Core Values: Spiritual Growth
Value #1: We desire to be a church that pursues God's presence.
Value #2: We desire to be a church that pursues a life of holiness.
Value #3: We desire to be a church that prioritizes spiritual growth.
Philippians 1:6 (NLT) And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
Colossians 1:28 (NIV) He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.
Colossians 2:6-7 (NLT) And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow Him. 7 Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.
1 Peter 2:2 (NIV) Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.
God never intended for us to stay where we are.
Hebrews 5:12-14 (NLT) You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. 13 For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. 14 Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.
Signs of spiritual immaturity:
They are easily offended. [Prov. 19:11]
They are easily influenced. [Eph. 4:14]
They know the Bible, but they don’t apply it. [Js. 1:22]
They are self-centered. [Rom. 12:3]
They continually need to be fed, but rarely feed others. [Heb. 5:12]
They struggle to receive correction. [Prov. 9:8-9]
They blame others rather than taking responsibility. [Rom. 2:1]
Their emotions tend to control their life. [1 Cor. 3:1-3]
Signs of spiritual maturity:
They take responsibility for their spiritual growth. [Col. 2:6-7]
They are led by the Holy Spirit, not their emotions. [Rom 8:14]
They think about others before themselves. [Phil. 2:3-4]
They don’t give up when life is hard. [Js. 1:2-4]
They want to help others grow. [Rom. 12:3-8]
They exercise discernment. [Heb. 5:24]
The fruit of the Spirit is evident in their lives. [Gal. 5:22-23]
They genuinely desire to obey Jesus. [Jn. 14:15]
Ephesians 4:11-16 (NLT) Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do His work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be [what?] mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of His body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
Disciple — “a learner, a student, or an apprentice.”
1. BE WITH JESUS
Matthew 4:19 (NLT) Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow Me…”
Mark 3:13-14 (NIV) Jesus went up on a mountain and called to Him those He wanted, and they came to Him. 14 He appointed twelve that they might be with Him…
Jesus is with me—but am I with Him?
2. BECOME LIKE JESUS
Matthew 10:25 (NIV) It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters.
Romans 8:29 (NLT) For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son…
What kind of person are we BECOMING?
3. OBEY JESUS
John 14:15 (NLT) “If you love Me, obey My commandments.”
Matthew 28:20 (NIV) “…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you!”
4. DO WHAT JESUS DID
1 John 2:6 (AMP) whoever says he lives in Christ [that is, whoever says he has accepted Him as God and Savior] ought to walk and conduct himself just as He walked and conducted Himself.
Matthew 28:19-20 (NLT) Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.
Be with Jesus → Become like Jesus → Obey Jesus → Do what Jesus did