• Exalts Christ• Encourages Friendships• Evangelizes the Lost• Edifies for Growth• Equips for Ministry

A Church that Edifies for GrowthOur aim is to be a church that…

“…Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. He did not say anything to them without

using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he

explained everything.” (Mark 4:33-34, NIV)

A Church that Edifies for Growth

Important Truth:Christianity is not just about

“knowing” it’s about “growing.”

A Church that Edifies for Growth

“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.”

(Eph. 4:14-15, NIV)

A Church that Edifies for Growth

4 Critical Components of Spiritual GrowthA Church that Edifies for Growth

1. Foundation of Faith“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our

knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”

(2 Peter 1:3, NIV)

4 Critical Components of Spiritual GrowthA Church that Edifies for Growth

1. Foundation of Faith“…I tell you the truth, no one can see the

kingdom of God unless he is born again.” (John 3:3, NIV)

4 Critical Components of Spiritual GrowthA Church that Edifies for Growth

1. Foundation of Faith“Now that you have purified yourselves by

obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the

heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through

the living and enduring word of God.”

(1 Pet. 1:22-23 NIV)

4 Critical Components of Spiritual GrowthA Church that Edifies for Growth

2. Spiritual Nourishment“Now the Bereans were of more noble

character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great

eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul

said was true.” (Acts 17:11, NIV)

4 Critical Components of Spiritual GrowthA Church that Edifies for Growth

3. Spiritual Exercise“Anyone who lives on milk, being still an

infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for

the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to

distinguish good from evil.” (Hebrews 5:13-14, NIV)

4 Critical Components of Spiritual GrowthA Church that Edifies for Growth

3. Spiritual Exercise“Have nothing to do with godless myths

and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of

some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for

both the present life and the life to come.”

(1 Timothy 4:7-8, NIV)

4 Critical Components of Spiritual GrowthA Church that Edifies for Growth

4. Spiritual Rest“Then, because so many people were

coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them,

‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’”

(Mark 6:31, NIV)

Implications for First BaptistA Church that Edifies for Growth

1. An Evangelistic Church2. A Bible-Teaching Church“…All men are like grass, and all their

glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the

word of the Lord stands forever...”

(1 Pet. 1:24-25, NIV)

Implications for First BaptistA Church that Edifies for Growth

1. An Evangelistic Church2. A Bible-Teaching Church3. A Shepherding Church4. A Gracious Church

Implications for First BaptistA Church that Edifies for Growth

“Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials,

knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be

mature and complete, lacking nothing.”

(James 1:2-4, HCSB)