PROGRESSIVE GROWTH OF CHRISTIAN’S LIFE – A PURPOSEFUL JOURNEY HOC Winter Conference December 26~28, 2014 Fraizer Park, Calif.

PROGRESSIVE GROWTH OF CHRISTIAN’S LIFE – A PURPOSEFUL JOURNEY  Colossians 2:6-7 6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives (walk) in Him,  7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.  Ephesians 4:1 ….I urge you to live a life (walk) worthy of the calling you have received. 2

Being Built Up in Him – Joined together for the body of Christ corporate (body) life 3

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1. THE LIFE BUILT ON THE SOLID FOUNDATION (MATHEW 7:24-27)  24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.  26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”  L!/L!/L! 5

 The parable of  the wise builder, and the foundation  Hearer of words, heeder / doer  Can firmly stand against any assault  My Rock  The foundation is for building (God’s desire) 6

2. BEING BUILT UP IN HIM  A. Built up into God’s house in the Spirit  Ephesians 2: Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household,  20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone.  21 In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.  22 And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. 7

 God’s desire on earth is for His people to become a house (holy temple, dwelling place) for Him to live by His Spirit  Old Testament Era (separations)  Tabernacle – in wilderness  Temple – Davidic kingdom  New Testament Era (Access)  Church – (Saints)  True Church – Spiritual, universal at Christ’s 2nd Coming  Tangible Church - anywhere, everywhere – testimony  Wheat vs. tare  7 churches in Revelation 2,3 – only 2 were commended by the Lord  But the Lord calls for over-comers in each 7  The (church) life we live on earth is (indispensable) merely practice for heaven (D. J) 8

2. BEING BUILT UP IN HIM  B. Built up in the unity of Spirit  John 17: "My prayer is …  21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  Ephesians 4:1-3 1 ….I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 9

 True foundation – Christ alone (not men nor doctrines)  Examine heresy by checking on belief in:  Trinity – the deity of Christ  Christ’s redemptive work/ salvation by grace  Jesus’ victory on the cross, His continuing work on His people by the cross and the Holy Spirit  The eternal hope – the city with foundation  Forbear the “superficial” differences in churches  Eph. 4:2-3 C!/C!/C!  Do not grieve the Lord’s heart by striving, division 10

2. BEING BUILT UP IN HIM  C. Built up with the serving mentality  John 13: Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you should wash one another’s feet.  15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.  1 Peter 4: 10  Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11

 Jesus washed the disciples’ feet (Judas’ too)  Graduation ceremony – teachers washing students’ feet  Servanthood – Meek and lowly (Mat. 11:29)  God has endowed us with various gifts (not only outward, but inward) to be used for the building, to serve one another.  Rom 12:6-15 (prophesy, minister, teach, encourage, give, govern, share…)  Prof. Stewart Blackie and a student 12

2. BEING BUILT UP IN HIM  D. Built up through mutual edification  Colossians 3:16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom …  1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.  Romans 14:19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 13

 Built up “where” you are, with “whomever” they are  For all of us: “MUTUAL”  Young adults (esp.)–responsibility of spiritual growth  Exhort, encourage, teach (constructively), uphold one another  Learn to minister to one another’s need (washing feet)  Pillars in the House of God  Red wood 14

3. STRENGTHENED AND OVERFLOWING WITH THANKFULNESS  Colossians 2:6-7  6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him,  7 rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 15

 Walk in Him – outward living (in truth, love, light, wisdom, etc.)  Rooted in Him – inner life (deeper communion in God’s word, love, sacrifice, abiding)  Built up in Him – corporate life (God’s house, body, unity, service, edification)  One body- one bread – one life – one hope 16

 What is Church to me?  Do I really feel that I am a member of the body (our Church), just like other brothers and sisters?  At this stage in my life, how can I be built up in the Church?  How do I regard my role in serving and edifying in the Church? (Please don’t be overly-modest; we need each one of us!!) 17