Philippians 3:12-14
Grow
Introduction
A. The last couple of weeks now we have been studying the purpose of the church
B. WE have talked about worship, we have talked about connecting, now we are going to talk about growing
C. Growing sound like a gardening term
D. You grow a garden
E. Maybe it is a term we talk about our kids
F. Our kids are growing so fast
G. But what does growing have to do with our church?
H. We are going to look at first, what it means to grow 2nd we will look at some ultra practical ways to grow.
II. What does it mean?
A. Explanation
1. We have to keep in mind the who is writing this epistle
2. That would be Paul, Now we know Paul was not always a Christian in fact he was very much not a Christian, he persecuted Christians
3. Paul went from that beginning to the point he is now in a relatively fast rate
4. Now Paul wrote a lot of the New Testament. (Find out how many)
5. You would think that if he wrote that much that he would know everything and live exactly how he was suppose to
6. Well he is still human, he still made mistakes, but that is not the important part
7. What matters is his desire
8. Paul wrote this after he has had more ministry then most of us will ever have
9. After you are at a place so long, you can easily loose your drive and ambition
10. Paul is talking about that exact issue
11. Let us look at this and find out what Paul really means
B. That is what we want!
1. Vs. 12 starts off with the pronoun this, what is this? Read 10-11.
2. He is basically saying he wants to get closer to God
3. Admitting he is not perfect
4. 1 John 4:19 We love because he first loved us
5. why is this pressing on so important for Paul. I John 4:19
6. look at 13 Paul once again is open and honest, you have to respect for his honesty
7. Paul admits he does not have it all figured out
8. But he presses on…
a) Forgetting the past
b) And heading forward
9. Vs. 14 is often looked at in the wrong way. People read that and instantly assume we will get a prize in heaven.
10. Let me offer you a different way to look at that
a) Paul was a athlete or at least like me a wanna be athlete who liked to run
b) I have a real desire to run a marathon
c) I want to run one really bad!
d) Here is the thing do I care if I win? NO!
e) My goal, My prize if you will is to finish
f) Granted the first person will receive $10,000. But that is not what would be motivating my prize is the finish line
11. The finish line in this situation is being with Jesus.
C. You should be exited now
1. Paul has just laid out for us the plan, the goal that we are to achieve.
2. This is not just his goal
3. this is not just a goal pastors
4. This is not just the goal of “good Christians” whatever that is.
5. This is the goal of everyone
6. We should all have this drive to press on
7. I pumped up, I’m ready to go, are you?
8. The question then becomes How are we going to do it?
9. How are we going to grow, how are we going to reach the goal
10. There are three different areas in growing that we are going to look at.
a) Individual
b) Buddy System
c) Growth Groups.
III. How are we going to do it?
A. Individual
1. Joshua 1:8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
2. I thess 5:17 tells us to pray continually
3. These verses gives us a little glimpse on how to study the Bible and pray
4. At this time people will tell you that you must get up at 5:30 in the morning and read your Bible cover to cover
5. You know what, there is no correct method
6. If you are able to, and have a high enough reading comprehension, read through the Bible in a year
a) Some of us, meaning me, just can’t do that, I would rather take three years or so to make it though
7. I looked at the Ladies Bible study new book. In it it tells you to highlight all the verbs, underline the proper names, ect. If that works for you, DO IT!
8. Whatever method that works best for you do it!
a) I will be honest I switch techniques often. Sometimes methods loose their impact with me, so I start a different one, it is not the end of the world to change methods
9. One of the things that I was having a hard time with a couple of moths ago was when we should be doing all of this. It seemed to me, the earlier you got up, the more spiritual you were. All these Godly men and women I was meeting got up between 4 and 5 and had their time with God.
a) I don’t know about you, but 4 or 5 just does not work for me. 7 is ok 6 is pushing it. 4 or 5 no way!
b) So I was wondering how I was going to become a Godly person if I could not get up that early, Honestly, I was
c) I was at a New Workers meeting and we were having a panel discussion about different peoples devotional habits
d) Shirley Zerbe, Wife of our DS, is a very godly lady, I have a lot of respect for her. Her husband, who I also respect greatly, is one of those Godly people who get up at those ridiculous times in the morning. Shirley agrees, those times are ridiculous. She is not the morning person like her husband is, she does not get up at 4 or 5. She waits to mid morning around 10ish, after her shower breakfast, and system boot, to have her quiet time
e) Which one is better, neither, whatever works for you
f) The important part, is to grow we need to be spending the individual time with God
g) If you have a desire to increase this individual growth habits, and you are not sure how to do it, talk to me, I will give you more suggestions then you would ever want to hear.
h) What can we do as a church to better fulfill this purpose, if you have a thought tell me
B. Personal accountability
1. Proverbs 27:17. As Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another
2. No man is an Island
3. WE are all depend on each other
4. In order to grow we are going to need friends around us to help us.
5. Our District understands this concept really well, that is why every new worker that moves into the district get assigned a mentor
6. I admit that sometimes these force relationships do not work.
7. However, it worked for me
8. I would have not chosen Marv myself to be my mentor, but there are certain areas that he is strong in that I was week in. He has been a huge help to me.
9. Having personal accountability is a purpose of the church
10. It is our job as a church to have this personal accountability in place
11. This does not mean that we have to do it every Tues at 7 pm.
12. But what can we do as a church to make this happen more often.
13. Again if you have any ideas tell me.
C. Growth Groups
1. The best way to understand this growth groups idea is by Jesus’ Life
2. How many disciples did Jesus have. 12 the popular answer.
3. Now Jesus is obviously smarter then we are. But yet he choose 12 to concentrate his time and energy
4. He deliberately spent this time with the twelve to prepare them to lead his Church after the Resurrection
5. He could have founded more people
6. But 12 created a small group that worked best for growth
7. It is the job of the church to have these Growth groups
8. It is not enough to be here during this service and receive all the instruction that you need
9. Everyone needs to be involved in at least one growth group.
10. Currently we have men’s bible study, Sunday school, Ladies Bible Study.
11. Are we fulfilling the purpose of growth groups?
12. Could we do better then we are?
13. If you have an idea, if you are having trouble plugging in to a growth group, come talk to me about it, and we will figure out what needs to be done
Conclusion
A. It is the time to start planting flowers and plants in our gardens
B. What do we know about growing plants, 3 things we know
a. WE know that plants do not just grow – they have to have food, they have to have water
b. WE know that plants do not grow overnight—it takes time. I planted a couple of seeds in little pots several weeks ago. They still are not ready yet. Growing takes time
c. There has to be someone willing to take care of the plants, known as the gardener
C. As a church, we are the Gardener, the people of the church are the plants
D. As a Church, we need to be using the best techniques, the best fertilizer, the best watering schedule, to facilitate growth
E. Are we doing that?
F. What are we lacking
G. It is ok to think we need to improve something.
H. The question is, What can we do as a church to help the process of growing? What needs are we not meeting, what areas are we meeting but could do better
I. Think about these ideas, if you have an idea I would love to hear it.
J. Growing is not optional, growing is commanded.
