Greater Things Growing Together
Copyright: South Bay Community Church
Title: Greater Things Ahead: Growing Together
Date: 26 January 2025
Speaker: Minister Philip Thompson
Sermon Scripture: Matthew 18:18-20
Title: Greater Things Ahead: Growing Together
Date: 26 January 2025
Speaker: Minister Philip Thompson
Sermon Scripture: Matthew 18:18-20
Sermon Quick Summary
This powerful message explores Jesus’ promise in John 14:12 that His followers would do “greater things.” The source of this power to accomplish “greater things” is God’s Holy Spirit, who resides in every believer. Jesus Christ unlocks God’s promises and power. Matthew 18:18-20 and other scriptures unpack the power of prayer, fasting, and unity within the Church as the body of Christ. John 2:15-19 aligns believers with God, God’s people, and brings heaven on earth; we are building on what Christ established on earth. When we are not in alignment with God and one another; we are disconnected from the Church’s legal authority in the spiritual realm to do greater things as we rightly ask. Asking is on account of the shed blood of Christ and Christ’s righteousness with motives centered on God’s Kingdom and God’s Will. By aligning with God and one another, believers can experience extraordinary transformation and fulfill their divine purpose. This inspiring message challenges us to pursue harmony, embrace community, and step into the “greater things” God has prepared for God’s people.
This powerful message explores Jesus’ promise in John 14:12 that His followers would do “greater things.”
As South Bay Community Church enters 2025, its 40th year of ministry, the congregation was called to reflect on Jesus' promise in John 14:12: “Whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things...” This verse sets the tone for the new year, inviting believers to dream bigger and think differently about their role in God’s plan. This promise is a challenge to raise expectations and embrace the exciting possibilities of what God has in store for God’s followers.
The source of this power to accomplish “greater things” is God’s Holy Spirit, who resides in every believer; Jesus Christ unlocks God’s promises and power.
The body of Christ filled with the Spirit, is the primary vehicle God uses to bring transformation to the world. Through spiritual practices like prayer and fasting, believers align themselves with God’s plans, positioning their hearts to hear from God and be transformed.
Matthew 18:18-20 and other scriptures unpack the power of prayer, fasting, and unity within the Church as the body of Christ.
The focal passage for this message, Matthew 18:18-20, emphasizes the power of prayer, agreement, and community. Jesus said, “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:18-20). Through these words, Jesus revealed the Father’s heart and His desire for His people to grow together and accomplish extraordinary things as a community. As South Bay participates in 28 days of prayer and fasting, Minister Thompson encouraged everyone to recognize that these practices, while often seen as private, also have a powerful communal impact. When believers unite in prayer and fasting, God not only aligns their hearts with God’s heart, but also strengthens their unity with one another.
Joel 2:15-19 aligns believers with God, God’s people, and brings heaven on earth; we are building on what Christ established on earth.
Joel 2:15-19, highlights the corporate nature of fasting and prayer. “Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly. Gather the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber. Let the priests, who minister before the Lord, weep between the portico and the altar. Let them say, ‘Spare your people, Lord. Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’ Then the Lord was jealous for his land and took pity on his people. The Lord replied to them” (Joel 2:15:-19). When God’s people come together in sacred assembly, crying out to the divine God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit , heaven responds. There is power in praying and fasting. Believers become aligned to God, God’s plans, and God’s purpose. Believers become aligned to God’s people. In fasting and prayer, God Almighty brings heaven on earth.
When we are not in alignment with God and one another; we are disconnected from the Church’s legal authority in the spiritual realm to do greater things as we rightly ask.
All the things Christ did during His ministry on earth represent a foundation and not a ceiling for His disciples. Believers are building on what Christ has already established. “In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name” (John 16:23). “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen” (1 John 4:20).
Asking is on account of the shed blood of Christ and Christ’s righteousness with motives centered on God’s Kingdom and God’s Will.
