Growing in Grace Through Spiritual Maturity As we study this lesson truly believe that with God’s help you can be ALL that God wants you to be.

Psalm 139:14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. We are made by God. We should dare to live as He would have us live! I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. We are made by God. We should dare to live as He would have us live!

Psalm 119:73 Your hands have made me and fashioned me; Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments. 74 Those who fear You will be glad when they see me, Because I have hoped in Your word.

The Example of Jesus Grew in Stature, Wisdom and Grace Luke 2:52 Grew in Stature, Wisdom and Grace Luke 2:52

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

The Example of Jesus Grew in Stature, Wisdom and Grace Luke 2:52 Learned Obedience Hebrews 5:8; Philippians 2:8-11 Grew in Stature, Wisdom and Grace Luke 2:52 Learned Obedience Hebrews 5:8; Philippians 2:8-11

Hebrews 5:8 Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.

Philippians 2:8-11 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The Example of Jesus Grew in Stature, Wisdom and Grace Luke 2:52 Learned Obedience Hebrews 5:8; Philippians 2:8-11 Came to Do God’s Will John 4:34; Hebrews 10:9-10 Grew in Stature, Wisdom and Grace Luke 2:52 Learned Obedience Hebrews 5:8; Philippians 2:8-11 Came to Do God’s Will John 4:34; Hebrews 10:9-10

John 4:34 Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.

Hebrews 10:9-10 Then He said, "Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God." He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

The Example of Jesus Grew in Stature, Wisdom and Grace Luke 2:52 Learned Obedience Hebrews 5:8; Philippians 2:8-11 Came to Do God’s Will John 4:34; Hebrews 10:9-10 Sinless life – A Perfect Example 1 Peter 2:21-24 Grew in Stature, Wisdom and Grace Luke 2:52 Learned Obedience Hebrews 5:8; Philippians 2:8-11 Came to Do God’s Will John 4:34; Hebrews 10:9-10 Sinless life – A Perfect Example 1 Peter 2:21-24

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22 "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth"; 23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed.

Growing as a Christian Add to the Christian Character 2 Peter 1:1-11 Read (Motivation; growth) Add to the Christian Character 2 Peter 1:1-11 Read (Motivation; growth)

Growing as a Christian Add to the Christian Character 2 Peter 1:1-11 Read (Motivation; growth) Live so as to Shine Matthew 5:14-16 Add to the Christian Character 2 Peter 1:1-11 Read (Motivation; growth) Live so as to Shine Matthew 5:14-16

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Growing as a Christian Add to the Christian Character 2 Peter 1:1-11 Read (Motivation; growth) Live so as to Shine Matthew 5:14-16 Live to be an Example to Others 1 Timothy 4:12-13 Add to the Christian Character 2 Peter 1:1-11 Read (Motivation; growth) Live so as to Shine Matthew 5:14-16 Live to be an Example to Others 1 Timothy 4:12-13

Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Word, conduct, love, spirit, faith and purity are all areas where we are to be characteristically righteous in our walk. Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Word, conduct, love, spirit, faith and purity are all areas where we are to be characteristically righteous in our walk.

Exemplify Christ in … Speech Ecclesiastes 5:6; Colossians 4:6 Speech Ecclesiastes 5:6; Colossians 4:6

Ecclesiastes 5:6 Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error. Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands?

Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Exemplify Christ in … Speech Ecclesiastes 5:6; Colossians 4:6 Life Ephesians 4:1-3; Colossians 1:10 Speech Ecclesiastes 5:6; Colossians 4:6 Life Ephesians 4:1-3; Colossians 1:10

Ephesians 4:1-3 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Colossians 1:10 That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

Exemplify Christ in … Speech Ecclesiastes 5:6; Colossians 4:6 Life Ephesians 4:1-3; Colossians 1:10 Love 1 John 4:20; Ephesians 4:2 Speech Ecclesiastes 5:6; Colossians 4:6 Life Ephesians 4:1-3; Colossians 1:10 Love 1 John 4:20; Ephesians 4:2

1 John 4:20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

Ephesians 4:1-3 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Exemplify Christ in … Speech Ecclesiastes 5:6; Colossians 4:6 Life Ephesians 4:1-3; Colossians 1:10 Love 1 John 4:20; Ephesians 4:1-3 Faith Hebrews 11:6, Speech Ecclesiastes 5:6; Colossians 4:6 Life Ephesians 4:1-3; Colossians 1:10 Love 1 John 4:20; Ephesians 4:1-3 Faith Hebrews 11:6, 35-40

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Hebrews 11:35-40 Women received their dead raised to life again. And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword…

Hebrews 11:35-40 …They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented-- 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

Exemplify Christ in … Speech Ecclesiastes 5:6; Colossians 4:6 Life Ephesians 4:1-3; Colossians 1:10 Love 1 John 4:20; Ephesians 4:2 Faith Hebrews 11:6, Purity Titus 2:6-8; 2 Corinthians 6:1-10 Speech Ecclesiastes 5:6; Colossians 4:6 Life Ephesians 4:1-3; Colossians 1:10 Love 1 John 4:20; Ephesians 4:2 Faith Hebrews 11:6, Purity Titus 2:6-8; 2 Corinthians 6:1-10

Titus 2:6-8 Likewise exhort the young men to be sober-minded, 7 in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, 8 sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.

2 Corinthians 6:4-10, esp. vs. 6 (4), But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: … (6) by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love.”

Conclusion Live a life of Sobriety & Purity Pay attention to yourself!! Be good! Do good! Share! Be Generous! Make your foundation a good one for the future! Take hold of that which IS life indeed! Do all of this in LOVE!