A Time to GROW! (Sermon Audio)

This is the audio from the April 30, 2023 sermon, “A Time to Grow”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Acts 2:42-47

“Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.”
Ephesians 4:14-15 (NIV)

Today I concluded a series, or added a postscript to the previous series, as we looked at life after the resurrection. After the disciples had gathered following the resurrection of Jesus, He commissioned them to make disciples everywhere they would go. When the time came to put that instruction into action, the church was born and God brought about incredible growth. When we experience a resurrection in our life through the power of Jesus, we also experience a time to . . .

Give: — Acts 2:44-45
- One of the marks of growth within the early church was a willingness for individual Christians to give to one another according to the need. This was not an act of socialism or communism, but rather an act of willing love that cared about the needs of others. This kind of growth in our life and in the community of God’s kingdom takes place when we begin to realize the enormity of what God has given us because of His love.
Respect: — Acts 2:42
- The early church grew because of a respect for God’s Word and for one another. Those who put their faith in Jesus did so with a devotion that changed everything about their life. When we choose to live with a respect for God, we find that He calls us to a respect for others that values them as one loved by God.
Observe: — Acts 2:43
- When we choose to live a life that gives and respects, we find ourselves in a position to see God at work in amazing ways. It’s not that God’s work is dependent on us, but rather that we are able to grow in Christ according to our willingness to recognize not only God’s work all around us, but also His work within us.
Witness: — Acts 2:46-47
- As the seeds of growth are planted in our life through an obedience to God which leads us to give, respect, and observe, God produces within us a witness for the world to see. As the church was being formed, the Christians made it a point to meet together every day both in public and in their homes. When we live our Christian faith everywhere we go, we become a witness to others about the goodness and approachability of God.

When we choose to live a resurrected life, God causes us to GROW in such a way that Jesus is lifted up and He adds to our number daily those who are being saved.

Today, how will you GROW?