Colossians 3:16
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom,…”
Develop:
(verb) To grow, refine, transform, be affected by.
Developing joy in God
There will be a change in the direction of our lives the moment we become followers of Christ. The process of our being “conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29) is helped as we develop our joy in God and grow in our affections for Him, learning to treasure Him above all else.
Our growth is to be ongoing
The Bible teaches that as we journey with Jesus we will experience ongoing transformation. Peter told believers to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).
Paul spoke of the Philippian Christians’ “progress and joy in the faith” (Philippians 1:25), and he rejoiced that the Thessalonian Christians had a confidence in God that was “growing abundantly” (2 Thessalonians 1:3).
Our growth requires investment
Growing in our faith and developing our joy in God requires spending personal time with God in His Word. We challenge every believer to regularly read, study, and memorize the Bible to better know and treasure God and His ways.
Our growth requires community
The Bible also teaches that the community of believers has a vital role in our spiritual growth. Colossians 3:16 speaks of believers “teaching and admonishing one another.”
God changes our desires, fills us with hope, and increases our affections for Him as we share life with other believers...
...reading God’s Word together,
...discussing how its truths impact our lives,
...encouraging each other in joyful obedience,
...and praying together that God would change our hearts and deepen our faith in Him.
So, this is what we do
At Neighborhood Church we encourage everyone to be involved in at least one small group. We offer small groups in a variety of formats:
Home Discipleship Groups
These groups, which usually meet in homes in the evening, allow people to build friendships within our larger church family. Home Groups form the backbone of our church. If you can only be in one small group, we would encourage you to be a part of a Home Discipleship Group.
Men’s Discipleship Groups
These groups are made up of 6-8 men and run for 12-14 weeks, typically in the Fall and Winter/Spring. They meet at various times, days, and places throughout the week.
Ladies’ Discipleship Groups
These studies are also typically offered in the Fall and then again in the Winter/Spring. Some groups meet at the church in the morning or afternoon. Some groups meet at homes in the evening.
For more information on any of these groups, check out the small group bulletin board in the foyer.
And if you do not yet know the joy of having Jesus as your Savior, Lord and Treasure, then embrace Him today. You will never discover a greater joy!
Inspiring among all peoples an overflowing joy in God through Jesus Christ
