Connect Belong Grow

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

You were created to be an image of the King, but with that comes responsibility. You are a representative of the King.

The Image of the King

You were created to connect

Image Bearers Belong

Genesis 1:27 ESV

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

God didn’t just create isolated people who could work in isolation from each other.

You are a vital part of Belonging, you have been through storms which will be the conduit for others belonging to Christ.

The Water Barrels

When we put the sky water into our garden the plants exploded with growth.

The growth didn’t happen until the storms had passed.

You have been in storms that will allow you to relate to others in a way I cannot. Your water is better than the city water.

You play a vital role in the growth of those in your lifegroup but it starts by you helping them belong. Your storms can be a bridge to someone belonging.

God created people in community, they were created to belong

Growth happens when people Belong

Image Bearers Grow

Genesis 1:28 ESV

And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

To cause to increase, THRIVE

God created us to inhabit a beautiful garden, he wanted us to be in fellowship.

We grow individually but we also grow in community.

We can grow all on our own but we will only thrive in community

You are what makes the Kingdom of God thrive here in Aberdeen.

You are what makes the Kingdom of God thrive in those around you.

This is where growth happens

Growth happens two ways

Individually

We Grow in the Image of God because the Image of God got broken from sin.

Ephesians 4:22–24 ESV

to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Colossians 3:9–11 ESV

Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

Numerically

Individually - A person grows in their relationship to God, they grow in communion with God and others. Together the image bearers continue to represent the king.

Numerically - Don’t think of this as us trying to expand our numbers or add more people to our members list. Numbers are not our priority, but when the gospel grabs hold of a movement and begins to shake things up, that community will grow. Genesis mandates it, the history of this church proves it and the future, I believe, will confirm it.

I have set a goal to have 45 LifeGroups by the start of the fall semester. I believe God is working and I believe this group is called to create the net for revival.

When Rodney, Paul and myself meet, there is unanimous agreement that Aberdeen is in store for some serious revival. We believe God is going to bring more souls into the church by the church reaching out for new souls.

In a bit we all will be splitting for a break out session. One group will go with Heather. Heather is going to be teaching our basic computer program church teams. She is going to show you how to manage your group, how to check in on your group and most importantly how to fill out the weekly or biweekly reports.

I cannot tell you how crucial this is for me. Those weekly reports are something I celebrate over. those reports bring joy to my life when Im sitting at my office desk!

When I look over the numbers and see how many groups are meeting and many people are attending, I want to praise God.

The numbers are important! How many disciples did Jesus have? 12, how many did he keep up until the time of his death?

John 17:12 ESV

While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

God has given us a responsibility to care for our congregation, you guys are the pulse of the church and these simple reports are what allows us to check if discipleship is actually happening. If you have a hard time filling out your report, find someone who can fill out the report. If you just don’t want to fill out the report, please come talk to me, because we need to figure this out.

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