Filled with His Fullness

Ephesians 3:14–21 ESV

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3:14-21

John 15:1–5 ESV

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

The greatest growth comes out of something you’re avoiding

1. Introduce Self

2. in Christ past few years For the past few weeks, we’ve been talking about what it means to grow in Christ. We’ve talked about how growth happens in the places we want to avoid...pain, doubt, fear, sadness. Growth happens when we’re rooted in the truth of the Gospel…that Jesus Himself is the way, the truth, the life that brings us growth. Growth happens when we choose to serve others first. We’ve been challenged to lean into the pain and lean on Christ as the truth and lean out into the lives of those around us.

2. Growth in Christ Series - Growth in pain…in truth…in serving others. Tonight we’ll continue on in this series in . So if you have your Bibles, feel free to go there with me. It will also be on the screen.

We’ve talked about ways that we can grow…but we want to lay before you the very reason why

For the past few weeks, we’ve been talking about what it means to grow in Christ. We’ve talked about how growth happens in the places of pain, doubt, fear, sadness…the places that we want to avoid. It happens when we’re rooted in the truth of the Gospel…that Jesus Himself is the way, the truth, the life that brings us growth. We’ve been challenged to lean into the pain and lean on Christ as the truth.

3. Gardening requires intentional and consistent care. But the growth happens when we don’t see it, right? When we

Prepping for message - “Oh! I’ll spend these 2 weeks growing!”

Fear of no growth became shame - My motivation for growth was rooted in the need and desire to impress people, rather than growing in Christ.

Tonight we’ll continue on in this series in . So if you have your Bibles, feel free to go there with me. It will also be on the screen.

Led me to the question that I want to invite you into tonight:

When I started prepping for this message tonight, it felt natural to speak out of a natural overflow of how I felt I was growing. The natural question I asked myself was “Where am I growing?” You can ask my roommates…I panicked a little that I couldn’t find an answer. “HAVE I NOT GROWN AT ALL THIS YEAR?!”

I kept thinking…well okay, maybe if I just spend the next two weeks REALLY intentionally growing in humility, or in patience, then I’ll find something to preach about! Which in retrospect is like…really? As if I’m going to magically learn all the ins and outs of humility in 14 days.

So it wasn’t the greatest feeling when I couldn’t think of anything. I began to blame it on having to do overtime at work. I blamed it on conflict around me. I blamed it on

realize that I have spent the better part of the last year growing in selfishness and pride.

I have become unteachable, prideful, and unwilling to admit that I’m wrong. Anyone else relate?

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not beating myself up. I’m not saying there hasn’t been a single moment of growth. What I am saying though, is that my growth for the greater part of this last year has been passive.

God will use our

It is actually an innate longing in

With that, let’s read from Ephesians, starting in verse 14.

I have grown this year in immense ways, but it has been a passive growth. I’ve grown when encountered with my

These are the exact opposite things that God calls us to.

I made the assumption because I’m an elder here, that I was actively seeking growth in Christ. Yes,

When you focus

- “This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.”

Ephesians 3:6 ESV

This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

You cannot claim to follow Jesus and choose to devalue your neighbor. You can not say “this person is more valuable than that person.”

Abide

You can not say “this person is more valuable than that person.”

is not just about you feeling happy-go-lucky that God is on your side and that He has a plan for your life.

There was this culture within the Israelites that there was something inherently significant about

A few weeks ago, I heard Pastor Trip Lee preach on what it means to Love God and Love your Neighbor. He said that every

They were not significant first for their ethnicity. The Israelites were never significant or set apart because they were Israelites. They were set apart because God said they were.

Society has this

When we choose to say “This person doesn’t hold value for these reasons...” we do more than mar the image of God. We mar our own image.

Do you know why

I am pleading with you. Please do not choose to mar the image of God by choosing to devalue someone for any reason. We don’t realize that when we gossip, slander, or even speak frustration

I am saying…it is not okay for you to choose to and be content with saying of someone "no wonder their single.” Your experience with a person, whether friend, family or stranger, does not make it

“Wanting justice is not just feeling injustice on your own soil. Wanting justice is feeling injustice everywhere.” - Trip Lee

I am not saying to forget your circumstances and just magically feel different.

The only thing greater that God’s justice, is his grace.

I am pleading with you. Please do not choose to mar the image of God by choosing to devalue someone. We don’t realize that when we gossip, slander, or even speak frustration

& 2 - What Christ has done and that they are also chosen, along with the Israelites.

2) - Paul says “God has called me to be someone to tell these things to the groups of people who feel like outsiders.”

- Paul says “God has called me to be someone to tell these things to the groups of people who feel like outsiders.”

1) - Paul was inviting the Ephesians to discover more of Jesus and His love. A challenge to be rooted and grounded in love. Growing in Christ is about gaining more of Christ, and thus discovering more of who God has already made you to be.

