A Place to Grow

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=50 BGCOLOR="#333366" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>A Place to Grow</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=165 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="132" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id72.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Place to Belong"><U><B><IMG SRC="007151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id69.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A Place to Serve and Lead"><U><B><IMG SRC="008151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="20"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="35" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="20" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="13"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="27"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> Previous/Next Sermon</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="www.stanbaker.org"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Biblical and Theological Studies"><U><B>Biblical and Theological Studies</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church Ministry"><U><B>Ministry Studies</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sermon Notes"><U>Sermon Notes</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Personal"><U><B>Personal</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> <div> <A HREF="mailto:stan@stanbaker.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:stan@stanbaker.org"><U>stan@stanbaker.org</U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=430 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>“The Church: A Place to Grow,” Berean Bible Church, May 21, 2000</B></div> <bR> <div> Many Believers often lack substance, growth in their Christian walk. They might look good on the outside, but inside, there is not much by way of quality and substance. They are content to stay at minimum level of advancement.</div> <div> What is supposed to happen after someone makes a decision to follow Christ?</div> <div> Ephesians 4.17-24</div> <bR> <div> <B>I. We must grow in what we have learned from Christ (vs. 20).</B></div> <div> <I>A. It means we no longer should live like we once lived, vss. 17-19.</I></div> <div> – “vanity,” emptiness, aimlessness, without direction, not leading to a positive end.</div> <div> – Not able to think clearly about what really matters, about their condition.</div> <div> – Disconnected from God due to ignorance from a hard heart,</div> <div> – which leads to being abandoned to whatever one desires, whatever feels good, even if it is personally harmful and shameful.</div> <div> <I>B. It means we grow in a new way of life, vss. 20-24.</I></div> <div> – Contrast</div> <div> – “learned, heard, taught” essence of being a follower of Christ – <I>learning</I> from him.</div> <div> – “Put off,” lay aside the habits that don’t fit with your new life.</div> <div> – Vs. 23, hinge, new attitude, new way of thinking.</div> <div> – “Put on,” be clothed with new way of life, illustrated by word used of an actor playing a character.</div> <div> **Following list: speak truth, handle anger properly, quit stealing and start giving, speak right words, avoid bitterness, be kind and forgiving, avoid sexual impurity, avoid greed, be controled by the Spirit, submit to one another.</div> <div> <I><U>C. Traits of a disciple</U></I>: worship and time with God in prayer and Word, trust in God, love for God and others, fellowship with other believers, good stewardship of time, money, and life, sharing Christ with others.</div> <bR> <div> <B>II. Make a commitment to spiritual growth.</B></div> <div> <I><U>A. Be committed to your own growth</U></I><I>.</I> Evaluate from beginning of the year until now – are you a stronger, more consistent Christian, even by a little bit?</div> <div> – Growing might mean <I>more time</I> in the Word, more time in prayer, more time with other believers.</div> <div> – Growing might mean you share your struggles with someone else who can pray with you and help keep you accountable.</div> <div> <I><U>B. Be committed to the growth of others</U></I> (Eph 4.16, each part does it’s work in building up the whole). NOT merely, “what’s in it for me?” but “how can I contribute to the growth of others?”</div> <div> <I><U>C. The church will be committed to your growth</U></I> (as a result of us looking out for one another).</div> <div> Teaching, worship times, fellowship and encouragement experiences, opportunities to serve others.</div> <bR> <div> Knowing Christ is just the beginning, there are a lot of exciting things that will happen in your Christian walk – continue the process. Don’t be content with just the beginning of the Christian walk.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> copyright, 2000, Stanley Baker</div> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> </td> </tr></table></body>