Synergy Resources

In this session of Cedarville University’s Synergy Initiative training series, Dr. Jeremy Kimble focuses on spiritual growth and how it fuels the mission of spreading the Gospel through church planting and revitalization. While the main goal of the Synergy Initiative is to mobilize disciples to multiply healthy churches, this cannot be effective unless we are also growing spiritually.

The Centrality of Christ in Our Growth

The foundation of spiritual growth is our relationship with Jesus Christ. As Christians, we are called to worship Jesus as our Lord, Savior, and treasure.

• Romans 10:9 reminds us that confessing Jesus as Lord is essential to our salvation, recognizing His authority over our lives.
• John 3:16 shows us that He is our Savior, offering us eternal life through His sacrifice.
• John 6:35 teaches us that Jesus is our treasure, the one who satisfies our spiritual hunger and thirst. Growing in Christlikeness begins with acknowledging Him in these roles and following Him as our teacher and leader.
• In Matthew 28:18–20, Jesus talks about His authority: “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’”

We are called to live the way Jesus lived while He was on Earth (1 John 2:6).

Growth Precedes Going: The Importance of Spiritual Discipline

While the Synergy Initiative emphasizes going together to spread the Gospel, the act of "going" must be fueled by "growing." Spiritual growth is essential to effective ministry, and three primary disciplines foster this growth: Scripture, prayer, and the local church.

1. Scripture: The Bible is God’s revealed Word, and it is through Scripture that we learn about God’s character and His will for our lives. Psalm 1:1–2 tells us, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night.” 
   
   As we dwell on the Word, we behold the glory of the Lord and are transformed into His image (2 Corinthians 3:18). Engaging with Scripture personally and corporately allows us to grow in Christlikeness. Then we are called to also teach God’s Word to others (Colossians 3:16).  


2. Prayer: Prayer is the means by which we communicate with God, expressing our adoration, repentance, and thanksgiving while making our requests known to Him. The Lord’s Prayer in Matthew serves as a model for our prayers, guiding us in how to approach God with humility and dependence. 
   
   1 Thessalonians 5:17 encourages us to "pray without ceasing," maintaining constant communication with God throughout our lives. Prayer, along with Scripture, is vital to our spiritual growth. Prayer allows us to praise the Lord, repent of our sin, make known requests to Him in accordance with His will, and offer ourselves as a living sacrifice.


3. The Local Church: Spiritual growth does not occur in isolation. The local church plays a crucial role in our development. Hebrews 3:12–13 commands us, “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” 
   
   Hebrews 10 exhorts us to meet together regularly, encouraging one another and spurring each other on toward love and good deeds. The church provides a context for corporate worship, shared ministry, and mutual accountability. It is in community that we experience the fullness of Christian growth.  

Growing Together for Lasting Impact 

Spiritual growth is a slow and sometimes frustrating process, but we can rest in the promise of Philippians 1:6, which assures us that "he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." As we grow together in Christ through the means of Scripture, prayer, and the local church, we are better equipped to go together and multiply healthy churches. This growth fuels the long-term success of our mission, ensuring that we not only plant churches, but also strengthen and revitalize them for God’s glory. 

Watch the Foundations video below to hear more from Dr. Jeremy Kimble about spiritual growth and how it fuels the mission of spreading the Gospel:

Dr. Jeremy Kimble, Professor of Theology and Director of the Synergy Initiative at Cedarville University, is passionate about teaching college and graduate students the truth of God’s Word. He is committed to teaching in the classroom, mentoring students, and speaking in church, camp, and conference settings. He served in pastoral ministry for eight years and is currently an active member and minister at University Baptist Church. Dr. Kimble's academic interests include biblical and systematic theology, ecclesiology, preaching and teaching, and the mission of the Church. 

Synergy is the combined power of a group working together that is greater than the power of individuals working separately. The Synergy Initiative aims to help students plan strategically to graduate from Cedarville, go together with others from this place, and invest their energies, talents, and efforts in planting, revitalizing, and multiplying churches. As Cedarville graduates join up with other church members who are equipped to do the work of ministry, the combined effect of their efforts will accomplish, by God’s grace, abundantly more than only a couple of pastors in a church doing all of the work on their own. Thus, the goal is to equip students to leave Cedarville University ready to help establish and strengthen local churches throughout the nation and around the world.