That’s what I expectedThat’s what I expected#insideout

Copyright © Simon G. Harris 2013Scripture quotations taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission

God is serious about God is serious about growthgrowth

- His creation

Psalm 24:1-2Psalm 24:1-2The earth is the LORD'S, and everything in it,

the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and

established it upon the waters.

God is serious about God is serious about growthgrowth

- His kingdom

Colossians 2:19Colossians 2:19He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held

together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.

God is serious about God is serious about growthgrowth

- His kingdom

John 15:1-2John 15:1-2"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.

He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit

he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

Parables Parables of growth & of growth &

reproduction reproduction

1. Parable of the Soils

Mark 4:20Mark 4:20Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty,

sixty or even a hundred times what was sown."

Our reproducing potential:

100 times!

Parables Parables of growth & of growth &

reproduction reproduction

2. Parable of the Growing Seed

Mark 4:26-29Mark 4:26-29... whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he

does not know how.

It’s not as hard as we think!

Parables Parables of growth & of growth &

reproduction reproduction

3. The Mustard Seed

Mark 4:30-32Mark 4:30-32It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the

largest of all garden plants,

Very small beginnings lead

to something

great

God is serious about God is serious about growthgrowth

- His parables

Mark 4:33Mark 4:33With many similar parables Jesus spoke the

word to them, as much as they could understand.

God is serious about God is serious about growthgrowth

- His character

Luke 15:4Luke 15:4"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep

and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after

the lost sheep until he finds it?

Always go for

growth!

What do we expect?

Growth starts ...Growth starts ...

1. by thinking me

Matthew 4:19Matthew 4:19"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will

make you fishers of men."

How am I going to

reproduce myself?

Growth starts ...Growth starts ...

2. by thinking my relationships

Acts 17:26-27Acts 17:26-27From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and

he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.

God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.

Growth starts ...Growth starts ...

2. by thinking my relationships

Philippians 1:12Philippians 1:12Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has

really served to advance the gospel.

Growth starts ...Growth starts ...

3. by thinking small

Genesis 2:25Genesis 2:25The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.

Growth starts ...Growth starts ...

4. by thinking multiplication

Genesis 1:22Genesis 1:22God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the

water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth."

How does the

church help each of us to

reproduce ourselves?

Chosen for this!Chosen for this!

John 15:16John 15:16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will

give you whatever you ask in my name.

Reproducing disciples!