In 2020 I became a “plant mom.” This might not sound ground-breaking, but I promise you, up to that point, I did not have a green thumb on either hand, as I had never kept a plant alive. However, in the fall of 2019, I bought a couple of plants at The Gift Goes On, with a promise from the seller, “these are nearly impossible to kill,” so I decided to try my hand at botany. Turns out, they were indeed easy to keep alive and the seed was planted in me to keep growing my plant collection - which to date includes 31 plant-babies. The secret, I discovered, is threefold: healthy soil, correct watering, and appropriate placement.
As we embark on the 24 Essentials at Council Road this year, we find among one of our primary essentials is community. According to the devotional book entitled, Follow Jesus, printed by our church to guide us through this year, “the church is the soil of community.” What does that mean? If the “seed” is the gospel, it must be planted in the right soil in order to thrive, “a seed that isn’t planted in the soil will never germinate and develop… In community, we find ourselves in an environment where we can be challenged to grow deeper” (Follow Jesus, pp. 33-34), and this soil creates a healthy environment where growing deep roots and developing fruit can take place.
The Church is the Soil
The Church should provide healthy soil for the planting of many seeds and the growth of many “trees.” As the Body of Christ, the soil is our foundation from which we are planted, then grow, eventually with our own branches/lives producing fruit. Like a forest of trees, we are all unique and our lives will look different, as well as the ways we live and serve in and outside of the Church. However, we need the healthy soil of the Church as a place where we are rooted, connected, strengthened and nourished, to be all that Jesus calls us to be. Just like there are nutrients within the potting soil I use, the Word of God and the Spirit of God are the nutrients available to all believers and should infiltrate the soil of our Churches. As we plant ourselves into the soil of community within our church, opening ourselves up to the word of God, we receive the life-giving and life-changing power of God through His word and His people. So “that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:19).
The Watering
Once we have established healthy soil, we still need consistent care to keep thriving. In my home, I learned that the amount of water each plant needs can be tricky; some require more and some require less frequent watering, but all plants need water. Over-watering made some of my plants develop brown, crusted edges, as too much water was drowning them, while under-watering resulted in some dry and withering plants, desperate for a drink. In our relationships, time together waters our souls. However, we are all wired differently - for some, a once-a-week meeting is refreshing, while for others, multiple gatherings with other believers keeps them well-watered. We all need time together in community with other believers, however let’s not drown in busyness, or wither with too little connection. Healthy habits include finding the “watering schedule” right for your personality and current season.
The Placement
Some of my plants thrive in the front windows of my house, and others along the back walls. Again, this reminds me of our relationships. Are we putting ourselves in the right place to receive the right kind of connection we need from our community? Do you crave more solid teaching and time in the Word? A connection class, community group or Bible Study would be a great place to position yourself. Do you desire more social connections with other believers? Look at our church calendar for opportunities outside of Sunday/Wednesday programming, like open times at the Cube or volleyball for young adults. If you don’t see what you think would be life-giving, pray about being the one to start it and ask God to place the people around you who need that type of community, too.
The bottom line in planting, as well as in cultivating relationships, is knowing what your plants and people need to thrive. Let’s step into 2024 with the intention of digging deep into the soil of biblical community, as we are consistently watered and in the right place for healthy connections and spiritual growth, in order to “bear fruit that will last” (John 15:16).
Meet the Author!
Heather McAnear is a wife, mom, author and speaker with a passion for sharing God's truth to help women understand their uniquely beautiful design and how to use it for God's glory! In fact, Heather hosts the Uniquely Beautiful Stories podcast on iTunes in hopes do just that! She loves teaching young married couples with her husband, time with her three teen-aged children, traveling, enjoying good chocolate and long conversations in coffee shops. CRBC has been her church home for more than two decades and serving on the Women's Ministry team has been one of her greatest joys!