Setting a path for spiritual growth
Spiritual Growth and the Disciple • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 1:12:47
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Spiritual growth and the disciple
Spiritual growth and the disciple
Spiritual growth and the disciple. We had previously established that it takes more than just natural time, but a concerted choice.
(Insert Spiritual growth picture here, previously used)
Spiritual growth is a choice (Mt28:18-20; 2Pt3:17-18; 2Pt1:5)
It takes a decision, direction and determination
It is commanded by God (Mt28:18-20; 2Pt3:17-18)
Go make disciples, teaching
Grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord
It takes diligent effort (2Pt1:5)
Apply all diligence in your faith.
Spiritual growth is blessed by God (Rom5:1-2; Php4:7-8; 2Pt1:10)
in this lifetime by peace with God and then peace of God
So be diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you.
Spiritual growth can be hindered by low self-esteem (Ref: Gen1:26-27)
You were made in the image of God, we need to have God’s view of us and not the worlds view or even our own view that can hinder our spiritual growth
We can struggle knowing, believing in God given ability, capability to do something. Therefore because of self-esteem, doubt, we don’t even try.
Because God has commanded us to grow, we need to increase (grow) in our faith that we can grow spiritually as disciples of Jesus Christ.
Question: When you think about setting goals, what do you think about?
Question: Do you think that the Christian should have goals, set goals for spiritual growth? If yes, what kind of goals do you think?
Tonight we are looking at Setting a path for spiritual growth. Setting a path is knowing and setting some spiritual growth goals. They are needed so that we know what we are to strive for, what we need to make every diligent effort for. Then like any other goal set a measuring marker so to see the spiritual growth.
Like an athlete sets goals, business people set goals, so should the disciple of Jesus Christ have goals and measurable ways to obtain those goals. Tonight we are going to talk about three goals setting a path for spiritual growth
Behavioral goals
Practical (Functional) goals
Congregational goals
(Transition) Last week self-esteem, this week goal setting, you may wonder how does this all work for the disciple who is to be a student of the Word? Hold on as we work our way through this tonight.
Behavioral goals
Behavioral goals
Behavior, the bible has a lot to say about behavior. So yes, this is still a bible study. And we are going to talk about spiritual goals as related to our behavior.
Behavior is numeral times in the bible
(Insert Behavior and the Bible PowerPoint Slide here)
Question: Do you think that behavior is important?
Our ultimate goal, Christ-like behavior.
Below is for outline only, not to be said when taught
Note these things down on your outline: To be His disciples, to be like Him, to be conformed, transformed and renewed. (Mt28:19-20, Lk6:40: Rom8:29; 2Cor3:18; Col3:10-11)
Below is on screen now and to be shared
To be His disciples (Mt28:19-20)
no need to put up, just paraphrase this
To be like the teacher (Lk6:40)
40 “A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.
Redeemed with a purpose
to be conformed (rom8:29)
29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
To be transformed (2Cor3:18)
18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
to be renewed (Col3:10-11)
10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— 11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.
(Transition) Our input is going to impact our output behavior. And God gives us tools to grow by.
Behavioral goals involve growing in knowledge of Christ.
Peter commanded it (2Pt3:18)
18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
Peter expanded on it (2Pt1:3, 5-8)
3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
and then this
5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness,
7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul encouraged it (Col2:2, Col3:10)
2 that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself,
Question: what is the end result when our hearts are encouraged, knit together, attaining all the wealth from the assurance and understanding? - it is true knowledge!
(Transition) I think we can agree that when we look to Christ he personified these qualities, these graces, so the more we know them the more we apply them the more we will be like Christ! Now there are some challenges we may face in reaching our behavioral goals.
Behavioral goal challenges
It requires diligent effort (2Pt1:5, 10)
I mentioned (2Pt1:5) a moment ago, but now add in the other end of that passage
10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;
It requires sustained effort (Gal6:7-9)
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.
