Meditation Text

Psalm 89:1-4

(Leader) I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations. For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever; in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.”

(Congregation) You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant: ‘I will establish your offspring forever, and build your throne for all generations.’” Selah

Worship Theme

We’ll sing God’s praise forever because His love and faithfulness through Jesus will last forever!

Celebration through Song

Rob Chisholm, Pastor for Music and Biblical Education

1. Come Thou Fount (Traditional) Tune my heart to sing Thy grace.

Celebration through the Word and Prayer

Rob Chisholm, Pastor for Music and Biblical Education

2. Beneath the Cross (Getty) …And wonder at such mercy that calls me as I am.

3. Here Is Love (Traditional) Who can cease to sing His praise?

4. Great Is Your Faithfulness (Redman) From age to age we will proclaim…

Celebration through Offering & Announcements

Ian McConnell, Pastor for Preaching & Vision

Before the offering we will be praying for the building and advancement of God’s Kingdom through the gospel in the following local churches:

U.S.— Providence Church, Lead Pastor Mike Pierson serving in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pa. and are a part of our Sovereign Grace family of churches.

Abroad— The Neza Church, Lead Pastor Jim Dowdy & his wife, Carolyn, church planting and training church planters in Mexico City, Mexico. Grace Bible Church gives support to Jim in his ministry to the people of Mexico City.

(break) Children are dismissed to childcare & grace4kids

Celebration through Submission to God’s Word

Message: Don’t Reject Jesus—Love Him

Text: Mark 12:28-44

Ian McConnell, Pastor for Preaching & Vision

Reflection and Response

Take My Life (Here Am I) (Traditional/Tomlin) Take my life it’s all for Thee…

Benediction Prayer

Rob Chisholm, Pastor for Music & Biblical Education

Meditation Text

Romans 5:6-8

(Leader) For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—

(Congregation) but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Worship Theme

God’s everlasting love for us is displayed through the cross of Jesus.

Celebration through Song

Curt Brown, Worship Leader, Directs Music Team

1. Everlasting God (Brenton Brown) we will wait upon the Lord…

Celebration through the Word and Prayer

Danny Adams, Pastor for Children’s Ministry

2. How Deep the Father’s Love for Us (Townend) …I will boast in Jesus Christ; his death and resurrection

3. Stronger (Hillsong) sin is broken you have saved me…

4. Come Praise & Glorify (Sovereign Grace) You are the God who saves! *NEW SONG

Celebration through Offering & Announcements

Rob Chisholm, Pastor for Music & Biblical Education

Before the offering we will be praying for the building and advancement of God’s Kingdom through the gospel in the following local churches:

U.S.— Brandywine Grace Church, Lead Pastor Kenny Lynch, in Downingtown, PA, and is part of our family of churches with Sovereign Grace.

Abroad— Arche Church, Lead Pastor Christian Wegert, in Hamburg, Germany, and is part of our family of churches with Sovereign Grace.

(break) Children are dismissed to childcare & grace4kids

Celebration through Submission to God’s Word

Message: Don’t Reject Jesus—Agree with Him

Text: Mark 12:18-27

Ian McConnell, Pastor for Preaching & Vision

Reflection and Response

Prepared a Place (Sovereign Grace) By grace I will be able to join the jubilee…

Benediction Prayer

Curt Brown, Worship Leader, Directs Music Team

*NEW SONG

Come Praise & Glorify

Words & Music by Tim Chester & Bob Kauflin

Verse 1
Come praise and glorify our God The Father of our Lord

In Christ He has in heav’nly realms His blessings on us poured

For pure and blameless in His sight He destined us to be

And now we’ve been adopted through His Son eternally

Chorus

To the praise of Your glory To the praise of Your mercy and grace

to the praise of Your glory You are the God who saves

Verse 2

Come praise and glorify our God Who gives His grace in Christ

In Him our sins are washed away Redeemed through sacrifice

In Him God has made known to us The myst’ry of His will

That Christ should be the head of all His purpose to fulfill

Verse 3

Come praise and glorify our God For we’ve believed the Word

And through our faith we have a seal The Spirit of the Lord

The Spirit guarantees our hope Until redemption’s done

Until we join in endless praise To God, the Three in One

Music by Bob Kauflin, words by Tim Chester © 2011 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI)

Meditation Text

1 John 1:5-9

(Leader) This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

(Congregation) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

(Leader) If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

(Congregation) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Worship Theme

Our sin is great, but God’s grace and forgiveness through Jesus is greater!

