A Growing-Up Church

Introduction

General: It’s amazing how fast kids grow… When we moved here in 2017, Asher was 7, Jack was 5, Elliot was 3, Graham was 1, and Mae Cat wasn’t born yet… The days are long, but the years are short.

Personal: You can tell when a child is growing up. How can you tell if a church is growing up?

Biblical

A disciple is someone who is actually following Jesus in life. I respond when Jesus calls. My identity is found in Christ. I am living on mission.

A disciple grows by abiding in Christ. I let God take control. I let his Word abide in me. And I love others.

A disciple becomes a reflection of Jesus in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Disciples are ordinary people with and extraordinary God. They’ve been with Jesus, they’re filled with the Holy Spirit, and they’re united in heart and mind.

Subject: This morning, we’re going to talk about disciples together. How do we, together, become a growing-up church? How does our congregation become a spiritually mature fellowship of believers?

Body (Eph 4:11-16)

What Maturity Looks Like

Two Marks of Maturity

Faith and knowledge are united (vv. 13-14)

Signs of immaturity

We think faith and knowledge oppose each other.

We’re strong in faith but weak in knowledge.

We’re strong in knowledge but weak in faith.

Signs of maturity

I trust God, even when he says no.

I trust God, even when I don’t know the answer to my question.

The more I learn, the more I love (not know).

“In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, charity (love).”

Faith + Knowledge = Anchored in Jesus (v. 14)

Truth and love are united (vv. 15-16)

Truth – Love = Uncaring

Love – Truth = Enabling

Truth + Anger = Contempt

Truth + Love = Christ

Conviction + Compassion = Gospel Witness

Summarize: A mature church is growing up to resemble Jesus in every way.

Faith, knowledge, truth, and love

Thoughts, words, attitudes, actions

How Growth Happens

Exposition (vv. 11-12, 15-16)

Jesus makes a church grow spiritually by giving leaders who equip the members to do their part and build each another up.

Jesus gives leaders to a church, and some of you are those leaders, even if you don’t know it yet!

Apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, teachers… missionaries, elders, pastors, deacons, ministry directors, worship leaders, church staff.

It’s not just the leaders’ job to do the ministry… it’s everyone’s job to do the ministry.

Application: When a congregation forgets that everyone is responsible to do the work of the ministry, that church’s growth and maturity are stunted.

What’s My Part?

Am I growing up in Christ?

Faith, knowledge, truth, and love?

Am I growing to resemble Jesus in every way?

The church is a community that provides opportunities for us to grow up in Christ. Are you taking advantage of those opportunities?

Am I building up the church?

Am I coming to consume or to contribute? To receive or to give?

It took me many years to realize that it’s both. Contribute and consume. Speak and listen. Serve and be served. Bless and be blessed. Give and receive. Love and be loved. Teach and learn. Faith and knowledge. Grow myself and build up others. Truth and love.

If you’re not sure what your part is, just ask what’s needed and start there.

Here’s something everyone can start doing today: Meet someone new (try for one new person a month).

Conclusion

A mature church is growing up to resemble Jesus in every way.

Jesus makes a church grow by giving leaders who equip the members to build each other up.

Am I growing up in Christ? Am I building others up in him?