We’re getting right down to the end of our “5G Series.” We’ve explored the vital necessity of being church overflowing with GRACE, rich in GENEROSITY, leveraging our GIFTS, and multiplying GROUPS. This week I want to talk about Part 1: Embracing a GROWTH mindset.
One of the tragic flaws of human nature—the older we get, the less flexible, less changeable, the less patient we become with change. Think about what you love and hate about technology. When I was younger, I loved technology. At the sweet age of 16 I got hired by K’s Merchandise to work in their electronics department. Every week some new gizmo would arrive, and we’d instantly master its features. My specialty was computers—and boy did I cash in on my knowledge.
But technology is always changing. Nowadays I’m like, “Their changing what now? Another update, really? I’ve got to do what now?” It’s so bad, I can’t figure out how to change the channel on our smart TV. The dog can, but not me.
If technological attrition is bad, what about spiritual attrition? How quickly we become spiritually stagnant! This is why the Bible says, in Romans 12:11, “Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord.” The word “fervent” literally means “boiling … hot.” It’s a command. Keep your spiritual fervor boiling hot! In Revelation 3:15-16 God says, “I wish that you were cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth.”
A couple verses in Psalms caught my eye this week. The first is Psalm 71:17-18, “God, you have taught me from my youth, and I still proclaim your wondrous works. Even while I am old and gray, God, do not abandon me, while I proclaim your power to another generation, your strength to all who are to come." That is so inspiring. How many of us, as we grow older and grayer, do the slow fade? The Psalmist wants nothing to do with that! And, Psalm 92:14? “They will still bear fruit in old age; healthy and green they will remain…” The opposite of fading is flourishing! I want to be the tree that bears fruit across generations!
I want to explore three areas we absolutely must maintain our FERVOR, then next week, a fourth area. First, we must maintain our Fervor for Knowing Jesus. Some of the most inspiring words in the Bible are in Philippians 3:8-9 where Paul writes, “…I consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” For Paul, nothing is as profitable as knowing Jesus! And to make his point stink (I mean stick) he makes a vulgar contrast! “Because of him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but through faith in Christ—the righteousness from God based on faith.” I mean, don’t you find that inspiring? Nothing comes even close, in Paul’s mind, than this insatiable desire to gain Christ!
Philippians 3:10-14, “My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his suffering, being conformed to his death…” Did you know you can come to know Jesus just as well in times of suffering, hardship, loss! And from here Paul presses on saying, “Not that I have already reached the goal, or am already perfect (in knowledge). But I make every effort to take hold of it because I have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus.” Again… “I don’t consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.” Think of an Olympic Athlete straining toward his or her goal. Except the goal line is not becoming personally famous or well-known but knowing Jesus personally! God forbid we ever let God become boring. God forbid we feel like we’ve mastered the Divine or have no more to know! We don’t possess so much as a drop in the infinite ocean of knowledge.
Second, we must maintain our Fervor for Becoming Like Jesus. Paul flows right into this Philippians 3:16-21. He says, “In any case, we should live up to whatever truth we have attained. 17 Join in imitating me, brothers and sisters, and pay careful attention to those who live according to the example you have in us. 18 For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame; and they are focused on earthly things.”
Just to interject… most every headline points to morality spiraling out of control! But not so with us! “20 Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of his glorious body, by the power that enables him to subject everything to himself.”
Earlier in Philippians 2:12-13 Paul writes, “Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose.”
Third, we must maintain our Fervor for Serving Like Jesus. So many examples. In Philippians 2:17-18 he says, “17 But even if I am poured out as a drink offering on the sacrificial service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 In the same way you should also be glad and rejoice with me.” He cites the example of Timothy, who is unlike everyone else, who genuinely cares about the interests of others, and even more the interests of Christ. And Timothy, who he likens to a brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier, who became sick and almost died helping Paul. The guy should have been distressed about his health condition but was instead distressed he couldn’t help enough!
But of course, none rival the love of Christ. Philippians 3:1-5, “If, then, there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others. 5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus.”
I’m ready to just die and hang-up my running shoes. I’m so tired. Not Paul! Philippians 1:20-25, “My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all courage, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful work for me; and I don’t know which one I should choose. 23 I am torn between the two. I long to depart and be with Christ—which is far better— 24 but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. 25 Since I am persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith…”
A growth mindset. I can never know Christ fully this side of eternity. And, there is always room to become more like Christ this side of eternity. And, we never stop pouring ourselves out, our work is never finished, until like Christ, we draw our last breath and God declares “Well done good and faithful servant.”
This is a pattern. Believing in Jesus. Becoming like Jesus. Building Up Body is a pattern or rhythm of life. Last week we talked about doing life together in Groups. What do we do within small groups?
• First, we CONNECT with one another in prayer. What are you thankful for? What’s a challenge you are facing? How can we be praying alongside you?
• Second we DISCOVER God’s word together. We read Scripture together. What is this passage saying? What stands out to you? What does this passage teach us about God? What does it say about people? Does it mention a sin to confess? A Promise to build life upon? Example to follow? Command to obey?
• Third, we commit to GO live out the passage, tangibly, in the next 47 hours. We write a simple statement saying, “I will. . .” and promise to share with at least one other person what we’ve discovered.
It’s not enough to just have a growth-mindset, we need a growth context. A place to discover, and example. People who will walk alongside us in this life. A purpose—a tangible way to live for God while today is still today. EXPLORE. PARTNER. GET ROOTED!