The church is always tempted to look backward.
We remember full calendars, packed services, familiar routines, and we quietly hope things will “go back to the way they were.” But Jesus never called His church to go backward. He called it to bear fruit.
In Matthew 13, Jesus tells the Parable of the Sower. The seed is the Word of God. The soil is the heart. And the outcome depends on what happens after the seed is planted.
Some hear but don’t understand.
Some receive with joy but never grow roots.
Some are choked out by worry and distraction.
But some—good soil—bear fruit.
This parable isn’t just about personal faith. It’s about how the Kingdom of God grows, and how the church must function if it’s going to move forward.
What Do We Really Want From Church?
At the end of life, only two things truly matter:
The people we love
Where we will spend eternity
What we want from God—and from the church—is the Kingdom of Heaven. Not just someday, but here and now. Salvation. Healing. Truth. Transformation.
That means the church must:
Proclaim the gospel clearly
Help people grow deep roots
Walk together through hardship
Guard one another from distraction and spiritual drift
Here’s the Shift We Can’t Miss
We don’t just go to church.
We are the church.
A healthy church is not built on consumers, but on disciples. There is giving and receiving—both matter. But the mission moves forward only when believers step into responsibility, not nostalgia.
Methods will change.
Technology will change.
Schedules will change.
But the mission never does.
Church Forward
“Church Forward” means:
Same gospel
Same holiness
Same mission
New methods
New opportunities
God is still planting seed.
He’s still growing roots.
He’s still calling His church forward.
And the question for each of us is simple:
What kind of soil will I be—and how will I help the church move forward?