Connection Groups- Grow

Our home groups, called Connection Groups, follow three movements:
Belong, Grow, Reach
Yesterday I addressed why Belonging is so important.
Today let's look at Growing.

Of course the option to not pursue growth is not very attractive.
"We want you to stagnant, or even regress in your faith!"

Probably not the most inspiring motto for a ministry.

THAT we want to see people grow is not exceptional.
The question is HOW do we want to grow people, and WHAT does growth look like?

How we grow people is through BIBLE STUDY.
We have a very simple, time tested and proved curriculum- we actually read the bible.
Few Christians, folks who would affirm the value and authority of the bible, are actually consistent students of the bible.  It's a big book that requires some work.

But it is an entirely accessible, understandable and applicable book.
So we want to get people comfortable opening the bible.
Reading the texts.
Thinking about what it says and what it means.
Absorbing it's teaching and truth.
Applying it's teaching and truth wherever applicable.

So folks go to a worship serve and hear a bible passage read and preached.
Even if they've never read the bible before, they now know something about that passage.

Then they go to their group, read that passage and talk.
Everyone is on the same page.
Everyone can join the discussion.
Everyone has something to offer.
Everyone can apply the truth to their life.

So, WHAT does growth look like?
That's easy.
Our lives look more and more like a reflection of those biblical truths.

Let's take an obvious, but not easy, biblical truth.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' ³⁸This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.

Can you say that you are move loving toward God and your neighbors today than you were a year ago?  Can you give any evidence of that love?

If you say yes, you have, and can give tangible examples- congratulations!  You grew!
If you can admit that you have not become more loving- sadly, you've not grown.  But hey, knowing, or rather, admitting, is half the battle!

So that's it:
We grow through the reading and application of the bible in our lives.
Not very complicated; but extremely effective for changing lives.