Proper Navigation for the Christian Faith

Where’s the path?

So, happy new year! I hope that 2023 will be a good year for you. What would make it so? More money? Less weight? More peace? Less sickness? Maybe your answer is yes to all of these. But there are somethings that are more important than these common wishes.

One author states: “While there’s nothing magical about January 1st, the start of a new year brings a renewed sense of hope, motivation, and inspiration for most people. Research shows that new year’s resolutions are most likely to stick when they ‘approach’ or add- rather than avoid- something.”

So what will you add this year? With a new year upon us, and an opportunity for spiritual growth and transformation, let’s consider the question: “What is a disciple?”

That’s a great question that I’ve heard asked several times. Some have said that a disciple is simply a follower of Jesus. Others use the term “apprentice.”

An apprentice is someone who follows another in a craft ; someone who lives with or emulates another. Being a disciple is a way of life; it is intentional. A disciple is one who is on a never-ending path of spiritual growth.

Because our church wants to encourage the growth of disciples, we have decided to form a simple, clear and intentional path to encourage such spiritual growth. Your pastors would like to present opportunities for you to learn, serve and grow. We want you to take the next step in your path of spiritual growth.

Critical to this is community. Enthusiasm builds when we do something together. Therefore we want to encourage a culture of spiritual growth as we all serve the Lord together.

So what does this look like? Certainly it involves attending a weekly worship service. It also includes participating in a community group (small group or Sunday school class) where these will be discussed in more depth. And participating in a service endeavor from time to time. These three things provide a steady diet of the things that contribute to spiritual growth.

And to encourage this type of movement, the pastors have designed and written five weeks of curriculum that will hopefully encourage you toward this goal.

This curriculum includes such topics as

prayer,

the study of Scripture,

fellowship,

and witness

These things may seem familiar to you, but if you consider them broadly, there are many ways to explore deeper aspects of them.

They are all mentioned as habits of the early church in Acts 2:42-47

Acts 2:42–47 ESV

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

We hope to make this exercise a yearly event. Today is a type of introduction to this material, but the following four weeks will cover each of these topics. We hope that you will participate both by hearing these messages and participating in a community group. It will be exciting to see what the Lord does in our midst.

This morning, I’d like for us to consider Apostle Peter’s words in 1 Peter 2:1-3

1 Peter 2:1–3 ESV

1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Peter reminds us of Spiritual growth in his letter to dispersed Christians in Asia Minor.

Peter tells them that in order for spiritual growth to take place, it first requires a shucking of those things that would hinder it.

Things like malice, deceit, hypocrisy and slander. All of these involve some level of hatred.

κακία denotes wickedness and evil. δόλος is treachery and cunning. ὑπόκρισις has as its root “to judge,” means to over-judge. φθόνους has similar meaning to jealousy. καταλαλιά is “evil speech.”

All of these are arrived at most naturally because of a mindset, that of the flesh. The Apostle Paul tells us that such a mindset is that of sin and death. He says in Romans 8:6-8

Romans 8:6–8 ESV

6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

This reminds us that there are some things that we must abandon because they impede your spiritual growth. All of these are deeds and attributes of the flesh, that sinful nature that lurks in each of us.

Liken it to the soil from which a plant or a vegetable vine grows. If the soil is contaminated with chemicals or herbicide, you will not get anything to grow. These conditions have to be met if the soil of the heart will produce sprouts of faith.

Make sure the soil of your heart is freed from things detrimental to growth.

Next, Peter compares us to newborn babes, who long for basic nourishment.

1 Peter 2:2 ESV

2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—

Here, Peter states that just as a newborn baby has certain desires and needs, so the born again Christian also has needs that can only be met by God.

This reminds us that the authentic Christian is one who has been born again. Jesus said in John 3:3-5

John 3:3–5 ESV

3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

That spiritual birth is something that occurs when the Holy Spirit dramatically affects a persons spiritual outlook and understanding to the point that they are a different person, maybe not at once, but certainly over time.

In a similar way, you and I are to long for the pure spiritual milk. The old King James says: “Long for the pure milk of the word.”

I would like to give you four things that contribute to spiritual growth. I did not think of these, but they come from the Christian ministry known as the Navigators. Like spokes of a wheel, each of these items contribute to spiritual movement.

There is the word; the place of Scripture.

It is a Reformation principle known as Sola Scriptura, which is Latin for “Scripture Alone.” It states that the Bible is the sole authority in the life of the church. We get our doctrine from it, as well as lifestyle and other things that matter to our Christian identity. As one author put it:

“The word helps us to know God and to experience His truth. It nourishes us spiritually and equips us for spiritual battle. The Holy Spirit guides us and engages our hearts as we connect with God’s word.” (The Spirit-Filled Follower of Jesus, 6).

Then there is fellowship.

This is not the church potluck, but it is something much more. It is an intentional opening of your life to share with others, as well as others opening up to you.

Listen to the following definition of fellowship. "Fellowship," writes John Ortberg,

"...has become a churchy word that suggests basements and red punch and awkward conversation. But it is really a word for the flow of rivers of living water between one person and another, and we cannot live without it."

Fellowship is where life on life can take place. As one author put it.

“True fellowship allows love and humility to flow in ways that protect our hearts. Through this community we can both give and receive encouragement, guidance, and truth. God uses these relationships to meet needs, help us grow, and to captivate the interest of a watching world.” (The Spirit-Filled Follower of Jesus, 7). You belong to the family of believers with all the rights and privileges.

Finally, there is witness.

If prayer is talking to God, witness is telling others about God. Gossiping about God (in a good way).

There is the story of Tim Sirinides, who immigrated from Greece to the US when he was a boy. He later became a Christian and felt the call to become a missionary. At the time, he owned a pizza shop near Hawthorne, New Jersey, just northwest of New York City.

As Tim was thinking of selling and preparing for the ministry, he felt like the Lord was saying to Him: “You want to go overseas and tell people about me, but you won’t tell others about me here.”

We must be compelled to share our faith. Sometimes we make it harder than it actually is. I challenge you to start with praying:

“Lord, bring opportunities my way to witness to others, through print, through speech, through action, or a combination of all three.”

And watch him send you opportunities to walk in faith and obedience.

Finally, there is prayer.

Prayer is pouring your heart out before God. Psalm 62:8

“Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.”

Prayer is communicating with the King of the Universe. That in itself is a tremendous honor and privilege.

As one author put it:

“Through prayer, we talk to our heavenly Father, offering Him our praise, thanks, and needs. God listens and responds by speaking comfort, truth, and hope into our hearts. This process also deepens our intimacy with God and builds our trust.” (The Spirit-Filled Follower of Jesus, 6).

The best gift we can give God.

This year, give your best to God. You might not be able to preach. You may not teach or lead a board. You may not see yourself as a street evangelist. But you can give your best to God.

The late Queen Elizabeth said in 1957: “I cannot lead you into battle, I do not give you laws or administer justice but I can do something else, I can give you my heart and my devotion.”