The effort we put in to our input that impacts output regarding behavior takes effort so we are not deceived, so we do not sow to the flesh, but to the spirit that will reap eternal life. So press on and do not lose heart or grow weary
Be careful not to return to old ways (2Pt2:20-22)
Don’t be a dog who returns to his own vomit.
20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them.
22 It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “A dog returns to its own vomit,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.”
Spiritual growth demands a renewal of our mind and character (Rom12:1-2) in which our aim is to be like the teacher, to have Christ like behavior. This results in our next portion tonight.
Practical (Functional) Goals
Practical (Functional) Goals
As members of the body of Christ, as disciples of Jesus Christ we have been equipped personally and collectively in practical, functional ways.
Many parts make up the whole .
Every member is important (1Cor12:12-22)
Too long of a passage for here, but let me give you some points to glean from it, I do suggest reading on your own.
One body, many parts, baptized by the One Spirit.
The body is not one member but many who make us the whole
God placed the members in the body as He desired
Every member has different functions (Rom12:3-5)
3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function,
5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
Question: What has God alloted each person (v.3)? - faith, see we all need it, God provided it, we need to engage it and use it with others faith to have strong faith collectively.
Every part is needed and needs to do its part (Eph4:14-16)
14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,
16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
As a result of the gifts for the church from the Lord, Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, that are purposed to attain the unity of the faith through knowledge of the Son to the fullness of Christ. We then are bound together so not tossed here and there, we are fit together by what everyone brings , supplies, causing the body to grow.
(Transition) As disciples who collectively work together if we are to go we only can grow as the members individually does his or her part in the body of Christ.
Many parts collectively must grow.
Find, develop and deploy your function within the body (Rom12:6-8)
6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching;
8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Whatever your gift is, it is needed in the body if the body is to function properly. Do it purposefully
10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Serving one another, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ!
Yes, there are challenges to practical goals too.
First, the problem of knowing, determining our function (gifts, talents).
Not all members have the same function, gift, talents so we need to determine through prayer and practice what our’s is.
Do I know my talents, am I using them or avoiding them in fear of
Then the challenge of developing your function (gifts, talents).
Some talents come naturally, others come with development. They take time, energy.
We should ask ourselves are we giving up on developing because it is too hard or time consuming?
Ask yourself am I worried about what the world may think if I deploy the talent? Or am I too caught up in worldly things to then not develop godly talents?
The challenge to be honest in our assessment of our function (gits, talents) (2Cor4:10; Mt25:14-30)
One day we will face the day of judgment and give an account before the Lord so we need to be honest in our assessment of our function within the body and our deployment and development of our function, gifts, talents.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
You can read Jesus words in His parable of the Talents (Mt25:14-30) when you get an opportunity.
(Transition) Now from the individual and spiritual growth goals to the congregation, from the me to the we, let’s look at some congregational goals
Congregational goals
Congregational goals
From the me to the we, from the gifts given to the purpose given (for the common good). From acknowledgement to deployment within the body for the body, for the spiritual growth of the body.
Congregation purpose (Eph4:11-16; 1Pt4:11)
(ASK EVERYONE TO TURN TO EPH4 IN THEIR BIBLES)
11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. 14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;
15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
Question: what is the purpose, the function of the body as you see in this passage?
To attain the unity of the faith (v.13)
To grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head (v.15)
For the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love (v.16)
So, in short, to build up and to edify the body.
11 Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
One more here in (1Pt4:11) that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ when we serve by the strength God gives!
Individual goals come together in congregational goals (Rom10:14-15)
14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? 15 How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”
We work together to bring people together to hear the message of unity of salvation. That is the goal isn’t it, to bring salvation to the people?
Congregational goal has its challenges too.
It demands cooperation of the individual members
It takes individual commitment to spiritual growth if we want to grow spiritually as a congregation.
It requires unity so to be nourished together and to spiritual grow
We need to be united in spirit and truth if we want to grow spiritually as a congregation.
It takes personal growth for any congregational growth to occur.
If we want to grow as a congregation we need to first be committed and growing personally.
Let me close with a reminder of a couple of verses and then we will pray and be excused.
15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
(Pray) (Exit)