Preachers are fond of talking about "advancing", "furthering", "adding to", or "growing" the Kingdom. These phrases are usually used in the context of Christian ministry and witnessing, suggesting that our evangelism can/will make the Kingdom expand. I have not been able to find any Biblical references to this concept. Where in the Scriptures does our Lord mention anything about our ability, let alone responsibility, to advance or grow His Kingdom? Proving a negative can be challenging, so I cannot yet say with certainty that this phraseology don't exist in the Word. If you find such an instance, post it here.

Perhaps the Kingdom is as the Lord decides, and we really have no say in its scope or membership. To suggest otherwise is to imply we have an active role in others' salvation. I just don't see this to be so. We may be witnesses of the Good News of eternal salvation from sin, but in no way do we render a verdict or even manage the process. Even the seeds we may plant in others make no difference on their own. We cannot make the sun shine, the soil to be fertile, or the rain to fall. These are acts of God (artificial greenhouses notwithstanding, acknowledging the limits of metaphor). If we cannot effect change in others, we must not be able to effect change in the makeup of the Kingdom. Therefore, we cannot "expand" the Kingdom by anything we may do.

Preachers who use these phrases are unwittingly (or maliciously) attempting to heap undue and ungodly responsibility upon their congregants. For shame! We are responsible for giving true testimony, offering our witness to others as we're called to do so by the Judge. We are not responsible for the Kingdom's membership, and we cannot advance, grow, or otherwise affect the Kingdom (with the possible exception of stupidly excluding ourselves).