“You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures” (James 4:2-3). Christ is the Mediator between God and humans. Whatever is asked is asked on account of the shed blood of Christ and Christ’s righteousness. Our motives of asking must center on God to see God’s Kingdom come and God’s Will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
The promises found in Matthew 18, John 14, and John 16 are interconnected. While John 14 expands the vision of what’s possible for believers, Matthew 18 highlights the conditions for unlocking those possibilities through alignment with God and each other. That agreement is not simply passive affirmation but an active pursuit of unity and harmony, rooted in love and accountability. I am not aligned to God if I am angry or resentful towards the people of God. Christ outlines to His disciples steps for addressing this misalignment so that God's Will for God's Church can be realized.
There are 3 things (agreement, asking, and assembly) from the Matthew 18 scripture for restoring and maintaining alignment with God and God's people. Agreement fosters unity and accountability, asking unlocks heaven’s resources through prayer, and assembling together allows believers to experience God’s presence and power in community.
The first is agreement. This agreement is not simply nodding in affirmation no matter what we say. Every believer needs someone in our lives who is not afraid to confront or challenge us when we are missing the mark. These are persons with whom we walk together in fellowship and sharpen each other. The. process of sharpening each other can create sparks and conflict, but the agreement that arises releases power to fulfill our purpose. In Matthew 18:19, the word translated agree is sumphóne in the Greek. This means “to agree” or “to be in harmony". It is a word used for symphony, where each instrument brings its unique contribution to create a unified sound. This kind of harmony requires self-awareness, honest communication, and a shared commitment to God’s purpose.
Second are issues in the relationship with other believers not involving others in a horizontal relationship, but only an internal relationship with self.
Third, self-disclosure than follows. based on God, the master arranger and a willingness to work on and through the discordances that may arise. The movement from self-centeredness to God-centered is essential to experiencing the harmony of agreement and being in one accord.
This inspiring message challenges us to pursue harmony, embrace community, and step into the “greater things” God has prepared for God’s people.
Esther showed the example of power in praying and fasting in relationship with God and others. "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as your do. when this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish" (Esther 4:16).
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS INCLUDING FAMILY GROUPS
Sermon Quick Summary
-For further explanation of any statement in the Quick Summary, review that section and consider the questions for that section.
This powerful message explores Jesus’ promise in John 14:12 that His followers would do “greater things.”
-What does the promise of "greater things" in John 14:12 mean to you personally? How does it challenge you to think differently about your role as a follower of Christ?
The source of this power to accomplish “greater things” is God’s Holy Spirit, who resides in every believer; Jesus Christ unlocks God’s promises and power.
Why is it so important in your spiritual journey on earth that God's Holy Spirit resides within every believer?
Matthew 18:18-20 and other scriptures unpack the power of prayer, fasting, and unity within the Church as the body of Christ.
-This message emphasized the importance of aligning with God and others in the body of Christ. In what ways can you actively pursue alignment in your relationships with fellow believers?
Joel 2:15-19 aligns believers with God, God’s people, and brings heaven on earth; we are building on what Christ established on earth.
-Reflect on a time when prayer, fasting, or community helped you experience God's presence and power in a deeper way. How did that experience impact your faith?
When we are not in alignment with God and one another; we are disconnected from the Church’s legal authority in the spiritual realm to do greater things as we rightly ask.
-This message discussed the importance of assembling together as believers. How does gathering with others in worship, prayer, and fellowship strengthen your walk with God?
Asking is on account of the shed blood of Christ and Christ’s righteousness with motives centered on God’s Kingdom and God’s Will.
-How does the concept of spiritual agreement (sumphóneó) resonate with you? How can you work toward fostering harmony and unity within your community?
This inspiring message challenges us to pursue harmony, embrace community, and step into the “greater things” God has prepared for God’s people.
-What steps can you take this week to restore or strengthen alignment in your relationship with God or with others in the Church?
