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Steps to Spiritual Maturity: Growing upwards in Christ

What does it take to grow up and get spiritually mature? Why do some Christians not grow every bit they should?

God'southward word presents steps we can take toward growth and spiritual maturity by Bible written report, patience, and diligent do of good works.

Introduction:

People sympathize the concept of growth in the physical development of humans, and we know why it is important.

Babies are young physically and mentally, but we expect them to develop. If they don't, there is a problem.

My best buddy in high school did not grow and might have been most a midget. Simply in his senior year, doctors gave him shots to brand him grow.

Spiritual growth is a similar concept but is far more important.

Growth is development or improvement toward a goal called "maturity" (or, in the Bible, "perfection"). When one is "born again" as a kid of God, he is spiritually immature. As fourth dimension passes, he should develop the qualities or abilities which the Bible says narrate the mature. A congregation matures as individual members mature.

Many Scriptures draw the need to grow and mature spiritually:

Ephesians 4:14,fifteen - Be no longer children, just grow up in Christ.

2 Peter 3:18 - simply grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

ii Thessalonians 1:3 - The Thessalonians grew exceedingly in faith.

Philippians 1:9 - Paul prayed for their love to grow more and more.

Many problems result when members fail to grow: some go back to the globe, others cause strife because of ignorance or become stumblingblocks considering of irregular attendance, worldliness, or indifference.

The purpose of this lesson is to study the steps each Christian should have to grow spiritually.

Only as a baby needs to do sure things to grow physically, so Christians need certain kinds of activities to grow spiritually. When members don't grow, information technology is because they lack 1 or more than of these.

I. A DESIRE TO GROW

A. Nosotros Will Never Grow Unless We Want to Grow

In the physical realm, children Desire to abound.

"I want to grow up to be just similar Mommy/Daddy/Michael Jordan..." "I can't await till I'chiliad 16 so I can bulldoze."

Parents and kids go so excited when kids learn something new - the kickoff step, offset give-and-take, draw picture, etc. Everyone wants them to develop new abilities.

Parents sometimes utilise this to encourage children. When Tim was small, he wanted to drinkable milk because Bill Buckner (Cubs' beginning baseman) advertised it.

Likewise, in spiritual matters, Christians must Desire to grow.

one Peter 2:2 - Desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.

Some seem to like being spiritual babies. They don't want to grow. It's like shooting fish in a barrel to exist a baby - no responsibility. Others feed you lot, clothe you, change your diaper. In the church, you don't have to teach, rebuke sin, or practise work. Information technology's a free ride!

Just being a baby is non the goal of life. We are born babies so we can grow upwardly and be productive and useful. Likewise, we are born over again, so we tin become mature Christians, actively serving the Lord.

One of the weather condition for becoming a child of God is REPENTANCE. Ane must determine to plough from sin and Get TO WORK in God's vineyard. Then one must bring forth the FRUITS of repentance. This will lead us to grow and improve in God'due south work. Otherwise, nosotros have not accomplished our purpose for becoming children of God.

i Peter 2:21 - Jesus set an case for usa, and we should follow in His steps. We should inquire ourselves, "Don't I want to grow upward to exist spiritually stiff similar Jesus?"

B. We Must Maintain This Desire to Grow.

Some members who once wanted to grow, may lose that desire.

They may kickoff off on fire for the Lord, but lose their zeal. They develop a spirit of indifference or negligence.

Others develop a level of maturity and stagnate. They are satisfied, thinking no more growth is needed.

The Scriptures teach that growth is ever needed.

Philippians 3:12-xiv - Even Paul, every bit mature as he was, did not consider himself to take achieved perfection (maturity) such that he could finish striving to improve. He forgot past achievements (and failures) and pressed on to greater accomplishments.

Matthew 26:31-35 - Peter thought he had reached a level where he would never deny Jesus. But that very night he denied Him three times.

1 Corinthians ten:12 - Therefore let him who thinks he stands take mind lest he fall. Christians never accomplish the point we are then mature that we cannot fall.

Ane of the main reasons Christians exercise not grow is that they do not run into the Need for growing. They accept no desire to work and serve to the total extent of their ability. When people develop a burning hunger and thirst to piece of work for the Lord, and so they will develop the other steps they demand to abound.

Exercise you have that burning want to accomplish more for the Lord? Have yous set up specific goals of piece of work yous want to accomplish for God, improvements to brand, new levels to reach?

