How to grow as a Christian
1. If we are a Christian and God lets us have 5 more years to live, what do we hope to be like 5 years from now?
2. If we are a Christian and we are alive 20 years from now, what do we hope to be like at that time?
3. Do we have any plans, goals, aspirations as a Christian or do we think we will just plod along and see what happens?
ONE OF THE THINGS WE READ ABOUT IN THE BIBLE IS
CHRISTIAN GROWTH.
a) When we first become a Christian, we are likened to a baby.
b) At Corinth, Paul said Christians were “babes” (1 Cor. 3:1).
c) In 1 Cor. 3:2 he said these Christians had received “milk” (very basic information).
d) The Corinthians were at a stage where they could not tolerate “meat.”
e) At first there is spiritual infancy in the life of a Christian.
f) In the Hebrew letter (5:12) the writer spoke about how Christians should have been “teachers.”
g) Rather than learning and being in a position to teach others, these Christians needed to be taught again.
h) The writer said they also needed “milk” and not “solid food.”
i) Peter (1 Pet. 2:2) said spiritual milk is good but it is designed to make us “grow.”
j) Baby food has a specific purpose, but it is not for adults.
2) The process we are describing was something that took place in the life of Paul.
3) This man became a Christian and at first there was a lot that he did not know.
4) In Acts 9:22 the Bible says he “increased in strength.”
a) This does not refer to his physical strength.
b) The thought is not that Paul became involved with some type of physical exercise program.
c) The idea is that this man began to learn and grow in the spiritual area of life.
d) In this same verse we find a statement about Paul “proving” that Jesus was the Christ.
e) “Proving” has the sense of “proving conclusively.”
f) Paul learned about the faith and he came to a point where he could defend it.
5) Some may have the idea that Christian growth is automatic.
6) This is not true. If we are going to grow as a Christian, planning and work are involved.
7) Listen to Rom. 6:13 – READ.
a) Paul had experienced Christian growth. He knew what it meant to go from the bottom up.
b) When he wrote this passage in Rom. 6 he stated a fundamental principle.
c) There must be a commitment; a willingness to “present ourselves unto God.”
d) Christian growth is a bit like weight loss.
8) There are lots of people in America who would like to shed some pounds.
9) Many of these people are looking for a magic pill.
10) Swallow a little pill and then sit in front of the television set with ice cream and potato chips while pounds melt away.
11) If this type of solution were available, it would be an instant best seller.
12) Weight loss is not automatic; it must be planned. It requires work, effort and diligence.
13) People often have a “target” weight or they want to lose a certain amount by a certain time.
14) This same procedure is how things work in the spiritual realm.
15) There will be little to no spiritual growth unless we work at it.
16) In the world we sometimes see “stunted” growth.
17) A body part or the entirety of a person is supposed to grow but it fails.
18) Our society recognizes this condition as an issue to be addressed.
19) Such is also true in the spiritual realm. No growth or limited growth is a problem.
20) When it comes to spiritual growth some err on another point.
21) For many spiritual growth is regarded as an entirely “private” matter.
a) We can test this conclusion with our next reference, Heb. 10:24-25.
b) These two verses show that spiritual growth is not an entirely private subject.
c) Some of growth is directly tied to our assemblies.
d) Part of our growth comes from the corporate assembly.
e) If we only use our assemblies to grow, the process will be severely slowed.
f) Assemblies are a key part.
g) Here is what we find in Heb. 10:24-25 - READ.
22) First century Christians came together and did things that promoted growth.
23) They stimulated each other to “love and good works.”
24) It takes a while for most things to become mature (full grown).
a) We cannot plant a tree and expect it to be mature in a year.
b) Sometimes a tree may take more than 50 years to really become mature.
c) Christian growth is also a process, and in some respects it is a slow process.
d) If a Christian really works at spiritual growth, 5 years can make a lot of difference.
e) Someone who uses 10 years of their life to grow can be a really strong Christian.
f) By the time someone has dedicated 20 years, they should be pretty well versed in most areas.
g) By the time 30 years of growth have gone by, things have been studied and restudied many times.
h) 40 or more years of steady growth will make a person like a giant oak tree.
i) They have lost some branches over the years, but they are rock solid.
25) Not everyone who has been a Christian for 40 or more years is like an oak tree.
26) Some are still like a tree that is just a few weeks or even a few years old.
