Real Church
Stretch Marks: Growth.
5/7/2017
Locations & Times
real church
10447 Refugee Rd SW, Pataskala, OH 43062, USA
Saturday 8:00 PM
Over the next several weeks we are going to be talking about the reality that life has a way of - Stretching Us. Sometimes we welcome it, but many times it is forced on us without warning. And when we get stretched in life, it often leaves a mark,
There are 5 main causes of Stretch Marks, that we are going to discuss in this series:
1. Rapid Growth- Teenagers often get stretch marks when having a growth spurt.
2. Pregnancy- Mothers often get stretch marks in the process of birthing something.
3. Obesity- People often develop stretch marks when their bodies become overweight.
4. Thin Skin- People who have an imbalance in Cortisone lose elasticity and their skin thins, as it stretches.
5. Strength Training- A lot of body builders develop stretch marks as muscles grow.
By definition: A Stretch Mark is a tearing of the dermis layer of skin, due to rapid growth or weight change. (All stretch marks are a sign of some type of growth)
The truth is, some stretch marks are caused by poor decisions, but many are the bi-product of good decisions, and are often even caused by circumstances that are out of our own control. But in every case, something
grew before the stretch mark came.
Even though we live in a society that encourages us to cover up all of our imperfections, many of the marks we've gained in life are the result of courage, character and sacrifice!
Maybe it's time we start showing off a little more of what we've been covering up!
The Old Testament is filled with promises that God made to the nation of Israel, and in order to prepare for those promises, the Lord instructed the Israelites in:
Isaiah 54:2
“Enlarge the place of your tent, Stretch your tent curtains wide, Do not hold back; Lengthen your cords, Strengthen your stakes.”
Steven Furtick said - "Your strength is in your stretch."
What I have found in life, is that when I am stretched beyond what I think I am capable of, I find out that I was capable of more than I thought.[15] Your strength is in the stretch!
We serve a God who is always stretching people individually and his church corporately.
*If God is stretching you, it's only because He knows you are capable of more!*
The early church would never have grown from a small room of prayer warriors in Acts, to 2.1 Billion followers today, if the church wasn't stretched!
Every time the church grows numerically, it's because people are allowing God to stretch them individually. (Our strength as a church is in your stretch as a Christian!)
The problem is, most people don’t normally stretch until they are being forced to.
Jesus challenged a young man to stretch in:
Matthew 19:16-22 (NIV)
"Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” 17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 “Which ones?” he inquired. Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’[a] and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]” 20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth."
+ Why was he sad? Did Jesus say the bus is full? There's no room? You're not allowed to hop on the Jesus train? No! He was sad because he didn't want to be stretched.
+ Jesus will stretch you in your giving, your faith, your character and your commitments.
+ If you are currently a Christian, and you are not being stretched in some area of your life, then you are not following Jesus. You are following YOUR version of Jesus!
+ The Rich Young Ruler had his own version of Jesus that he wanted to follow, and Jesus introduced him to the real version.
When I think about stretching I naturally think of sports! There are basically two kinds of athletes in sports. There's the PRO, and then there's the WEEKEND WARRIOR. No matter what, before a PRO ever enters a competition, you will always see them go through an extensive stretching routine, because they know that in order to run, jump, tackle, block, throw, dunk and catch, it requires stretching. The WEEKEND WARRIOR on the other hand, usually trots right out onto the field and tries to do those same things without ever stretching, and usually ends up on crutches! The truth is, as we mature physically and spiritually, it is important than ever to STRETCH, but few of us do. And what we often forget, is that whatever we don't stretch, will ultimately Shrink!
The Bible tells us in: Hebrews 11:6
"And without faith it is impossible to please God..."
Hebrews 10:38
"But my righteous one will live by faith, and if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him."
(If your faith is not stretching, it is shrinking)
Our faith either develops or deteriorates!
It is either growing, active and dynamic, or it is anemic, weak and stagnant!
