Grow Up in Every Way

Sermon Notes

Minister Joaquin Chavez

Ephesians 4:1-16

1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” 

9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. 

1.     Paul knows the love of the church is fueling him while in prison

-       2 Corinthians 1:8-9 8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.

-       In all the prison letters, Paul states how much their love, faith, and unity give him strength, endurance, joy, and hope

-       Do we actually believe love can fuel us like this and bring us back to life?

2.     Unity if for Jesus’ sake - John 17:20-23

20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

3.     Love more and then pray more

Applications 

1.     Read John 17 Jesus’ last prayer before going to the cross

2.     Rate yourself on how well you love from 1-10. Look at the five love languages and give a score for each category. Come up with a plan to strengthen each area to improve by 2 for each one. 

3.     Commit to reading a book together with fellow church members to help grow your heart to be more like Jesus. 

4.     Spend time reading about Jesus’ love before you pray about anyone else. Build this devotional pattern and start with asking for Gods kingdom to come and his will to be done. 

5.     Ask trusted friends, mentors, leaders, and God about areas you can try to grow to love more like Christ. 

Questions 

1.     What percentage would you say you pray for God to change others vs how much you ask God to change you to be able to love them as they are?

2.     How does it make you feel knowing that others will believe in how real Jesus’ love is based on how we love each other at church?

3.     What are some ways you can try to grow over this year? How will you keep yourself accountable?

Verses to Read when you are angry with the Church, Church Member, and Fellow Believer

1 Timothy 4:6-12

6 If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 10 For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. 

11 Command and teach these things. 12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 

1 Corinthians 12:12-26

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 

14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 

Ephesians 4:25-32

25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. 

Romans 12:9-18

9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. 

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality

Emotional infants

-       Look for others to take care of them

-       Have a great difficulty entering into the world of others

-       Are driven by need for instant gratification

-       Use others as objects to meet their needs

Emotional children

-       Are content and happy as long as they receive what they want

-       Unravel quickly from stress, disappointments, trials

-       Interpret disagreements as personal offenses 

-       Are easily hurt

-       Complain, withdraw, manipulate, take revenge, become sarcastic when they don’t get their way

-       Have a great difficulty calmly discussing their needs and wants in a mature, loving way

Emotional adolescents

-       Tend to often be defensive

-       Are threatened and alarmed by criticism 

-       Keep score of what they give so they can ask for something later in return

-       Deal with conflict poorly, often blaming, appeasing, going to a third party, pouting, or ignoring the issue entirely

-       Become preoccupied with themselves

-       Have a great difficulty truly listening to another person’s pain, disappointments, or needs. 

-       Are critical and judgmental

Emotional adults

-       Are able to ask for what they need, want, or prefer--- clearly, directly, honestly

-       Recognize, manage, and take responsibility for their own thoughts and feelings

-       Can, when under stress, state their own beliefs and values without becoming adversarial

-       Respect others without having to change them

-       Give people room to make mistakes and not be perfect

-       Appreciate people for who they are--- the good, bad, and ugly—not for what they give back

-       Accurately assess their own limits, strengths, and weaknesses and are able to freely discuss them with others

-       Are deeply in tune with their own emotional world and able to enter into the feelings, needs, and concerns of others without losing themselves. 

-       Have the capacity to resolve conflict maturely and negotiate solutions that consider the perspective of others

Signs of spiritual Pride

1.   You are a stronger Christian than others. More committed than others. Will happen to them but not us. (Peter saying he would not fall away matthew 26:31) I know more, give more, serve more, more stable, more loving, more mature, and believing you are stronger than others 

2.     You hear the words of Jesus for others but not for yourself 

3.     You no longer feel the need to pray

4.     You feel the entire work of Jesus rests on your shoulders