The church is what it is. It is not reproducible. There is only one church. Jesus is building it.

What is reproducible is a Christ follower. One beggar tells another the source of bread. God’s plan to reunite humankind with Him through Jesus Christ is the story of Scripture.

Since Acts chapter 2, one after another, the Holy Spirit reproduces followers of Jesus day after day, month after month, year after year, and century after century.

And, Jesus wants to see me set the power of the Holy Spirit free to reproduce spiritual fruit in my life.

Paul, in writing to Christians—living in what would be present day Turkey—focuses on Jesus. He first quotes Jesus, as he reminds believers that the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

He then thinks of Jesus in terms of the fruit produced by following the Son: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—all taught by Jesus in the four Gospels.

Spiritual fruit is reproducible.

Christ followers producing fruit assemble with one another as God’s children.

Scripture refers to these groups as fellowships, assemblies, and church. These groups too are reproducible. Throw in the word congregation, and we use mostly these four descriptors for the church that meets around the globe.

Here is what I find to be interesting: These groups are only reproducible to the extent that they produce the spiritual fruit of Jesus.

The only way to tell if a church belongs to the body of Christ is its overflowing witness of love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

At the end of the day, there is only one church. It is the one built by Jesus. It is Jesus’ church. I have no say in it. I can’t reproduce it. I can only belong.

What I can do is decide to follow Jesus, share His cross gift with others, and work on growing the fruit of Christ within my life and assist others as they attempt to do the same.

That is reproducing the reproducible.

I think God might reproduce His smile on all of us if we could get this one teaching right.

Stay tuned.

Gary J. Sorrells on Cross Church