[Organization Name]

Our mission here at Fellowship is to, “lead people in a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.” Sounds simple enough but how do you know if the mission is being accomplished? ARE we growing? That’s the question that inspired the survey some of you recently took. On this first Sunday of the New Year I would like to do a couple of things. First, I want to share with you some of the results of the Spiritual Life Survey which is a self-measuring tool to discover how well we are growing in Christ both individually and collectively. Secondly, I want to revisit some fundamentals of spiritual growth. Finally, I would like to challenge you to join me on a journey this next year that will put us on a pathway to greater progress in our pursuit of Jesus.

First, let’s take a look at the survey results…

Now let’s take some time to talk about spiritual growth. Have you ever noticed that children are always interested in their own growth? Many of us have a wall or a door frame in our home with names of children and dates next to their names. Every few months a child stands up straight against that wall to see how much they have grown. It would be nice if measuring spiritual growth was that easy, but it’s not. If someone were to ask, “Are you growing spiritually?” my guess is you would have a hard time answering that question. Some things are difficult to measure. We can measure our waist lines, square footage, net worth, church attendance, and contributions. But how do we measure spiritual growth? It’s not easy. But we can take comfort in the fact that God is committed to our spiritual growth. Paul was confident of this fact:

Philippians 1:6, “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” 

Romans 8:28-29, “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son.”

During the holidays some of you saw people you haven’t seen in a while. If you are a grandparent you know what it’s like to see the incredible changes in your grandchildren over time. They are growing up. How did that happen? By a sheer act of their will? By following some special program? No. God created them to grow and grow they will if they do three things; eat well, exercise regularly, and get adequate rest. I can’t MAKE myself grow any more than I can make a tomato grow. That’s God’s business. But I can create an environment for growth. How can I do that? By eating well, exercising regularly, and getting adequate rest. So here is my challenge to you.

1. Join the Journey, get into the Word. Proper nutrition is received through a constant intake of the word of God. Jesus said, “Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” (Mt. 4:4). I want to encourage you to make a commitment this year to reading, meditating, memorizing the word of God. I want to invite you to sign up for Join the Journey. Information is in your worship guide.

Another way to get in the word is by joining a small group. We still believe that “life change happens best in small groups.” We begin a new series next week called “Captivated” and many of our groups will be following along with our sermon-based curriculum. Or attend an adult ed. class, men’s/women’s ministry in Concourse. These are all ways you can feed your soul. “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17. So eat well, exercise regularly…

2. Go to grow. Growth requires exercise. No one expects to grow strong physically by sitting in a chair and thinking about it. In the same way, I can’t expect to grow stronger spiritually by doing nothing. When I exercise my spiritual gifts in service to others I am putting God’s word into action much like physical exercise draws upon the energy from the food we eat. In a recent interview the family who took in Michael Oher, #1 draft choice of the Baltimore Ravens, said that this young man had done more for them than they had done for him. They reached out to him and received more blessings than they ever thought possible.

If you don’t know where to serve we’ll be glad to help. We have a saying we use around here, “You grow as you go.” When we make our gifts and abilities and resources available to others we expand our capacity for God’s resources. Eat well, exercise regularly, and...

3. Rest. When God rested on the seventh day of creation it wasn’t because He was tired. It was because He was leading the way and showing us that we were created in such a way that our souls require cycles of rest. Rest does not mean simply taking a nap although it could include that. Rest does not mean taking a day off and then running yourself ragged getting a bunch of stuff done that you can’t do during the work week. Rest is withdrawing from the daily demands upon our time for the purpose of restoring our souls by cultivating “the world within.” Jesus often took His disciples to a secluded place in order to rest.

Mark 6:30-32, “The apostles gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught. And He said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.’ (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.) They went away in the boat to a secluded place by themselves.” 

Jesus used these times of retreat to pray.

Luke 5:16, “But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.”

Matthew 14:23, “After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone.

Mark 6:46, “After bidding them farewell, He left for the mountain to pray.

There seems to have been a wonderful rhythm to Jesus’ life. He spent time alone praying, then He would wade into His day serving, and while He was serving He was conscious of the lessons that His disciples were learning.

Here at FBCD we have embedded these three practices into our corporate life. Every new partner is introduced to the concept of worship, grow and serve. We want everyone who comes into this family to spend time with God in worship, time in His word with others to stimulate growth, and exercising our gifts through service. Those who are growing in their relationship with Jesus Christ are practicing these three disciplines. Growth is a natural process but there are certain attitudes and practices that create a healthy environment for growth. There are a few irreducible minimums that are always found in the lives of those who are growing.

YOU are responsible for YOUR spiritual growth. No one can read the Bible for you – yet sadly, we often do. No one can serve for you – yet sadly, that’s how many see church; I’ll work hard to make money to throw in the plate so that the religious professionals can go do some good in the world. Others CAN pray for you but their intercession should never rob you of the joy of communing with the Father.

My prayer is that a growing number of us would be “Christ-centered.” That we could truly say, “My relationship with Jesus is the most important relationship in my life. It guides everything I do.” Not so we can get a better score but so we can make a better world because this one is broken. This country is broken. The people of Dallas are broken. They try to fill the emptiness in their souls with food or drink or drugs or status or material things but it’s like drinking salt water. What they are desperate for hope and love and peace. Jesus is the hope of the world but those who need Him most are watching us to see if we have anything to offer. 

Let’s take some time this morning in communion with the Lord. Let’s pray that this year will be “filled up to all the fullness of God.” Eph. 3:19. Let me lead you in prayer right now as our ushers come to distribute the bread and the cup…

List by: Choose...Series Category Month Preacher