Growing More Like Jesus

GROWING MORE LIKE JESUS.

1-27-08---SAM

Philippians 2:5-11

TBC

INTRO:  There are many worth pursuits in life, or many goals that we can aim for in this world.  There have been some noble goals in life as men and women strive to make a difference in this world.  This morning our series My To Do List for 2008 will focus on one of the greatest pursuits in life.  To become more like Jesus. 

REVIEW: 

-1.  Tithe 10%.---worship

                        -2.  Invite 12 people to church---witnessing

                        -3.  Grow in Prayer.---worship

                                    -a.  Reading a book on prayer.

                                    -b.  Devote 5 good minutes to prayer.

                                    -c.  Find a prayer partner---fellowship

                        -4.  Discover your spiritual gift.---discipleship

                        -5.  Discover your witnessing style, and learn to witness.---witness

                        -6.  Cultivate one relationship with a lost person.---witness

-7.  Develop a system for reading the Bible, or memorize bible verses. Or pick a book of the Bible and study it for yourself.---dshp

-8.  Pray for other Christians and other Churches.  Get to know Ledell Bailey.---fellowship

Think on this life goal---Think about what it means to become more like Jesus.  Note we didn’t say to become Jesus, but to grow in Christ likeness.  What will that look like in you life?  How do you think it would transform your life?  To make growing like Jesus your #1 priority. 

1 John 3:1-2---1See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. 2Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.(NLT)

 Friends think about this if you make this your desire , God’s word tell us it will happen.  One day you will see Jesus and you will be like him.

But until then, our passion ought to be this:

To do what Jesus did.

To say what Jesus would say

To live like Jesus would live

To think like Jesus.

Paul sums it up best in Philippians 2:5-11.  read it.

This morning our focus is on discipleship====is becoming more like Jesus.

-I.  Defining Discipleship.

-A.  Discipleship is becoming more like Jesus each day for the rest of our life.  To follow after Jesus.  To do the things that Jesus would do. 

-B.  Listen to these Scriptures located else where.

-1.  Matthew 16:24---24Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.(NLT)

-2.  Luke 14:26---26“If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.(NLT)

-3.  Luke 14:33---33So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.(NLT)

-4.  John 15:8---8When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.(NLT)

-5.  Read of his calling of the 12.  The call was to follow Him.  This refers to watching him, listening to him, and becoming like Jesus.

            -C.  The text before us today.

                        -1.  One word:  Servanthood.

-2.  Paul is saying that to be like Christ, to grow like Christ means we must be servants.

-3.  Obedient Servants.

            -D.  What the world needs today is for God’s people to be more like Jesus? 

                        -1.  To show the grace of Christ.

                        -2.  To show the mercy of Christ.

                        -3.  To show the love of Christ.

            -E.  Friends, what TBC needs today is

                        -1.  Not more programs.---programs are not bad.

                        -2.  For us to be more like Jesus.

                        -3.  Some Churches have little kingdoms

                                    -a.  Jesus had one agenda to do God’s work.

-b.  Friends, we ought not view our place in TBC as our kingdom, but as God’s work.

-c.  We ought to ask ourselves is God still blessing it?

-II.  Daily Discipleship.

-A.  My challenge here will not cover everything that involves being a disciple.  I have chosen two things.  We will discuss those in one minute, but for now.  I want to ask you some questions.

-1.  Look back on the last year (07) what evidence do you have of growth in your life?  Have how you have grow?

-2.  What have you learned about yourself this past year?

-3.  What have you learned about God last year?

-4.  How do you want to grow in 08?  Where do you think God is working in your life? 

            -B.  My two challenges for you in 2008?

-1.  Discover your place in God’s Kingdom.  Discover how God has gifted you to service.

            -a.  What is your spiritual gift?

-b.  Romans 12:1-8--- 1And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. 3Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. 4Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. 6In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.(NLT)

-2.  Get in the Word.  The more you get in the Word, the more the Word will get in You.  The more you know about Jesus, the more you will grow to be like Him.

2 Timothy 3:15-17---15You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.(NLT)

Read the Gospels thru this year asking these questions:

            What did Jesus say?

            What did Jesus do?

-3.  Note here one of the things I want to do as a pastor is to help you.  I want the church to step up and look for ways to offer opportunities for growth.

            -a.  S.S.

            -b.  JBS.

            -c.  Tool our library for discipleship in mind.

            -d.  Conferences  (state evangelism conference)

            -e.  VBS

            -f.  Church Camps.

            -g.  Mission Trips.

-C.  But here’s the deal:  It takes you to help us offer these things.  You must make a commitment to be here.

            -1.  Not every class will appeal to you.

-2.  Some of it made me basic, but we need bodies to be here who can share.

-3.  Doesn’t mean you should attend every thing, but you should attend most things. 

CONCLUSION:  Here’s how you need to response to the sermon today.

-1)  Make Jesus Lord and Savior.

-2)  Ask The Lord to show you in what ways you need to grow in 08.

-3)  Take time to do the spiritual survey this week.

-4)  Decide in what you are going to study the Bible.