This powerful message explores Jesus’ promise in John 14:12 that His followers would do “greater things.” The source of this power to accomplish “greater things” is God’s Holy Spirit, who resides in every believer. Jesus Christ unlocks God’s promises and power. Matthew 18:18-20 and other scriptures unpack the power of prayer, fasting, and unity within the Church as the body of Christ. John 2:15-19 aligns believers with God, God’s people, and brings heaven on earth; we are building on what Christ established on earth. When we are not in alignment with God and one another; we are disconnected from the Church’s legal authority in the spiritual realm to do greater things as we rightly ask. Asking is on account of the shed blood of Christ and Christ’s righteousness with motives centered on God’s Kingdom and God’s Will. By aligning with God and one another, believers can experience extraordinary transformation and fulfill their divine purpose. This inspiring message challenges us to pursue harmony, embrace community, and step into the “greater things” God has prepared for God’s people.
This powerful message explores Jesus’ promise in John 14:12 that His followers would do “greater things.”
As South Bay Community Church enters 2025, its 40th year of ministry, the congregation was called to reflect on Jesus' promise in John 14:12: “Whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things...” This verse sets the tone for the new year, inviting believers to dream bigger and think differently about their role in God’s plan. This promise is a challenge to raise expectations and embrace the exciting possibilities of what God has in store for God’s followers.
The source of this power to accomplish “greater things” is God’s Holy Spirit, who resides in every believer; Jesus Christ unlocks God’s promises and power.
The body of Christ filled with the Spirit, is the primary vehicle God uses to bring transformation to the world. Through spiritual practices like prayer and fasting, believers align themselves with God’s plans, positioning their hearts to hear from God and be transformed.
Matthew 18:18-20 and other scriptures unpack the power of prayer, fasting, and unity within the Church as the body of Christ.
The focal passage for this message, Matthew 18:18-20, emphasizes the power of prayer, agreement, and community. Jesus said, “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:18-20). Through these words, Jesus revealed the Father’s heart and His desire for His people to grow together and accomplish extraordinary things as a community. As South Bay participates in 28 days of prayer and fasting, Minister Thompson encouraged everyone to recognize that these practices, while often seen as private, also have a powerful communal impact. When believers unite in prayer and fasting, God not only aligns their hearts with God’s heart, but also strengthens their unity with one another.
Joel 2:15-19 aligns believers with God, God’s people, and brings heaven on earth; we are building on what Christ established on earth.
Joel 2:15-19, highlights the corporate nature of fasting and prayer. “Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly. Gather the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber. Let the priests, who minister before the Lord, weep between the portico and the altar. Let them say, ‘Spare your people, Lord. Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’ Then the Lord was jealous for his land and took pity on his people. The Lord replied to them” (Joel 2:15:-19). When God’s people come together in sacred assembly, crying out to the divine God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit , heaven responds. There is power in praying and fasting. Believers become aligned to God, God’s plans, and God’s purpose. Believers become aligned to God’s people. In fasting and prayer, God Almighty brings heaven on earth.
When we are not in alignment with God and one another; we are disconnected from the Church’s legal authority in the spiritual realm to do greater things as we rightly ask.
All the things Christ did during His ministry on earth represent a foundation and not a ceiling for His disciples. Believers are building on what Christ has already established. “In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name” (John 16:23). “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen” (1 John 4:20).
Asking is on account of the shed blood of Christ and Christ’s righteousness with motives centered on God’s Kingdom and God’s Will.
“You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures” (James 4:2-3). Christ is the Mediator between God and humans. Whatever is asked is asked on account of the shed blood of Christ and Christ’s righteousness. Our motives of asking must center on God to see God’s Kingdom come and God’s Will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
The promises found in Matthew 18, John 14, and John 16 are interconnected. While John 14 expands the vision of what’s possible for believers, Matthew 18 highlights the conditions for unlocking those possibilities through alignment with God and each other. That agreement is not simply passive affirmation but an active pursuit of unity and harmony, rooted in love and accountability. I am not aligned to God if I am angry or resentful towards the people of God. Christ outlines to His disciples steps for addressing this misalignment so that God's Will for God's Church can be realized.
