Growing Christians Grow Christians
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Introduction
Introduction
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Personal introduction
I’m so grateful for those of you involved on our hospitality team. It’s our desire at Liberty to make everyones Sunday morning experience with us one that is free from distraction, welcoming, and overly friendly.
Thanks to Jon and Kelly Burrell who are currently leading that Team. If your interested in being apart of that team and serving the Lord in that way you can speak with them, scan that QR code and let us know on there, or you can turn in a next step card.
We are continuing in our ReThinking Church series as we explore the book of 1 Corinthians.
Back story on this epistle, It is written by the Apostle Paul about 5 years after the church was planted. The people who got this letter are living in the city of Corinth which was like a modern day Vegas if not worse. It was known for it’s promiscuity and terrible lifestyle. There was even a cultural insult developed bc of the debauchery and immoral lifestyle lived by the people of Corinth. In short it was “You are acting like a Corinthian”
We have learned much about what the church Jesus sought to establish was intended to be like by rethinking our ideas of church compared to what Paul wrote about here. It is in this letter that he approached disunity in the church, sexual immortality, and a list of questions that he was sent by leaders in the church.
Last week we looked at the attributes of a Growing Christian and heard how Paul explained that A Growing Christian is a loving Christian, A Growing Christian seeks God’s glory not their own, and A Growing Christian is Transparent Christian.
This week I want to talk to you about what the result of being a Growing Christian is expected to be.
Before we jump into 1 Corinthians let me walk you back over to
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Matthew 28:19-20
This is considered the great commission. Jesus’ final words to his disciples before ascending to Heaven.
In it He gives them and us our mandate as believers.
Tell people about Him, have them publicly identify with Him via baptism, and then teaching them to observe or live as He has commanded.
What does that mean to you and I? It means that the 1 job we have isn’t going to church, it isn’t reading our Bible’s and praying, it is telling people about Jesus, seeing them follow in beleivers baptism, and then helping them grow.
Who are you helping grow closer to the Lord?
Many would say none.
Why though? Why is it Christians are not growing other Christians? Why are you not making it a priority in your life to connect with other people to lead them closer to Jesus?
Can I give you my assessment of why this is taking place?
Because Christians aren’t growing themselves.
How do I know this? Because I’ve seen in my own life that when I’m growing and pursuing Christ more, I’m able to lead others to do the same. When I’m not, I don’t.
You see, Growing Christians, Grow Christians.
Paul highlights this in 1 Cor 4 and we are going to see 2 things important to be a growing Christian and an affirmation of the title of the message today.
As we get into the message today I want you to be considering these questions: Why am I not growing as a Christian? Why am I not growing someone else?
1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.
4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
1 Cor 1:4-5
Exegete:
Paul is continuing in his thouhts regarding who he and Apollos are as leaders in the church. They are ministers. The word minister meanas ervant. They are servants of Christ.
The word minister in America is often associated with a pastor and looked at with reverance. In fact, another word we have used to describe a pastor is Reverend. I love it when people call me reverend. I tell them pastor is fine, there is nothing to revere about me. Usually gets me a laugh.
It’s true though. It was true of Paul, Apollos, and each one of us here today.
He is a servant of Christ, and a steward of the mysteries of God. Do you remember what the mysteries of God are? The gospel. Nothing secretive, nothing anyone else can’t know.
As a steward of the gospel it is required they he be found faithful. Faithul to what? How do we steward the message of the gospel?
While overused it is a great illustration that we should not scoff at as cliche: The information o the gospel is life givein and life saving. It should be spread as wide and far as if you had the information that woudl cure cancer.
You would be a bad steward of that cure for cancer if you didn’t tell everyone. You are being a bad steward of the live saving and life changing message of the gospel if you are not sharing it.
That could have been it’s own point but I wanted to get to the heart of why we aren’t stewarding the gospel properly and I believe Paul highlights that in vereses 3 and 4.
He tells them “I’m not concerned about your opinion of me, I’m not concerned about the opinion of other men, and I’m not really concerned with my own judgment of myself. I’m judged by God.”
Wow paul, you mean you don’t care about what people think of you and will just live or act however you want?
That’s not what he’s saying.
He’s telling them I’m not defined by your opinions or even my own opinions. I’m defined by God.