Two. NOURISHMENT

A. Nosotros Demand Spiritual Food from God's Word.

A kid cannot grow physically without proper food.

Skilful parents are concerned about proper nutrition. They want children to swallow what is expert, peachy for them. We are touched by pictures of children starving due to poverty.

Most children WANT nourishment. Babies cry for nutrient. Once as a child I got so hungry I cried, and my mother felt really bad.

Fifty-fifty adults know we demand food, and don't like to become long without it. We want it every twenty-four hours, regularly, several times a day.

Likewise spiritually nosotros cannot grow without feeding on God's Word.

1 Peter two:2 - Equally newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the give-and-take, that you may grow thereby.

2 Peter 3:eighteen - Grow in the grace and KNOWLEDGE of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Matthew 4:four - Man shall not live by staff of life lone, but by every word that gain from the oral fissure of God.

[Eph. 4:fifteen; Matt. 5:6]

B. To Get This Nourishment, We Must Study the Bible and Attend Church Meetings.

Scriptures show the demand for regular nourishment.

Hebrews 5:11-xiv - Christians were rebuked for not growing as they should have, because they had not studied. Fourth dimension and again members autumn away or are spiritual midgets considering they do not consume properly.

Acts 17:11 - Bereans were able to make up one's mind whether truth was taught considering they searched the Scriptures DAILY. We need REGULAR nourishment.

Psalm 1:1,2 - Meditate on God's give-and-take day and night. Children and adults need physical food regularly, and get very upset without it. But are we content to go for days at a time without feeding on God'southward word? [119:47,48,95-99; Josh 1:viii]

Do we make use of the opportunities the church provides for nourishment? I never ceased to be amazed when the church provides a spiritual feast, and members choose to do other things. How ofttimes practise we miss the regular meals provided for our bellies?

Take this test to bank check your spiritual nourishment.

How much time did you spend this week watching TV?

How much time watching sports or amusement, or reading the paper, magazines, etc.?

How much time did you spend on some hobby or outside interest, that may not exist immoral just is non necessary?

How many hours did you spend studying your Bible?

How many services of the church did you attend? How many did you lot miss that you could have attended?

Which do you attend the all-time: your spirit or your torso? Are you feeding your mind on God's discussion or pleasures?

Christians need regular nourishment from God's discussion to grow.

Three. Practise AND PRACTICE

A. Exercise and Practise Are Essential to Physical Evolution.

Athletes & musicians know they must do and practice to better.

Developing skills requires continual repetition: playing a song, throwing pitches, shooting baskets.

Athletes run, lift weights, and practice 60 minutes after hour in social club to grow strong and develop endurance.

Analogy: A homo once had an flat next to a professional cello player. He thought it must exist exciting to play in an orchestra. Then he listened as the man skillful the scales, exercises, and songs endlessly.

Children practice skills over and over to larn them.

Children learning to walk endeavour over again and again. They are proud to learn a new word, so they utilize information technology till they bulldoze you lot crazy! They want to play the same thing over and over: play the same tape recording, put the clothes on a doll.

Parents encourage children to repeat what they must larn: drill math facts, spelling, reading, pianoforte. They become tired, but we encourage them because that'due south how they learn.

"Practice makes perfect" - or at least it promotes improvement.

B. Do and Practice Are Essential to Spiritual Growth.

Scriptures:

Hebrews 5:14 - Those who are of full age, past reason of employ have their senses exercised to discern both practiced and evil. Growth requires exercise every bit well every bit nourishment.

1 Timothy 4:7 - Do yourself toward godliness.

Like children, athletes, and musicians, nosotros must work again and again at applying Bible principles to get effective in the Lord's work.

Applications:

To learn to TEACH, we must do it repeatedly: teach your children, dwelling studies, Bible classes, preach sermons, over again and again.

To learn to LEAD SINGING, practice songs at home, sing with your family, lead during church building meetings over and over.

To understand the BIBLE, study it again and again, talk to others, drill yourself, memorize. Become in and dig.

To learn to PRAY, practice it over and over.

Kids may non be practiced at activities at first, just parents encourage them to do it over and over. Besides, older members must encourage the newer ones to use their talents. They may not exist skilled at first, just they learn by doing.

We need to encourage teachers, preachers, and song leaders. Don't complain. Surely don't stay home. They demand the practice!

