To Grow You Have To Go // M-Note 8.8.26

To grow you have to go. Growth requires movement. You have to try something new, develop a different habit, learn something, or disrupt your normal routine. Usually, growth requires you to take a risk or try something that might feel uncomfortable. And that can be scary. There is inertia to overcome and excuses to put aside. Growth requires work, but if you step out and do it, growth is worth it. A new world is opened up, you shift your perspective, feel things differently, and meet people that you never would have met.

This is true in every aspect of life, but especially in our spiritual life. I meet people all the time who will say things to me like, “I wish I knew more about the Bible, had time to serve, could get more involved, learned how to pray better, or could meet some new people.” I often will respond by asking them what new things they are trying in order to grow in whatever area they name. I often get blank stares!

I get it. Many of us want the benefits of a spiritual life that feels alive and growing. But we don’t always want to change our routine and try something new to make that happen. I don’t want that for you, or for our church.

What excites me about The Gathering is that so many of you genuinely want to grow in your faith. You don’t just want to “go to church” but also follow Jesus in your everyday life. And to do that, you regularly have to try new things. As August begins and the summer starts to wind down, I want to invite you to make this fall a season of growth for you. I have three specific invitations that will help you grow in your faith. I invite you to try one.

1. Start reading the Bible and let us help. For the first time, we will be hosting a weekly Bible Study called Disciple Bible Study. Whether you know the Bible or have never read it, this group is designed to meet you where you are and help you to grow in your understanding of the Bible. The best part is that you will get to do it with some other really great people. Watch for sign ups in the next few weeks.
2. Try serving in a new way. We regularly need people to serve on Sundays and throughout the week. Try a hospitality team, work with kids, be a buddy for someone with a disability, or serve in the tech booth. When you serve, you stretch yourself and see faith from a different angle. You can indicate an interest in serving here or talk to your site pastor and they can help.
3. Try out a new CoreGroup or Wellness Group. We are launching sign-up season for our groups this month. Sometimes trying a new group (or trying one for the first time) is the kickstart you need to begin growing. A new group will help you meet new people, pray, talk about what you hear on Sunday, and build a support system of others that will be there for you if you need them. You can see the new groups in the app or again, talk to your site pastor and they can help.

As always, doing any of these steps with another person is even better. I hope you will invite someone that you think would find our church meaningful to join you for worship this weekend. Take these invitations to heart, and help us create a church that isn’t stagnant and stale, but continues to be vibrant and growing.

Have a great weekend and I will see you Sunday.

Peace,

Matt