Celebration through Song

Rob Chisholm, Pastor for Music and Biblical Education

1. Come Christians, Join to Sing (Traditional) On that triumphant day He took our sins away!

Celebration through the Word and Prayer

Rob Chisholm, Pastor for Music and Biblical Education

2. Beneath the Cross (Getty) For hands that should discard me hold wounds which tell me come…NEW SONG

3. What a Savior (Sovereign Grace) …Poured out Your blood so we praise You…

4. Christ Is Risen (Maher) O Church, come stand in the light / The glory of God has defeated the night!

Celebration through Offering & Announcements

Tom Horton, Pastor for Family Care

Before the offering we will be praying for the building and advancement of God’s Kingdom through the gospel in the following local churches:

U.S.— Covenant Fellowship Church, Lead Pastor Jared Mellinger, serving in Glen Mills, PA, and is part of our family of churches with Sovereign Grace.

Abroad— We will also be praying for Fernando Impang who is the pastor at a Sovereign Grace church in Bohol, Philippines.

(break) Children are dismissed to childcare & grace4kids

Celebration through Submission to God’s Word

Message: Don’t Reject Jesus—Surrender

Text: Mark 12:13-27

Ian McConnell, Pastor for Preaching & Vision

Reflection and Response

Take My Life (Here Am I) (Traditional/Chris Tomlin) Here am I, all of me. Take my life, it’s all for Thee

Celebration of the Lord’s Table

Jesus Thank You (Sovereign Grace) …the Father’s wrath completely satisfied

Benediction Prayer

Rob Chisholm, Pastor for Music & Biblical Education

NEW SONG

Beneath the Cross

By Keith & Kristen Getty

Beneath the cross of Jesus
I find a place to stand,
And wonder at such mercy
That calls me as I am;
For hands that should discard me
Hold wounds which tell me, “Come.”
Beneath the cross of Jesus
My unworthy soul is won.

Beneath the cross of Jesus
His family is my own—
Once strangers chasing selfish dreams,
Now one through grace alone.
How could I now dishonor
The ones that You have loved?
Beneath the cross of Jesus
See the children called by God.

Beneath the cross of Jesus—
The path before the crown—
We follow in His footsteps
Where promised hope is found.
How great the joy before us
To be His perfect bride;
Beneath the cross of Jesus
We will gladly live our lives.

Meditation Text

Colossians 1:15-20

(Leader) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

(Congregation) For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

(Leader) And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

(Congregation) For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Worship Theme

The High King of heaven came down to earth to save us!

Celebration through Song

Curt Brown, Worship Leader, Directs Music Team

1. Your Love O Lord (Praise & Worship) …I will lift my voice to worship you my King

Celebration through the Word and Prayer

Tom Horton, Pastor for Family Care

2. Be Thou My Vision (Traditional) …high King of heaven my treasure Thou art

3. O Sacred King (Matt Redman) You’re the God of holiness yet you welcome souls like me…

4. The Cross Has Said It All (Matt Redman) Son of God shed precious blood; who can comprehend this love? *NEW SONG

Celebration through Offering & Announcements

Danny Adams, Pastor for Children’s Ministry

Before the offering we will be praying for the building and advancement of God’s Kingdom through the gospel in the following local churches:

U.S.— Seven Mile Road Church which is located in the Far Northeast part of our city, and where Ian McConnell, Pastor for Preaching & Vision at Grace, is preaching Sunday morning.

Abroad— Kingdom Life Church, Lead Pastor Cedric Moss, church planting in Nassau, Bahamas, and is part of our family of churches with Sovereign Grace.

(break) Children are dismissed to childcare & grace4kids

Celebration through Submission to God’s Word

Message: Jesus Turns the Tables

Text: Mark 11:27-12:12

Rob Chisholm, Pastor for Music & Biblical Education

Reflection and Response

I Stand Amazed (Traditional) …You took my sins and my sorrows

Benediction Prayer

Curt Brown, Worship Leader, Directs Music Team

*NEW SONG

The Cross Has Said It All

Words & Music by Matt Redman

Verse 1
The cross has said it all,
The cross has said it all.
I can’t deny what You have shown,
The cross speaks of a God of love;
There displayed for all to see,
Jesus Christ, our only hope,
A message of the Father’s heart:
“Come, my children, come on home.”