Four. TIME AND PATIENCE

By definition, growth requires TIME. It is progress and development as time passes. Several important lessons follow:

A. Don't Expect to Accomplish Your Goal Overnight.

Children do non become full-grown instantaneously.

At birth they are then small y'all can hold them in a little handbasket. Presently they are outgrowing new clothes every month. Eventually they can wear their parents' apparel or even larger. But it takes time.

Sometimes children get impatient. "I tin't look till I'm xviii (or 21)." We say, "Take your fourth dimension. It will come up soon enough." Time passes and, sure enough, what they were waiting for has come and gone, and they're looking back wondering how the fourth dimension passed so fast!

Likewise spiritually, do not await maturity overnight.

James 1:four - To become perfect and mature (entire), lacking nothing, nosotros must have patience.

Some new-born Christians want to know everything and do everything right away. They may not be willing to take the Fourth dimension to STUDY and DEVELOP ability. Even so they desire to be just similar the mature members - and want other members to care for them with the same respect that they practice mature members - before they have taken time to grow.

Sometimes older members are impatient with new members. We don't empathize why new converts have trouble with some basic concepts. And so sometimes these new members explain, "I never was really taught what the BIBLE said before." They have no groundwork in the Scriptures, and it takes TIME to grow.

Call up that people who may exist mature today did not go that way overnight. Information technology took years of study and practice. And new converts will not become mature overnight. It will accept fourth dimension.

New members should not go discouraged and surrender. Older members should not be impatient or overly demanding. Remember how our children took time to grow, and how we had to prove patience with their young ways as they grew. But growth will come up every bit long as people are trying and we requite them fourth dimension.

B. Don't Get Discouraged by Mistakes and Rebukes.

Children brand many mistakes and must often be told they are wrong.

How often does a child fall while learning to walk? They fall again and again, gathering bumps and bruises. They spill their milk, don't agree their spoon properly, fall off their bikes, and come up to bat in the bottom of the 9th with the winning run in scoring position and strike out.

Parents are continually correcting, instructing, and punishing, till nosotros almost feel sorry for the kids. Growing up is tough!

If kids are going to get mature, they accept to keep going in spite of mistakes and rebukes. And someday they volition look back on their own childish mistakes and just smile.

Likewise, new converts will brand many mistakes and must often be told they are wrong.

Some of the greatest Bible characters committed terrible errors and had to exist rebuked.

* Moses made excuses when God called him to pb Israel out of bondage.

* David committed adultery with Bathsheeba and was rebuked by Nathan.

* Peter denied Jesus 3 times.

* Paul persecuted Christians earlier his conversion.

* Thomas doubted Jesus' resurrection.

* All the apostles forsook Jesus when He was arrested and crucified.

Matthew 16:21-23 - Shortly after he had confessed Jesus and been highly praised (v15-eighteen), Peter contradicted Jesus and was severely rebuked.

Notwithstanding all of these are remembered as some of God'due south greatest servants.

Swell servants are non people who live without ever sinning, but people who learn from their mistakes and go on to serve God faithfully.

Judas betrayed Jesus and is remembered as a traitor. Peter denied Jesus three times and is remembered as a great apostle. What is the difference? Judas, afterwards betraying Jesus, hung himself. Peter, after denying Jesus, repented and went to work preaching the gospel.

Proverbs 29:i - A person is destroyed, not simply because he errs, but because he becomes stubborn when he is rebuked and will not apologize. What is needed is repentance and patience to learn to do right.

Conclusion

The story is told of a little male child who roughshod out of bed. Asked what happened, he said, "I guess I just stayed too shut to the gettin'-in place." That is exactly why many people fall away from God later on their conversion - they stay too shut to the "gettin'-in" place and do not grow to maturity.

It is no shame to be a babe, if you were born a few months ago. But if a person has been a child of God for several years and has not grown, he has a problem.

Everyone needs to abound as a Christian, and everyone can grow, if he/she merely applies the Bible principles of growth.

Note: If you wish to written report further about topics mentioned in this lesson, delight note the links listed beneath.

(C) Copyright 1968,David E. Pratte; www.gospelway.com
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Topics for further Bible study

The Importance of Bible Noesis

How to Report the Bible

What Is Required afterward Baptism?

Why We Need Salvation from sin

How Tin can You Exist Sure of Forgiveness?

Is Jesus Really Your Lord?

Prayer

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