“From the very beginning God decided that those who came to him– and all along he knew who would–should become like his Son…” Rom. 8:29 (LB)
- Well good morning everybody! It’s good to see you. Welcome to ‘40 Days of Community’! <ppt>
- Tonight – ‘the Big Ask’ – Where is God >>>
- talk, refreshments, panel for questions
- Now, during ‘40 Days of Community,’ we are doing two things: Deepening our relationships within our church and extending our relationships around our church;
- And so, during ‘40 Days,’ …
- We’re teaching six messages on how to deepen relationships.
- We’re reading through the book ‘Better Together,’ a chapter a day for 40 days.
- Today we’re up to day 22 <ppt> – and if you’ve missed previous days, don’t worry or feel guilty about it, just pick up the story at day 22.
- You can buy a book at the bookshop in the Welcome Centre, And in small groups we’re studying and discussing those six videos about how to deepen our relationships.
- <ppt: chosen to help each other to grow>
- Today’s teaching that paves the way for your chapters during the week and your small group discussion is the simple statement “We’re chosen to help each other to grow”
- Here’s a scripture that sums up this morning’s focus:
- “From the very beginning God decided that those who came to him– and all along he knew who would–should become like his Son…” Rom. 8:29 (LB)
highlight ‘become like his son‘ that’s God’s purpose in your life and mine – to become like his son
54 seconds of lunacy (but with a point, I promise!)
Mougli, the boy is in the jungle with the animals – he’s known as the man-cub. He has an encounter with an ape (?Baloo) and Walt Disney puts into the mouth of Baloo some very profound words –
<ppt: Baloo clip (cut after first verse)>
Baloo the ape knew that without a miracle he was never going to be human, but he wanted to be like the man cub
“I’m tired of monkeying around” >>>
“I want to be like you” >>>
“I want to walk like you, talk like you
“You see it’s true-hoo that a ape like me-hee can learn to be human too”
He wanted to be like somebody else. Something was so compelling about this man-cub
- You and I can never be Jesus Christ – impossibility
- but we can be like him,
and when we say to Jesus Christ “I want to walk like you, talk like you … I can learn to be like you “ – that is discipleship.
Back to Baloo: “You see it’s true-hoo that a man like me-hee can learn to be Christ-like too”
- That’s spiritual growth
- It’s modelling our lives on that of Jesus Christ.
- And this is not an instant process or a quick fix, it involves personal growth
The world is full of growing things – growing children, growing trees, growing waistlines, growing reputations, growing populations, growing debt, growing families
In the midst of all this growth it’s easy to forget that there is a type of growth that lies at the heart of all healthy growth, and that’s spiritual growth. God has placed inside every man woman and child he has created a spiritual appetite that can only be satisfied by a close relationship with Father God.
“Encourage each other and build each other up.” 1 Th. 5:11 (NIV)
How can we help each other to grow? <ppt>
BY AFFIRMING EACH OTHER’S WORTH.
Eph 4:1-2 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
What does this look like? How do we affirm other people’s worth?
WITH Acceptance
In Rom 15:7 the Bible says
- “Accept one another, just as Christ accepted you…” Rom. 15:7 (NIV)
So instead of choosing to snub people or belittle them, (which is an easy choice to make, especially if you’re having a bad day.)
So how does Christ accept you? – warts and all.
- Your failings are not a barrier to his acceptance of you.
- He may well want you to address some of those failings (that’s part of growing into the likeness of Christ) but they don’t undermine his acceptance of you.
WITH Attention
Paul said in Galatians 6:10
- “Give special attention to those who are in the family of believers.” Gal. 6:10 (NCV)
- Gal 6:10 … as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, but especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
You’ve often heard me say that “the church is the only organisation in society the exists for the benefit of its non-members” and that is true,
But to balance this the Bible clearly indicates that we are to care for each other as well.
Because here’s the general principle, whatever you pay attention to is going to grow.
- If you pay attention to my garden, it’s going to grow.
- If I pay attention to my kids, they’re going to grow.
- If I pay attention to my marriage, it’s going to grow and get better.
- If I pay attention to my work, that’s going to grow.