Ephesians 3 ESV

For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3 ESV

For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3:14–21 ESV

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3:20-21 - “I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.”

But I realized taht

20-21 God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Glory to God in the church! Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus! Glory down all the generations! Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!

- Paul is praying for the Ephesians here to discover more of Jesus and His love. A challenge to be rooted and grounded in love. Growing in Christ is about gaining more of Christ, and thus discovering more of who God has made them to be.

- “I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.”

I believe that God is calling us to do the same today. In Christ, we’ve been given an identity that is often difficult to understand, yet has already been given to us.

Ephesians 3:20-21 - “I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.”

I believe that God is calling us to do the same today. In Christ, we’ve been given an identity that is often difficult to understand, yet has already been given to us.

Prepping for message - “Oh! I’ll spend these 2 weeks growing!”

a. Prepping for message - “Oh! I’ll spend these 2 weeks growing!”

Fear of no growth became shame - My motivation for growth was rooted in the need and desire to impress people, rather than growing in Christ.

b. Fear of no growth became shame - My motivation for growth was rooted in the need and desire to impress people, rather than growing in Christ.

Led me to the question that I want to invite you into tonight:

c. Led me to the question that I want to invite you into tonight:

2) - Because of all Christ has done, because of who He has made you and is making you…we are to live in this way. We have been called to a purpose. That is a completely different and extended series. But

My fear that I hadn’t grown had turned to shame, which was the first indicator that my focus was not on growth in Christ. My focus was on finding my growth so others could see it. I felt the need to impress people with my growth, to say “I can talk about this because I’ve lived it.” I’m not saying it’s wrong for us to want to share our growth with others. I’m actually saying the opposite. Which is what brought me to the question I want to invite you into tonight. Why do we need to grow?

I’m not saying it’s wrong for us to want to share our growth with others. I’m actually saying the opposite. Which is what brought me to the question I want to invite you into tonight. Why do we need to grow?

Becoming a better version of yourself (nope!)

If I’m easily irritated and I want to be a better version of myself, saying “don’t be irritated” is like saying “don’t think about elephants.” I’m going to be irritated. If I’m easily irritated and I say “Jesus, I want to be patient like you are,” then I am gaining less of ourselves and more of Christ.

I’ve heard people, Christians included, say that growth is about becoming a better version of yourself. I actually disagree with this. I’m not saying we shouldn’t seek further maturity. Seeking to grow is a commitment to not settling for immaturity.

When you seek to become a better version of yourself, you risk falling into an action based life. If I’m easily irritated and I’m trying to not be easily irritated, I’m going to be irritated. It’s like saying “don’t think about elephants.” If I’m easily irritated and I say “Jesus, I want to be patient like you are,” then we are gaining less of ourselves and more of Christ.

Growing in Christ means growing a deeper knowledge and wisdom of who God has already made us. Colossians says the fullness of God dwells in Jesus, and that we dwell in Him and He in us.

Growing in Christ is not about becoming a better version of yourself. Growing in Christ is not about revealing to the world or to yourself that you’re more mature than you were yesterday. It is not about proving to God that you can do the Christian life. If that’s what it’s about the only thing you’re going to grow here is tired and weary.

But when we grow in Christ, we are actually growing a deeper knowledge and wisdom of who God has already made us. Colossians says the fullness of God dwells in Jesus, and that we dwell in Him and He in us.

Adventure of discovering more of Christ in order to become like Christ. To be like Him in heart, soul, and mind. You grow in Christ, through Christ, and for Christ.

Growing in Christ means we deny ourselves in order to gain more of Jesus. When we gain more of Jesus, we gain more of who God has made us to be. And when we gain more of who God has made us to be, we discover more of the Biblical mandate laid before each of us to be men and women who make disciples so that the world--which by nature chooses to abide in things that cannot cause it to flourish--might know more of Christ's character and be redeemed as new, as intended by the Creator.

Ephesians 4:1–3 ESV

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

- Because of all Christ has done, because of who He has made you and is making you…we are to live in this way. We have been called to a purpose. That is a completely different and extended series.

3) Growth requires surrender.

You grow in Christ, through Christ, and for Christ.

“With all humility, gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love.” — Pride can become something that is

Develop a taste for strength while meekness you shall savor.

We will be a church unsatisfied with being great, but will make ourselves nothing to make Him something greater.

Growing in Christ means we deny ourselves in order to gain more of Jesus. When we gain more of Jesus, we gain more of who God has made us to be. And when we gain more of who God has made us to be, we discover more of the Biblical mandate laid before each of us to be men and women who make disciples so that the world--which by nature chooses to abide in things that cannot cause it to flourish--might know more of Christ's character and be redeemed as new, as intended by the Creator.