This is what drove Paul. This is what made Paul keep going through shipwreck, after being run out of town, and having large stones thrown at him.
Illustrate:
I recently read
Identity drives motivation, motivation drives action, and action drives results. For example, if someone speeds past me at ninety miles per hour on the highway, odds are I won’t chase them down and issue a ticket. I don’t have an identity that says, “I am a police officer,” so I have no motivation to act. A police officer, on the other hand, does have that identity and therefore has the motivation to take action (chasing down the speeder) and get results (issuing a ticket). Every action we take in life has a sense of identity behind it.
David Lomas, The Truest Thing about You: Identity, Desire, and Why It All Matters, David C. Cook.
Apply:
Where is your identity? Whose opinion defines you?
If your friends opinion defines you then you will not act contrary to what provides you acceptance in their eyes.
Is it your spouse? Parents? Siblings? Are you lliving your life seeking acceptance in the eyes of the people of this world?
Whose opinion are you most concerned with? How can you answer that question?
Do this…the next time you are out with friends that don’t go to church or really in any situation, bring up Jesus, your church attendance, your faith in Him, or how He is growing you. Give Him glory in front of others...
Does that cause butterflies in your stomach? Does that make you nervous? When I mentioned praying for the server last week, how many of you had issues with praying in public?
Why? Are you concerned with how they will judge you?
Would you be willing to have an opposing politcal view in front of these same people? yes?
Why? Do you regard your political party higher than your savior?
Growing as a Christian and growing other Christians means not seeking the approval of man. It means seeking the approval of God.
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
Gal 1:10
A truth about Growing Christians that Grow Christians is that they
I. Are More Concerned with God’s opinion than others
I. Are More Concerned with God’s opinion than others
How do you get t this point? IT comes from a great reverence for God and understanding of who He is and what he is done.
Don’t think you need to know all of scripture to know that.
You need to know that the creator of the universe loved you enough in spite of your sin against Him to send His son Jesus to die for you.
If you can’t talk about Jesus, knowing He gave all for you to have a relationship with your Heavenly Father now and for eternity, then what can you talk about?
As you yield to the Holy Spirit and grow closer to God how could you not speak about the growth He has brought in your life?
Could it be your not growing yourself?
Paul makes it clear that he finds his identity in Christ and live according to what brings God glory rather than what others think of Him.
That’s easy to say…I get it. Changing your mindset from being defined by the world or being defined by your own thoughts of yourself to being solely defined by Jesus and living from the identity the gospel gives you.
It all start with faith and your worldview
Notice what Paul told the Corinthians
6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.
7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
8 Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.
9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.
10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.
11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.
1 Cor 4:6-13
Exegete:
I love it when Paul doesn’t pull punches.
He has a very saracstic tone here.
What makes you superior? what make you better than others? I wish you were kings and I’d reign with you.
Its the equivalent of Get off your high horse and get down here.
The Corninthians were beliveiving themseves to be greater than they were.
They were elevating themselves and finding their identity in the things they could od or waht they had.
Paul tells them they are ina good palce but the Apostles, well the apostles are poorly clothed and homeless.
yet when they were revilled or criticcized for their faith, they are a blessing to people. Whn they re persecuted fo their faith, they endure it and keep going.
When is the last time you heard of someone brag about being homeless? When is the last time you were criticized for your faith and were able to still be a blessing to the person?
Paul is putting them in their place while highlighting the fault in their thinking. They are finding their identity in all of these things rather than in Christ.
Why? Why do we do that? because we are afraid that who Christ calls us to be wont’ be as great as the person we want others to percieve us as.
We love for people to think of us better than we actually are.
Illustrate:
For an example of this please pull out your cellphone and scroll through instagram.
ladies, how many of you are sharing the #nofilter #nomakeup photos? Right?
Guys, how many of you shared a pic of you not being able to open the pickle jar?
While thsoe are funny circumstances, we have to be careful not to find our value in what others say about who we are in Christ and what we do for Christ.
We are called to be growing in our faith and relationship with God while growing others. How can we do that if we can’t accept who we are in Christ?
Apply:
Pastor that sounds counter cultural…yup
Peter wrote to help people see that we are a holy priesthood a peculiar people. Following Christ, speaking about Jesus, being who you are in Jesus will make you a little different.
