Last Sunday, I had the chance to preach from the story of Gideon (Judges 6-8). I focused not so much on Gideon, but on God as the main actor in the story. God overflows in grace towards a persistently rebellious Israel. God raises up a deliverer. God rescues his people, and does so in such a way that he gets the glory.

The story of Gideon prepares us for Christ. Clearly, we needed a better savior than Gideon. And the foolishness of how God rescues Israel from the Midianite hosts (300 men armed with torches in jars and trumpets) prepares us for the foolishness of the cross. Truly, his ways are not our ways – salvation via crucifixion. Who would have dreamed up such a plan!?

But God’s plan makes it crystal clear that he is the savior, not man. We didn’t earn it, we didn’t deserve it, we couldn’t do it. No tower we build would reach high enough, no self-improvement plan good enough.

The same principle holds true for the growth of the church. Jesus promised Peter, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail.” How will he grow it? Through the proclamation of a foolish and offensive gospel. By crafting a strange, alien subculture of holy people. Through suffering, even martyrdom – the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.

When the church grows in inexplicable ways – like it is in Iran or China or Africa – without the help of slick marketing, stage lights and entertainment, or celebrity pastors, we know who gets the glory. My inbox is flooded with emails promising growth through social media marketing. My feed is filled with promotions touting churches that grew from 150 to 400 in one month using this technique.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not at all against strategic thinking, goal setting, and even some wise marketing. And I’ve been remarkably blessed by the ministries of some celebrity pastors.

But when the church relies on these things instead of the inexplicable power of God demonstrated through the preaching of the gospel, we’re off target.

God will grow his church. And he will do it in such a way that he gets the glory.

That’s the goal – GOSPEL GROWTH FOR GOD’S GLORY!