Wired: Brain Science & Spiritual Growth | Part 1 | How Do People Grow? | Chris Voigt

How Do People Grow?
Wired: Brain Science & Spiritual Growth
September 11, 2022

Gardening season in our area is coming to a close. The skies have been a little dusty lately as farmers across the Willamette Valley have been harvesting crops and mowing fields. The local fruit stands are filled with late summer produce; and for those who enjoy preserving the season’s bounty, this is a busy time of canning, freezing, and drying all sorts of deliciousness from the garden. Raise your hand if you enjoy gardening. Oh... well, I guess that doesn’t work as well online as it does in person. How about comment below if you enjoy gardening and tell us what your garden has produced this year!
 
Gardening would not be on my list of favorite ways to spend my free time. It’s just not my thing. I do have a few strawberry plants in the backyard, though that’s mostly so I can enjoy them with my granddaughter, Avery. But I’m certainly thankful for the people in my life who bless me with the literal fruits of their gardening labors! And I do know that beautiful blueberries, delicious raspberries and vine-ripened tomatoes don’t just magically appear. To produce the fruit or veggies you want, you need to invest time and energy creating the right conditions for a good harvest.
 
In much the same way, growth in other areas of life must be intentionally cultivated. Wishing you were stronger won’t make it so. Hoping to increase your bank balance won’t help your bottom line. Growth in just about every area of life requires effort. 
 
I’m Chris Voigt, Lead Pastor at Dayspring Fellowship in Keizer, OR. This week we’re beginning a new sermon series called Wired – Brain Science & Spiritual Growth. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be taking a look at the amazing way that God has wired our brains for growth and what we can do to cultivate the healthy soil we need to thrive as God intended!
 
Understanding how God has created our brains will enable us to experience greater, deeper, and more lasting transformation as followers of Jesus. And that’s what we’re all about... becoming more like Him. It’s an incredible journey.