HOW TO GROW

TEXT- EPHESIANS 4:7-16

INTRODUCTION

A VERY LARGE CHURCH NEEDED A NEW BUILDING TO HOLD ALL ITS PEOPLE.  EVERYONE IN THE MEMBERSHIP WAS IN AGREEMENT ON THAT POINT, BUT WHENEVER THEY BEGAN TO PLAN TO BUILD, THE MEMBERS GOT INTO ALL SORTS OF DISAGREEMENTS ABOUT HOW AND WHAT TO BUILD.  THE PASTOR OF THE CHURCH WAS AT HIS WIT’S END, AND DECIDED TO HAVE A SPECIAL DAY OF PRAYER.  VERY FEW MEMBERS BOTHERED TO ATTEND THE SERVICE.  MANY OF THE DEDICATED WOMEN WENT AND ONE OF THEM TOOK ALONG A FIVE YEAR OLD GIRL.  AS THE PEOPLE PRAYED, THE CHILD BEGAN TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY WERE PRAYING ABOUT BUILDING ANEW CHURCH.  WHEN THEY WENT HOME, SHE ASKED HER MOTHER MANY QUESTIONS, AND THEN BECAME FOR QUIET THINKING ABOUT THE WHOLE MATTER.  THE NEXT MORNING WHEN THE MOTHER WENT TO THE CHILD’S ROOM, THE GIRL WAS MISSING.  IN A FRENZY SHE BEGAN LOOKING FOR HER AND EVENTUALLY ENDED UP AT THE PASTOR’S HOUSE.  AS SHE APPROACHED SHE SAW HER LITTLE GIRL STANDING IN THE FRONT YARD WITH HER TOY WHEELBARROW, AND IN IT WERE TWO BRICKS.  SHE WAS TALKING TO THE PASTOR, AND TEARS WERE RUNNING DOWN HIS FACE.  THE LITTLE GIRL HAD BROUGHT THE BRICKS TO START BUILDING THE NEW CHURCH.  THE FOLLOWING SUNDAY THE PASTOR TOLD THE STORY TO THE ENTIRE CHURCH AND GOD TOUCHED EACH ONE OF THEIR HEARTS AND MULTIPLIED THE TWO BRICKS BROUGHT BY THE GIRL INTO A BEAUTIFUL NEW CHURCH BUILDING.

TONIGHT, THE TITLE OF MY MESSAGE IS, “HOW TO GROW” AND MY TEXT IS FOUND IN EPHESIANS 4:7-16.

AS WE STUDY THIS PASSAGE THERE ARE THREE ASPECTS OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH I WOULD LIKE US TO CONSIDER.

THESE PRINCIPLES CAN APPLY TO GROWTH WITHIN THE CHURCH AS WELL AS WITHIN YOUR INDIVIDUAL LIFE.