Spiritual Formation in a Missional World- Ed Stetzer

  • the church and economy are counter-cyclical
  • 4 essentials in spiritual formation in new churches
  1. elementary is a “danger” and not a goal. go on toward maturity.  Hebrews 6:1 “Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death,and of faith in God”

How can you do it personally?

  • recognize the prepensity to get busy working and to forget knowing God.
  • share with people far from God on how they can share on this journey.
  • has to be a Jesus centered discipleship.
  • measure spiritual growth of your congregation with same enthusiasm we measure numerical growth.
  • MOMENTUM is not the goal, disciples is 

2.  God wants your church on a a clear path to spiritual growth.

  • Colossians 1:9-10 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
  • you can not get people to serve Jesus in the long term if they do not know him in the short term.
  • Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
  • Get people in the word of God and tied to Jesus!!  Get your people to dig into the word.

3. God involves us in our and our church’s spiritual growth.

  • if you act like is all on you than you have placed your work on God’s faithfulness
  • Philippians 2:12-13 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
  • how much energy into your own spiritual growth?
  • Do you love Jesus more today than yesterday?

4. God calls you and your church to be spiritual learners.

  • 1 Timothy 4:16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
  • be conscientious about yourself and your teaching.
  • if you are always the hero, than Jesus can’t be.
  • Are you a great leader or a godly pastor?
  • Acts 17:11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
  • how do you know if you have spiritual growth?  they welcome the message with eagerness and examine the scriptures daily.
  • when we preach against sin in our churches, we fail to speak against the sin of our churches.
  • the lack of action is the biggest sin in our churches today.

Til tomorrow….Peace Out…