Tag: Spiritual Growth

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Spiritual Growth | The Father’s House Youth | Amancio Rosas | May 14 2021 Summary

In this sermon, I break down what it truly means to grow spiritually, and I use everyday examples like trying to lose weight while eating Hot Cheetos to remind everyone that growth is intentional. No one becomes physically fit by sitting still, and spiritual maturity doesn’t just appear out of nowhere. God already chose us and provided a path for transformation, but we must take the steps to cultivate that growth daily through prayer, devotion, and community.

I share Acts 2:42 as a picture of the early church’s growth: they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer. I explain that these same rhythms help us grow today. Teaching helps us understand who Jesus is. Fellowship forms Christlike relationships. Breaking bread builds community and hospitality. Prayer aligns our hearts with God’s presence and power. Spiritual growth is built on unity, coming together with intentionality.

I also walk through Jesus’ Parable of the Sower to show the hindrances that can block our growth. Some hearts are like the path: the Word never takes root and the enemy steals it quickly. Some are like rocky soil: they receive the Word with joy but fall away when life gets difficult. Others are like soil with thorns: they want God but allow worry, fear, and the pursuit of control or wealth to choke out their growth. And then there is good soil, the heart that receives the Word, understands it, trusts God, and produces lasting fruit.

Throughout the message, I challenge our youth to take spiritual inventory:

Which soil am I right now?

Am I the one who won’t even try?

The one who starts strong but quits when it gets hard?

The one who loves God but struggles to trust Him?

Or the one choosing to grow no matter the season?

Just like working out, growth happens in stages: 10 pounds, then 20, then 30. Some stop because it’s painful. Others push through, trust the process, and eventually grow stronger. Spiritually, the same is true: trust, perseverance, and intentional habits determine whether we stay stuck or mature into who God wants us to be.

I close by reminding them that life happens in seasons. Some seasons require perseverance; others allow for rest and renewal. But if we take growth seriously, stay connected to God and community, and trust Him through the process, we’ll be spiritually prepared for whatever comes next.

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Ministry Journey

Spirit Filled Life | The Father’s House Youth | Amancio Rosas April 16 2021 Summary

In this sermon, I teach our youth what it means to live a Spirit-filled life and why Jesus had to return to the Father so that the Holy Spirit could come. If Jesus had stayed physically on earth, His presence would have been limited to one place at a time, but through the Holy Spirit, God now dwells within every believer, guiding us, comforting us, and empowering us daily.

I begin by explaining that the Holy Spirit is not an “it” or a force, He is a person, the third Person of the Trinity, and He relates to us like a friend. Just like healthy friends tell us the truth, walk with us through hardship, and help us grow, the Holy Spirit does the same, yet in a deeper, supernatural way. Many people struggle with the idea of the supernatural, but our faith is rooted in a God who is Spirit, a God who fills the emptiness in our hearts that the world can never satisfy.

From there, I walk through Jesus’ promise in John 14 and 16 that the Spirit would come as our Advocate. The world can’t recognize Him, but we can, because He lives within us. The Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives becomes evidence of God’s power and love at work, and He begins producing transformation from the inside out.

I then teach on the fruit of the Spirit, using an apple as a visual. Jesus said people are known by their fruit, meaning our actions reveal what is truly inside of us. The fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control) shows whether we’re being led by the Spirit or by our flesh. I share practical, everyday examples, waiting patiently at the DMV, responding kindly to difficult customers, showing gentleness when correcting someone, and exercising self-control when anger rises. These aren’t just Christian ideals; they’re spiritual attributes the Holy Spirit grows in us over time.

Next, I teach on the gifts of the Spirit from 1 Corinthians 12. While the fruit shapes our character, the gifts empower our ministry. I share real-life examples from my own walk: moments where God gave me supernatural wisdom in conversation, times when I sensed a spiritual presence in someone, and moments when the Spirit gave interpretation during a time of tongues. These gifts operate not for personal pride but “for the common good,” to build up the church and reveal God’s supernatural love and truth.

Finally, I remind the youth that as a Spirit-filled church, we should not be surprised when the Spirit moves. We shouldn’t be surprised when God changes the direction of a sermon, convicts a heart, gives a prophetic word, or pours out a gift in the room. We honor the Word of God, we stay balanced, and we remain grounded in Scripture, but we also fully expect the Spirit to show up, because Jesus promised He would.

I close with prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to make Himself real in our lives, speak to us when we need direction, grow His fruit in us, and activate His gifts within us. My heart is that every student understands that the Spirit-filled life is not mystical or strange, it’s the normal Christian life, empowered by God Himself.

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3 Agreements | The Father’s House Live Oak | Amancio Rosas Jan 21, 2021 (Summary)

In this message, I shared what the Lord placed on my heart for our church: three essential agreements that every believer needs in order to live a transformed life. We live in a fast-paced world where spiritual life can easily turn into a checklist, but God is calling us back to the foundations, agreement with the Word, agreement with the Spirit, and agreement with the Body of Christ. These three agreements have shaped my own walk with God, and they continue to anchor me today.

I began by talking about agreement with the Word of God, because it is the Word that renews our minds. Romans 12:2 reminds us not to conform to the patterns of this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. I shared how, as a teenager, receiving a Message Bible ignited something in me. The Word came alive, reshaped my identity, and eventually led me to start a Christian club on my high school campus. God used Scripture to break old habits, heal insecurity, and redirect my purpose. When I say the Word brings renewal, I’m speaking from experience, renewal changes patterns, thinking, and eventually lifestyle.

The second agreement I taught on is agreement with the Spirit, because the Holy Spirit is the One who empowers obedience. We can know Scripture well and still struggle if we aren’t yielding to the Spirit’s leading. I’ve learned firsthand that it is not my strength that frees me from old behaviors or emotional patterns, it’s the Spirit’s power. When we refuse His nudging or quench His leading, our hearts grow cold, and we start justifying the things God wants to heal. But when we walk with the Spirit, denying ourselves daily, He redirects us, softens our hearts, and gives us the strength to live out what the Word teaches.

Finally, I taught about agreement with the Body of Christ, because transformation also requires community. Scripture calls us to sharpen one another, restore one another, and encourage one another. Correction can be uncomfortable, just like iron sharpening iron, but it is necessary for growth. Not everyone has earned the right to correct us, but those who love us and want to see us whole are part of God’s design for accountability. When we walk in unity, show humility, and refuse to slander or fight with each other, we shine as lights in a dark and chaotic world. Our battles are not against flesh and blood, so our posture must always be prayer, compassion, and restoration.

I closed by sharing my heart for the next generation. As a youth pastor, I know these kids face spiritual battles we often don’t see. My commitment is to fight for them in prayer, to walk alongside them, and to help them discover their identity and purpose in Christ. God is moving even, when we don’t see it, and He calls us, His church, to stand in agreement with His Word, His Spirit, and His Body so that His perfect and pleasing will can be revealed in our lives and in our house.