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Extend: A Freeing Structure Posted July 22, 2010 by Aaron Story |  |
CATEGORY: General
As a church, we have a variety of types of people. Many people desire lots of structure while others resist it in their spiritual journey's. Our desire for every discipleship relationship is to help each person cultivate the right combination of structure and freedom that best honors their personal story, journey, and place with Jesus Christ.
Not only must we establish structures to help support growth, we encourage personal freedoms. Too much structure is a possible pitfall, and yet to much freedom lacks consistent fruit the Lord desires. Also, it must be noted that having only structure whether
it be much or little is a great pitfall as well. The Analogy of the Tomatoe Plant through the passage of Matthew 13:1-23. The Soil is our hearts. The seed is the Gospel. The plant is our lives. The Fruit is what the Lord produces through the Gospel at work in us.
- To much freedom: The plant grows flat and flourishes short term but eventually both the fruit and plant die.
- To much structure: The plant grows straight up while never producing sustainablefruit and the plant itself is choked out by not enough freedom.
- The right balance: While the structure is barely noticable, the plant flourishes with fruit!
Read Matthew 13:1-23.
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1 COMMENT(S)
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[ DeeDee Melloh on Jul 29, 2010 9:48am ]
This reminds me of the raising of children. When parents provide a structure that is designed specifically for each particular child, he flourishes. The structure has to allow for the personality, gifts, and bent of the child. One that is too rigid could squelch the spirit of the child, and one that is too lax can lead to insecurity and lack of direction and productivity. But a custom made structure undergirds the child and helps him to be all he was created to be, and to bear much fruit. Such is the Word of God, living and active, providing a custom built structure for each of the Father's children. Always supporting, never constricting, and resulting in an abundant spoil. So it also is with His church. Cool.