Partners In Growth: God's Work And Our Walk Series

Partners in Growth: God's Work and Our Walk

1 Corinthians 3:5-9

Last week, we began an exciting new sermon series entitled “Rooted.” Picture the scene: Jesus is seated in a boat, speaking to a large crowd gathered along the shore—many of them fishermen. To capture their hearts and minds, He tells a parable about a Sower, a Seed, and four types of Soil. The Seed represents the Word of God, the Sower is Jesus Himself, and the outcome—whether that seed grows into saving faith or withers—is determined by the soil of the human heart. Some hearts are hardened by sin, leaving no room for God’s Word to take root. Others are shallow, quickly receiving the message but falling away when trials come. Still others are choked by the thorns of worldly concerns—riches, worries, and desires that smother spiritual growth. But for those whose hearts are tender, receptive, and surrendered—the seed of the gospel flourishes and produces lasting fruit.

If you’ve truly believed that Jesus Christ atoned for your sins on the cross (John 3:16), confessed Him as Lord (Romans 10:9), and sought His forgiveness, then the Father has adopted you as His child and made you an eternal heir of heaven (John 1:12)!

Do you remember that moment of salvation? The joy that welled up within you—unspeakable, overwhelming—as the chains of sin were broken and your old identity, one bound for death (Romans 6:23), was forever exchanged for new life in Christ? No longer do you need to wander this world searching for identity in the ever-shifting approval of society or chasing after treasures that vanish like mist (Matthew 6:19–21). Your identity is now secure, sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13–14), and your purpose is clear: to live as an ambassador of Christ, storing up treasures in heaven where moth and rust cannot destroy. And though trials still come, and hardships remain, the sting of suffering—and even of death itself—has been removed (1 Corinthians 15:55). For now, you are strengthened by the Lord (Isaiah 40:31), yoked to His grace instead of your own burdens (Matthew 11:28–30), and guarded by divine peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:6–7).

But now that we’ve been saved, adopted, and sealed by the Spirit—what comes next? How do we grow? If only becoming like Jesus were as simple as flipping a switch. The reality is, spiritual growth is often complex, sometimes confusing, and at times discouraging—because while salvation happens in an instant, sanctification is a lifelong journey of transformation. Apostle Peter urges us, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation” (1 Peter 2:2). And yet, let’s be honest: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16) still wage war within us. These worldly desires can harden the soil of our hearts, making spiritual growth feel like trying to plant seeds among rocks. The Spirit of Truth dwells within us. But we often struggle to walk in holiness—not because He is silent, but because we’re still learning to listen and follow His gentle, guiding voice. His ways are higher than our ways, and His timing is perfect. When we humbly surrender and invite the Potter to reshape the clay of our hearts, He begins to do what we cannot: transform us from the inside out.

This sermon is about that very transformation—how we grow into our salvation by depending on divine grace, walking with the body of Christ, and cultivating a passion to become more like Him. So how do we grow when the path is rocky, the world is loud, and our hearts are still being softened? That’s what we’re going to explore together today...

The Foundation: Spiritual Growth Begins with God

Imagine for a moment that you are a citizen of ancient Corinth—a vibrant, cosmopolitan hub and the capital of Achaia. Your city is one of the largest and wealthiest in the Roman Empire. Located just 50 miles from Athens, with thriving ports on both sides of your narrow isthmus, you are known for your commercial influence, your world-famous bronze, and your hosting of the prestigious Isthmian Games. But Corinth is also a place of moral complexity. Theaters, temples, gambling houses, brothels, and altars to countless Roman gods saturate the culture. In a city marked by wealth, indulgence, and religious pluralism, you—against all odds—heard the gospel of Jesus Christ from a man named Apollos, and it changed your life.

You gave your heart to Jesus. You want to grow. But you're now faced with a question that many around you are also asking: Who should we follow to become spiritually mature? Some say Apollos, whose eloquence and knowledge of the Scriptures drew you to faith. Others point to the Apostle Paul, the church’s founder. Still others claim allegiance to Peter, the pillar of the Jerusalem church.