Sermon Tone Analysis

Grow!

 

TEMC.

March 18, 07

 

1           *What is growth*?

We see it all around us.

Pretty soon we will see it again in nature as the grass will begin to come out, as the flowers will appear.

We see growth on a continual basis in life – take children for example.

*a)  *Small children grow bigger.

They grow in size.

We are happy for that – we expect it.

But how would it be if you had a baby, and that baby would not grow?

It would remain the same 7 or 8 pounds that it was born?

After 5 years, other children would begin school, and your baby would remain the same size?

You would be very worried.

*b)  *They grow in strength.

How about if your baby would grow, but it would not get stronger?

It would grow longer, heavier and wider, but it would not gain any strength?

After 5 years the baby would be 3-4 feet tall, but the child would still not be able to hold its head.

You would be worried.

*c)  *Children if they are healthy grow in knowledge.

Some children are born with a learning disability.

In extreme cases, they never learn to talk, they never learn to express their needs or wants.

They remain as they were born.

*d)  *They grow in their preferences and choices of food.

How would you feel if your child remained on the bottle for years on end.

If your child grew bigger, became a school boy or girl,  and would not change their diet.

All they would ever take in their lunch bag would be a bottle of milk, and perhaps a little jar of pablum.

I know we as parents would be embarrassed.

*e)  *They grow in self confidence.

This is an area where parents often struggle.

Their little one clings to them, and they would like to see their little one be outgoing, friendly and to be fun around with.

i)             We may not be able to do everything for our children when it comes to growth.

But there is an area of growth that we can do a lot about.

*f)  **When it comes to our own spiritual growth, we are responsible for it.**

* Do you know that for our spiritual growth God has provided and continually provides everything we need?

We have the bible, we have opportunities.

*2           **Spiritual growth is a major teaching of the bible.*

For anyone who has become a Christian, growth is a command.

Someone might ask: “ Do I have to?”

We should ask, why would I not want to?

*a)  *I have heard discussions where people say things like: “ the more we know, the more we will be held responsible for.”

They say that with the idea in mind that if they remain spiritually immature, God will go easy on them, and let them get away with not serving God.

These people have the idea that they don’t want to go out doing things for God.

They just want to stop doing bad things, but they are not interested in starting to serve God. 

*b)  *We want to continue in our series on Hebrews.

And for this sermon I want to look at the instructions that are given to us to “Grow”.

The outline I plan to use for this message is not my own.

I borrowed it from the Outline Bible.

Often someone else has already done a job that applies directly to what one intends to do, and there is no need to “reinvent the wheel” as they say.

The Appeal for Spiritual Maturity (6:1–12)

/1 So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again.

Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding.

Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. 2 You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

3 And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding./

/4 //For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come— 6 and who then turn away from God.

It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame./

/7 //When the ground soaks up the falling rain and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has God’s blessing.

8 But if a field bears thorns and thistles, it is useless.

The farmer will soon condemn that field and burn it./

/9 //Dear friends, even though we are talking this way, we really don’t believe it applies to you.

We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation.

10 For God is not unjust.

He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers,  as you still do.

11 Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true.

12 Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent.

Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance./

1           *The author*’*s challenge* *(6:1–3): The writer of Hebrews issues a twofold challenge to his readers.*

*a)  */Don/’/t go backward/ (6:1–2): He urges them to stop going over the same old ground again and again.

i)             Verses 1& 2: /So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again.

Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding.

Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. 2 You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment/.

(1)I remember when I took guitar playing lessons.

It was difficult.

But I soon learned that I enjoyed doing the same songs over gain and again instead of learning new ones.

Familiarity, easiness always attract us.

But that is not growth

(2)*When are we in danger of going backwards*?

When we are not going forward.

Many people in life would like to tell themselves that they are maybe not growing – they are at a standstill.

I don’t believe there is such a thing as a stand still in our Spiritual growth and our relationship to God.

Either we are growing, or we are shrinking.

(3)If we have been doing the same thing all our lives, and it has not moved us closer to God, then we need to ask ourselves what needs changing.

One of the things is perhaps stop doing something that is sin.

(4)If we are knowingly doing things in disobedience to God, don’t expect growth.

(5)If we are knowingly not doing things in obedience to God, don’t expect growth.

(6)We are always tempted to do the easy thing, the convenient thing, the comfortable thing – whatever it is that we are used to.

We need to stop and ask ourselves – will what I am doing, or what I am refusing to do – will that help me come closer to Jesus, or will that bring me farther away from him?

(7)The writer to Hebrews mentions an area where the readers needed to grow in.

*b)                         *In the importance of turning from sin and toward God (6:1)

(1)     There are a few ways to explain this passage perhaps:

(2)     When a team begins a game , - lets say hockey – they don’t immediately know what is going to happen.

It takes some time to learn what the game is doing – are they going to win – lose, be even.

But one thing is sure – no game is ever won on defense alone.

Defense is very important.

Protect your self.

But what is equally important in winning is that there is good offense.

(3)     Another way to explain this is in building a house.

If for instance the construction crew spends all its time just with building the foundation – but they never get to actually putting up the walls, roof and install the windows – no building will ever be built.

Lets say they build the foundation.

Then they study the foundation.