If we allow God to stretch us beyond our comfortable boundaries we will grow like never before. Maybe God wants to stretch you today in one of these following areas:
~ Maybe God wants you to DO something new
~ Maybe God wants you to STOP DOING something old
~ Maybe God wants you to GIVE something away
~ Maybe God wants you to SAY something
~ Maybe God wants you to STOP SAYING something
~ Maybe God wants you to BUY something
~ Maybe God wants you to SELL something
~ Maybe God wants you to START something
~ Maybe God wants you to END something
Erma Bombeck- "When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope I would not have a single bit of talent left and could say, 'I used everything you gave me!'"
A famous composer, after being invited to a friends church replied, " I will go if you can take me to a church where I will be tempted to achieve the impossible."
The gospel tells us in:
Luke 18:27
"What is impossible with man is possible with God."
I believe there are 4 areas that God wants to possibly stretch in all of us today:
(1) God wants to stretch our Confidence!
Jesus was sitting alone with his disciples shortly before his death, and he told them in:
John 14:12-13
"Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name..."
+ One of the last things Jesus told his disciples before leaving was that God was going to use them to do even greater things on earth, than he did while he was here! What?
+ Why would he say this? Because he wanted to stretch their faith, expand their vision and build their confidence. (Jesus knew if he didn't say it, they wouldn't see it!)
(2) God wants to stretch our Character!
Jesus stated in:
Matthew 5:43-46
"You have heard it said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you... If you [only] love those who love you, what reward will you get?"
You judge a persons character by the way they treat the people who don't benefit them.
(3) God wants to stretch our Comfort!
When Jesus was recruiting disciples, he said this in:
Matthew 8:18-22
"Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” 21 Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 22 But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."
+ Our default in life is almost always Comfort.
+ Jesus made it clear to anyone interested in following Him, that their Comfort level was going to be Stretched.
You will never achieve greatness until you are comfortable with being uncomfortable!
(4) God wants to stretch our Companionship!
The Bible tells us in:
Acts 3:1-10
"One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. . 2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong."
+ The man in this story wanted a quick fix (money) just to get him through the day, but his divine partnership with Peter, introduced him to something that fixed his whole life.
+ That man only wanted some spare change, but Peter introduced him to life change!
Peter had to be willing to stretch out, so the beggar could stretch up!
Sometimes we need to stretch out and help somebody else up, and other times we need to stretch up when somebody else is stretching out.
Question: What is the greatest area of your life right now where you need to stretch?
There are 5 main causes of Stretch Marks, that we are going to discuss in this series:
1. Rapid Growth- Teenagers often get stretch marks when having a growth spurt.
2. Pregnancy- Mothers often get stretch marks in the process of birthing something.
3. Obesity- People often develop stretch marks when their bodies become overweight.
4. Thin Skin- People who have an imbalance in Cortisone lose elasticity and their skin thins, as it stretches.
5. Strength Training- A lot of body builders develop stretch marks as muscles grow.
By definition: A Stretch Mark is a tearing of the dermis layer of skin, due to rapid growth or weight change. (All stretch marks are a sign of some type of growth)
The truth is, some stretch marks are caused by poor decisions, but many are the bi-product of good decisions, and are often even caused by circumstances that are out of our own control. But in every case, something
grew before the stretch mark came.
Even though we live in a society that encourages us to cover up all of our imperfections, many of the marks we've gained in life are the result of courage, character and sacrifice!
Maybe it's time we start showing off a little more of what we've been covering up!
The Old Testament is filled with promises that God made to the nation of Israel, and in order to prepare for those promises, the Lord instructed the Israelites in:
Isaiah 54:2
“Enlarge the place of your tent, Stretch your tent curtains wide, Do not hold back; Lengthen your cords, Strengthen your stakes.”
Steven Furtick said - "Your strength is in your stretch."
What I have found in life, is that when I am stretched beyond what I think I am capable of, I find out that I was capable of more than I thought.[15] Your strength is in the stretch!
We serve a God who is always stretching people individually and his church corporately.
*If God is stretching you, it's only because He knows you are capable of more!*
The early church would never have grown from a small room of prayer warriors in Acts, to 2.1 Billion followers today, if the church wasn't stretched!
Every time the church grows numerically, it's because people are allowing God to stretch them individually. (Our strength as a church is in your stretch as a Christian!)
