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Why You're Not Growing Spiritually • Feb 01st 1999

Why Most Christians Never Experience a Deeper Life in Christ

Fellowship New Testament Organic Church The Epistles

Are you longing for a deeper Christian life—but feeling stuck in routine, religion, or spiritual frustration?

In this powerful and thought-provoking message, Gene Edwards challenges modern assumptions about Christianity, church life, and what it truly means to know Jesus Christ. This teaching confronts common patterns in today’s Christian experience and invites believers into something far deeper—an authentic, living relationship with Christ expressed through His body.

Many Christians pursue spiritual growth through Bible study, church attendance, or religious activity—yet still feel something is missing. Why? This message explores the idea that the Christian life was never meant to be lived alone, nor sustained through external systems. Instead, it reveals a biblical vision of life in Christ that is corporate, relational, and transformative.

You’ll discover:

• Why many believers struggle to experience lasting spiritual growth

• The difference between individual Christianity and life in the body of Christ

• Why much of modern church practice may fall short of New Testament reality

• How true freedom in Christ leads to deeper love, joy, and transformation

• A fresh perspective on Romans 6, 7, and 8 and their meaning for believers

This is not a comfortable message—but it is an honest one. If you’re hungry for more than routine Christianity… if you desire a real, living encounter with Jesus… this may challenge everything you thought you knew—and open the door to something far greater.

“The Christian life is not about trying harder—it’s about living in Christ together.”

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I’m going to tell you something. Nowhere except in the body of Christ does it have it to give for a lifetime. That’s the only place where the long haul exists. You can head for God’s eternal purpose – not some cheap thing that’s being peddled – His eternal purpose, which is nothing less than oneness with His bride: to know Him as a people, to know Him, one with Him.

Sometimes that means giving up your job. I don’t know of any of the churches I work with, but most of the people had to quit their jobs, sell their homes, and move there. I don’t think you ought to do that. I think you ought to go to church every Sunday morning. I think you ought to put $5 in their collection plate when it comes by. I’ll tell you something else I think you ought to do: get a sponge pad you can put inside your trousers so you can sit down more comfortably.

I think you ought to go to a Baptist church; that’s the worst kind there is.  (laughter) They will preach salvation to you every day of your life. They have 5,000 ways to preach a sermon on getting saved. That’s all they know. Take John 3:16 away from them, and they wouldn’t be able to open their mouths. That’s what I think you ought to do…unless the Lord Jesus Christ Himself gives you a revelation that it’s a “we” and not a “me,” and that His church is central in His life; not yours, but His. And you’re not going there to get; you’re going there to fulfill.

We’re going to dismiss this meeting, and you’re going to think about this. Tomorrow morning, we’re going to look at the greatest chapter in the epistles, Romans 8. And we’re going to see if Romans 8 is for you. “All things work together for an individual who loves God.” Those is plural, and it was written to a church.

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