EPIC

Seven Levels of Biblical Spiritual Growth BABY LITTLE CHILDREN CHILDREN YOUNG MEN FATHERS ELDER AGED 1 Peter 2:2 1 John 2:12 Eph. 4:14 1 John 2:13-14 Eph. 4:13 1 John 2:13-14 1 Peter 5:1-3 Acts 20:17,28 Phil. 1:9 Ps 92:14 Born Again   Knows Nothing    Except that… Jesus is Lord Jesus Died for his sin, buried and rose That they are sinners Eternally Secure Knows that they are Saved They have nailed the genuineness of their conversion but little else Growing but still nor Doctrinally sound Knows enough to make them dangerous Very Vulnerable to False Teachings and Teachers Strong because the Word Abides in them Knows The Word of God They have “overcome the wicked one” as he operates in the realm of False Doctrine Fully Developed and spiritually Mature Knows the God of the Word They Have reproduced spiritual off springs and are reproducing A spiritual Father with experience Knows People Those that they have reproduced are now reproducing. They are spiritually equipped to provide over sight, leadership, and teaching in the local church. An elder with Experience Knows the Church and Life Those that they have reproduced have reproduced, people that are reproducing. They continue to bear fruit in their old Age and serve as resource for the Elders of the church Virtue Knowledge Temperance Patience Godliness Brotherly Kindness Charity

Stage 1 of our Growth

(2Pe 1:1-4) Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

(2Pe 1:5-8) And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(2Pe 1:9) But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. (2Pe 1:10) Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

Seven Levels of Biblical Spiritual Growth BABY LITTLE CHILDREN CHILDREN YOUNG MEN FATHERS ELDER AGED 1 Peter 2:2 1 John 2:12 Eph. 4:14 1 John 2:13-14 Eph. 4:13 1 John 2:13-14 1 Peter 5:1-3 Acts 20:17,28 Phil. 1:9 Ps 92:14 Born Again   Knows Nothing    Except that… Jesus is Lord Jesus Died for his sin, buried and rose That they are sinners Eternally Secure Knows that they are Saved They have nailed the genuineness of their conversion but little else Growing but still nor Doctrinally sound Knows enough to make them dangerous Very Vulnerable to False Teachings and Teachers Strong because the Word Abides in them Knows The Word of God They have “overcome the wicked one” as he operates in the realm of False Doctrine Fully Developed and spiritually Mature Knows the God of the Word They Have reproduced spiritual off springs and are reproducing A spiritual Father with experience Knows People Those that they have reproduced are now reproducing. They are spiritually equipped to provide over sight, leadership, and teaching in the local church. An elder with Experience Knows the Church and Life Those that they have reproduced have reproduced, people that are reproducing. They continue to bear fruit in their old Age and serve as resource for the Elders of the church Virtue Knowledge Temperance Patience Godliness Brotherly Kindness Charity

1. Babe in Christ

(1Pe 1:23) Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (Joh 3:3) Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Babe in Christ

(1Pe 2:3) If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. (1Pe 2:1) Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, (1Pe 2:2) As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: (1Pe 2:3) If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Babe in Christ

(1Co 3:1) And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. (1Co 3:2) I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. Babe in Christ

Seven Levels of Biblical Spiritual Growth BABY LITTLE CHILDREN CHILDREN YOUNG MEN FATHERS ELDER AGED 1 Peter 2:2 1 John 2:12 Eph. 4:14 1 John 2:13-14 Eph. 4:13 1 John 2:13-14 1 Peter 5:1-3 Acts 20:17,28 Phil. 1:9 Ps 92:14 Born Again   Knows Nothing    Except that… Jesus is Lord Jesus Died for his sin, buried and rose That they are sinners Eternally Secure Knows that they are Saved They have nailed the genuineness of their conversion but little else Growing but still nor Doctrinally sound Knows enough to make them dangerous Very Vulnerable to False Teachings and Teachers Strong because the Word Abides in them Knows The Word of God They have “overcome the wicked one” as he operates in the realm of False Doctrine Fully Developed and spiritually Mature Knows the God of the Word They Have reproduced spiritual off springs and are reproducing A spiritual Father with experience Knows People Those that they have reproduced are now reproducing. They are spiritually equipped to provide over sight, leadership, and teaching in the local church. An elder with Experience Knows the Church and Life Those that they have reproduced have reproduced, people that are reproducing. They continue to bear fruit in their old Age and serve as resource for the Elders of the church Virtue Knowledge Temperance Patience Godliness Brotherly Kindness Charity

Virtue is an ATTITUDE toward the Word of God

(Php 4:8) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Php 4:9) Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

(Gen 6:22) Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he. (Joh 2:5) His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

(Gen 6:22) Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he. (Joh 2:5) His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. (Act 9:6) And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

(Isa 29:13) Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

(Rom 12:1) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (Rom 12:2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Virtue is an ATTITUDE toward the Word of God Virtue is an APPETITE for the Word of God

(1Pe 2:3) If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. (1Pe 2:1) Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, (1Pe 2:2) As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: (1Pe 2:3) If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Babe in Christ

(1Co 3:1) And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. (1Co 3:2) I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. Babe in Christ

(Job 23:12) Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. (Jer 15:16) Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.

Virtue is an ATTITUDE toward the Word of God Virtue is an APPETITE for the Word of God Virtue is an APPROACH to the Word of God

(Psa 119:48) My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.

(1Sa 15:22) And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

(2Jn 1:6) And this is love, that we walk after his commandments (2Jn 1:6) And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. (1Sa 3:19) And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.

Virtue is an ATTITUDE toward the Word of God Virtue is an APPETITE for the Word of God Virtue is an APPROACH to the Word of God Virtue is an APPLICATION of the Word of God

(Eph 4:11) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (Eph 4:12) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

(Jas 1:22) But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. (Jas 1:23) For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: (Jas 1:24) For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. (Jas 1:25) But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

(Luk 6:46-49) And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

(Joh 15:14) Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. (Col 3:16-17) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.