Chorus
As high as the heav’ns are above the earth,
So high is the measure of Your great love;
As far as the east is from the west,
So far have You taken our sins from us

Verse 2
The cross has said it all,
The cross has said it all.
I never recognized Your touch
Until I met You at the cross.
We are fallen, dust to dust;
How could You do this for us?
Son of God she’d precious blood;
Who can comprehend this love?

Bridge
How high, how wide, how deep
How high, how wide, how deep,
How high!

One hundred and twenty years ago today the Prince of Preachers, C.H. Spurgeon, entered into the joy of his Master. In honor of one of my dead heroes, here is one of my favorite extensive quotes.

“He who is a believer in Jesus finds enough in his Lord to satisfy him now, and to content him for evermore. There is such a fullness in Christ that He alone is the believer’s all. The true saint is so completely satisfied with the all-sufficiency of Jesus that he thirsts no more – except it be for deeper draughts of the living fountain. In that sweet manner, believer, shalt thou thirst; it shalt not be a thirst of pain, but of loving desire; thou wilt find it a sweet thing to be panting a fuller enjoyment of Jesus’ love. One in days of yore said, “I have been sinking my bucket down into the well full often, but now my thirst after Jesus has become so insatiable, that I long to put the full well itself to my lips and drink right on.”

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

                                                      Morning & Evening

                                                      Morning of October 6th

Meditation Text

Psalm 8:1-9

(Leader) O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babes and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.

(Congregation) When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.

(Leader) You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

(Congregation) O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Worship Theme

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Celebration through Song

Rob Chisholm, Pastor for Music and Biblical Education

1. Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow (Traditional) From all that dwell beneath the skies / Let the Creator’s praise arise!

Celebration through the Word and Prayer

Rob Chisholm, Pastor for Music and Biblical Education

2. How Great Is Our God (Chris Tomlin) And all will see…

3. Saving One (Starfield) And Heaven can’t contain the glory of the Son…

4. High Above All Things (Sovereign Grace) …Your passion / To give all nations / Gladness and joy in Jesus Christ!

Celebration through Offering & Announcements

Tom Horton, Pastor for Family Care

Before the offering we will be praying for the building and advancement of God’s Kingdom through the gospel in the following local churches:

U.S.— Cornerstone Community Church, Lead Pastor Bill Curry, serving in the Kensington section of our city.

Abroad— Covenant Life Church Addis Ababa, Lead Pastor Mo Tegene, serving in Ethiopia, and is part of our family of churches with Sovereign Grace.

(break) Children are dismissed to childcare & grace4kids

Celebration through Submission to God’s Word

Message: What Disciples Do because of What Jesus has Done

Text: Matthew 22:34-40; 28:16-20

Ian McConnell, Pastor for Preaching & Vision

Reflection and Response

Let Your Kingdom Come (Sovereign Grace) …So that everyone might know Your name!

Benediction Prayer

Rob Chisholm, Pastor for Music & Biblical Education

Meditation Text

Titus 3:3-7
(Leader) For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.

(Congregation) But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us…

(Leader) not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit…

(Congregation) whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Worship Theme

God’s goodness and loving kindness through Jesus Christ our Savior has changed our lives forever!

Celebration through Song

Curt Brown, Worship Leader, Directs Music Team

1. God Over All (Sovereign Grace) …by your grace I now draw near.

Celebration through the Word and Prayer

Ian McConnell, Pastor for Preaching &Vision

2. You Alone Can Rescue (Matt Redman) …you are the God who saves us!

3. I Stand Amazed (Traditional) …for all your goodness I will keep on singing

4. Stronger (Hillsong) …sin is broken you have saved me *NEW SONG

Celebration through Offering & Announcements

Danny Adams, Pastor for Children’s Ministry

Before the offering we will be praying for the building and advancement of God’s Kingdom through the gospel in the following local churches:

U.S.— Calvary Chapel, Lead Pastor Joe Focht which is located in the Far Northeast section of Philly.

Abroad— Lord’s Grace Church in Seoul, South Korea, lead pastor Songhwan Kang. Lord’s Grace Church is a part of our family of churches in Sovereign Grace Ministries.

