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April 4, 2016
True Spiritual Growth - James 1
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| If you want to genuinely grow in spiritual maturity, it is not enough to simply be instructed by the Word of God. You may love going to church or listening to Christian radio programs. You might talk about everything you hear and assume you're growing because your knowledge is increasing. However, if you don't actually grow closer to God by allowing His Word to change you from the inside out, your head will merely continue to fill with information. You might even sound like a godly person who is admired for the ability to quote chapter and verse. But if you don't take the next step and allow God to touch others' lives through you, you're missing the point.
Spiritual growth is the result of practicing the truth you receive from God. He wants you to give away what He gives you--that is, by loving and serving others and sharing the truth of the gospel. Our example is Jesus, who said that He did not come to be served, but to serve even the lowest outcasts in His society (Matt. 20:28). He could have exalted Himself and spent all His time preaching and teaching. Instead, Jesus did only the Father's will, which was to reveal His heart of love to a broken world. The Lord sacrificially involved Himself in people's lives, and He calls us to follow in His footsteps.
God's plan is to reach the world through you. If that weren't the case, He would have taken you to heaven as soon as you were saved. But you are here for a purpose - to live out Christ's life alongside hurting people who desperately need to experience His love.
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Current
Sermon Series
The negative
neighbor. The critical co-worker. The
manipulative family member. We all have
difficult people in our lives. Let's
learn how we can live with - and show
love to - Those People. We will
learn to biblically deal with Overly
Needy People, Manipulating
People, Hypocritical People,
and Critical People.
Last
Week:
Needy people need to be helped in one of two ways: relief (imediate & temporary), or restoration (working with people to restore them to their God-given potential). We're good at relief, but not restoration because it takes time. People need restoration.
Sunday's message is available for
streaming or for download on our
sermons page, or by visiting us
on iTunes.
Next
Week:
We are going
to continue our study of Those
People by looking into Those Manipulating People.
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Upcoming
Events
April 4, 2016 - Ladies
Bible Study at 7 PM at Stephanie
Robinson's house
April 9, 2016 - Trustees
Meeting at 8 AM at the
church
April 10, 2016 - Deacons
Meeting at 8 AM at the
church
April 20, 2016 - Quarterly Business Meeting at 7 PM
April 24, 2016 - Lord's
Supper and Deacon's Fund
Offering following the AM
Worship Service
April 28, 2016 - Men's
Bible Study at 7 PM at the
church
May 1, 2016 - Carry-in
Fellowship Dinner following
the AM Worship Service
May 7, 2016 - Women's
Dinner at 4 PM at the church
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