Rooted Week 3: Grow

Rooted Week 3: Grow

The growth of a Christian is complex and involves many change agents like God’s Word, fellowship with other believers, personal prayer and worship.

These things are all very important, but they only serve to set up fertile soil in a Christians heart.

The growth comes from God and his exclusive work in our lives.

Similar to the part a farmer plays in growing a crop, he tills the soil, he plants the seed, he waters the seed but God is the one who causes the growth.

When we do what we can do to create an environment for growth, then God’s work in our lives can take root.

1 Corinthians 3:5–9 (ESV)

5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each.

6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.

7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.

8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.

9 For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.

Supplemental Scriptural Text: Ephesians 3:17-19, Colossians 3:15-17, Colossians 2:6-7, 1 Peter 2:1-3, Ephesians 4:15-16

Introduction

(Illustration idea) Find some stories from your congregation to share. Who within your church has had God work in their lives in a powerful way? Share their experience live or on video to encourage others in their growth. Encourage them to identify some of the agents of growth that are within scripture. ie; Bible study, church attendance, small group meetings, worship, prayer, etc..

Last week we began a new 4-week series called Rooted. The agricultural imagery is strong with this series, and we will be talking a lot today about seeds, soil, and growth.

After a seed is planted, what do you expect it to do next? (GROW!) That’s right, we expect the seed to grow and ultimately we all want the seed to grow and bear tons of delicious fruit.

(Illustration idea) Take the potted plant you used last week and talk about the different things necessary to help the plant grow. From the seed to the soil to the water to the sunlight there are numerous agents necessary for a seed to grow into a plant.

We talked last week about how seeds need healthy soil to grow. This week we are going to talk about the other necessary agents of growth in a believers’ life to bring the seed of the Word to full-fruit-bearing maturity.

Main Teaching/Body

Let’s talk about the necessary agents of growth through the lens of 1 Corinthians 3:5-9 which says;

“What after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe - as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither the one who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.”

It’s important to remember today that it is God who makes things grow. The seed matters, the soil matters, the water matters, the sunlight matters but ultimately the Master Architect of growth directs the agents of growth.

Spiritual Growth is not Growth by Human Hands - 1 Corinthians 3:5-6

Throughout 1 Corinthians we see the early church fighting and quarreling about many different aspects of faith. In fact, it was such a problem that the Apostle Paul addressed it throughout the 1st and 2nd letter to the Corinthians. One of the specific arguments was over which leaders they were to follow. They must have felt that one was greater or more productive than another. Paul clearly states that these men are simply servants of God and that the fighting needed to stop because spiritual growth was not a result of human’s work. It is God who makes things grow.

This commentary in Paul’s letter was intended to free the readers from unnecessary comparison and to focus on God’s work in their lives. Unfortunately, we continue to argue today about what is the best path for growth, which Christian speaker is best, which church is most impactful, on and on it goes. According to Paul, these things all have a place but ultimately the growth is up to God.

We Are God’s Field - 1 Corinthians 3:7-9

It is good to know that God is interested in our growth. He sees each human heart as a field ready to bear fruit. Verse 9 states that we are God’s co-workers in growth. How can we practically aid God in his work? We must act with wisdom and immerse ourselves in community with others who love Jesus and are growing themselves. We must dedicate ourselves to reading God’s Word and spending time with him in prayer. We must regularly worship Jesus with our lives. We must constantly evaluate our lives and repent of our sin. We must evaluate ourselves based upon the commandments and instructions of Christ found in the Gospels.

In God’s Field, Growth is not an Option - 1 Corinthians 3:1-2

The expectation is that we would grow and mature in the faith. To be stagnant is not an option. Paul makes a comparison in 1 Corinthians 3:1-2 between milk, which is for infants, and solid food, which is for the mature;

“Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.”

In this passage Paul clearly communicates that each person starts as an infant in the faith, but is expected to become a mature follower of God. Some Christians are comfortable with their current relationship with God, even if it reveals immaturity and sin. This should not be so. It is our responsibility to take the necessary steps in our lives and others’ lives to be the agents of change God intends us to be.

(Illustration Idea) Pastor - this could be an amazing place to share a personal story about a role you played in someone’s life. Maybe you met with them every week for a year, or maybe you got to be the one who baptized them. Whichever “agent” you were in the process, it will be good for the congregation to hear how it worked out in their pastor’s life.

Growth Needs the Right Environment - Colossians 2:6-7

It almost goes without saying that spiritual growth, like natural growth, needs the right environment. It would be ludicrous to think that an apple tree could grow in the middle of the Sahara desert where the proper agents weren’t present to help encourage growth. Similarly, it is equally as ludicrous for believers to think that they can have robust and fruitful lives as disciples if they are constantly immersed in environments of sin, evil, and unhealth where the divine agents of change are not present.

Let us consider the way Paul presents this idea in Colossians 2:6-7

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

Paul is essentially saying, “do the things that you were doing when the gospel seed was first planted in you.” Continue living IN HIM. Root yourself in Christ by being devoted to the Word, to the fellowship of believers, and to prayer + worship. Continue to be strengthened by your commitments. Overflow with gratitude and thankfulness. It’s pretty hard to remain in a stagnant place when you’re overflowing with thankfulness for all that God has done in your life.

Let us be willing to evaluate and scrutinize the environments in which we are trying to grow. Be honest today about the things in your life that are not conducive to healthy growth.

Recognize Adversity as an Opportunity for Growth - James 1:2-4

Admittedly it can be hard to differentiate unhealthy times and situations from seasons of adversity that God may be using to grow us. We’ll talk more about this next week, but in light of today’s teaching on growth, it’s important to recognize that seasons of adversity can promote healthy growth.

The book of James says it like this;

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

It’s important to be prayerful through adversity. Seek counsel from more mature believers in discerning adversity from unhealth. And maybe most importantly, be humble enough to ask for help when you need it. We all have seasons of adversity and we all need a little help from time to time. That doesn’t make you weak, it makes you human. You will come through trials and adversity, a stronger and more mature believer, and that is positive kingdom growth.

Conclusion

You might not be where you want to be right now, but by the grace of God you aren’t where you used to be either.

Trust the process of growth. You are God’s field and it is God who will work through the agents of transformation to bring about growth in you. Philippians 1:6 says, “...he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Let God’s work - work in you.

Embrace opportunities to be a healthy part of another’s growth process.

Keep on meeting with other believers, keep singing, keep praying, and keep pressing on. The journey is a long one but the eternal destination is worth it.