Series: Back To Growing
Grow in the “Right” Direction
Pastor Doug start the series with challenging growth questions: Why do we grow or why do we not grow? What helps us to grow or what hinders us from growth?
Your ultimate destination is to grow in love of God. So that in that moment when you are with him you will experience the greatest joy in your live. So if your purpose is to grow and growth moves you in the “right” then let’s get back to growing.
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your[a] life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self[d] with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,[e] free; but Christ is all, and in all.
1 Peter 2:2-3
2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
Enhance Your Growth
In week two, Pastor Doug focuses on things that enhance our growth, and things that hinder our growth.
“You are meant to grow and God is the one to grow you. This is not a self help program.. you can’t do it on your own. It is a redemptive program build on the Grace of Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior.”
Grow Past Obsticles
Pastor Doug challenges us to grow past obstacles through the power of Jesus Christ.
Jesus wants to change you to experience unmitigated joy. The reason why we are not growing into joy is because we stubbornly hold on to stuff. Let’s take a step back and say to ourselves.. “maybe it’s time to grow”.
Philippians 3:4-11
4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. 7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