You don’t have to go out and scream at people or hit them with bible but beilvigin in Jesus and understanding who He is and what He has done should be leading you to love Him more.
Loving Him more will impact your decisions.
It will impact the trajectory of your llife.
It should impaact you schedule. It should not be a problelm for oyu to chedule time with another person to hellp them grow closer to the Lord.
I know..I know your busy…If your too busy to shre the Gospel and teach people to observe all that Jesus has commanded…your too busy.
What are you busy doing? building a life and image based on an identity you want others to percieve you have?
Or are you living from the identity Jesus gave you?
Gorwing Christians Grow Christians and they
II. Accept who they are in Christ
II. Accept who they are in Christ
What is it we tell our children when they are being bulllied? Do we tell them “That kid is right. You are annoying and should stop that”? No.
We make sure they know they are unique, loved, and worth beign friends with. We wnt themt o accept who they are to have “Self confidence”
Can I tell you something? I believe sellf confidence is a myth. Why?
Because I’ve never met any one that is 100% secure in who they are and the things they do, say, or think.
I’ve met people that don’t talk about it. I’ve met people that appear confident however when you talk with them ,they ahve things they are insecure in.
Can I cchallenge you to stop seeking to be more self-confident and be mroe God confident?
I know who God is, He isn’t wrong. Who He has fashioned me to be in Christ through the gospel is a more sure foundation than who I think am because of something I read somewhere.
God confidence is an ability to be confident you hve weaknesses and accepting them as the means by which God can work in your lilfe.
It’s knowing God gave you gifts and strengths and using them for His glory.
Paul knew who he was…poor, homeless, persecuted, and reviled yet lived out His purpose in Christ which allowed Him to grow as a beleiver and grow others.
He closes this chapter with a loving admonition
14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
15 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.
18 Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.
19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.
20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
21 What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?
1 cor 4:14-21
Exegete:
After his harsh admonishment he is telling them what I want you to know today: I’m not doing this to shame you. I’m warning you. I’m cautioning you, I’m seeking to exhort you and build you up by pointing out the importance of living for Christ.
Paul was their father in the faith because he lead them to the Lord. He wsan’t called father or anything llike that. It’s a term used to describe the relationship.
He tells them imitate me, follow me nd in other aprts of the bibel he has said follow me as I follllow Christ..
I
He sent Timothy over to them and to remind them of Pauls teachings about Jesus. He didn’t want them to fall away from the faith.
He then goes on to speak about how some are saying he isn’ coming…but he affirms them he is if the LLord willls.’
He has mde his mind up and going to Corinth and investing in them.
Paul was intentional in what he did, in accordance with what he bellieved was the Lord’s willl for Him.
Growing as a believer must be intentional. Growing other believers must be intentional.
Illustrate:
I’m sure you all ar famliar with a guy name Kobe Bryant?
I heard story about Kobe the other day that was told by an assistant coach.
He went into the training facility one day to work with Kobe around 6 am and Kobe was already there working.
So the next day he went in at 430 to get there early and try to earn some respect and be working when Kobe came in…Kobe was there
He went in at 4 the next day…Kobe was there..
While a third party story I know Kobe Bryants work ethic is as well knnown adn Michael Jordan’s.
They were both intentional about their growth as atheletes.
Are you intentional about your growth as a belilever.
Apply:
Are you intentional about time with God every day? Are you intentionally persuing peoplle to lleada to the Lord?
Are you intentionally discipling someone?
Why not? That’s our one job...
Pastor I’ve got too much going on…I agree..you have too much going on in your life if you are not spending time with the one who is responsible for you having it.
Growing Christians, Grow Christians and they are
III. They are intentional about their growth and others
III. They are intentional about their growth and others
You may be sitting there and saying Pastor…I want to . I want to grow…I want to grow others.
What do I do?
Find a devotion you can follow along with daily and spent 10-15 minutes reading your Bible and talking with God.
Find someone who can help you grow. You can’t grow someone unelss you are growing adn the best way to grow is by having someone help you grow
After that, go to someone and ask them if you could help them grow in their faith.
The first step of growth may be trusting in Jesu as your savior.
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