The problem is, most people don’t normally stretch until they are being forced to.
Jesus challenged a young man to stretch in:
Matthew 19:16-22 (NIV)
"Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” 17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 “Which ones?” he inquired. Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’[a] and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]” 20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth."
+ Why was he sad? Did Jesus say the bus is full? There's no room? You're not allowed to hop on the Jesus train? No! He was sad because he didn't want to be stretched.
+ Jesus will stretch you in your giving, your faith, your character and your commitments.
+ If you are currently a Christian, and you are not being stretched in some area of your life, then you are not following Jesus. You are following YOUR version of Jesus!
+ The Rich Young Ruler had his own version of Jesus that he wanted to follow, and Jesus introduced him to the real version.
When I think about stretching I naturally think of sports! There are basically two kinds of athletes in sports. There's the PRO, and then there's the WEEKEND WARRIOR. No matter what, before a PRO ever enters a competition, you will always see them go through an extensive stretching routine, because they know that in order to run, jump, tackle, block, throw, dunk and catch, it requires stretching. The WEEKEND WARRIOR on the other hand, usually trots right out onto the field and tries to do those same things without ever stretching, and usually ends up on crutches! The truth is, as we mature physically and spiritually, it is important than ever to STRETCH, but few of us do. And what we often forget, is that whatever we don't stretch, will ultimately Shrink!
The Bible tells us in: Hebrews 11:6
"And without faith it is impossible to please God..."
Hebrews 10:38
"But my righteous one will live by faith, and if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him."
(If your faith is not stretching, it is shrinking)
Our faith either develops or deteriorates!
It is either growing, active and dynamic, or it is anemic, weak and stagnant!
If we allow God to stretch us beyond our comfortable boundaries we will grow like never before. Maybe God wants to stretch you today in one of these following areas:
~ Maybe God wants you to DO something new
~ Maybe God wants you to STOP DOING something old
~ Maybe God wants you to GIVE something away
~ Maybe God wants you to SAY something
~ Maybe God wants you to STOP SAYING something
~ Maybe God wants you to BUY something
~ Maybe God wants you to SELL something
~ Maybe God wants you to START something
~ Maybe God wants you to END something
Erma Bombeck- "When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope I would not have a single bit of talent left and could say, 'I used everything you gave me!'"
A famous composer, after being invited to a friends church replied, " I will go if you can take me to a church where I will be tempted to achieve the impossible."
The gospel tells us in:
Luke 18:27
"What is impossible with man is possible with God."
I believe there are 4 areas that God wants to possibly stretch in all of us today:
(1) God wants to stretch our Confidence!
Jesus was sitting alone with his disciples shortly before his death, and he told them in:
John 14:12-13
"Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name..."
+ One of the last things Jesus told his disciples before leaving was that God was going to use them to do even greater things on earth, than he did while he was here! What?
+ Why would he say this? Because he wanted to stretch their faith, expand their vision and build their confidence. (Jesus knew if he didn't say it, they wouldn't see it!)
(2) God wants to stretch our Character!
Jesus stated in:
Matthew 5:43-46
"You have heard it said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you... If you [only] love those who love you, what reward will you get?"
You judge a persons character by the way they treat the people who don't benefit them.
(3) God wants to stretch our Comfort!
When Jesus was recruiting disciples, he said this in:
Matthew 8:18-22
"Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” 21 Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 22 But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."
+ Our default in life is almost always Comfort.
+ Jesus made it clear to anyone interested in following Him, that their Comfort level was going to be Stretched.
You will never achieve greatness until you are comfortable with being uncomfortable!
(4) God wants to stretch our Companionship!
The Bible tells us in:
Acts 3:1-10
"One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. . 2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong."
+ The man in this story wanted a quick fix (money) just to get him through the day, but his divine partnership with Peter, introduced him to something that fixed his whole life.
+ That man only wanted some spare change, but Peter introduced him to life change!
Peter had to be willing to stretch out, so the beggar could stretch up!
Sometimes we need to stretch out and help somebody else up, and other times we need to stretch up when somebody else is stretching out.
Question: What is the greatest area of your life right now where you need to stretch?