(break) Children are dismissed to childcare & grace4kids

Celebration through Submission to God’s Word

Message: Jesus Restores Our Barren Lives part 2

Text: Mark 11:12-25

Ian McConnell, Pastor for Preaching &Vision

Reflection and Response

Jesus Lord of Heaven (Phil Wickham) your love has no bounds…

Benediction Prayer

Curt Brown, Worship Leader, Directs Music Team

*NEW SONG

Stronger

Words & Music by Hillsong

There is love that came for us
Humbled to a sinner’s cross
You broke my shame and sinfulness
You rose again victorious

Faithfulness none can deny
Through the storm and through the fire
There is truth that sets me free
Jesus Christ who lives in me

Chorus
You are stronger! You are stronger!
Sin is broken
You have saved me
It is written
Christ is risen
Jesus You are Lord of all

No beginning and no end
You’re my hope and my defense
You came to seek and save the lost
You paid it all upon the cross

Bridge
So let Your name be lifted higher
Be lifted higher be lifted higher

Meditation Text

Psalm 9:1-2, 9-11

(Leader) I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.

(Congregation) I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

(Leader) The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.

(Congregation) Sing praises to the LORD, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds!

Worship Theme

We sing God’s praise because of his wonderful deeds!

Celebration through Song

Rob Chisholm, Pastor for Music and Biblical Education

1. Glories of Calvary (Sovereign Grace) My heart is filled with a thousand songs…

Celebration through the Word and Prayer

Rob Chisholm, Pastor for Music and Biblical Education

2. Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee (Bolognone) Jesus, our only joy be Thou…

3. Jesus, What a Friend for Sinners (Bolognone) Hallelujah! What a Savior!

4. God Over All (Sovereign Grace) …your love has set me free to glorify your name…

Celebration through Offering & Announcements

Tom Horton, Pastor for Family Care

Before the offering we will be praying for the building and advancement of God’s Kingdom through the gospel in the following local churches:

U.S.— Sovereign Grace City Church in Brooklyn, New York, Lead Pastor Zac Martin, and is part of our family of churches with Sovereign Grace.

Abroad— Grace Church Bristol, Lead Pastor Nathan Smith, serving in Bristol, England, and is part of our family of churches with Sovereign Grace.

(break) Children are dismissed to childcare & grace4kids

Celebration through Submission to God’s Word

Message: Jesus Restores Our Barren Lives

Text: Mark 11:12-25

Ian McConnell, Pastor for Preaching & Vision

Reflection and Response

Celebration through the Lord’s Table

Worthy is the Lamb (Hillsong) Thank you for the cross, Lord…

Benediction Prayer

Rob Chisholm, Pastor for Music & Biblical Education

Meditation Text

Psalm 95:1-7

(Leader) Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

(Congregation) For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.

(Leader) Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!

(Congregation) For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.

Worship Theme

We come together to sing joyful songs of praise to the God of our salvation!

Celebration through Song

Curt Brown, Worship Leader, Directs Music Team

1. Shout Joyfully (Curt Brown) …make his praises glorious!

Celebration through the Word and Prayer

Tom Horton, Pastor for Family Life

2. Hosanna (Brenton Brown) …you are the God who saves us!

3. 10,000 Reasons (Matt Redman) …for all your goodness I will keep on singing

4. Stronger (Hillsong) …sin is broken you have saved me *NEW SONG

Celebration through Offering & Announcements

Danny Adams, Pastor for Children’s Ministry

Before the offering we will be praying for the building and advancement of God’s Kingdom through the gospel in the following local churches:

U.S.— New Covenant Church, led by Rick Napolitano in Annapolis, Maryland. Ian McConnell, Pastor for Preaching and Vision at Grace, is preaching at New Covenant Sunday morning.

Abroad— Kingdom Life Church, Lead Pastor Cedric Moss, church planting in Nassau, Bahamas, and is part of our family of churches with Sovereign Grace.

(break) Children are dismissed to childcare & grace4kids

Celebration through Submission to God’s Word

Message: Jesus Presents Himself as King

Text: Mark 11:1-11

Tom Horton, Pastor for Family Life

Reflection and Response

Behold Our God (Sovereign Grace) seated on his throne…

Benediction Prayer

Curt Brown, Worship Leader, Directs Music Team

*NEW SONG

Stronger

Words & Music by Hillsong

There is love that came for us
Humbled to a sinner’s cross
You broke my shame and sinfulness
You rose again victorious

Faithfulness none can deny
Through the storm and through the fire
There is truth that sets me free
Jesus Christ who lives in me

Chorus
You are stronger! You are stronger!
Sin is broken
You have saved me
It is written
Christ is risen
Jesus You are Lord of all

No beginning and no end
You’re my hope and my defense
You came to seek and save the lost
You paid it all upon the cross

Bridge
So let Your name be lifted higher
Be lifted higher be lifted higher

You may or may not be into the New Year’s resolution thing, but I think there is value in taking some time to say, “Where does my life need some tweaking and how can I get grace from God to get tweaked?” It’s healthy to think about this regularly but if God providentially uses the start of a new year to get us thinking about it more acutely then right on! Surely we can over accent New Year’s resolutions or even get morbidly introspective, but I think God gets glory when we long for our lives to be more of what He created and redeemed them to be. Don’t you want to love God and others more? Don’t you want to love sin less? Don’t you want to be more like Jesus? Don’t you want to be a better steward of your soul, body, and resources? Don’t you want to live more radically aware of the gospel mission God has called you to advance? If you’re a follower of Jesus then your answer ought to be—Yes.

