T HE N EW T ESTAMENT C HURCH E DIFICATION

I N W HAT R ESPECTS A RE W E T O G ROW AS C HRISTIANS ? In the grace and knowledge of the truth – “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever.” {2 Peter 3:18}

I N W HAT R ESPECTS A RE W E T O G ROW AS C HRISTIANS ? In Christ likeness – “But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ.” {Ephesians 4:15}

I N W HAT R ESPECTS A RE W E T O G ROW AS C HRISTIANS ? In love, in knowledge and all discernment – “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment.” {Philippians 1:9}

I N W HAT R ESPECTS A RE W E T O G ROW AS C HRISTIANS ? Quiet, industrious Christian characters – “That you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.” {1 Thessalonians 4:11,12}

I N W HAT R ESPECTS A RE W E T O G ROW AS C HRISTIANS ? As a spiritual house to offer sacrifices – “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” {1 Peter 2:5}

I N W HAT R ESPECTS A RE W E T O G ROW AS C HRISTIANS ? In adding the Christian graces and becoming a partaker of the divine nature – “By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” {2 Peter 5:4}

I N W HAT R ESPECTS A RE W E T O G ROW AS C HRISTIANS ? Christian graces: – “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self- control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.” {2 Peter 5:5-7}

I N W HAT R ESPECTS A RE W E T O G ROW AS C HRISTIANS ? Putting on the armor of God – “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” {Ephesians 6:13-17}

I N W HAT R ESPECTS A RE W E T O G ROW AS C HRISTIANS ? In faith in love – “And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.” {1 Thessalonians 3:12,13}

I N W HAT R ESPECTS A RE W E T O G ROW AS C HRISTIANS ? Ability to resist temptation – “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.” {Jude 20-23}

I N W HAT R ESPECTS A RE W E T O G ROW AS C HRISTIANS ? Ability to serve and sacrifice – “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” {Romans 12:1,2}

T HINGS T HAT H INDER G ROWTH Wickedness, guile, hypocrisy, envies, evil speaking “Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.” {1 Peter 2:1,2}

T HINGS T HAT H INDER G ROWTH Dullness of Hearing “Of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.” {Hebrews 5:11}

T HINGS T HAT H INDER G ROWTH Youthful lusts “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” {2 Timothy 2:22}

T HINGS T HAT H INDER G ROWTH Foolish and ignorant questions “But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.” {2 Timothy 2:23}

T HINGS T HAT H INDER G ROWTH Love of money “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” {1 Timothy 6:10}

T HINGS T HAT P ROMOTE S PIRITUAL G ROWTH Spiritual appetite “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.” {1 Peter 2:2}

T HINGS T HAT P ROMOTE S PIRITUAL G ROWTH Proper exercise (spiritual) “For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” {Hebrews 5:13,14}

T HINGS T HAT P ROMOTE S PIRITUAL G ROWTH Heeding what we hear! “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation...” {Hebrews 2:1-3}

T HINGS T HAT P ROMOTE S PIRITUAL G ROWTH Diligence and active service. “Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine... Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.” {1 Timothy 4:13-16}

T HINGS T HAT P ROMOTE S PIRITUAL G ROWTH The right spiritual diet. “Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.” {2 Timothy 4:14-16}

T HINGS T HAT P ROMOTE S PIRITUAL G ROWTH Purity of mind and heart. “Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain. One of them, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons. This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth.” {Titus 1:11-14}

T HINGS T HAT P ROMOTE S PIRITUAL G ROWTH Prayer and communion with the Lord. “Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” {Philippians 4:5-7}

A VENUES T HROUGH W HICH THE C HURCH M AY E NCOURAGE T HIS G ROWTH Take thought of one another. “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like- minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” {Philippians 2:1-4}

A VENUES T HROUGH W HICH THE C HURCH M AY E NCOURAGE T HIS G ROWTH Exhort one another. “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another...” {Hebrews 10:24,25}

A VENUES T HROUGH W HICH THE C HURCH M AY E NCOURAGE T HIS G ROWTH The Elders to watch after our souls. “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.” {Acts 20:28,29}

A VENUES T HROUGH W HICH THE C HURCH M AY E NCOURAGE T HIS G ROWTH Encourage the faint hearted, support the weak, admonish the disorderly, be long suffering toward all. “And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.” {1 Thessalonians 5:12-14}

A VENUES T HROUGH W HICH THE C HURCH M AY E NCOURAGE T HIS G ROWTH By its worship services. “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 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.” {Colossians 3:15,16}

A VENUES T HROUGH W HICH THE C HURCH M AY E NCOURAGE T HIS G ROWTH By its teaching program—” Feed the church of God.” “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” {2 Timothy 2:2}