Increasing (837)(auxano) means to cause to grow or cause to become greater in extent, size, state, or quality and in the current verse pictures the believer's continual (present tense) spiritual growth (note passive voice = saint is acted upon by God's Spirit Who produces the growth) "in (the sphere of, circumscribed by, encircled by, surrounded by - the "air" a believer "breaths" in and is enabled to live and grow spiritually is called "grace" and "true knowledge") the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2Pe 3:18-note) as we obey (Jn 7:17) and as we walk worthy (cf Php 1:27-note). Auxano - 23x times in 23v -- Matt. 6:28; 13:32; Mk. 4:8; Lk. 1:80; 2:40; 12:27; 13:19; Jn. 3:30; Acts 6:7; 7:17; 12:24; 19:20; 1 Co. 3:6f; 10" class="scriptRef">2 Co. 9:10; 10:15; Eph. 2:21; 4:15; Col. 1:6, 10; 2:19; 1 Pet. 2:2; 2 Pet. 3:18. NAS = causes the growth(1), causing the growth(1), full grown(1), grew(1), grow(8), growing(2), grows(2), increase(2), increased(2), increasing(2), spreading(1). Auxano - 34x in the Septuagint (LXX) - Gen 1:22, 28; 7" class="scriptRef">8:17; 9:1, 7; 17:6, 20" class="scriptRef">20; 21:8, 20; 25:27; 26:22; 28:3; 30:30; 35:11; 41:52; 47:27; 48:4; 49:22; Ex 1:7; 23:30; Lev 26:9; Num 24:7; Josh 4:14; Jdg 5:11; 1 Chr 14:2; 17:10; 23:17; 2 Chr 11:23; Job 42:10; Ps 105:24; Isa 61:11; Jer 3:16; 22:30; 23:3 Note especially the vitally inherent in the Word of God - Acts 6:7; 12:24; 19:20 - So what? Preach the Word in season and out if you want to see your congregation grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. There are no shortcuts. Paul used auxano in this same chapter of spiritual growth, describing the gospel which had come to and transformed the lives of the Colossians "just as in all the world also it (the gospel) is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth." (Col 1:6-note) Paul later warned the Colossian saints to beware of defrauders who were "not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows (auxano) with a growth (auxesis) which is from God." (see note Colossians 2:19). There is no spiritual growth for the body (the church) apart from union with the Head, Christ. Using auxano with a similar meaning, Paul wrote to the Corinthian church: "I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth." (1Cor 3:6-7) Increasing or growth predicates an object having the element of life within itself and being acted upon by an outside power or force to produce either natural growth (eg, "lilies of the field grow" - Mt 6:28-note) or, in the metaphorical sense, spiritual growth, as used by John the Baptist in his reference to Jesus, declaring "He must continually increase (auxano) and I must continually decrease." (Jn 3:30) In (2Cor 10:15) Paul writes to the Corinthians expressing his hope that their "faith grows" (literally - is continually being grown) Another picture of spiritual growth is found in Luke's three descriptions of the Gospel as "the word of God ( which) kept on spreading (increasing, growing) and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith." (Acts 6:7), "the Word of the Lord continued to grow and to be multiplied." (Acts 12:24), and "the Word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing." (Acts 19:20). How important for pulpits everywhere to ensure and facilitate conditions which maximize the "growth" of the Word of the Lord in the "garden" of the local body of Christ, in Whom the whole building, being fitted together is (continually) growing (auxano) into a holy temple in the Lord." (Ep 2:21-note) Paul exhorts believers at Ephesus Enfolded in love, let us grow up (auxano) in every way and in all things into Him Who is the Head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)." (Eph 4:15-note, Amplified) And in one of the most foundational truths in the New Testament regarding spiritual growth, Peter says that after putting aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babes, long for the pure (unadulterated, no additives, no artificial substitutes) milk of the Word, that (purpose clause) by it you may grow (auxano) in respect to salvation (into conformity to the image of Christ). (see notes 1 Peter 2:1; 2:2) Warren Wiersbe comments that "It is sad when Christians have no appetite for God’s Word, but must be ‘fed’ religious entertainment instead. As we grow, we discover that the Word is milk for babes, but also strong meat for the mature (He 5:11, 12, 13, 14-see notes Heb 5:11-12; 13-14). It is also bread (Mt. 4:4) and honey (Ps 119:103)." (Wiersbe, W: Bible Exposition Commentary. 1989. Victor) The point is that their is no spiritual growth in a believer who does not personally imbibe the milk of the living and active Word of God. Dear child of God, these truths about auxano beg the question "Beloved, beloved, tell me beloved, how does your garden grow? (modified from the familiar nursery rhyme) Knowledge of God - Not just becoming smarter sinners (smug and sacrosanct), but becoming more like the Savior (submissive and serving).