Committed to Growth

Acts 1:1-8

Introduction

1.      Spiritual growth forms you into the person God wants you to be

2.      When you are what God wants you to be, He wants you to help others to walk in the same path

3.      Christians will always be evangelistic – an attitude that says, “Let others be” is not a godly attitude

4.      It is not tolerance that the world needs, but gospel preaching – John 14:6  

Discussion

1.      The church ought to grow

a.       Because there are lost people who need to be saved – Matt 28:19; Mark 16:15; Acts 16:9

b.      Because there are saved people who care about the lost

                                                            i.      some are “nice” people, many are not

                                                          ii.      The gospel changes bad people to good – if you do not like what someone is like, you need to convert them to Jesus so they can be what God wants them to be

c.       Because there is a God who wants no one to be lost – 2 Peter 3:9; John 3:16  

2.      The church can grow

a.       When Christians care more about others than themselves

                                                            i.      Consider the example of Jesus – Phil 2:7; Matt 20:28

                                                          ii.      Consider the example of Stephen

b.      When Christians know the Word about Jesus – it is the gospel that must be preached, not the “church of Christ” – the kingdom of heaven is “like a treasure hid in a field” (Matt 13:44)

c.       When Christians commit themselves to “seeking and saving the lost”

                                                            i.      When you leave here today, it ought to be with the idea that you will make a difference in someone’s life this week

                                                          ii.      Pass out some literature, give someone a Bible, invite someone to come back with you next week, sit down with someone to show them what the Bible says about Jesus  

3.      You can help the church to grow

a.       By being present when the church meets – most churches are filled with “occasional” attendees

b.      By inviting others to worship and study with us – offer to pick them up in your car, invite them to share a meal with you after church – if they cannot attend on Sunday morning, invite them for Sunday evening, if they cannot attend on Sunday evening, invite them to attend Wednesday Bible study

c.       By sitting down with a lost person to teach them about Jesus – this is the greatest work of all, personally introducing another person to the Jesus who is portrayed in the Bible  

Conclusion

1.       If you are not yet a Christian, you are the subject of our love and our attention

2.      We cannot rest until every person in Torrington and the surrounding area knows who Jesus is and what Jesus requires of them

3.      We have no rules and regulations, but we have a Savior who is Lord of lords and King of kings