Auxano

John 3:22–36

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When I was 15

When I was younger, I thought growth meant becoming more.

More successful. More respected. More noticed.

But the Bible presents a different picture of growth.

Not me becoming more important.

But Jesus becoming more central.

The word Auxano means to grow, to increase, to expand.

And in John 3 we discover that real spiritual growth happens when our lives begin pointing away from ourselves and toward Christ.

Context

Jesus and His disciples are baptizing in Judea.

At the same time John the Baptist is baptizing at Aenon near Salim because there is plenty of water there.

Both ministries are active.

Both are gathering people.

But then a problem begins to surface.

John’s disciples notice that the crowds who once followed John are now going to Jesus.

Comparison enters the conversation.

And John responds with one of the clearest statements about spiritual growth in the entire Bible.

Text

John 3:22–36 (CSB)

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30

This is the heart of Auxano.

Growth is not about making ourselves bigger.

Growth is about making Jesus greater.

Main Idea

Spiritual growth happens when we stop focusing on ourselves and start focusing on God.

In this passage we see three things that lead to increase in our lives.

Points

1) Stop comparing God’s work in your life to His work in the lives of others

John 3:25–26

A dispute begins among John’s disciples.

But the real issue surfaces when they come to John and say:

“The one you testified about is baptizing — and everyone is going to him.”

Their concern isn’t truth.

Their concern is comparison.

The crowds are shifting. The attention is moving. And suddenly what God is doing through Jesus feels like a threat.

Comparison does that.

It makes blessings look like competition.

It turns ministry into a scoreboard.

It makes faithfulness feel small.

Comparison is the thief of joy because it moves our attention away from what God is doing in our lives and places it on what He is doing in someone else’s.

God does not grow every life the same way.

Different seasons. Different callings. Different timing.

Spiritual growth begins when we stop measuring our lives against others and start trusting what God is doing in us.

2) Stop focusing on what you cannot control

John 3:27–33

John answers his disciples with a powerful principle:

“A person can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.”

John understood something many people struggle to accept.

Our response is up to us. The results are up to God.

John reminds them that he never claimed to be the Messiah.

He was simply the one sent ahead to prepare the way.

Then he uses a wedding image.

Jesus is the bridegroom. John is the friend of the bridegroom.

The friend’s role is not to steal the spotlight.

The friend’s role is to celebrate.

And John says something remarkable.

“My joy is complete.”

Why?

Because the mission was never about him.

Spiritual growth happens when we stop trying to control outcomes and focus on being faithful with what God has given us to do.

3) Learn to leave everything in God’s hands

John 3:34–36

The passage ends by lifting our attention to who Jesus truly is.

He is the one sent from heaven. He speaks the words of God. The Spirit is given to Him without measure.

And the Father has placed everything in His hands.

Everything.

Authority. Salvation. Eternity.

Which means the safest place for our lives is the same place.

In God’s hands.

There is a truth many believers eventually discover.

Those who leave everything in God’s hands eventually begin to see God’s hand in everything.

In their circumstances. In their opportunities. In their growth.

Trust leads to clarity.

Surrender leads to peace.

And faith leads to growth.

Response

Where in your life do you need Jesus to increase and you to decrease?

Auxano means growth.

But spiritual growth doesn’t come from focusing more on ourselves.

It happens when our focus shifts.

Stop comparing. Stop trying to control outcomes. Start trusting God with everything.

And when that happens, the words of John the Baptist become the goal of our lives.

He must increase.

I must decrease.

That is where real growth begins.

That is Auxano.