https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/11\/HowToGrow.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n\tby Jeffrey W. Hamilton<\/p>\n\t
Text: Hebrews 5:6-14<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I. Each of us started life as a cell so small it would take a microscope to see you.<\/p>\n A. But we don’t stay that size, we grow – and rapidly – into a small infant born into\nthis world, we become toddlers, children, adolescents, and eventually adults.\n
1. Grow is very much a part of life. The absence of grow is a cause for alarm.<\/p>\n 2. If you had an infant child who did not gain an ounce in three months,\nwould you sit back and think “oh, well,” or would you be busting down\nthe pediatrician’s door wanting help?\n
B. At the same time, we understand that growth isn’t instantaneous. <\/p>\n 1. We would not respect a parent who takes a child at the age of six or seven,\npacks their bags, sends them out the door, and says, “You’re on your own\nnow.”\n 2. We call that neglect of the child. A neglect of a parent’s responsibility to\nthe child.\n
C. Each Christian also starts out as a new born babe – I Peter 2:2<\/p>\n
1. Are we letting the newborns starve spiritually?<\/p>\n
2. Are we pushing them out on their own too soon?<\/p>\n
D. Growth is important for life<\/p>\n
1. Grow in grace and knowledge – II Peter 3:18<\/p>\n
2. Grow up to be like Christ – Ephesians 4:15<\/p>\n E. But how is growth done? How does a Christian, new born or well-established,\ngrow?\n
II. Set realistic goals<\/p>\n
A. Long term – Reaching heaven<\/p>\n
1. Press for the prize – Philippians 3:13-14<\/p>\n
2. Seek the heavenly country – Hebrews 11:13-16<\/p>\n
B. Near term – Being the best I can for God<\/p>\n
1. Someone the Lord would commend – II Corinthians 10:17-18<\/p>\n
2. Someone told “well done” – Matthew 25:21<\/p>\n
C. Near term – Being the best I can for those around me<\/p>\n
1. A loving spouse – Ephesians 5:23-33<\/p>\n
2. An obedient child – Ephesians 6:1-3<\/p>\n
3. An honored parent – Ephesians 6:4<\/p>\n
4. A good employee – Ephesians 6:5-8<\/p>\n D. In each of our roles, we can pick out how to be better. In that there is no upper\nbound. There is always room to grow.\n
E. Mid term – Things you would like to accomplish or become in this life<\/p>\n
1. All should desire to become teachers – Hebrews 5:12-14<\/p>\n
2. Some might desire to preach – II Timothy 4:2-5<\/p>\n
3. Some might desire to serve as elders – I Timothy 3:1<\/p>\n
III. Lay out steps leading toward that goal<\/p>\n A. Very few places that we want to reach are reachable in one step. Usually we\nunderstand that there are a series of things needed to be done to reach a goal.\n
1. Spiritual goals are no different.<\/p>\n
2. We should be frustrated that we aren’t there yet.<\/p>\n 3. Instead, we should be thinking about what is the next step needed that\nbrings me even closer to my goal.\n B. It might seem over simplistic, but the first thing we need to accomplish growth is\nto admit we aren’t there yet.\n 1. Unless we can see we haven’t made it, there is no need to take further\nsteps – I Corinthians 3:18\n
2. Pray to God for wisdom – James 1:5<\/p>\n
3. Wisdom is the plan for putting our house together – Proverbs 24:3-4<\/p>\n
C. Learn what needs to change and what it needs to be changed to.<\/p>\n
1. That means study. Lots of it. – II Timothy 2:15<\/p>\n
2. Wake up! – I Corinthians 15:34<\/p>\n
IV. Apply it<\/p>\n
A. Some want to wait until the entire route is mapped out in great detail.<\/p>\n B. But we generally don’t know what more is need until we get closer to our goal –\nPhilippians 3:16\n
C. What we learn, we must do – Philippians 4:9<\/p>\n
D. So when we find something we need to do, we need to apply it then – James 1:21-25<\/p>\n
V. Ask for help<\/p>\n A. Some people just never will stop and ask for directions. But there are going to be\ntimes when it is hard to tell what needs to be your next move\n
B. Need advice – Proverbs 15:22<\/p>\n
C. But look for good sources of advice<\/p>\n 1. It is amazing how many people accept advice from people who have never\ngone to where you want to go.\n 2. If you want to know how to be a good elder, find good elders with a\nproven track record to talk to.\n 3. If you want to know how to be a good parent, find good parents with a\nproven track record to talk to.\n
VI. Be willing to take course corrections<\/p>\n
A. Don’t think you’re already there – Galatians 6:3<\/p>\n
B. A fool thinks his way is always the right way – Proverbs 12:15<\/p>\n
C. Watch where you are going – Proverbs 22:3<\/p>\n
VII. Are you ready to take the journey?<\/p>\n
A. We’re ready to aid you along the way.<\/p>\n
B. But the first steps to heaven require that you first commit your life to God.<\/p>\n
