That’s what I expected #insideout Copyright © Simon G. Harris 2013 Scripture quotations taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission

God is serious about growth - His creation Psalm 24:1-2 The earth is the LORD'S, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.

God is serious about growth - His kingdom Colossians 2:19 He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.

God is serious about growth - His kingdom John 15:1-2 John 15:1-2 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

Parables of growth & reproduction 1. Parable of the Soils Mark 4:20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown." Our reproducing potential: 100 times!

Parables of growth & reproduction 2. Parable of the Growing Seed Mark 4:26-29 Mark 4: whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. It’s not as hard as we think!

Parables of growth & reproduction 3. The Mustard Seed Mark 4:30-32 Mark 4:30-32 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, Very small beginnings lead to something great

God is serious about growth - His parables Mark 4:33 With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand.

God is serious about growth - His character Luke 15:4 "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety- nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? Always go for growth!

What do we expect?

Growth starts by thinking me Matthew 4:19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." How am I going to reproduce myself?

Growth starts by thinking my relationships Acts 17:26-27 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.

Growth starts by thinking my relationships Philippians 1:12 Philippians 1:12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.

Growth starts by thinking small Genesis 2:25 Genesis 2:25 The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.

Growth starts by thinking multiplication Genesis 1:22 Genesis 1:22 God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth."

How does the church help each of us to reproduce ourselves?

Chosen for this! John 15:16 John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Reproducing disciples!