Growing Pains: Embracing Love and Spiritual Growth
Summary
In the message delivered at Crossroads, the focus is on the concept that growth, particularly spiritual growth, is not optional but rather a sign of health. It is emphasized that followers of Jesus, life groups, and churches should all be growing and impacting others with their faith. However, it is acknowledged that growth can be challenging and often comes with frustrations, particularly when it comes to making lasting changes in one's life.
The speaker shares a personal struggle with feeling down and questioning the consistency of hope and joy in their life, which serves as a reminder that following Jesus and becoming more like Him is a difficult journey. This struggle is universal, as many people face difficulties such as anxiety, financial stress, or past traumas that seem insurmountable. The beginning of a new year is highlighted as a time when people often seek to make positive changes, particularly in their health, but lasting change is recognized as a difficult endeavor.
To address these challenges, a new series titled "Growing Pains" is introduced, aimed at identifying and overcoming obstacles to growth. It is stated that while God is responsible for growth, individuals must cooperate with His work within them. The series will explore various obstacles over seven weeks.
The message then shifts to the importance of love within the church community, using the church at Ephesus as an example. Despite their active service and generosity, the Ephesians received a harsh rebuke for abandoning their initial love for God and each other. The speaker relates to this by reflecting on their own early Christian life, which was marked by a lack of connection to a local church and a tendency towards legalism.
The importance of love is further emphasized by the speaker's wife's practice of journaling, which serves as a record of God's work in their lives and a reminder of His faithfulness. The speaker suggests that journaling could be a practical step for others to consider God's actions in their lives.
Three actions are proposed to resurrect love for God and others: considering what God has done for you, seeking God, and serving others. The speaker stresses the importance of these actions and encourages the audience to choose one to focus on and practice. The message concludes with a call to action for the audience to engage more deeply with their faith community, whether by joining a life group, being more active in an existing group, or leading a new group.
Key Takeaways:
- Spiritual growth is a sign of a healthy faith journey, but it is often accompanied by challenges and frustrations. It is important to recognize that growth is not a static state but a continuous process that requires active participation and cooperation with God's transformative work. [33:40]
- Love is a foundational element of the Christian faith, and abandoning it can have detrimental effects on both individual believers and the church community as a whole. The church at Ephesus serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us that fervent activity and doctrinal correctness cannot replace the fundamental need for love. [42:16]
- Personal practices, such as journaling, can serve as powerful tools for reflection and gratitude. By recording God's faithfulness and actions in one's life, believers can maintain a sense of hope and perspective, even during challenging times. This practice can help individuals remember the transformative power of God's love. [56:55]
- Seeking God is not only a response to life's difficulties but should also be a proactive pursuit. The peace and presence of God experienced during trials can be sought after with the same intensity in times of calm, leading to a deeper and more consistent relationship with Him. [58:07]
- Serving others is not just an act of charity but a crucial step in growing in love for God and others. Engaging in a faith community, such as a life group, allows for the development of meaningful relationships and provides opportunities to practice love in tangible ways. This service is essential for a vibrant and impactful Christian witness. [01:01:17]
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- Revelation 2:1-7 (NIV)
> "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God."
