2 Timothy 3:10-17
10 You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11 persecutions, sufferings-what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 1 4But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The theme of our worship service this morning is, What Every Christian Needs to Grow. I think sometimes we have a serious misunderstanding about spiritual growth and what is all involved. We don't understand how much is involved. We are like the children of a man who took them to the latest Barney movie. At the end of the previews one of his sons clapped and said "Yeah". Now let's go home." He didn't realize it was just a preview and that the best was yet to come. We get baptized, go to Sunday school, confirmation class and get confirmed and go, "Yeah, now let's go home." We don't realize that the best is yet to come in our growth as Christians.

God's goal for us is to grow up in the faith. We are called to grow up.

But what does this mean? The runner knows what his goal is. It is to cross the finish line. What are we to do to grow up in the faith? Is it how often we attend church? Is it how much money we put into the offering plate? What is the end product? It is to become more and more like Jesus. Period. Spiritual growth is to become more and more like Jesus.

We need to ask ourselves? Am I growing in the faith? Am I more like Jesus now than I was at this time last year? Ephesians 4:15 tells us that this is to be our goal:

5 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ

As a congregation we are to be a body that is growing into the likeness of Christ. We want to act alike in love, kindness, and forgiveness. This becomes difficult as long as we hold on to the following cultural myths about spiritual growth.



1. Instantaneously (don't ask me to spell it) The myth that spiritual growth just happens all at once if you have the right experience or if you attend church enough. But it isn't instantaneous. It is a process. Since spiritual growth involves a relationship with Jesus it is like any other relationship. It is a process that matures over time. It involves small steps.

To reach a goal of greatness (in our spiritual growth) that involves this ongoing process. It reminds of a tourist group that went to Europe. It seemed as though in every village there had been some great person in music, literature, military etc. But in one town there was no sign. A tourist asked an elderly local. "Any great persons born here?" "Nope. Just babies" was his honest reply. The people weren't born great. They became great through a long process. Are there any spiritual giants born? Nope. It is a process. (David. Abraham. And others.)

2. Automatic. As long as I believe and breath I'm growing. Not really. Does getting into shape happen automatically? No. This (pat stomach) happens automatically. Spiritual growth is a choice to grow by being intentionally involved in the process.

3. Mystical (wooh) That if we put on a bedsheet and meditate that we will become closer to God. Not so. Spiritual growth is mundane. It takes place by what we do intentionally day in and day out. Nothing fancy about it.

The key to spiritual growth is to develop spiritual discipline. Spiritual habits. Practical and real things that we do on a daily basis. It is like getting into shape. Getting into shape is sweat work. It involves exercising vigorously for at least thirty minutes a day three or four times a week. Those of you who have participated in organized sports know the amount of work it involves to grow physically. The Bible tells us to have the same approach toward our spiritual growth. "Work out (gymnasium) your salvation with fear and trembling". 
This is something that anyone can do. But effort day by day engaged in these spiritual habits.

Point: Spiritual growth is a God thing. Only God can bring about a closer relationship with him through his word and sacrament. But we must be involved in the work of growth.

Illustration: A farmer can't grow the crop. He tills the soil, plants it, weeds, it harvests it. God makes it grow. But if the farmer just looks at his seed magazines and does nothing, don't expect a crop either. We are to be engaged in the labors and discipline that bring spiritual growth. 

Specific Sin: We are content to be spiritual couch potatoes and as a result have not made little if any progress in our spiritual growth. The spiritual problems that face our congregation today are the same ones that faced the congregation a decade ago because the majority of the membership makes no effort to address these problems on a congregational or personal level in the manner that God prescribes.

What can we do? We need to get into the habit of reading God's Word.

We cannot grow if not regularly engaged in the Word of God (REPEAT)

Doesn't mean that we don't have eternal life. That is a gift of God. But we can't be healthy and growing if we don't use the means God has given us to grow.

Illustration: What if you were married and your wife lived in China and you only called her on the phone once a year for half an hour? People would laugh at you if you said you had a great relationship with you wife. How can those who never spend time in God's Word hope to grow in their relationship with Christ?

Four ways to get into God's Word regularly.

Start with a head thing. Approach the Bible as more than just a great piece of literature with poetry, history, legal code, and prophecy. Look at it for what it is as described in 2 Timothy 3


16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

God breathed. Just as God breathed life into Adam's clay, so he breathes life into us through his word. God's word has the power to change our lives. It points us to a holy God. It shows us our sins and lays us bare before him. It points us to Jesus. It is like a treasure map only the treasure it points us toward is Jesus himself. It is to train us in godly living. We have to let the word lead us to a living relationship with Jesus.

How do we get into it?
1. Hear it. Worship is an important discipline because here the word is read to us. One of the few places where we have it read to us outloud. Want more faith? Faith comes from hearing the message and the message is heard through the word of Christ. If you are thirsty, drink water. If you want more faith, drink deeply of God's Word.

2. Reading it. Some people say they tried reading the Bible but they didn't understand. And yet, this is never voiced by those who actually read the Bible on a consistent basis. If you read only 15 minutes from your Bible every day, you would read through it all in just one year. How many of you have read even just one book of the bible through. And yet we spend at least 15 minutes each day reading newspapers and magazines. We don't believe everything we read in them. But we claim to believe the Bible which we don't take the time to read.

3. Study it. Difference between reading and studying it. By reading we absorb it. By studying we pick it apart and ask who, what, where, when, and why to gain insight. We need to be like Luther who compared studying the Bible to picking apples.


4. Memorize it. Does this make you cringe. I have had students who cry every week, "I can't memorize." But they know the lyrics to every top ten song on the pop charts. We remember what's important to us (REPEAT). When we make the word a part of our lives, we are more likely to be guided by it just as young people are guided by the lyrics of their favorite songs.

Final Thought: Jesus tells us that the wise person is one who hears his words and puts them into practice. It is not enough to just hear, read, study and memorize God's Word. We are to live his word. Reading and not doing is like trying to get into shape by watching an exercise video. Or like trying to get better by just looking at your bottles of pills. We need to do.

If we are still holding grudges, looking down on others, refusing to help others, refusing to forgive, than the word has not taken a hold of us. The Christian who is growing is one who does as St. Paul describes: 
12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Challenge: I urge you to join with me and make a commitment to listen to or to read the New Testament of the Bible from January to Easter. I will be providing weekly guides to help us with this. Objection: I don't have time? We all seem to live such busy lives. One solution: Faith Comes by Hearing has developed the Bible on audio cassette and CD. One can listen to this in the car. Or for fifteen minutes at the start or end of the day. Or as a family after a meal. Not sure what this would sound like. We will play just a portion of Mark for us.

Do you want to grow? Do you want to be more like Jesus? Faith Comes By Hearing. Healthy growth comes from being engaged in the Word of God. Amen.