C. And if you have started, don’t stop!<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Hebrews 5:6-14 I. Each of us started life as a cell so small it would take a microscope to see you. A. But we don’t stay that size, we grow – and rapidly – into a small infant born into this world, we become toddlers, children, adolescents, and eventually adults. 1. Grow…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[119,32],"tags":[383],"class_list":["post-62760","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-audio","category-sermon","tag-growth"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":94132,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/grow-in-grace-and-knowledge\/","url_meta":{"origin":62760,"position":0},"title":"Grow in Grace and Knowledge","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 21, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"by Edwin Crozier Peter began his second letter saying God's \"divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence\" (II Peter 1:3 ESV). Coming full circle, he ends the letter saying\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":59405,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/sand-and-pearls\/","url_meta":{"origin":62760,"position":1},"title":"Sand and Pearls","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 19, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"by\u00a0Netagene Kirkpatrick, August 18, 2009 If God can take a grain of sand And change it to a pearl - Some tiny lifeless silicone He made when He made the world, Then why don't you understand the thought That you, a living soul Might change from whatever sad state you're\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/02\/pearl.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":55511,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-christians-growth-in-the-lord\/","url_meta":{"origin":62760,"position":2},"title":"The Christian’s Growth in the Lord","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 5, 2005","format":false,"excerpt":"by Richard Thetford Once an individual puts on Christ in baptism, they should be determined to please God in all aspects of their life. But before one can begin to grow, one must first possess an attitude that says; \"I want to grow as a Christian in order to be\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/quietMoment.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":20031,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/survival\/","url_meta":{"origin":62760,"position":3},"title":"Survival","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 18, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"March 15-20, 2020 presented by Wayne Fancher of Searcy, Arkansas Click on the lesson titles to listen to each message. Little by Little Lessons from the Prodigal Son God Who Makes the Broken Beautiful Spiritual Collateral Damage and Blessings Soldiers of Christ Arise and Put Your Armor On How to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/the-wreck-of-the-atlantic.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/the-wreck-of-the-atlantic.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/the-wreck-of-the-atlantic.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/the-wreck-of-the-atlantic.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/the-wreck-of-the-atlantic.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/the-wreck-of-the-atlantic.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":94642,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/pressured-to-grow\/","url_meta":{"origin":62760,"position":4},"title":"Pressured to Grow","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 17, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"by Zeke Flores \"But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread out, so that they dreaded the sons of Israel\" (Exodus 1:12). There's something strangely encouraging about this verse. Israel is being crushed under Pharaoh's fear-driven oppression, yet God quietly flips the script.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":88130,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/one-another\/","url_meta":{"origin":62760,"position":5},"title":"One Another","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 29, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Romans 12:9-13 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We are an individualistic society, but we recognize the need to work together to achieve goals. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We form companies to manufacture goods \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We have governments to coordinate society \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0There are aspects of Christianity that I am responsible for as an\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62760","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=62760"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62760\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=62760"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=62760"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=62760"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}