Grow in Christ

Introduction

Salvation is free, but discipleship costs everything we have.

Billy Graham

Salvation is God’s gift to us because Jesus died for us on the cross. Discipleship is our gift to Him as we take up our cross, die to self, and follow the Lord in everything.

Warren W. Wiersbe

Living the Dream is living a life God has prepared for you.

Living the Dream is about God’s plan for you and for this local community of faith (the church).

That plan is established on the solid foundation of connecting with God and one another in love.

From a foundation of love, we build the church.

Here at Racine Assembly of God, we have a dream that is centered on Growing in Christ.

Dream Statement

We dream to be a church where people are mentored and nurtured in good works and through sound doctrine as they are being transformed into followers of Christ.

Growing in Christ is all about discipleship: being transformed into followers of Christ.

Ephesians 4:11-13 describes discipleship:

Text

Ephesians 4:11–13 NLT

11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

Transition

The transformational quality of discipleship is powerfully expressed in this passage.

There are five formidable characteristics necessary for spiritual growth:

Growing in Christ is relational.

It’s Relational

Unity in our faith

Healthy relationships in the Body of Christ brings about unity in our faith.

Unity in faith in the Body of Christ embraces to presence and power of God corporately and personally.

This is accomplished through healthy relationships.

How?

First, God gives the church leaders—leaders who are empowered to operate apostolically, prophetically, evangelistically, and pastorally.

Second, these leaders have the purpose of equipping God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

(PROBLEM: When leaders fail to equip and empower God’s people to serve)

And third, the aim for equipping is unity in the faith—which is a key component to spiritual growth.

Application: Christian leadership has more to do with equipping people rather than lording over them.

There is another component to spiritual growth:

Growing in Christ is knowledgeable.

It’s Knowledgeable

Maturity in our Knowledge of Jesus

Ephesians 4:13 (NLT)

13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

Just like the Sun, fertile soil, and water are essential for a plant to grow, faith and knowledge are essential for you to grow in your relationship with God.

What does the “knowledge of God’s Son mean?

First, it speaks to a personal, saving relationship with Christ.

Second, it is understanding all that Christ did and taught.

The result of personal, faithful relationship with Jesus AND know what He did and taught IS maturity.

Why is spiritual maturity so important?

Ephesians 4:14 NLT

14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.

In other words, “immaturity in the truths of Christian doctrine makes the church like gullible children tossed helplessly by the waves and wind of cunning and deceitful schemes of false teachers.” (ESV Study Bible)

On the other hand, maturity leads to effectiveness in ministry.

Growing in Christ is conversational

It’s Conversational

Civility in our witness

Ephesians 4:15 NLT

15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.

Our civilization is not very civil these days.

But a mature, growing Christian will “speak the truth in love.”

When it comes to the follower of Christ demonstrating Christlikeness in the world—there is no room for arrogance, pride, and hostility.

When proclaiming and living the truth of Christ is done through sincere and compassionate love.

Arguing guilting, and forcing people into the Kingdom of God DOES NOT WORK. In fact, it is a sure fire way of hindering people from ever accepting the truth of Christ.

Love is the atmosphere that is needed for the Gospel truth to be heard and received.

Growing in Christ is experiential.

Notes

It’s Experiential

Responsibility in our activity

Ephesians 4:16 NLT

16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

Discipleship is work. It is discovering our calling—the things that God wants us to do.

When individual believers engage in the ministry, we will help others develop and grow.

When everyone is doing their part, the Scripture tells us “that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.”

That kind of church not only grows—it becomes a place of joy, peace, and hope.

Growing in Christ is vital.

It’s Vital

Accountability in our quality

A church is more than numbers. It is more than attendance and finances.

A growing believer and a growing church is about quality.

Ephesians 4:21–24 NLT

21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

Take off the old and put on the new.

Sometimes we think spiritual growth and maturity just happens. It is all about the miracle of God in our life—we are just along for the ride.

However, transformation, discipleship, and spiritual growth invites the Christian to make a decision.

We need to let go of our old life of sin—and we need to embrace the new life of righteousness and holiness.

Spiritual growth is about quality—the quality of our relationship with God and the quality of our relationships with others.

Conclusion

A healthy Christian and a healthy church grows in maturity through the presence and power of Jesus Christ.

We facilitate this growth:

By utilizing gifted leaders to equip God’s people who will serve in ministry. Equipping happens through healthy relationship.

By knowing Jesus personally and understanding what He did and what He taught.

By communicating the truth of Christ in sincere love.

By engaging in the work of God and helping others discover their calling.

By recognizing that spiritual growth is vital to your spiritual life and the life of the church.

Three Action Steps

Belong to a Life Group, Life Class, or a Ministry Team. Spiritual growth happens in relationships.

Learn about what Jesus did and what he taught. Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Do the work of God from the overflow of your relationship with God.