Growing Things

Growing Things

Today we’ll continue to look at the “new things” Christ wants for us. God’s Word says, You have heard these things; look at them all. Will you not admit them? “From now on I will tell you of new things, of hidden things unknown to you. Isaiah 48:6

The key is we must break through barriers to grow as God would have us.

You must develop an unshakable conviction about growth - Colossians 2:19 He doesn't hold on to [Christ,] the head. Christ makes the whole body grow as God wants it to, through support and unity given by the joints and ligaments.) –

They lost their heads to Jesus! Whose head (mind) do you follow? Jesus made it clear in Matthew 8:18-22 – When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. ¹⁹Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go." ²⁰Jesus replied, "Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." ²¹Another disciple said to him, "LORD, first let me go and bury my father." ²²But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."

What keeps or disqualifies you from following Christ?

Working For

Happy Labor Day! Some of us love what we do, and others...well let's say there are challenges. Sometimes we may not feel appreciated. The Bible has great wisdom on the subject. Don’t be discouraged when your 

service is unnoticed or taken for granted. Keep on 

serving God! 

“Throw yourselves into the work of the 

Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste

of time or effort.” I Corinthians 15:58 (MSG)

Even the smallest service is noticed by God and will be rewarded. Remember the words of Jesus: “If, as my representatives, you give even a cup of cold water to a little child, you will surely be rewarded.” Matthew 10:42 (LB)

Remember who you're working for - love God by serving others. Amen?

Think Serving

Serving God starts in your mind - we need a new way of thinking!

 “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” Philippians 2:5-7

 Real servants serve God with a mindset of five attitudes:

- Servants think more about others than about themselves.

- Servants think like stewards, not owners.

- Servants think about their work, not what others are doing.

- Servants base their identity in Christ.

- And servants think of ministry as an opportunity, not an obligation.

When you base your worth and identity on your relationship to Christ, you are freed from the expectations of others, and that allows you to really serve them best.

Imagine what could happen if just 10 percent of all Christians in the world got serious about their role as real servants. Imagine all the good that could be done.

 Are you willing to be one of those people?

Always think of Jesus first, Others second, and Yourself third = JOY!

Working Convictions

You have to develop a deep conviction about growing in Christ because:

1. God commands growth. He did so through the Great Commission.

2. People demand it. The world is desperately looking for the truth.

Consider this Game Changer PEACE Plan

P – New Production – resources – Holy Spirit

E- New Energy – people, ideas, technology – The Word

A- New Attitude – we will win/succeed/overcome – Fruits of the Spirit

C- New Clarity – laser focus – no looking back (Think, Pray, and Ask)

E- New Expectations – Challenge your 1. Priorities 2. Faith 3. Small Thinking

“See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. Isaiah 65:17

Are you ready to be a game changer?

Game Changers

We’ve heard it said that an opinion is something you’ll argue about; but a conviction is something you’ll die for. We must settle the issue that God wants his church to grow. All living things grow. If a church is alive, it grows. Growing a healthy church is hard work, and unless you clarify your convictions, you’re going to be tempted to give up. Our desire should not be an average or normal church. Good is not good enough.

See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.” Isaiah 42:9

Four proven game changers – How can we apply these attributes to our lives and churches?

#1 Energy – not deadness -  but Life

#2 Expectation – challenges – raise the bar

#3 Excitement – Anticipation – What’s next?

#4 Excellence -God requires and responds to this

If we do these things, how will it change us?

A New Thing

Do you believe that Jesus has the power to change things?

A better question may be,

Do you believe that Jesus can change you, and your circumstances?

¹³When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, ¹⁴having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. - Colossians 2:13-15

Sounds like a pretty big change to me, and this changed heart allows us to worship God like David, Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. Psalm 98:1

The world needs to hear us sing about our wonderful Savior. Amen?

Who Is

The entire world revolves around the question, Who is Jesus? The Jewish leaders of Jesus’ day struggled with it mightily. In the end, we see that religion by itself can interfere with your ability to answer this question. Despite the fact that the people were in the temple, it was the Sabbath, and that Jesus had not been charged yet, they responded to Jesus, with an attempt to stone Him

The Jews answered him, Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed? I am not possessed by a demon, said Jesus, but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death. At this they exclaimed, Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death. Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are? Jesus replied,  I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad. You are not yet fifty years old, they said to him, and you have seen Abraham! Very truly I tell you, Jesus answered, before Abraham was born, I am! At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds. - John 8:48-59

This action shows just how spiritually blinded to the truth they were. Only a redeemed mind can fully understand the realities of the living Christ. The conflict between light and dark still exists. Jesus, the Light, always wins.

Greater is He that is in me! How about you?