What
does it mean to grow in Christ?
Is
there a relationship between personal growth and
spiritual growth?
Make
up a chart On one side list some ways you have grown
personally in the last few years on the other side list
some of the ways you have grown spiritually in the last
few years. Which
side is longer? If
it is the spiritual side then you are on the right
track. If you have grown more personally then you need
to focus more on your spiritual growth.
Don’t get me wrong it is ok to have personal
growth, but if your personal growth interferes with your
spiritual growth you need to make some adjustments so
that you spiritually grow in your relationship with
Christ.
Think
of it this way.
When two people meet and become friends they
learn as much about each other as possible.
As the years go by there is more sharing and a
greater bond develops.
These are the friendships that last a lifetime.
On
the other hand there are those people who come into your
life and you stay friends with for a few seasons, never
really getting close.
After awhile you drift apart and you each go your
merry way.
Which
type of friend is Christ to you?
I would hope the first one, which means you are
always seeking to grow closer to Christ and looking
forward to the day when you will stand side by side with
your best friend.
Growing
in Christ – How is it done?
Through
Faith
– Read Hebrews 11:1 - What does this verse say about
faith?
Take
a look at these other Bible verses that talk about faith
2
Corinthians 13:5
1
Corinthians 16:13
Through
Knowledge
– Read 2 Peter 3:18 – What does it mean to grow in
“grace and knowledge” and what does it have to do
with spiritual growth
Through
Acceptance
– Read Romans 5:1 and Ephesians 1:5-6.
Answer
these two questions
Do
you believe God has fully accepted you?
If
you feel he has accepted you, upon what basis?
Through
Purpose –
Read the following verses, Romans 8:28-29 then answer
the question:
What
is my purpose?
Once
you know your purpose you are on your way to spiritual
growth
Through
Completeness – In whom or what are you made complete?
What makes you feel like you are
complete? Take
the time to write down what you makes you complete.
Now read Colossians 2:9-10
With who are we truly made
complete?
Without God and the work of Jesus
Christ on the cross we are like an incomplete home, not
useful for anyone to live in.
Through Help – it is time to
ask God where we can help instead of asking God for help
As immature Christians we see
Jesus as just our helper, which He is, but as time
passes and we grow we see Jesus as our life itself.
Read what Paul says in
Philippians 1:21
What does this verse say to you
right now?
Read Philippians 4:13
Who does this verse say is at the
center of everything we do?
You can see from these verses
that our life is tied to Jesus and to get closer to Him
we must grow spiritually through the faith and knowledge
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
What about you Spiritual Growth?
How have you grown spiritually in
the last year?
What is a stumbling block to you
spiritual growth?
Name one area you would like to
grow spiritually in the next year?
Pray to God for His guidance in
your spiritual growth.
Remember this is not an
exhaustive list of way you that you can grow
spiritually. You
cam also grow:
·
Through Discipleship
·
Through Continuance in your life as
Christian. Do
not waver or fall off the narrow path.
·
Through denial of self
·
Through Preparation
And the list goes on and on
As Christians the Bible says we
must grow from drinking milk,(just accepting
Christ as our Savior), to eating the solid food of His
word.
Take the time now between lessons
to read the book Growing into Christ Likeness by J. I
Packer. This
book deals with how we need to be wary of unhealthy
spiritual growth.
First we need to be wary of
putting too much passion in learning doctrine and
theology and not in sharing the love of God with others
Second we need to be wary of the
other extreme of thinking that Christianity is nothing
more than churned up emotions and there is no need to
learn that doctrine stuff
Third we need to be wary of being
the Christian who has little time for doctrine, little
time to get caught up in all that emotion stuff because
they involved in so many world changing task that it
takes up all their time so they get very little doctrine
or enjoyment from true spiritual growth.
Spiritual growth must be uniform
in all areas and we must always be careful to keep a
balance of studying God’s word, getting closer to God
and doing His work.
Model your growth after Jesus who
always took time to study God’s word, pray to God for
guidance, disciple others and even allowed time for rest
