Colossians 1:28-29

Pastor Bart Blair delivers a practical sermon on spiritual maturity and growth as a Christian. He emphasizes that becoming more like Jesus is a lifelong process of sanctification, requiring hard work and dependence on the Holy Spirit's power. Blair outlines three essential systems for a healthy church: evangelism (sharing the good news), discipleship (helping people grow in Christlikeness), and empowerment (utilizing spiritual gifts to serve the church's mission). He also provides five indicators of personal spiritual growth: increasing love for God and others, growing in humility and servanthood, developing a hunger for God's Word, consistently exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit, and persevering through trials. Blair encourages listeners to engage in daily devotions, serve others using their gifts, and conduct a self-assessment based on the fruit of the Spirit. By focusing on these areas individually, the church as a whole can become more like Jesus and fulfill its potential.

The following scriptures are referenced in this sermon:

1. Matthew 28 (The Great Commission - Go and make disciples, baptize them, and teach them)

2. Galatians 5:22-23 (The fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control)

3. Ephesians 4:12 (Pastors are to equip the saints for the work of ministry)

4. 1 John 4:7-8 (Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.)

5. Philippians 2:3-4 (Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.)

6. James 1:2-4 (Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.)