What Does it Take to Grow?

Spiritual Discipleship 6Life­to­Life Groups

God wants you to grow up

Col 4:12, “Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.”

Write down the words, “mature” and “God’s will.”

It is God’s will that you grow up.

Eph 4:14-15

“We are not meant to remain as children but to grow up in every way into Christ”

Consider those with developmental issues; mental retardation, physically handicapped, developmentally challenged, emotionally disturbed... How sad!

Father God must grieve over His children who never mature.

What is Spiritual Maturity?

Eph. 4:13, “Until we come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ.”

Spiritual maturity is being like Christ.

True believers want to be like Christ but many don’t know where to begin.

Core Habits for Maturity

1. In order to grow we need food - The Bible

2. In order to grow we need breath - Prayer

3. In order to grow we need good spiritual hygiene - Confessing Sin

4. In order to grow we need a caring family - Fellowship/Church

5. In order to grow we need regular exercise - Service to the Body

6. In order to grow we need to sow - Stewardship

7. In order to grow we must receive - humble and teachable

Growth is a Process

The seed (Word) is planted into soil (heart). The soil is watered (Holy Spirit activity) and warmed by the sun (revelation). The seed pod fractures and the germ of life on the inside is released. A blade will shoot up through the soil to receive more sunlight with the goal of full maturity and reproduction.

Hebrews 5:12-13

“You have been Christians a long time now, and you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things a beginner must learn about the Scriptures. You are like babies who drink only mile and cannot eat solid food. And a person who is living on mil isn’t very far along in the the Christian life and doesn’t know much about doing what is right.”

Spiritual growth takes effort.

2 Peter 3:18

“Continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our savior, Jesus Christ.” (an ongoing process)

Some have known Christ for 50 years and they should be mature by now, but they are just poking along, not really going anywhere. Some have actually stalled out and not moving forward at all.

Algebra I

Formula for distance: r x t = d (rate x time = distance.

If I’m going 5 mph, it will take 1000 hours to go 5000 miles.

50 mph? 100 hours to go 5000 miles.

500 mph? 10 hours to go 5000 miles.

No Shortcuts

We all want to please our Heavenly Father by growing in our faith, but how? Unlike physical growth, spiritual maturity is not a result of the passing of time. Paul once called adult Christians in Corinth spiritual infants. Neither is spiritual development, like mental growth is a function of learning. Though they spent their lives studying the Law, Jesus told the Pharisee, “You do not have [the Father’s] message in your hearts” (Jn 5:39)

Hebrews 5:8

“He [Jesus] learned obedience by the things which He suffered.”

We grow spiritually through our obedience to God and His Word, even in the midst of suffering.

1 Tim. 4:7, “...train yourself to be Godly.”

Weight lifters train to lift heavier and heavier weights. Spiritual maturity won’t happen without discipline.

Disciple and Discipleship

The Bible calls mature believers “disciples.”

The Bibles teaches that I cannot be a disciple without disciplines.

The Bible teaches that the more discipline I become, the more God can use me.

The mark of a disciple is cross bearing.

John 14:27

Jesus said, “Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”

Luke 9:23, “Then he said to them all: ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” NIV

Daily bearing my cross means I commit to adopt the habits necessary for growing spiritually.

Let’s Start Here

“All scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.” 2 Tim 3:16-17 (New Century Version)

The Bible is...

Like a new car’s owner manual.

Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth

Like a flashlight for a camper. Psalm 119:05

Like a weapon for a soldier. Eph 6:17 (Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God)

Like a mirror. James 1:23-24

Like the nutrients that water a plant.

“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” Psa. 1:1-3

Tragedy of Lazy Christians

Many are more concerned about entertainment, social activities, sports events, etc. than their spiritual lives.

You need the Word. You need Worship. You need Christian fellowship.

Trying to become a disciple on your own will never work. You need nourishment that only God’s Word can provide.

Starvation Rations

Complacent Christians only eat once a week (Sunday morning) and then wonder why they keep falling into sin. There is really no spiritual development; no maturity; no fruit. Why? They are starving themselves spiritually. They keep making excuses and justifying their busyness.

Jesus has set a table before us in the presence of our enemy (Psa. 23). It is a fabulous and nutritious feast. All we have to do is sit and eat.

Why Become a Disciple?

Walk in the knowledge of God’s great love for us.

Experience His presence the rest of the Holy Spirit daily in our lives.

Being empowered to destroy the enemy’s power (Lk 10:19)

Knowing one day you will hear, “Enter in My good and faithful servant.”

Knowing when you pray, GOD will hear from His throne.

He will reveal your purpose in life and cause you to walk in it.

Benefactor of all of God’s great and wonderful promises.

Mark 8:36, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world but lose his soul?”