Visit our website for more information: www.cfcindia.com
Summary
The speaker emphasizes that spiritual growth is a divine work, citing Paul's humility in 1 Corinthians 3 where he acknowledged that while he planted and watered, God gave the growth. He urges the congregation to pursue maturity in Christ, comparing it to the diligent effort required for education. The sermon also addresses specific sins in the Corinthian church, particularly sexual sin, stressing that believers must treat their bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit and actively pursue purity for the church's glory.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
God gives the spiritual growthApostle Paul exhibited true humility by acknowledging that while humans may plant and water the word, it is ultimately God who causes the spiritual growth.1 Corinthians 3:6
Pressing on to maturity in ChristJust as parents invest years to educate their children for a successful life, spiritual leaders long for believers to press on to full maturity in Christ.
Following the example of Jesus and PaulJesus grew in wisdom and obedience to every word of God, and Paul was determined to complete God's plan for his life so his progress was evident to all.
Tolerating sexual sin and worldlinessMany Corinthians lived in sexual sin and failed to treat their bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit, highlighting the need for believers to take sin in their thought life seriously.
Wrong attitudes toward the breaking of breadTaking the breaking of bread lightly without valuing relationships or taking sin seriously brings weakness and spiritual sickness among believers.
Failing to value the body of Christ and fellowshipSpiritual growth requires valuing every member of the body of Christ and maintaining genuine fellowship rather than acting independently.
Losing simple and pure devotion to JesusBeing influenced by surrounding worldliness can lead believers away from their initial passionate devotion to Jesus Christ.
Rejecting spiritual authority out of pridePride causes believers to reject spiritual authority and self-examine poorly, stunting their growth in the Lord.
The necessity of abiding in the vineJesus explains that just as a branch cannot bear fruit apart from the main vine, believers can do nothing unless they continually abide in Him and keep His commandments.
Activity versus abidingChristian activity should be a byproduct of life in Christ, not a substitute for true fellowship and abiding, as seen in the example of Mary sitting at Jesus' feet.
The Father's purpose in pruning and testingGod brings trials and tests into the lives of fruitful believers not to make them fail, but to prune them so they can bear more fruit and mature.
Building on a solid foundation and living in the presentBelievers must stop relying on past experiences and instead evaluate their spiritual condition daily to ensure they are not living on shaky ground.
Growth comes from God through the bodyThe body grows with the growth that comes from God, which is received both directly through trials and through the mutual supply of every member in the church.Colossians 2:19
Marks of spiritual growth: fear of God and fellowshipKey marks of spiritual growth include an increasing reverence for God, a quickness to obey His word, and a priority placed on regular fellowship with other believers.
Watering others to be watered ourselvesIf believers experience spiritual dryness, they can give priority to watering and serving others, trusting God's promise that those who water others will themselves be watered.
