1. HAPPY NEW YEAR

2. NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION My Goal for 2014 2015 is to finish my GOALS from 2013 14 that I should have COMPLETED in 2012 13 & that I PROMISED to complete in 2011 12 and PLANNED to complete in 2010 11

3. GROWING TOGETHER

4. 1. Why did God want a church? It’s a mystery

5. Ephesians 3:8-11 8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,

6. 1. Why did God want a church? It’s a mystery! To show His great wisdom to the devil

7. 2. Why did God give structure to the church? Ephesians 4:11-12 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

8. 2. Why did God give structure to the church? Ephesians 4:11-12 … for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, …for the edifying of the body of Christ,

9. 3. What goal does God have for the church? Growing together Eph 4:13-16

10. Ephesians 4:13-16 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

11. GROWING UP 3. What goal does God have for the church?

12. A.GROW UP INDIVIDUALLY – (Good food) i.Unity of faith ii.Knowledge of the Son of God iii.Perfect man iv.Measure of Christ v.No longer children (in doctrine) vi.Speaking the truth in love B.GROW TOGETHER – (Exercise) i.Growth of the body (joined, knit, unity) ii.Edifying each other in love iii.Every joint does its part (& we take over)

13. GROWING UP

14. THE 7 SPHERES OF INFLUENCE (Mind Moulders) Religion Government & Law Arts & Entertainment Education Business Media Family

15. Last Year’s Theme (Be, then) GO & MAKE DISCIPLES How did you do? 1.Still outside. Don’t call yourself a Christian if you are not yet a disciple (John 3:3,5) 2.Still a spiritual baby. Go deeper (Eph 4) 3.Spiritually mature and making more disciples (Matt 28:18-20)

16. CONCLUSION – Are you ready to g row together? 1.Grow up in the knowledge of the truth (know) Study, join a small group, go through discipleship 2. Grow up in Christ likeness (be) Go and sin no more. Grow up! Practice your faith without shame or fear (Rom 1:16) 3. Growing the body (do) Doing your part to build up the body in love

17. Question of the year: How will you be part of God’s move for GICF to be … Growing Together … in 2015?