"All by Itself" Growth
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Introduction:
Introduction:
Figuring out a plant needs to grow.
You buy a plant, it looks great. After a while it doesn’t look so great. Ah you realize it needs water. You water it and it looks better. You regularly water it now. Some time later it doesn’t look good. It has enough water. You realize it needs more sun. You place it in a place where it gets the right sun and it thrives. After a while it doesn’t look good anymore. It needs a bigger pot. You put it in a bigger pot and it grows.
Sometimes we don’t figure things out. Sometimes we think it needs water and drown it.
What’s interesting is that you and I don’t make the plant grow. It grows all by itself. We have a part in the process but not to make it grow.
So it is with the church and so it is with each of us in our personal walk with God. We want to grow. We can’t make ourselves or our church grow.
Bottom Line: Only God causes spiritual growth.
Bottom Line: Only God causes spiritual growth.
In order to grow personally and for us or any church to grow, we have to follow the biblical principles God’s Word sets out. When we do, we will grow personally and as a church.
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.
He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head.
The man scatters seed in the right environment.
He has a role, but it is limited. His role is not in germination but in scattering.
The seed sprouts and grows. This growth is disassociated from the farmer.
This happens day and night.
When he sleeps or gets up.
The man does not know how it grows. He know what to plant. When to plant it. Where to plant it.
The soil γῆ produces a crop, first a stalk, then a head, then full grain “all by itself” αὐτόματος
Only God can bring about the growth!
God brings about growth when we are in harmony with Him as a church and personally.
1. We can all throw seed.
1. We can all throw seed.
There is much more to being a wise farmer than just tossing seeds, yet there are times when we plant by tossing seeds. You may not be wise, educated or experience in plant propagation, but you can toss a seed.
We all have unique gifts. The use of your gift is throwing the seed. Throwing your seed is easy for you because it’s how God made you. Some of us can help others at just the right time and make a huge impact in their life. Others can see when there is a financial need and give just what is needed when it is needed. How do you do that? You do what God prompts you to do, what God enables you to do.
This involves doing things at church but it is much more than that! Working as a godly worker. Being honest when those around you are not. Being a friendly, cheerful neighbor. All of these things are throwing the seed.
praying
helping the weak
giving to meet a financial need
serving
cheering up the discouraged
teaching
sharing your faith
encouraging
leading
You have a seed in your hand. It is one God gave you. When you follow your passion and do what God has put on your heart you are casting your seed.
It may seem small, like a mustard seed, but it can grow.
2. Be generous in throwing seed.
2. Be generous in throwing seed.
Don’t worry about where you toss your seed! I don’t mean to be foolish in how you use it but generous! It’s okay if some of your efforts fall upon hard hearts!
It is good to be kind to your neighbors.
It is good to pray for everyone in your life.
It is good to look for opportunities to be generous everywhere!
We don’t know where our seed will take hold and bring forth fruit!
Be generous in where you toss your seed!
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, Vol. XXVII What the Farm Labourers Can Do and What They Cannot Do (No. 1,603)
I have heard that Captain Cook, the celebrated circumnavigator, was in one respect an admirable example to us. Wherever he landed, in whatever part of the earth it might be, he took with him a little packet of divers English seeds, and he was often observed to scatter them in suitable places. He would leave the boat and wander up from the shore. He said nothing to anybody, but quietly scattered English seeds wherever he went, so that he belted the world with the flowers and herbs of his native land.
3. We can only throw our seed.
3. We can only throw our seed.
We don’t all throw the same seed. 1 Corinthians 3:6-7
I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.
Some of us are only called to plant. Some are called to water. Some are called to reap. John 4:38
Jesus said to His disciples,
I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”
You and your gift are unique and needed. 1 Corinthians 12:6
There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
4. We expect seed to produce fruit.
4. We expect seed to produce fruit.
Fruit comes when we do what God enables us to do.
Fruit comes when we do what we do for God His way.
Walk worthy. Ephesians 4:1
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
Be at peace with all. Romans 12:18
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Have a pure heart. Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Depend upon God for energy and power. Colossians 1:29
To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.
Transition: What we can’t do is make the seed grow!
We can’t change a person’s heart.
We can’t bring a person who is spiritually dead to life.
We can’t lift a person from the depths of depression to joy.
God can and does through our efforts. How? We do not know.
5. God brings forth the growth. Seed grows all-by itself!
5. God brings forth the growth. Seed grows all-by itself!
There is nothing more liberating than not worrying about the fruit!
All of the result come from God. Zechariah 4:6, Philippians 2:13
So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.
Life comes from God to the hearts of those who are spiritually dead.
Comfort comes from God to those who need it.
Strength comes from God to those who need it.
for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
There is a divine - human balance
The “what” for church growth:
Empowering leadership
Gift-based ministry
Passionate spirituality
Effective structures
Inspiring worship
Holistic small groups
Need-oriented evangelism
Loving relationships