On Your Mark Get Set—GROW! Message 1

On Your Mark Get Set—GROW!

Acts 2:42

Message 1

Learning Leads to Growing.

Me:

My high school days

a. I was a straight “D” student

i. I hated school

ii. I struggle even today with a feeling of being inadequate (Siri is my friend to help me spell)

b. At age 20 I became a preacher

i. Someone talked me into going to bible college

ii. I brought those “D” up to “C”

c. I pastored 1st Baptist Ridgway

i. Louisville was a couple of hours drive from there

ii. It was one of the greatest adventures of my life

iii. My favorite class was Systematic Theology with Dr. Danny Akin

iv. A tie for first was Hermeneutics with Dr. Robert Stein

v. I grew as a pastor and preacher by leaps and bounds

vi. However, I have never returned to pastoring fulltime

We:

Some Bible Trivia

a. Jay Leno on the tonight show

i. Ask people questions about the bible

ii. Nobody answered the question correctly

b. Name one the ten commandments

i. “God helps those who help themselves.”

ii. ________________

c. Name one of the twelve disciples

i. ________________

d. I wonder how many got the answer

God:

Doctrine

a. It’s an ugly word

i. A boring word

ii. Books on doctrine are not New York best sellers

iii. Don’t give the devil a sit at the table

iv. Or books on marriage or finances

b. The manual

i. I haven’t read to many manuals

ii. We just figure it out

iii. Or go to YouTube

iv. But sometimes the manual is necessary

v. Doctrine is like the manuals

c. Look at today’s passage

i. Acts 2:42 (NLT) — 42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.

Acts 2:42 NLT

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.

ii. A famous preacher said this:

1. “One might say that the Holy Spirit opened a school in Jerusalem that day, the school teachers were the apostles whom Jesus had appointed; and trained, and there were pupils in Kindergarten.”

d. We are to devote ourselves to learning

i. When we put learning as a priority something happens

ii. Acts 2:47 (NLT) — 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

Acts 2:47 NLT

all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

iii. If we are to continue to grow as a church, we must have a biblical based preaching

iv. If we are to continue to grow as a church, you must be a people of the word

v. Whatever that takes, however that looks.

vi. The world has always had people that are hungry for the truth

You:

A church of spiritual babies

a. Not what we want

i. God has command you to grow in knowledge and truth

ii. 2 Peter 3:18 (NET) — 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the honor both now and on that eternal day.

2 Peter 3:18 NET

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the honor both now and on that eternal day.

b. This is how you will grow this church

i. 1 Peter 2:2 (NLT) — 2 Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment,

1 Peter 2:2 NLT

Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment,

ii. Cry out for this nourishment

iii. Demand to get this nourishment

c. Confession:

i. It would be easy to fall into feel good inspirational talks

ii. You can’t live on the milk forever

iii. The picture of immaturity

iv. When I go out to eat, I want steak

v. When I come to church, I want steak!

We:

Learning Leads to Growing

a. It’s a biblical principle

i. Hosea 4:6 (ESV) — 6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

Hosea 4:6 ESV

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

b. Let’s ask the tough question

i. What steps are you going to take?

ii. Let’s get off the baby food

iii. Enjoy that steak