Growing in Christ at Zion

Growing in Christ at Zion

Speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.—Ephesians 4:15

Happy New Year everyone. It’s hard to believe that January of 2017 begins my 23rd month as senior pastor of Zion. Together we have faced the trials and the joys of ministry. Together we have followed Jesus, trying new things, and being faithful in old things. We succeeded sometimes and failed at other times. Thankfully, God has been faithful each and every day. I don’t know what 2017 will hold for any of us, but I do know that God will continue to be faithful.  I know that there will be new opportunities: to risk, to be persistent, to be faithful, and to be bold in our choices for God. 

I read a blog post just before Christmas that told about a young girl who was having pain in her big toe. She told her mom and the mom responded not by rolling her eyes, but by having her take off her shoe. There didn’t seem to be any redness in the toe, so it didn’t look infected—no emergency room or clinic needed. But then as the mom was getting ready to face the busyness of the day, she glanced down at her daughters other foot, still wearing her shoe. The mom knelt and touched her foot. She found that her daughter’s toes were at the edge of her shoe. She had outgrown them. They went to the shoe store and found that she needed a size 7½ shoe. She had been wearing a shoe that was 4½. The girl’s shoes were many sizes smaller than what was needed. A few days later, with new shoes her toe was no longer hurting. A little space can make a big difference in our pain and in our growing. 

I remember when my kids were growing out of their shoes, pants and shirts almost faster than we could get to the store to replace them. It made me think about what we may be outgrowing in our faith and what kind of new space we need for growth in our lives.

How are we growing in Christ? Have you outgrown your Sunday School education? Have you continued to grow in your profession and in your daily life, but in Christ have simple relied on what you learned when you were a youth in Sunday school?  What kind of new space do you need in your faith journey so that you can grow? What do you need to do to create new space?

2017 begins the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s protest against the papacy that led to the protestant Reformation. Zion will have weekly offerings during the faith formation hour that will focus on Martin Luther and his teachings. There will be inspiring Bible study opportunities as well. Challenge yourself to learn more and grow in your faith.

What needs to be re-formed in your life, in your faith? Is 2017 the time you step out into a larger sized journey of discovery? A new year is a time to begin new holy habits. Join us here at Zion as we continue to Know Christ, Grow in Christ and Make Christ known.

That you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God.—Colossians 1:10