Dear Christian friends:

We all want our church to grow. Churches grow in two ways: grow larger, more members or add new members, and grow stronger faith, love and service.

God also wants churches to grow. In our text St. Paul explains to us about how the churches grow. So let us attend to our text and think about


Things which prevent a church from growing. One thing that prevents church growth is when members quarrel and fight with one another. Because of envy, jealousy and pride members hurt one another and insult one another. Then happens hurt feelings, members lose their eagerness and refuse to cooperate and work together.

In our text St. Paul urged the Christians at Ephesus "to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." The Holy Spirit has united us Christians in one group or family. He has made us brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. As members of God's family we have one Father, one God, one hope, one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. Therefore we should love another like dear brothers and sisters.

Paul says, "Remain patient with one another in love, with all humbleness and kind understanding and with long patience." (verse 2)

A wise physician once said, "I have been practicing medicine for thirty years, and I have prescribed many things. But I have learned that what people need most is patient understanding of their problems. That is the best "medicine." A man asked, "Perhaps that fails, then what?" "Double the dose," the doctor replied.

If another church member bothers you and makes trouble for you, don't become angry at him or give up on him. Try to understand his problem. Be patient with him and try and help him to improve.

A successful business man died and now they were having his funeral service. Several people arose and said nice words to honor his good life and work. Finally a black man arose to speak. He was shy and showed much emotion. He had a hard time to say the words he wanted to say. He said, "The businessman was very kind and patient with me. When I was an office boy he encouraged me to go back to business college and he paid my tuition. But I failed again and again. But he never gave up on me. And he never let me give up on myself."

The black man was weeping as he said, "Anyone will support a successful person, but only a rare and wonderful person could continue to have faith in a failure."

We Christians should try to become like that businessman, "rare and wonderful people," patient with the weak and those who fail. Then our church will have peace and grow.

In the book named "The Little Prince" there is the story about the Little Prince and the fox which teaches us about patience: The fox looked at the little prince for a long time, "Please tame me!" he said. The little prince replied, "But I have not much time. I must visit my friends and learn to understand many things."

The fox replied, "One understands the things that one tames." "What must I do to tame you?" asked the little prince. "You must be very patient, " replied the fox. "First you will sit down a short distance from me." The little prince sat down in the grass about ten feet from the fox. Then the fox continued, saying, "I shall look at you out of the corner of my eye, and you will say nothing. Words often make much misunderstanding. But you will sit a little closer to me, each day, until you are sitting beside me."

If you can tame a fearful animal, you can make friends with a fearful person, but you and I must learn to be very patient.

If we all learn to show love and patience with one another our church will have peace and we will eagerly work together and cooperate and then our church will grow.

Remember, God has been very patient with each one of us and has shown great love to us in Jesus Christ. Although we often sin against Him and fail Him, He does not give up on us. He continues to call us to repentance and faith through our church and pastors as they each Sunday preach the Gospel, baptize and give the Lord's Supper. May God's great love in Christ Jesus touch our hearts and help us to show love and patience to others.

Yes, we must teach the truth, "pure doctrine", to others but we must not speak the truth with hate or pride. Let us speak the truth to sinners with humble spirit, with love and patience and with the intention of winning that person for Christ. Then we will truly help our church to grow. God help us!

Amen.