I have no idea what I want to do with my life. It’s not as sad as it sounds! But I do know that I want these things to be true of me. I want to speak truth in love. I want to be humble. My pride, your pride will be your greatest detriment to your growth. Let me tell you something, it is Christ l

2) - Because of all Christ has done, because of who He has made you and is making you…we are to live in this way. We have been called to a purpose. That is a completely different and extended series.

You guys, I’m 27 and I have no idea what I want to do with my life. It’s not as sad as it sounds! But I do know that I want these things to be true of me. I want to speak truth in love. I want to be humble. My pride, your pride will be your greatest detriment to your growth. Let me tell you something, it is Christ l

Your pride will be the greatest detriment to your growth, and humility will be your greatest friend in your growth.

Your pride and inability to admit that you are wrong, or that someone else is right will be your greatest detriment in your growth. Be teachable. Your humility will be your greatest friend.

Ephesians 4:11–16 ESV

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

3) I spent a couple years on staff with a ministry called Cru. The majority of my time was spent discipling women one-on-one. Most of these women were student leaders, so part of my role was to help them walk with Jesus.

Ephesians 4:15–16 ESV

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Over the last 3 years, two of these women walked away from Jesus completely and both cold turkey stopped talking to me. Another one was put on the sexual offender list. Another one has been in and out of rehab for alcohol.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not judging them based on their actions. I am saying these things to say that when I found out about these things, I felt responsible. And some shame as well. I felt like I could’ve done something

I kept thinking…well okay, maybe if I just spend the next two weeks REALLY intentionally growing in humility, or in patience, then I’ll find something to preach about! Which in retrospect is like…really? As if I’m going to magically learn all the ins and outs of humility in 14 days.

My fear that I hadn’t grown had turned to shame, which was the first indicator that my focus was not on growth in Christ. My focus was on finding my growth so others could see it. I felt the need to impress people with my growth, to say “I can talk about this because I’ve lived it.” I’m not saying it’s wrong for us to want to share our growth with others. I’m actually saying the opposite. Which is what brought me to the question I want to invite you into tonight. Why do we need to grow?

I’ve heard people, Christians included, say that growth is about becoming a better version of yourself. I actually disagree with this. I’m not saying we shouldn’t seek further maturity. Seeking to grow is a commitment to not settling for immaturity.

When you seek to become a better version of yourself, you risk falling into an action based life. If I’m easily irritated and I’m trying to not be easily irritated, I’m going to be irritated. It’s like saying “don’t think about elephants.” If I’m easily irritated and I say “Jesus, I want to be patient like you are,” then we are gaining less of ourselves and more of Christ.

But when we grow in Christ, we are actually growing a deeper knowledge and wisdom of who God has already made us. Colossians says the fullness of God dwells in Jesus, and that we dwell in Him and He in us.

Give yourself the freedom of letting Christ be the one who

Growing in Christ is not about becoming a better version of yourself. Growing in Christ is not about revealing to the world or to yourself that you’re more mature than you were yesterday. It is not about proving to God that you can do the Christian life. If that’s what it’s about the only thing you’re going to grow here is tired and weary.

What the apostle Paul invites us into in Ephesians three is the adventure we get to embark on as we discover more of who Christ is everyday. Growing in Christ is about discovering more of Christ in order to become like Christ. To be like Him in heart, soul, and mind. You grow in Christ, through Christ, and for Christ.

Growing in Christ is about becoming like Christ. To be like Him in heart, soul, and mind. You grow in Christ, through Christ, and for Christ. If you are gaining more of Christ, you are growing.

Growing in Christ means we deny ourselves in order to gain more of Jesus. When we gain more of Jesus, we gain more of who God has made us to be. And when we gain more of who God has made us to be, we discover more of the Biblical mandate laid before each of us to be men and women who make disciples so that the world--which by nature chooses to abide in things that cannot cause it to flourish--might know more of Christ's character and be redeemed as new, as intended by the Creator.

Growing in Christ means we deny ourselves in order to gain more of Him so that the world--which by nature chooses to abide in things that cannot cause it to flourish--might know more of Christ's character and be redeemed as new, as intended by the Creator.

I’m not married, but what I’ve come to understand as I talk to my friends about their marriages centered on Christ is that the best way they can love and serve one another is to walk towards Jesus before wak

This year, I have seen how capable I am of saying about someone “he or sh

Your faith, your walk with Jesus, your life does not belong to you.

Growing in Christ is not about becoming a better version of yourself. Growing in Christ is about becoming like Christ. To be like Him in heart, soul, and mind. You grow in Christ, through Christ, and for Christ. If you are gaining more of Christ, you are growing. If you are truly growing, you are gaining more of Christ’s character.

And while we’re on this subject. Another person’s actions and life is not yours to control.

