KEEP ON THE GROW...                   Pastor Bob Chroninger 
Trinity C.U.  6-7-98 p.m.    Ephesians 4:1-16    A:\EPH4-11 

    Has anyone ever said to you... "why don't you just grow up?"
 Growing up is often times a struggle.  The Adolescent and Teen age years 
 are often pretty rough.  There are a lot of physical and emotional changes
 that take place rapidly... and sometimes seemingly out of control. Spiritual
 Growth, too, has it's rough times and "up" times as well as its "down" times.
  
The Bible gives us some "steps" for Growth... 
I.  THE REASONS for GROWTH...
 A. We Are "Babes" In Christ.. by the New Birth 
   1. We are "born again" by repentance and faith 
   2. We are "Babes" in Christ - Babies are cute... etc...
      - Babies are certainly not supposed to stay "babies" 
 B. We Are "Living" Beings... Living things Grow...  
   1. The Lord Jesus has made us "alive"... Ro.6:11,13; 1Cor.15:22
   2. The Examples... 
       - The boy Samuel... 1 Sam.2:26.. "grew & was in favor with men & God" 
       - The boy John (the Baptist).. Lu.1:80."grew & waxed strong in spirit." 
       - The boy Jesus.. Lu. 2:40, 52 
 C. We Are Taught to Grow... 
   1. Eph.4:15.. "may grow up into Him.." 
   2. 2 Peter 3:18.. "but grow in grace and in the knowledge of Him.." 
   3. 1 Thes.3:12.. "increase & abound in love..." 
   4. Heb.6:1.. "let us go on to perfection.." completeness... 
II.  THE RESULTS of GROWTH... 
 A. There Is Maturity.. = stability, wisdom, etc. 
   1. No more children... tossed to and fro... Eph.4:14 
 B. There Is Fruitfulness.. Notice the progression in John 15:1-8 
   1. Fruitfulness in Character.. Gal.5:22,23.. the Holy Spirit will 
      produce this fruit in you... love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
      goodness, faith, meekness, temperance 
   2. Fruitfulness in "Reproducing Ourselves" as Christians... 
      - No Fruit.. vs. 2.. He "lifts it up" 
      - Fruit.. He purges it.. 
      - More Fruit.. vs. 2 
      - Much Fruit.. so shall ye be my disciples... vs. 8 
III.  THE ROAD to GROWTH... 
    ** for Samuel.. it was the influence of parents..
       the constant contact with spiritual things.. an obedient spirit 
    ** for John.. it was the solitude of the wilderness.. the struggle and 
       hard life of survival in the wilderness 
       G o to God in Prayer daily... and Go to church regularly 
       R ead God's Word regularly & study to show yourself approved... 2Tim.2:15 
       O bey God's Word and His Will.. as revealed in His Word 
       W itness to others about Jesus in your life..  Acts 1:8 
       T rust God for every detail of your life. 
       H oly Spirit.. get to know Him as you do Jesus and the Father.. 

A HEALTHY LIVING PERSON WITH THE RIGHT INGREDIENTS WILL GROW.... 
AN ALIVE CHRISTIAN PUTTING FORTH THE EFFORT WILL GROW !! 
LET'S KEEP ON THE GROW !!!