Spiritual Growth
Growing Together
May 14, 2006

Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. Eph 4:15-16 (NLT)

Review: Romans 8:29…2 Corinthians 5:14…2 Corinthians 3:18…1 Timothy 4:7-8

The church is more than a building.

· Jesus died for us individually and to create a people.

He gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. Titus 2:14

· Three purposes of the church.

o To exalt God.
o To edify believers.
o To evangelize non-believers.

· God is not only shaping us like Christ, he is shaping us in such a way that we fit together.

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. Eph 2:19-22

· Our lives are intended by God to be ministries to our fellow Christians.

I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith. Phil 1:25




The Biblical meaning of fellowship.



· Greek koinonia (1): To share together in the sense of joint participation or partnership.

o Sharing a common relationship that we as believers have in Christ.

We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:3

o Forming of a partnership with the objective of glorifying God.

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. Phil 1:4-5

· Greek koinonia (2): To share with in the sense of giving what we have to others.

o Sharing what God has taught and encouraging others.

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42

o Sharing of material possessions.

All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Acts 2:44-45

Growing together - necessities.


· The mark of a Christian is love for one another.

Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:34-35

· Share the truth of scripture with one another.

o Sharing what God is doing in my life.
o Life groups – supper clubs or sharing God’s truth?
o Reading and memorizing scripture together.

· Be open and vulnerable sharing sins, failures, and discouragements as well as blessings and joys.

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16

· Be accountable to each other with a willingness to be checked on and challenged.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. Col 3:16

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Eph 5:21

· Pray for and with each other. (See James 5:16 above)

· Forgive one another.

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Col 3:13




Growing together- biblical exhortations.



Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work. Ecc 4:9

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom. Col 3:16

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. Prov 27:17

If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Ecc 4:10

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thes 5:11

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. Heb 3:13

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Heb 10:24-25