- The only principle where this doesn’t work is my hair. The more attention I pay to it, the more it falls out.
You might like to ask “Who within this body of believers can I pay particular attention to in order for us both to grow in Christ?
WITH Affection
- “Love one another with brotherly affection as members of one family…” Rom. 12:10 (Amp)
Let me tell you something that really took me by surprise.
When Rosi and I lost our daughter Esther 3 years ago we came back into the church after a few weeks break and began to meet you all
I have never (ever) had so many hugs or kisses, or people putting a hand on my shoulder
That unforced show of genuine affection amazed and moved us both (and we thank you for it – so well done Victoria!)
Events like that don’t happen every week (thankfully)
- but appropriate physical touch can happen every week. And when it does, it reaches and builds people in a way that mere words cant even get near.
I meet people in the church here for whom the handshake or the hug or arm round their shoulder or the appropriate kiss is virtually the only physical affection they receive all week.
So give someone a hug.
So when Paul says “Greet one another with a holy kiss” the only way you can interpret that verse is – go and do it!
WITH Appreciation
- “Brothers and sisters… appreciate those who work hard among you, who lead you in the Lord and teach you.” 1 Th. 5:12 (NCV)
If you’ve ever bought a car, you know the meaning of ‘depreciation,’ they lose in value. The moment you drive it out of the garage it’s not worth as much as you paid for it.
Every time you appreciate somebody, you raise their value to you and to others.
- When you appreciate your wife, you raise her value.
- When you appreciate your husband or your boyfriend or your girlfriend or a friend, you raise their value.
- When you appreciate your kids, you raise their value.
- When you appreciate your small group, you raise its value to you.
- Everything you appreciate increases in value.
Pual applies this to the people who make church happen
So why not thank the welcomers. Thank the people who set up the tables for coffee.
You know it takes about 50 people just to pull off a service in here at Victoria. Thank the musicians!
Another way we can help each other to grow is
2. BY PRAYING FOR EACH OTHER’S GROWTH.
I love this description in Colossians
- “Epaphras…always prays for you that you will grow to be spiritually mature.” Col. 4:12 (NCV)
We often pray for people’s needs (and that’s right) but let’s also pray for their growth!
Take some of the gifts listed in our Bible reading
Eph 4:11-12 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
Let’s pray that we may exercise these gifts – and a welter of others, in the church and grow to be more like Jesus by using them.
Look at some of the prayers in the New Testament
- “I pray…you’ll be able to feel and understand, how long, wide, deep, and high Christ’s love really is; and to experience this love for yourselves…” Eph. 3:18-19 (LB)
- “I pray… you will always be eager to do right.” Heb. 13:21 (CEV)
- “I pray God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace while you trust in him.” Rom. 15:13 (NCV)
- “I pray God …would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation…” Eph. 1:17 (GW)
- “I pray the Lord will guide you to be as loving as God and as patient as Christ.” 2 Th. 3:5 (CEV)
- “I pray God…may strengthen you with power through his Spirit.” Eph. 3:16 (NIV)
Do you notice – these are all prayers about spiritual growth!
BY ADMITTING OUR OWN MISTAKES.
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Ephesians 4:14
(NIV)
“Tell each other the truth, because we all belong to each other.”
Eph. 4:25 (NCV)
Benefits of honesty
Emotional healing
- “Admit your faults to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” James 5:16 (LB)
A fresh start
- “Anyone who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confesses and forsakes them, he gets another chance.” Pr. 28:13 (LB)
God’s power to change
- “When you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence on him, God will lift you up and give you honour.” James 4:10 (NLT)
Deeper fellowship
- “If we live in the light…then we have fellowship with one another…” 1 John 1:7 (TEV)
BY ENCOURAGING EACH OTHER’S COMMITMENT.
Eph 4:16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
“Keep yourself in training for a godly life.” 1 Tim. 4:7 (TEV)
“I want us to help each other with the faith we have. Your faith will help
me, and my faith will help you.” Rom. 1:12 (NCV)
1. Commit to love Jesus Christ.
2. Commit to love other believers.
3. Commit to grow in God’s Word.
4. Commit to serving in ministry.
5. Commit to sharing the Good News.
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