complete goodness of utter paradise, God says something is not good. The human heart was made for connection. For community. For growing together.

The early church didn’t know anything about this isolated Christianity we’ve created. Look at Acts 2:42. These believers were “devoted to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” The word “devoted” here means they were absolutely consumed by it. They didn’t just attend services. They didn’t just make small talk in the lobby. They threw themselves into doing life together because they understood that they are to grow together.

Listen to how Paul describes what happens in real gospel community. “Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love” (Ephesians 4:15-16).

This isn’t just beautiful poetic imagery. This is God showing us how spiritual growth actually works. Every joint. Every part. All of it matters. When was the last time you looked at the person sitting next to you in church and thought, “My spiritual growth depends partly on them”? But that’s exactly what Paul is saying. 

We’re drowning in a sea of fake connection. Our phones buzz with notifications. Our social media feeds overflow. But our souls are withering from lack of real spiritual friendship. We’ve got people watching our online persona but nobody watching our lives. Nobody looking us in the eye and asking, “How is your walk with Jesus, really?”

The writer of Hebrews knew we’d face this temptation to drift into isolation. That’s why he writes, “consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-25). 

Notice he doesn’t say “think about showing up to church.” He says, “consider how to stir up one another.” This is active. Intentional. Like a chef standing over a pot of soup, constantly stirring, making sure everything blends together. Some sauces separate if they aren’t constantly stirred. It’s the same with Christians. That’s our job in each other’s lives. Stir up one another. Grow together.

Real growth happens in community. Not the superficial kind that fades by Monday morning. The deep kind that changes how we love our spouse. Parent our kids. Handle our money. Face our anxiety. It happens when we open God’s Word together, when we’re honest about our struggles, when we pray for each other, when we hold each other accountable to living out what we believe.

The prophet Malachi gives us this stunning glimpse into God’s heart. “Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them” (Malachi 3:16). Get this. When God’s people get real with each other about the things of God, he literally leans in to listen. He pays attention. Like a father who stops everything to watch his children playing together exactly as he hoped they would.

We’re going to start a “Grow Here” blog series where we’ll explore these truths about spiritual growth. But honestly? This is bigger than any set of blog articles. This is about rediscovering God’s original design for spiritual growth. “From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work” (Ephesians 4:16).

Here’s the truth. If you’re trying to grow alone, you’re fighting against the grain of the universe. You’re resisting the very way God designed you to mature. It’s like trying to get physically fit while holding your breath. It might work for a minute, but you’ll soon collapse.

So here’s a challenge. This week, take one step toward real spiritual community. Maybe it’s reaching out to that brother or sister God keeps bringing to mind. Maybe it’s finally getting honest in your small group about that sin you’ve been fighting alone. Maybe it’s opening your Bible with someone else and wrestling through it together.

Just don’t stay alone. The God who said “it is not good for man to be alone” hasn’t changed his mind. As Hebrews reminds us, we need to “encourage one another day after day” (Hebrews 3:13). That’s how real growth happens. That’s how God designed it. That’s how lives actually change. Including yours. And that person that sits next to you in church who you can’t remember their name.

When we grow together, we grow like God intended. Let’s grow here. Let’s grow together!