Hello, Station Hill family!

On Sunday, we considered a vital truth: faithful ministry isn’t just about making new disciples; it’s profoundly about strengthening the disciples who have already believed. This was a central focus of Paul’s missionary journeys, where he consistently went back to people who had already believed to help them grow in their understanding of what it means to follow Jesus. He wasn’t content with just converts; he desired maturity, growth, and strength in the faith for everyone.

We likened this spiritual growth to physical training. Just as getting stronger physically requires specific inputs—like progressive overload, a proper diet, and adequate recovery—so too does spiritual growth require the right inputs for our souls.

The most important input needed to grow stronger spiritually is the Word of God, specifically by proclaiming Christ from it.

Paul’s method for strengthening believers was consistently through preaching Christ from the Word. His personal mission, as he described it in Colossians 1:25-29, was “to make the word of God fully known”. This meant proclaiming Christ, upholding Christ, and showing Christ from every page of Scripture, revealing Him in all His glory. Whether it was showing Jesus as the true Passover lamb, the better Moses, the greater David, or the suffering servant, Paul understood that “from Genesis to Revelation, friends, it is all pointing to him”.

The power in this approach is clear: “the clearer people could see Jesus, the stronger they would grow in their faith in Jesus”. This isn’t just about accumulating facts; it’s about seeing Jesus, trusting Him more deeply, and following Him more closely, leading to a stronger faith. The ultimate goal is to present everyone “mature” or “strong in Christ”. This spiritual strength comes through the substance of hearing about Jesus from every page of scripture, preached with both passion and clarity, including both warnings and teachings.

So, as we approach our weeks,  remember that growing strong in the Lord doesn’t happen by accident. Just like physical exercise, we have got to keep showing up and fuel our souls with the right inputs. The primary input God has given you is His Word – the Word preached, taught, studied, and discussed. This is how “weak hearts are made strong,” and how the church grows “not just wider but deeper and stronger”.

I encourage you to embrace this opportunity to feast on the Word and on Christ, allowing Him to strengthen your faith as we continue to gather, learn, and grow together.

Always grateful to be with you all!

In Christ,
John Joseph