Growing in Christ means you are able to look at a situation and say “I AM WRONG.”

I am not saying to forget your circumstances

I am saying…it is not okay for you to choose to and be content with saying of someone "no wonder their single.” Your experience with a person, whether friend, family or stranger, does not make it

Growing in humility

I am not saying to forget your circumstances and just magically feel different.

Growing in Christ means you are able to look at a situation and say “I AM WRONG.” I’m sorry, but you aren’t always right. It is to your benefit that you seek to see where you have wronged someone. For you to ask “have I done anything that’s hurt you?”

Your pride and inability to admit that you are wrong, or that someone else is right will be your greatest detriment in your growth. Be teachable. Your humility will be your greatest friend.

If you are never

When was the last time you said “I’m sorry. I was wrong.”

There’s a sense of surrender in growth. You are actually victorious when you surrender and deny yourself. DENY yourself in the presence of others, not for show and for false humility which keeps you from pride.

You are actually victorious when you surrender.

Growth

DENY yourself in the presence of others, not for show and for false humility which keeps you from pride. This means saying “I’m wrong.” It means seeking out growth in community. Who do you have in your life who is willing

Do not boast in your strengths. Don’t use your strengths and

Growth in

Your false humility is your biggest detriment.

Don’t surrender because people are watching you. Surrender because growth comes

1. God commands it of His children and 2. because it is actually something you were created to know how to do.

I’ve only been walking with Jesus for about 10 years. I might only be 27, but I know what it means to experience pain, confusion, anxiety, depression, sadness (which is not the same as depression), anger. But I also know what true joy is. I know peace. I know patience, compassion, and

Surrendering to Jesus is not defeat. Surrendering to Jesus is defeating

There’s this song that recently came out called 100 billion (So Will I. “If you gladly chose surrender, so will I.”

“If you gladly chose surrender, so will I.”

Anyway…there’s this line “If you gladly chose surrender, so will I.”

You are always on God’s mind. You have the fullness of God living in you!

Growing in Christ is not about becoming a better version of yourself. Growing in Christ is about becoming like Christ. To be like Him in heart, soul, and mind. You grow in Christ, through Christ, and for Christ. If you are gaining more of Christ, you are growing. If you are truly growing, you are gaining more of Christ’s character.

Why should we grow? Growing in Christ means we deny ourselves in order to gain more of Him so that the world--which by nature chooses to abide in things that cannot cause it to flourish--might know more of Christ's character and be redeemed as new, as intended by the Creator.

Jesus had the vie

Ultimately, we grow so that we gain more of this fullness Paul talks about in . Do not mistake involvement in Christian activity as growth. Knowing Bible front to back cover does not mean to know the story of God from Genesis through Revelation. Showing up to church every Sunday of your life does not mean you are investing in community or that you’re a leader of Christ’s character. Loving only those you love does not mean you’re loving your neighbor.

Growing in Christ requires following Him. Following Jesus means to do what He did. You say what He said.

I don’t say these things to shame you or merely call you out. I say these things because

ABIDE

- At first glance, this passage seems clear. If we want to grow and bear fruit, we abide. I just want to state that we need to be careful here. I spent the first 7 years of following Jesus battling this idea that God wanted me.

Jesus is the one who causes you to grow.

The thing about

I’m only 27 and I’ve already encountered a season of my life where my dreams have been crushed.

My group of friends

One of my favorite songs in the world is the hymn Abide With Me. One of the lines in the stanza is sung as a prayer.

It says “Come not to sojourn, but abide with me.” To sojourn somewhere is dwell somewhere that is a temporary home. Jesus does not sojourn with us. He abides with us an in us.

In order to grow, you must be teachable, which is where I have failed this year.

The only way to grow is to be pruned

Jesus is worth abiding in. Let me tell you something…Jesus is worth everything. Not worth it because He blesses you with His stuff. But worth it because He Himself is our greatest treasure.

Jesu

I know what it feels like to be dis

__________________

Please, abide in Jesus not for the sake of Him doing things for you. Y

__________________

[Maybe content]

Imago Dei

A few weeks ago, I heard Pastor Trip Lee preach on what it means to Love God and Love your Neighbor. He said that every

When we choose to say “This person doesn’t hold value for these reasons...” we do more than mar the image of God. We mar our own image.

I am pleading with you. Please do not choose to mar the image of God by choosing to devalue someone for any reason. We don’t realize that when we gossip, slander, or even speak frustration

I am saying…it is not okay for you to choose to and be content with saying of someone "no wonder they’re single.” Your experience with a person, whether friend, family or stranger, does not make it

I am not saying to forget your circumstances and just magically feel different.

Filled with His Fullness

Scripture Reading

Introduction

The Church in Ephesus

Why do we need to grow?

Ephesians 4:11-16

ABIDE/Surrender

Ending