9marks of a Healthy Church: Growing disciples
8/5/22
Preach
Scripture
Questions
In the first creation narrative, we read “And God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it, and rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of heaven, and over every animal that moves upon the earth” [Genesis 1:28]. That was before the fall [Genesis 3]. How did God want humans to live?
Since the fall God has been working to restore his kingdom on the earth. We are promised, “His dominion will grow continually, and to peace there will be no end on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and sustain it with justice and righteousness now and forever. The zeal of YHWH of hosts will do this [Isaiah 9:7].” Who is Isaiah speaking about? How is the kingdom established and sustained? Is there a link with Genesis 1:28?
“It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it is grown it is larger than the garden herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the sky come and nest in its branches [Matthew 13:32].” This is a kingdom parable. What images does it evoke as you meditate upon Jesus’ words? How does this encourage you>
“Now in these days, as the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose by the Greek-speaking Jews against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food [Acts 6:1].” It was not long before conflict arose in the early church! Our next preaching series is on Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia. Paul is deeply concerned that false teachers were causing divisions. What sort of things potentially cause conflict in the church today? What are some strategies to avoid conflicts? Can you support your answer with scriptures?
“But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow into him with reference to all things, who is the head, Christ, from whom the whole body, joined together and held together by every supporting ligament, according to the working by measure of each single part, the growth of the body makes for the building up of itself in love Ephesians 4:15–16]”. Why is it necessary to be joined and held together for the body to grow?
“…you may become sharers of the divine nature after escaping from the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire, and for this same reason, and by applying all diligence, supply with your faith excellence of character, and with excellence of character, knowledge, and with knowledge, self-control, and with self-control, patient endurance, and with patient endurance, godliness, and with godliness, brotherly love, and with brotherly love, love [2 Peter 1:4-7]. We can become sharers of the divine nature! What disciplines do we need to build into our live to become more and more like Jesus?
Bottom line. “I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing it to grow [1 Corinthians 3:6]”. How do we, on our part, allow God to grow us?