Church Defined: Health Marker 8 A Desire for Discipleship and Growth
Notes
Transcript
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
When spiritual discipleship and growth are mentioned, what do you picture?
In 1998 82% of Americans felt the need to experience spiritual growth.
Some believed this to be a deeper understanding of “the inner self.” Others believed this to be a closer connection to the universe and to their social counterparts.
Biblical Teaching on Growth
Biblical Teaching on Growth
Sometimes we can confuse the desire to grow as believers with the constant push for progress that has been breed into our Western culture.
The Biblical teaching on growth teaches us there the desire to grow has been placed into humanity just as emotions.
God put it into His creation
And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.
And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Example: God’s command to Noah, God instructs Israel through Jeremiah to increase in numbers. Jer29:6
Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished.
Unlike the American materialistic desire to grow God gives us instruction on what type of growth is needed.
A wise man is strong; Yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: But a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, When the glory of his house is increased;
For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: His glory shall not descend after him.
Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
A seed did fall and now it has grown beyond belief.
Jesus is the seed
Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
He suffered, bleed, and died to completely satisfy the wrath of God on your sin. He was buried and rose again victor over death. And the book of acts Chronicles the growth of the Gospel message.
And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
But the word of God grew and multiplied.
And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.
So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
How does such growth happen? It is not through the efforts of the pastor.
And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
That being said, the Bible does tell us that we have work to do in order to grow.
Biblical Practice of Growth
Biblical Practice of Growth
For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Expositional preaching
Biblical theology
Understanding of the Gospel
Understanding of conversion
Understanding of evangelism
Understanding of church membership
Understanding of church discipline
Understanding of church leadership
We are to grow together as a church
The Importance of Good Growth
The Importance of Good Growth
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men’s labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
In his Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, Jonathan Edwards suggested that true growth in Christian discipleship is not finally mere excitement, and increase in one’s use of religious language, or a growing knowledge of Scripture. It is not even an evident increase in joy or in love or concern for the church. Even increases in zeal and praise to God and confidence of one’s own faith are not infallible evidences of true Christian growth. What, then, is evidence of true Christian growth? According to Edwards, while all these things may be evidences of true Christian growth, the only certain observable sign of such growth is a life of increasing holiness, rooted in Christian self-denial. The church should be marked by a vital concern for this kind of increasing godliness in the lives of its members.
Dever, Mark. Nine Marks of a Healthy Church (3rd Edition) (9Marks) . Crossway. Kindle Edition.
If we are to grow as individuals and a church, we must sit under the Word of God. We must pray for the Holy Spirit to plant and to weed the garden of our hearts. Spiritual growth is not an option it is vital to a healthy body. Things that are alive will grow.
A growing church will always be in transition.
What if we don’t grow
We could be carnal
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
Or it could be that you have never experienced regeneration.