Worship: Closer by Bethel Worship

A story is told by the author Sean Grover: When the late-great Grandma Grover turned 85 years old, she received an upsetting notice in the mail; she was ordered to surrender her driver’s license. She was regretfully informed that, due to her age, she was no longer eligible to drive.

Exasperated, she wrote a letter the motor vehicle department director. He flatly rejected her. So she called the mayor of her small town; he was sympathetic but unmoved. Finally, she sent a fiery letter to the governor of her state. Two weeks later, the governor fired back with a challenge: pass a driver’s ed course and a road test, and she could keep her license.

In record time, Grandma Grover completed a driver’s ed course, aced her road test, and in less than two months, was back behind the wheel of her 1972 Chevy Nova.

The whole experience, however, left her a bit perturbed. When I asked why, she appeared exasperated:

“My goodness, it was so embarrassing.’

“You got your license back.”

“Yes, but they put me in a class full of old people!”

Five years later, at 90 years old, Grandma Grover could still be seen cruising her neighborhood, waving to friends, white driving gloves and all.

I love this story because Grandma Grover refused to allow her age get in the way.  It’s a fact–all of us are getting older.  Every single minute, every single hour and every day our bodies grow older.  It’s just a matter of time before you find yourself in Grandma Grover’s situation.  You may not be 85 but sometime, somewhere, someone is going to call you old and pressure you to “act your age.” Don’t you do it!

Pastor Andy shared a few great lessons with us this past Sunday.  He asked us to GROW YOUNG not OLD!

Even though we can’t stop the hands of time, we can stop the mentality of growing old.  Jesus said this, “Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.” (Mark 10:14 MSG)

Pastor Andy’s keypoints were:

• Kids are carefree – They enjoy every moment of life!
• Kids know who they belong to – They run and hug their parents excitedly yelling, “mommy and daddy!”
• Kids are full of joy – They are not weighed down by the burdens of the world.

Take a few moments today and evaluate your child-likeness.

In what areas do you need to relax?

In what situations do you need to become more joyful?

Do you fully understand to whom you belong?

Your Thoughts:

Grow Up

All month, as a church, we’ve been focusing on the idea of “GROW”

• Grow Deep
• Grow Strong
• Grow Together
• Grow Up

This week, we focus on Grow Up.  The last couple of days, Pastor Matt has encouraged us to do this together…be part of community and make room for each other’s immaturity (including our own).

Do and Not Do

Let me add this. To Grow Up, we must continue to grow. Yeah, that’s deep…or simple. I don’t know, but it’s true.

The Apostle Peter says this about the subject,

17You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. 18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.  -2 Peter 3:17-18 (ESV)

Peter seems to say we don’t grow for a period of time, but we grow and continue to grow. There is no end to our growing. There should be no end to our growing.

What does it mean to grow? Well in another simple (yet profound) phrasing, we do the things we know to do, and we don’t do the things we know not to do.

Easy right?

No, and that’s why so many people stop growing. They don’t want to do the hard work.

Conviction

In her book, Wherever the River Runs, about her travels up and down the Amazon doing mission work, Kelly Minter says,

Conviction leads to transformation.

A seed transforms to a seedling, which transforms to a sapling, which transforms to a tree, which transforms to a mature tree. The transformation of a seed to mature tree is growth.

If we believe growth comes through doing the things we know to do, and not doing things we know not to do, then it begins with conviction.

Conviction is the work of the Holy Spirit. He prompts, nudges and sometimes screams to us things to do and not do. As Christians, convictions should be obeyed. It’s the beginning of transformation.

Most of us don’t like conviction. It means work. It means change. It’s not easy.

But then again, growth isn’t easy. If it was then everyone would be doing it.

So do the hard work. Listen to your conviction. Transform. Grow.

I want to continue the conversation from yesterday – that community builds maturity, that growing up and growing together…go together.

When our girls (twin daughters) weren’t quite two, they were sitting in a little cushioned chair reading a book together. Well, it wasn’t just any book. They were reading a little story book bible that was a favorite of ours. Adelaide had the book in her lap and was “reading” the stories to her sister, Pen. She’d just come to the page in the book that had a picture of three crosses, that centerpiece of the Gospel story, and Pen was huddled up close to her and following along. It was a beautiful little scene. Until…

Pen reached for the book.

Without hesitation, Adelaide snatched the book away and pushed her to the floor. Knocked her right out of the chair and onto the floor.

It still makes me laugh.

And it makes me think.

Christianity’s easy when you’ve got the chair to yourself.

But when you’ve got to make room for someone else, well, that takes a bit of maturity.

And it’s this making room for others that pops up again and again throughout so much of the New Testament. Consider this passage (one of many) from Philippians 2:1-5:

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus…

Yesterday, we referenced the fruit of the Spirit as markers of Christian maturity – love, joy, peace, and the like. This time Paul describes maturity as unity, humility, unselfishness, consideration for others. Different words, same fruits. These are grown-up traits, and they find their expression in community, in the living of our lives with others.

Today, I want to invite you to make some room for others. Maybe, for much of your Christian walk, you’ve had the chair to yourself. This passage invites you into community – invites you to make room for someone else – and so to experience growth in your walk with Christ. 

One opportunity at Cross Points to make room for others (and build maturity!) is to join a GROW Group. You can find a group here! It’s one of the reasons we value small groups and encourage everyone at Cross Points to be in a group. Because we know that stepping into community will build your maturity! If you haven’t already, take a moment and sign up for a group!