The Sunday Message was on Team Family.
One aspect that was not covered begs the question of how do you know if you are growing spiritually as a team family.
We are called to be more than church members. How else are we called?
Discuss the following as possible growth areas and which one is most important to you and your family.
- Called to be disciples
- Working together in collaborative teams
- Growth oriented
- Encourage one another's spiritual growth
- Hold each other accountable
Romans 6:23 shows that Christians are forgiven people who are justified though faith by God's saving grace. There is nothing we can do to earn or deserve our salvation. It is a free gift from God. Once we are forgiven and justified before God, the Christian life is one of growth. In Ephesians 4:11-16 to the church in Ephesus Paul wrote about this process of change and growth in terms of growing up. Identify and discuss the 4 areas of growth from this passage.
1. Growing up spiritually includes developing our spiritual discipline.
Prayerful, bible immersed people who seek ways to live out their individual callings in places God has planted them.
2. Growing up spiritually includes developing our corporate spiritual discipline.
We have been graced with gifts to be used for the common good in the Church. Use in Christian fellowship and worship draw us to verse 13.
3. Growing up spiritually includes living our faith by doing the good works of God in the world.
Do them not to garner God's favor but in gratitude for all he has done for us.
James 2:17-18
The doing of good works includes our efforts at mission and ministry.
They are an offering back to God for all God has done for us.
The pursuit of our mission, our cause is a joyful response to grace.
4. Growing up spiritually means giving away our faith.
Jesus spoke about surrendering life to find it.
True evidences of mature faith is whether or not it is being lived in mission and given away. Mature faith creates seed for new growth.
Is your Christian life an attempt simply to hold on to what you think you have already achieved in your relation to God and other people?
Or are you willing to risk what you have already learned and accomplished to explore new and more complete ways of loving god and other people?
Forgiven
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Sanctification
Eph 4: 22-24 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Romans 6:4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
Ephesians 4:11-16 11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14Then 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. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16From 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.
Growing up spiritually includes developing our _________________discipline.
Growing up spiritually includes developing our _____________ spiritual discipline.
Growing up spiritually includes living our faith by doing the ___________ __________ of God in the world.
James 2: 17-18 17 So you see, faith by itself isn't enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. 18 Now someone may argue, "Some people have faith; others have good deeds." But I say, "How can you show me your faith if you don't have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds."
Growing up spiritually means ________ ___________ our faith.