Sermon Central
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Growing Deeper In Christ
Contributed by Matthew Stoll on Oct 1, 2007 (message contributor)
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1. Being Rooted In Christ
Contributed on Oct 1, 2007
We are to extend our roots in Christ, growing in faith so that we may conform into the image of Christ.
This week I was listening to the Christian music station and a familiar song came on the radio by a band named Switchfoot called “This is your life,” and the lyrics of the song say, “This is your life, are you who you want to be? This is your life, is it everything you dreamed that it would be ...read more
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2. The Practice Of Prayer
Contributed on Oct 1, 2007
The practice of prayer helps us grow spiritually to know God better and become more like him.
[Background Image: Fresco of Michael Angelo on the Sistine Chapel, Imago Dei] Last week we looked at our need to grow spiritually, the Apostle Paul tells us in Col. 2:6-7, “And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to live in obedience to him. Let your roots ...read more
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3. The Practice Of Reading & Reflecting On The Bible
Contributed on Nov 15, 2007
Readiing and reflecting on Scripture helps us grow closer to Christ and conforms us more into his image.
We are currently in a series looking at our need to grow spiritually. Growing spiritually means we receive God’s grace to know him better (in other words it’s relational) and we mature to be more like him (we reflect Jesus’ character and actions, doing what he would do). God loves us the way we ...read more
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4. The Practice Of Slowing
Contributed on Nov 15, 2007
We need to practive slowing (solitude) to spend quiet time with God in order to draw closer to him and allow him to transform us.
Hurry has actually become a sickness, a disease for us in the U.S…which is ironic with all these “time savers” we have. “Time magazine noted that back in the 1960s, expert testimony was given to a subcommittee of the Senate on time management. The essence of it was that because of the advance in ...read more
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5. The Practice Of Simplicity & Generosity
Contributed on Nov 15, 2007
In a culture of affluence we must practice simplicity and generosity if we are to love God first and draw closer to him.
Last week I said we suffer from a sickness in this country, it is the sickness of hurry, and we talked about the need to slow down, prioritize our time, and spend time being still before God. But there is a second sickness we have in this country, the sickness of affluence, riches, greed, ...read more
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6. The Practice Of Confession
Contributed on Dec 4, 2007
Confession is a necessary ongoing practice to break down the wall of sin between ourselves and God, helping us to grow in deeper in Christ.
In the Bible, one of the primary messages that shines through is God’s unconditional love for each one of us no matter how much we fail him and his desire for us to walk in close relationship with him. We have been focusing over the last several weeks on how we grow spiritually which means how we ...read more
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7. The Practice Of Worship
Contributed on Dec 4, 2007
Worship is a necessary practice in growing deeper in Christ. Our worship needs to be God centered, an offering unto him.
Do you understand that from a worldly perspective, what we are doing here on Sunday morning is absolutely ridiculous? I was recently asked, why don’t more people come to worship? Why would they? To most people worship gathering is a waste of time. Why would I go to church when I could sleep in ...read more
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8. The Practice Of Celebration
Contributed on Dec 4, 2007
In this last of the practices we find that the final product of the spiritual disciplines is joy in the Lord and we need to express joy in celebration.
We’ve finally come to the end of our series focusing on the practices God has given us to grow spiritually. We’ve looked at the practices of prayer, reading and reflecting upon God’s Word, following the guidance of the Holy Spirit, living simply and giving generously, serving others, confession, ...read more