### Observation Questions
1. What commendations does Jesus give to the church at Ephesus in Revelation 2:1-7?
2. What is the main rebuke that Jesus has for the church at Ephesus? ([39:30])
3. According to the sermon, what are some of the challenges that people face when trying to grow spiritually? ([32:03])
4. What three actions does the speaker suggest to resurrect love for God and others? ([53:13])
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it significant that Jesus commends the Ephesians for their hard work and perseverance but rebukes them for abandoning their first love? ([39:30])
2. How does the speaker relate their personal experience of legalism and lack of connection to the church to the message given to the Ephesians? ([44:16])
3. What does the speaker mean by saying that "knowledge without love leads to pride"? How does this apply to the church today? ([49:01])
4. How can personal practices like journaling help believers maintain a sense of hope and perspective during challenging times? ([56:55])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own spiritual journey. Have you ever felt like you were going through the motions without truly loving God and others? What steps can you take to rekindle that love? ([39:30])
2. The speaker mentions that lasting change is hard and often frustrating. What are some specific obstacles you face in your spiritual growth, and how can you cooperate with God's work in overcoming them? ([32:56])
3. Consider the three actions proposed to resurrect love for God and others: considering what God has done for you, seeking God, and serving others. Which one resonates most with you, and how can you implement it in your daily life? ([53:13])
4. The speaker emphasizes the importance of being part of a faith community. Are you currently engaged in a life group or similar community? If not, what steps can you take to join one? If you are, how can you be more active and supportive within that group? ([01:01:17])
5. Think about a time when you experienced God's peace and presence during a difficult season. How can you seek God with the same intensity during times of calm? ([58:07])
6. Serving others is highlighted as a crucial step in growing in love for God and others. Identify one person or group you can serve this week and describe how you plan to do it. ([01:01:17])
7. The speaker talks about the importance of love in our witness to the world. How can you demonstrate love in your interactions with others, especially those who may not share your beliefs? ([50:46])
Devotional
Day 1: Growth Reflects Spiritual Vitality
Spiritual growth is not merely an option but a vital sign of a healthy faith journey. It is a dynamic process that requires dedication and a willingness to work alongside God's transformative power. Challenges and frustrations are part of this journey, but they also serve as opportunities for deeper reliance on God's strength and guidance. [33:40]
Hosea 10:12 - "Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you."
Reflection: What is one area in your spiritual life where you feel stagnant? How can you actively seek growth in this area starting today?
Day 2: Love as the Cornerstone of Faith
Abandoning love can lead to a hollow faith, devoid of its true power and purpose. The church at Ephesus serves as a reminder that without love, even the most fervent activity and doctrinal correctness are insufficient. Love is the cornerstone that supports every other aspect of the Christian life, and it must be nurtured and prioritized. [42:16]
1 John 4:16 - "And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them."
Reflection: How can you demonstrate love in a practical way to someone in your faith community this week?
Day 3: Journaling as a Tool for Reflection
Journaling can be a powerful spiritual discipline that helps maintain hope and perspective. By recording the faithfulness and actions of God in one's life, believers can create a tangible reminder of His love and transformative power, which can be especially comforting during challenging times. [56:55]
Psalm 102:18 - "Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord."
Reflection: Can you commit to journaling this week, noting where you see God at work in your life and the lives of those around you?
Day 4: Proactive Pursuit of God's Presence
Seeking God should be a proactive pursuit, not just a reaction to life's difficulties. The peace and presence of God experienced during trials should be sought with the same intensity during times of calm. This pursuit leads to a deeper and more consistent relationship with Him. [58:07]
Isaiah 55:6 - "Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near."
Reflection: What is one way you can proactively seek God's presence in your daily routine, even on days when you're not facing significant challenges?
Day 5: Service as a Pathway to Growth
Serving others is a vital expression of love and a key component of spiritual growth. Engaging in a faith community through service allows for the development of meaningful relationships and provides opportunities to practice love in tangible ways. This service is essential for a vibrant and impactful Christian witness. [01:01:17]
Galatians 5:13-14 - "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
Reflection: What is one act of service you can perform this week that will help you grow in love for God and others?
Quotes
"People are messy. Relationships are complicated, but first John 420 reminds us, you don't really love God if you don't love His people." [01:02:20] (Download)
"We serve others by investing time in their lives, by caring for them, by putting their needs ahead of our own. We do that by listening to them, by praying for them, by supporting them in their struggles." [01:02:55] (Download)
"Let me encourage you, maybe it's time for you to step out of your comfort zone and step into biblical community." [01:03:32] (Download)
"We didn't know what we were doing. But we were available. We wanted God to use us to make a difference. And He did." [01:05:29] (Download)
"You just have to be faithful. You just have to be available. You just have to be teachable. And God can use you." [01:06:16] (Download)
"Now, if you're serious about your faith in Jesus, if you want to make an impact in other people's lives, we'd love to have that conversation with you." [01:06:43] (Download)
"We believe healthy things grow. Healthy followers of Jesus grow and impact others with their faith." [30:48] (Download)
"Lasting change is hard. That's why today we're kicking off our new series, Growing Pains. Look, we want to grow but there's all kinds of things that hold us back from real change." [32:56] (Download)
"Now ultimately God is the one who changes us. He's the one who does that growth work in us but we have a part to play or we have to cooperate with that work that he wants to do inside of us." [33:40] (Download)
"Now she has a record of all these ways that God has moved, of his love and of his faithfulness. Maybe something like that is the one step you need to take this year." [56:55] (Download)
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