27) This happens because there is not continued emphasis on growth.
a) This past week I was reflecting on how some things have changed in the last 30 or so years.
b) We have DVD’s, computers, cable t.v., the Internet, and Bible help programs widely available.
c) Hundreds of thousands of religious books have been written.
d) We have the Bible in too many translations to list.
e) We have some of the best formal training programs for preachers that have ever been created.
f) There are special programs to train Bible class teachers.
g) We have the Bible on CD, in print, on the Internet, on flash cards, and other places.
h) A study of Greek and Hebrew has been brought to a level where most can use it.
i) We have Internet devotionals, e-mail devotionals, house to house, church bulletins, etc.
j) We have gospel meetings, special video presentations, electronic and paper tracts.
k) It is hard to conceive of what other tools can be created to help Christians grow.
l) We literally have tool upon tool at our finger tips to help us grow.
m) Jesus once said that to whomsoever is given, much will be required.
28) God will require much of us when it comes to Christian growth because many tools are available.
29) There will be no way we can say to God, “Yes, I didn’t grow but I have an excuse.”
30) We sing songs about growth.
31) “Tell me the story of Jesus; write on my heart every word. Tell me the story most precious.”
32) These are not just words; they say something to us and others: grow.
33) There are so many areas wherein growth is to occur.
34) There is our knowledge of God.
a) God has many attributes (qualities); learning about them promotes growth.
b) Christian characteristics is another area of growth, a very important area.
c) Part of this subject involves applying the Bible to everyday life.
d) A related subject is ethical decisions or Christian living.
e) Forgiveness is an area of Christian growth.
f) A general understanding of the Bible (how we got it and why believe it) is part of growth.
g) Dealing with unbelievers is part of the growth process.
h) Handling persecution is part of growing as a Christians as is enduring some type of suffering.
i) Good stewardship is associated with growth.
j) Continuing to learn about Jesus is a part of Christian growth.
k) Growth should occur in the realms of obedience and trust.
35) 2 Pet. 3:18 says “grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ.”
36) This command is in there for a reason.
37) I once talked with a Christian who had been a member of the church for a long, long time.
38) This person was probably pushing 90 years of age when this conversation took place.
a) From this conversation I remember these words:
b) “One of the hardest things for me as a Christian was to really trust God.”
c) This Christian was exactly right.
d) One very difficult thing for Christians to do is to simply say, “This matter is in the hands of God.”
e) As people we like to retain control. We want some handle (grip) on difficult situations.
f) There is fascinating verse in one of the Old Testament psalms (Ps. 131).
g) This Psalm is exceptionally short (it has only three verses).
h) The writer said he was “quiet” before God.
i) He had finally relinquished control of something; he had turned a matter over to God.
j) The writer presented himself as a nursing child who had just been satisfied by his mother.
k) A paraphrase adds, “my begging has stilled.”
l) He had grown to such a point in his life where he had absolute trust in God.
m) A person cannot get to this point without some very serious growth.
n) That growth will not be automatic. It takes time, work, effort and patience.
o) The earlier we start the process the better off we will be.
39) I want to read from another Old Testament Psalm, Ps. 62, the first seven verses.
40) The faith of the one who wrote this psalm is truly outstanding.
41) More than once the writer said he “would not be moved.”
42) His spiritual growth had reached a point where it was complete trust and reliance upon God.
43) READ Ps. 62:1-8.
44) How did this man achieve this great measure of growth?
a) Those who wrote the psalms were people of prayer.
b) They were also men of the book (they knew and studied God’s word).
c) They also had confidence in God.
d) Believe it or not, one important ingredient in spiritual growth is confidence in God.
e) Listen to Heb. 13:5-6 – READ.
f) Confidence in God is directly linked with spiritual growth.
45) At the beginning of this lesson I asked where we want to be in 5 years if we are still here.
46) Many have this type of plan when it comes to their job or schooling.
47) In 5 years a person may be looking forward to a different position.
48) Maybe in 10 years someone hopes to be in a management or senior management position.
49) In 20 years many hope to retire.
50) It’s good to have earthly goals.
51) All these goals are for something that has no eternal benefit.
a) Where do we want to be in our spiritual lives 5 years from know if we are still here?
b) Where do we want to be in 10 years? 20 years? What about beyond that?
c) We can only achieve those goals by steady and regular growth.
d) That growth is something we can work on every single day.
e) Growth really begins once we are joined with Christ and that is the process of conversion.