There are 3 things (agreement, asking, and assembly) from the Matthew 18 scripture for restoring and maintaining alignment with God and God's people. Agreement fosters unity and accountability, asking unlocks heaven’s resources through prayer, and assembling together allows believers to experience God’s presence and power in community.
The first is agreement. This agreement is not simply nodding in affirmation no matter what we say. Every believer needs someone in our lives who is not afraid to confront or challenge us when we are missing the mark. These are persons with whom we walk together in fellowship and sharpen each other. The. process of sharpening each other can create sparks and conflict, but the agreement that arises releases power to fulfill our purpose. In Matthew 18:19, the word translated agree is sumphóne in the Greek. This means “to agree” or “to be in harmony". It is a word used for symphony, where each instrument brings its unique contribution to create a unified sound. This kind of harmony requires self-awareness, honest communication, and a shared commitment to God’s purpose.
Second are issues in the relationship with other believers not involving others in a horizontal relationship, but only an internal relationship with self.
Third, self-disclosure than follows. based on God, the master arranger and a willingness to work on and through the discordances that may arise. The movement from self-centeredness to God-centered is essential to experiencing the harmony of agreement and being in one accord.
This inspiring message challenges us to pursue harmony, embrace community, and step into the “greater things” God has prepared for God’s people.
Esther showed the example of power in praying and fasting in relationship with God and others. "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as your do. when this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish" (Esther 4:16).
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS INCLUDING FAMILY GROUPS
Sermon Quick Summary
-For further explanation of any statement in the Quick Summary, review that section and consider the questions for that section.
This powerful message explores Jesus’ promise in John 14:12 that His followers would do “greater things.”
-What does the promise of "greater things" in John 14:12 mean to you personally? How does it challenge you to think differently about your role as a follower of Christ?
The source of this power to accomplish “greater things” is God’s Holy Spirit, who resides in every believer; Jesus Christ unlocks God’s promises and power.
Why is it so important in your spiritual journey on earth that God's Holy Spirit resides within every believer?
Matthew 18:18-20 and other scriptures unpack the power of prayer, fasting, and unity within the Church as the body of Christ.
-This message emphasized the importance of aligning with God and others in the body of Christ. In what ways can you actively pursue alignment in your relationships with fellow believers?
Joel 2:15-19 aligns believers with God, God’s people, and brings heaven on earth; we are building on what Christ established on earth.
-Reflect on a time when prayer, fasting, or community helped you experience God's presence and power in a deeper way. How did that experience impact your faith?
When we are not in alignment with God and one another; we are disconnected from the Church’s legal authority in the spiritual realm to do greater things as we rightly ask.
-This message discussed the importance of assembling together as believers. How does gathering with others in worship, prayer, and fellowship strengthen your walk with God?
Asking is on account of the shed blood of Christ and Christ’s righteousness with motives centered on God’s Kingdom and God’s Will.
-How does the concept of spiritual agreement (sumphóneó) resonate with you? How can you work toward fostering harmony and unity within your community?
This inspiring message challenges us to pursue harmony, embrace community, and step into the “greater things” God has prepared for God’s people.
-What steps can you take this week to restore or strengthen alignment in your relationship with God or with others in the Church?
Posted in Greater Things Ahead
Posted in Greater Things, Holy Spirit Empowerment, Prayer and Fasting, Alignment with God, Unity in the Church, Matthew 18:18-20, Spiritual Authority, God’s Kingdom and Will, Church Fellowship, Christian Transformation, Biblical Fasting, Kingdom Purpose, Spiritual Harmony, Prayer as Power, John 14:12, Faith and Community
Posted in Greater Things, Holy Spirit Empowerment, Prayer and Fasting, Alignment with God, Unity in the Church, Matthew 18:18-20, Spiritual Authority, God’s Kingdom and Will, Church Fellowship, Christian Transformation, Biblical Fasting, Kingdom Purpose, Spiritual Harmony, Prayer as Power, John 14:12, Faith and Community
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