How We Grow

Before we go deeper, let us get on the same page about growth. Growth is a journey. It is movement, not perfection. And it is something you can see.

A growing person is becoming more like Jesus, building meaningful relationships, and living out their purpose.

Growth is movement

Any step forward is growth, and every step forward is progress. That includes the small ones nobody would put in a testimony.

Growth is visible

Two verses make this plain.

Galatians 5:6

The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

John 13:35

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

Faith demonstrates. Love validates. Growth shows up through faith in action and love on display.

What we believe about growth

These are the beliefs underneath how we lead.

• God is relational. He lives in community and created us for relationship with him and others.
• Growth is a process. Not linear. It is a lifelong journey of becoming more like Jesus.
• Growth is multidimensional. Loving God with your everything, and loving other people like you love yourself.
• God uses pivotal circumstances. Situations of life that God uses to draw us closer and deepen our faith.
• God’s Spirit does the transforming. We create the space. He changes hearts.
• Everyone has purpose. God has called every person to himself on purpose and for a purpose.

Why five purposes

Healthy groups are more than gatherings. The five purposes come out of the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. Together they give your group five ways to grow and take real steps forward.

Matthew 22:37-39, the Great Commandment

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind… Love your neighbor as yourself.

Matthew 28:19-20, the Great Commission

Go and make disciples of all nations… teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

Five purposes come out of those two passages.

• Worship. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.
• Serve. Love your neighbor as yourself.
• Share. Go and make disciples of all nations.
• Connect. Baptizing them.
• Learn. Teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

Build a whole group around one of them and it usually runs out of road in six to nine months. The prayer group, the Bible study, the team that is also the group. All good. All thin on their own. Five is what keeps a group from going stale.

Sit with this

What challenges spiritual maturity today?

What gets in the way of loving God?

What gets in the way of loving others?