Series: Growing up in God’s Family Ephesians 4:11-15 / 1 John 2:12-14

Growing up in God’s Family 11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, Ephesians 4:11-15

Growing up in God’s Family 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; Ephesians 4:11-15

Growing up in God’s Family 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. Ephesians 4:11-15

Growing up in God’s Family 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; Ephesians 4:11-15

Growing up in God’s Family 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, Ephesians 4:11-15

Growing up in God’s Family 12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake. 1 John 2:12-14

Growing up in God’s Family 13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father. 1 John 2:12-14

Growing up in God’s Family 14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. 1 John 2:12-14

Growing up in God’s Family In our two primary Scriptures today we see the references to different stages of growth spiritually. In our two primary Scriptures today we see the references to different stages of growth spiritually. Over the next few weeks we are going to explore these stages of growth.

Growing up in God’s Family

For our study we will be looking at the following stages new birth, infancy, childhood, young adulthood, and maturity.

Growing up in God’s Family

Each stage of spiritual growth is unique and each one of us is encouraged to keep growing from stage to stage.

Growing up in God’s Family Stage 1 John 3:1-5

Growing up in God’s Family 1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; John 3:1-5

Growing up in God’s Family 2 this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” John 3:1-5

Growing up in God’s Family John 3:1-5

Growing up in God’s Family 4 Nicodemus *said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” John 3:1-5

Growing up in God’s Family John 3:1-5

Growing up in God’s Family Becoming a part of a family is a result of being born. The same is true concerning becoming a member of God’s family. A new birth according to Jesus is required.

Growing up in God’s Family

Jesus is communicating to us the same message He shared with Nicodemus; “you must be born again”. Have you trusted Jesus and experienced this new birth? Today is the day of salvation.

Growing up in God’s Family Stage 2 1 Peter 2:1-3

Growing up in God’s Family 1 Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander 1 Peter 2:1-3

Growing up in God’s Family 2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, 1 Peter 2:1-3

Growing up in God’s Family 3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. 1 Peter 2:1-3

Growing up in God’s Family

Time with a more mature follower Time with a more mature follower Patience from the more mature followers Patience from the more mature followers Supervision-one on one discipleship Supervision-one on one discipleship Affection and affirmation Affection and affirmation Introduction to basic truths from God’s Word Introduction to basic truths from God’s Word

Growing up in God’s Family Choose to trust and obey God’s Word as the truths of God become known. Choose to trust and obey God’s Word as the truths of God become known. God’s grace provides the understanding of truths from the Bible. God’s grace provides the desire within the infant to trust and obey. God’s grace provides the understanding of truths from the Bible. God’s grace provides the desire within the infant to trust and obey. As the infant chooses to trust God and obey God’s Word the infant experiences the power of God’s grace to accomplish what God desires. As the infant chooses to trust God and obey God’s Word the infant experiences the power of God’s grace to accomplish what God desires.

Growing up in God’s Family Long for and partake of God’s Word. Growing comes from reading, meditating, memorizing, studying, and applying God’s Word. Long for and partake of God’s Word. Growing comes from reading, meditating, memorizing, studying, and applying God’s Word. Praying is essential. The infant needs to be encouraged to pray as a normal experience of communicating with God through Jesus Name. Praying is essential. The infant needs to be encouraged to pray as a normal experience of communicating with God through Jesus Name.

Growing up in God’s Family Seeking the control of the Holy Spirit throughout each day is essential to growth Seeking the control of the Holy Spirit throughout each day is essential to growth Bonding with God and with God’s family is vital at this stage of infancy. Bonding with God and with God’s family is vital at this stage of infancy.

Growing up in God’s Family Stage 3 1 John 2:12

Growing up in God’s Family 12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake. 1 John 2:12

Growing up in God’s Family

Children need disciplines- need to build strong Biblical habits Children need disciplines- need to build strong Biblical habits Children need teaching by both words and example (model). “Teach them to observe” Jesus said in Matthew 28. To observe is to watch with focus. Observe also means to obey of to do an activity. For example the child should observe another follower praying and then be encouraged to pray. Children need teaching by both words and example (model). “Teach them to observe” Jesus said in Matthew 28. To observe is to watch with focus. Observe also means to obey of to do an activity. For example the child should observe another follower praying and then be encouraged to pray.

