Growth as our Target

Opening

Servanthood is our Attitude | Commitment vs. Comfort | Prayer as our Source | Worship as our Motivation | People as our Reward | Excellence as our Impact

Growth is God’s will for us

God desires it for us, and He requires it from us

Individually to grow spiritually | Married raise hands

Wednesday Argument | Friday texted

Ecclesiastes 4:11 NIV

11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?

Corporately to grow numerically

Nothing wrong with Numbers

| | | Somebody counted

Growth leads to Thankfulness

Colossians 2:7 NLT

7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

Illustration: Every Gardener will have to cultivate, plant, water, fertilize and nurture their crops (show plant)

How can we grow our church? | Only by Growing in Christ

READ TEXT:

Ephesians 4:11–16 The Living Bible

11 Some of us have been given special ability as apostles; to others he has given the gift of being able to preach well; some have special ability in winning people to Christ, helping them to trust him as their Savior; still others have a gift for caring for God’s people as a shepherd does his sheep, leading and teaching them in the ways of God. 12 Why is it that he gives us these special abilities to do certain things best? It is that God’s people will be equipped to do better work for him, building up the Church, the body of Christ, to a position of strength and maturity; 13 until finally we all believe alike about our salvation and about our Savior, God’s Son, and all become full-grown in the Lord—yes, to the point of being filled full with Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different or has cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will lovingly follow the truth at all times—speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly—and so become more and more in every way like Christ who is the Head of his body, the Church. Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly, and each part in its own special way helps the other parts, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

Everything that is healthy will grow

Every church that is connected with Jesus will grow

Balance Nutrition is the Key to Growth

Greatest Commandment

Matthew 22:36–40 NIV

36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Greatest Commandment -40Greatest Commission • Cultivate it with Worship • Plant it with Evangelism • Water it with Fellowship • Fertilize it with Discipleship • Nurture it with MinistryInvite First-Time Guest to the other roomPrayer for our Church Culture

Greatest Commission

Matthew 28:18–20 NIV

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Cultivate it with Worship

Plant it with Evangelism

Water it with Fellowship

Fertilize it with Discipleship

Nurture it with Ministry

Invite First-Time Guest to the other room

Prayer for our Church Culture