Listen to the way Paul exhorts the church in Thessalonica to excel in pleasing God,

“Finally,then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you receivedfrom us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.”
(1 Thessalonians 4:1)

Notice that Paul both commends and challenges these followers of Jesus. He implies that their walk is pleasing God when he says, “just as you are doing” and he exhorts them to excel in a walk that pleases God when he says, “that you do so more and more.” In other words, these Christians were living lives that pleased God and yet they needed to continue to grow and please God more. Paul gives some specific areas where they needed to grow in verses 3-12 which include sexual purity, self-control, loving other Christians, the waythey talk, their work ethic, and being attractive to those who don’t follow Jesus. This means that as followers of Jesus we never get to a place where we stop needing to grow and that there will always be areas of our life that need growth. The bottom line is that we should never stop wanting to grow. It’s healthy for you to want to grow more and more.

Now what’s unhealthy is to think that growing more is what contributes to our acceptance with God. Our acceptance with God is not based on what we do but on what Jesus has already done through his substitutionary life, death, and resurrection. It’s also unhealthy to think that growing more happens as you pull up your bootstraps, grit your teeth, and go for it. I’m sure you’ve tried that before and the result has been the opposite—you probably found yourself declining more and more instead. Paul is so clear that growing more cannot happen apart from our vibrant union with Jesus Christ. That’s why he prefaces this exhortation by saying, “we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus.” Growth is only possible because we are “in the Lord Jesus.” That’s union with Jesus language. It’s also short hand for saying that when he died for our sins we died with him to our sins and when he was resurrected from the dead we were resurrected with him from the dead to walk in newness of life. This is strikingly similar to what Jesus himself said in John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

Paul’s confidence that these followers of Jesus will continue to grow and bear fruit is rooted in the reality that they are in Jesus and Jesus is in them. It’s the same for us. The reason why we want to grow and the reason we are able to grow is because we are in Jesus and Jesus is in us! Here’s another shot of this from Paul in Philippians 2:13, “It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

This means at least two really incredible realities for every follower of Jesus. First, if you are being made aware of areas of your life that need growth and you are resolved to excel then be encouraged because this is evidence that God is at work in you through your union with Jesus. Let’s just say you identify weakness in some of your spiritual disciplines like reading your Bible and prayer. Along with this identification of weakness you also have a strong desire to grow and become more consistent and disciplined in these areas. Where does this awareness of weakness and desire for growth come from? It comes from Jesus urging your heart by the Holy Spirit to want to hear more from him & talk more to him. Second, along with the desire to grow God will supply the ability to grow through your union with Jesus. Your desires will translate into discipline as you depend on Jesus by faith. So when you go to bed ask God to help you wake up when the alarm clock goes off, grab your Bible and your coffee and listen to what God has to say. Don’t be surprised when you wake up and do it. We grow in the doing as God gives us desire and discipline through our union with Jesus. As you abide in him and him in you there will be fruit!

At the end of the day it doesn’t matter if you make New Year’s resolutions or not. What really matters is whether you want to grow or not and whether you believe you will grow or not. I hope you want to grow more and more—God does. God is more committed to your growth than you are. You are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus (Ephesian 2:10). He will finish what he started in your life (Philippians 1:6). As you behold him you will increasingly become more like him (2 Corinthians 3:18). How should you respond to this? Thank God for his gracious commitment to your growth. Confess your desire to grow. Identify specific areas where you need to grow. Bring them before God in humble expectant prayer. Consider and implement practical strategies for change. Enlist the care and accountability of other followers of Jesus. And most importantly, believe that because of your union with Jesus Christ you will grow.

If you are looking for a good book to help you understand more about what the Bible teaches on this subject, I highly recommend “You Can Change—God’s Transforming Power for Our Sinful Behavior and Negative Emotions” by Tim Chester.