For much of our young lives we want to grow...in stature.  Growth has advantages!  I wanted to get taller, stronger and even weigh more so that I could have some advantage in sports (and fights).  However,there comes a stage in life where we would like to stop growing!  My metabolism took a walk about seven years ago and never came back; ever since then calories don't burn like they used to and my clothes are shrinking...how can this be?  But, there is an area of life where I do NOT want to stop growing and that is in my "inner man."  There is a lot of room for growth when I read Jesus' description of disciples in the Sermon on the Mount.  I confess that for many years I thought the things He said were impossible or at least for another age yet to come.  Since 2004 I have been studying more intently how people grow inside and I am happy to report some progress.  I am not writing this to "toot the horn" but rather to praise the Lord and the process.  As I look back I can see a number of consistent factors in my spiritual growth.  I will state them here in no particular order because I think they work together.  Community, Scripture, the Holy Spirit, Disciplines.  There is no way to become what God has designed us to be without the power of the Spirit, the truth of the Word, people to help and effort to grow.  The Word is available, the Spirit is willing, disciplines are waiting and often people are eager to help those who will enter for the purpose of growth.  This week I'll be highlighting the principle of growth in the AM service and dealing with some specifics in the PM service about anger, contempt and lust.  What factors have been helpful in your pursuit of righteousness?  What would you add to my list?    

Worship. Connect.  Grow.  Serve.  "...becoming a healthy body reaching a needy world for the glory of God."  That's what we're trying to do, what we do and what we want to do .  We believe that following Jesus Christ and becoming like Him is the best thing in life.  It is what we were made to do and to be.  The Christian life is not just about doing but there are certain things to do to become who He designed us to be.  We become His child by faith but we become like Him by effort.  We are forgiven because of what Jesus Christ did but we are transformed by what we do in cooperation with the Holy Spirit.  A lifestyle of worship is critical on this journey.  We simply must get our eyes off ourselves and on the One who is the center of all things.  When we begin to think properly our lives will be more about Him and less about us. 

 

We were made for connection.  Even unbelievers love connection.  God is three but one and we are made in His image so it makes sense that we never feel whole alone.  His essence is the reason for our love of connection.  There are three basic connections for the follower of Jesus Christ.  First, we must be properly connected to God through Jesus Christ.  He is the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but by Him.  Second, we must be properly connected to other believers.  We often call this fellowship but fellowship is a lot more than potluck dinners.  True fellowship is partnership...a partnership in destiny, a cooperation in taking on the likeness of Christ.  Are you engaged in that pursuit with somebody?  Third, we must be looking for connections with unbelievers.  We desire to be a healthy body NOT for our own comfort and convenience but so we can reach out to needy people who know they have a need.  There are needy people who refuse to acknowledge this need and we cannot do much until they "get it" but there people who know they have a need and we know Who can meet that need. 

 

Proper connections both "vertically" with God and "horizontally" with others is in harmony with the great commandment.  Jesus said that loving God and loving others summarized all the Law and Prophets.  Wow, think of that!  So, are you properly connected?  If not, why not?