What Is A Healthy Church? It Is One That Understands Growth and Discipleship

Quiz Which of these involve Biblical Definition of.. GrowthDiscipleship 1. Increased number of people attending church 2. An optional extra for religious zealots 3. Sign of real life –characteristic of living things 4. Prayer meetings three times a week 5. Learning, understanding, comprehending 6. Following in order to know better and to imitate 7. Advancing in knowledge 8. Increased number of baptisms 9. Seeing people trust Christ as Lord and Savior 10. Increased number of people joining church

Quiz Which of these involve Biblical Definition of.. GrowthDiscipleship 1. Increased number of people attending churchMM 2. An optional extra for religious zealotsNN 3. Sign of real life –characteristic of living thingsYM 4. Prayer meetings three times a weekMM 5. Learning, understanding, comprehendingYY 6. Following in order to know better and to imitateMY 7. Advancing in knowledgeMM 8. Increased number of baptismsMM 9. Seeing people trust Christ as Lord and SaviorYY 10. Increased number of people joining churchMM

Quiz – Page 2 Which of these involve Biblical Definition of.. GrowthDiscipleship 11. Lots of programs for kids and adults 12. Increased offerings and special gifts 13. People are really excited about their faith 14. You use lots of religious language 15. Love is the primary focus of the ministry 16. The pastor’s sermons really make you think 17. You never want to miss a service at the church 18. Hunger for fellowship with other believers 19. Learning about Him makes me see my faults 20. You want to read Christian books all the time 21. Holiness is primary objective – self denial

Quiz – Page 2 Which of these involve Biblical Definition of.. GrowthDiscipleship 11. Lots of programs for kids and adultsMM 12. Increased offerings and special giftsMM 13. People are really excited about their faithMM 14. You use lots of religious languageMM 15. Love is the primary focus of the ministryYY 16. The pastor’s sermons really make you thinkYY 17. You never want to miss a service at the churchYY 18. Hunger for fellowship with other believersYY 19. Learning about Him makes me see my faultsMM 20. You want to read Christian books all the timeMM 21. Holiness is primary objective – self denialYY

I.Spiritual Growth A.What does it mean? B.When does it occur? C.Why does it occur? D.Who is involved? E.How does it happen?

I.Spiritual Growth A.What does it mean to grow …..? 1.In faith – 2 Cor. 10:15 2.In Christ – Eph 4:15f; Col 1:10; 2 Thes. 1:3 3.In respect to your salvation - 1 Peter 2:2 To develop, increase or mature ……. it is a process

I.Spiritual Growth B.When does it occur? 1.Moment by moment – 2 Peter 1:12 2.Over time – Hebrews 12:1-3 3.In His time – James 4:13-17

I.Spiritual Growth C.Why does it occur? 1.God causes it – 1 Cor. 3:7 2.Living things grow – Romans 8:6-7 3.Dead things don’t

I.Spiritual Growth D.Who is involved? 1.The Trinity 2.You 3.The rest of the body here at PBC

I.Spiritual Growth E.How does it happen? 1.Through prayer – Matthew 7: Self Denial – Seek holiness James 2:20-24; 2 Peter 1:5-11 James 2:20-24; 2 Peter 1: Trials – James 1:2-6 4.Discipline – Hebrews 12:7-11

II.Discipleship A.What is it? Growing with another B.When does it occur? When you seek it C.Why is it important? It causes growth D.Who is involved? God & you plus one E.How do you do it? On purpose You should always either be discipling someone or being discipled by someone

III.God is Glorified by Growth A.When we grow His way ….. 1.He gets glory - 1 Cor. 3:6-7; Col. 2:19 2.We gain grace & knowledge - 2 Pet. 3:18 B.Others will see Him in us ….. 1.Through our works – 1 Peter 2:15 2.His light will shine – Matthew 5:16

Examples of Biblical Growth - involving love, self denial, discipline, & encouragement 1. Members of the congregation talking about becoming missionaries 2. Older members inviting younger ones over for dinner to share gospel 3. Younger members asking older members to mentor them 4. Increased desire for corporate prayer, especially involving evangelism 5. People initiating evangelistic Bible studies at work & in neighborhoods 6. Less reliance on church programs and more emphasis on small groups 7. Informal gatherings characterized by sharing of needs and struggles 8. Increased and sacrificial giving (what can we do without to give more) 9. People exercising fruit of spirit like patience and kindness 10. Husbands asking wives how they can better love & communicate 11. Wives asking husbands how they can show respect and appreciation 12. Parents firmly disciplining their children in love and not anger 13. Leadership of church being fair and consistent in scriptural discipline