Living things have great distinctions from things that are dead. While dead things are resigned to an inert, permanent state, living things have a desire to grow, expand and reach full potential. Within the seed of an acorn, for example, is unlimited growth potential. In this sense that we take the tall and stately oak tree as a symbol of our own development in the life of God. God said of His own people in Isaiah 61:3, "they will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD...." This oak tree, planted by the Lord’s own hand, is an incredible image of the growth potential of every redeemed soul in Christ. It is this image that inspired our name, “Church in the Oaks”.

We see four major components in the growth of a tree. Each of these stages in development signify the living components God wants you to have in your life in order to reach your own "redemptive potential". At Church in the Oaks we look at assisting every person to take these four important steps towards spiritual maturity and fruitfulness. Let's look at these biotic principles as symbolised by the oak tree...

Secure your place in God's Divine Life...

Membership
Ground: Christ is the reality of life.
Path: We can be organically joined to Him as a member of His body.
Fruition: Securing a fruitful place for personal transformation.

The first step to a person's full redemptive potential as being SECURED in an essential and vital relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We view this step as finding membership in a local church. Membership is not about joining an organisation or an institution. “Membership” in Christ’s body is an organic reality brought about by God’s Spirit. It begins with receiving Christ and being baptised into His own being by an act of the Spirit of God, and consummates with securing one’s place, as a living member of this body, in a local church. Just as the roots of a tree go down into the soil to secure for itself a fruitful place to grow, so every soul needs to be "rooted" in a vital relationship with Jesus Christ and with fellow believers as "members of one body..." (Rom. 12:5). The bible says, "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him...." (Col. 2:6-7). Membership in this respect has its roots in the primary call for all people to worship Christ as the ultimate reality of life.

Become strong in His Life within...

Maturity
Ground: Christ as the content of our spiritual life.
Path: We devote ourselves to the spiritual practice of following Him.
Fruition: Becoming mature in His life.

After a stable root system, a tree then begins to mature and will grow a strong trunk that will raise branches, leaves and fruit above the earth toward heaven. Once a tree has secured its rooting system in fertile soil it begins to be STRENGTHENED in its growth potential. The establishing of a strong trunk will protect the tree from the threat of inhospitable forces and enable it to bear fruit. This stage of growth symbolises God's call to the disciplines of the spiritual life that strengthens our maturity in the life of Christ. Every Christian should become strong in the life, spirit and practice of living in Christ, so that God is able to conform their soul to the life and character of the Lord Jesus Christ. A soul strong in discipleship becomes "rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith..." (Colossians 2:7). This fulfils the biblical admonishment to "be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power" (Eph. 6:10). Discipleship is the path to maturity.

Grow to your full spiritual potential...

Ministry
Ground: Life is a stewardship of God’s riches.
Path: We make right use of the graces we’ve received.
Fruition: Contributing to the maturity of the church.

The third stage in our spiritual growth is to find our ministry in life. We all have a need to express the graces God has placed in us. Every Christian has the life of Christ within them. And this life within seeks an expression of life-purpose and ministry. A tree would soon die if it did not fulfil its divine mandate in SERVING. The leaves of a tree have a “ministry” to take poisoned carbon dioxide from the air and produce life-giving oxygen for the earth. Leaves also transform the grace of God's sunlight into a sustaining and enriching energy with which to flourish. In its very service to the earth, a tree is itself confirmed in life. "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms" (1 Peter 4:10). Life is a stewardship. Every believer should contribute the graces they have received to assist the maturing of the body of Christ for God’s eternal plan.

Mission
Ground: God’s salvation is for everyone.
Path: We serve our mission to live and proclaim Christ.
Fruition: Preparing the path for all souls to return to God’s love.

The final stage of a tree’s development is in producing seeds that contain generating life. The last contribution of a life that has reached its full potential is found in the act of SEEDING for future generations. This is God's call to mission. What do you have from God to give future generations? What lasting fruit will come from your life? What will you do with Jesus' commission to take the gospel to the world and bear fruit with it? These are questions that touch upon our mission in life. A tree will reveal the last condition of a living organism by preparing to multiply its life beyond its own death. It will produce seeds to disperse into the world -- and from those seeds further life will be planted. Jesus tells us, "the kingdom of God is like a man sowing seed..." (Mark 4:26). And from a single seed this entire process of life will begin again.