Growing up in God’s Family Children need a safe place to begin to exercise the God given spiritual gifts and natural talents Children need a safe place to begin to exercise the God given spiritual gifts and natural talents Children need patient encouragement Children need patient encouragement

Growing up in God’s Family Apply the truths revealed by God Apply the truths revealed by God in daily living Give time to prayer-seeking to hear Give time to prayer-seeking to hear and know God’s voice

Growing up in God’s Family Determine to continue to depend upon the Holy Spirit to guide, to give God’s desire, Determine to continue to depend upon the Holy Spirit to guide, to give God’s desire, to empower obedience

Growing up in God’s Family Avoid the “Peter Pan” mindset. Avoid the “Peter Pan” mindset. Desire growth Desire growth Stay connected to the family of God. Stay connected to the family of God.

Growing up in God’s Family Stage 4 I John 2:13-14

Growing up in God’s Family 13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father. I John 2:13-14

Growing up in God’s Family 14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. I John 2:13-14

Growing up in God’s Family

Remain open to learning. Remain teachable Remain open to learning. Remain teachable Find a mature follower and seek to build a relationship which will challenge you to grow Find a mature follower and seek to build a relationship which will challenge you to grow Remain faithful to putting God’s Word into your heart. Continue to devote yourself to prayer seeking to know God and to discern His voice Remain faithful to putting God’s Word into your heart. Continue to devote yourself to prayer seeking to know God and to discern His voice

Growing up in God’s Family Resist the desire to follow Jesus in your own strength. Resist the desire to follow Jesus in your own strength. Remain totally dependent upon the Holy Spirit. Remain totally dependent upon the Holy Spirit. Look for open doors to begin serving both the family of God and those who need Jesus. Look for open doors to begin serving both the family of God and those who need Jesus. Be willing to be faithful in little things. Be willing to be faithful in little things.

Growing up in God’s Family Stage 5 1 Corinthians 4:16 and Philippians 3:17

Growing up in God’s Family 16 Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me. 1 Corinthians 4:16

Growing up in God’s Family 17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. Philippians 3:17

Growing up in God’s Family

Maturity does not mean a follower stops growing. The mature follower continues to follow and continues to grow.

Growing up in God’s Family

Helping others to more effectively follow Jesus (Group setting and one on one) Helping others to more effectively follow Jesus (Group setting and one on one) Consistent in public and private worship Consistent in public and private worship Exercising spiritual gifts to build up the Body Exercising spiritual gifts to build up the Body Faithful stewardship of all areas of life Faithful stewardship of all areas of life Consistently sharing the Gospel with others Consistently sharing the Gospel with others

Growing up in God’s Family Accepts responsibility for personal spiritual growth Accepts responsibility for personal spiritual growth Remains available, willing and teachable Remains available, willing and teachable Stands in the joy, peace, and power of the truth of Stands in the joy, peace, and power of the truth of the love and acceptance of God by grace alone the love and acceptance of God by grace alone

Growing up in God’s Family Continues to grow in the knowledge and application of God’s Word-growing in wisdom Continues to grow in the knowledge and application of God’s Word-growing in wisdom Maintains a Christ like mindset or attitude which produces genuine humility Maintains a Christ like mindset or attitude which produces genuine humility Practices patience and perseverance Practices patience and perseverance

Growing up in God’s Family

No one fully arrives, but a level of maturity can be reached whereby others are encouraged to keep growing. If the mature stop growing, then the family will stop growing. then the family will stop growing.

Growing up in God’s Family Where do you see yourself? Do you need the new birth Jesus spoke of? What has God spoken to you about concerning your spiritual growth? How would God desire to work through you to encourage someone else to trust Jesus and to walk with Jesus towards greater maturity?

Series: Growing up in God’s Family Ephesians 4:11-15 / 1 John 2:12-14