Grow in the Work
There is absolutely no doubt when you read the NT that God’s plan for Christian people is that they grow more and more into the likeness of Jesus. Paul expresses it like this in Colossians 1:9-12:
“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father.”
So how does God God fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives? Primarily through his spirit-breathed word, the Bible. If you are not regularly engaging with God’s voice, being transformed by it in the power of the Spirit, you will not be growing to the likeness of Jesus. You will be growing into the likeness of someone however - your friends, your boss, your parents, your favourite influencer. We are all being transformed, we are all changing, we are all growing but only by engaging with God’s Word will you grow to be like Jesus.
You can engage with God’s word yourself. Excellent. Do that in 2023.
You can engage with God’s word in a 1-1 or triplet. Excellent. Do that in 2023.
But I want to push you in one critically important direction today.
Growth Groups
A growth group is a group of 12 or so people who meet weekly to do 4 things:
To teach one another by being deep in God’s word and prayer
To spur one another on through mutual accountability
To care for each other in all the joys and trials of life
To encourage each other in our mission mindedness.
And in our church, growth groups are absolutely critical to you experiencing belonging. To you feeling like you are a part of what is happening. To you finding consistent care and community. In a larger church you cannot know everyone and you need a circle of belonging and that is established by joining a growth group.
The choice not to join a growth group or not to attend regularly is a choice to remain isolated from others, insulated from community and independent from the mainstream of what we do as a church. It’s a choice not to deepen your sense of belonging.
Don’t make that choice in 2023.
You have 10 weeks before groups start next year. 10 weeks to get your life sorted and get into a group. Sign up today, sort yourself out and grow in the work.
Choose a circle of belonging over an insulation of self. Jesus is worth it.
