Spiritual Growth Is A Choice

Slides:

Advertisements

Similar presentations

I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me Part 3.

Advertisements

KNOW HAPPINESS Part 2 PHILIPPIANS 4:4-7. GladCheerfulJoyful Joyous Paul uses the word rejoice. Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will.

God's System Of The New Testament Pattern Of Worship Let The Bible Speak Let Us Follow The Bible.

Can I Condemn My Loved One to Hell?.

"MAKE YOUR CALLING AND ELECTION SURE" 2 Peter 1:10.

“Aren’t there saved people in all churches?” “Why do you believe you are the only ones who will be saved?”

“Church Growth… It Comes From Within” Ephesians 4:11-16.

2 Peter 1:1-11 Understand Your Salvation Peter sends this letter to: v. 1 –those who have received/obtained the same faith as his First, by God’s will.

The Christians Obligations To The Church Matthew 16:13-19.

+ Romans 15:4-6 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement.

The True Vine Studies in John’s Gospel John 15:1-8.

SPIRITUAL DROPOUTS This has always been a problem in the Lord’s church. Some drop out and still go to church.

 The Book Identifies the author as Simon Peter Second epistle is indicated in chapter 1, verse 3 Probably written between AD.

Over and Out. The Great Commission Matthew 28:18-20: Make disciples.

Scriptures About God Genesis – Revelation Exodus 3:14. I AM. Deuteronomy 4:24… A consuming fire, a jealous God. 2Samuel 22:31. Psalm 18:30. His way is.

Fruit Salad Part 14 – ‘Appropriating the Power of the Holy Spirit’ ‘The Fruit of the Holy Spirit’

Running the Race of Your Life

Mid-Year Resolutions What happened to the resolutions you made in January? Resolution = Promise to change some things in our life for the better.

“Prepare Your Minds For Action” 1 Peter 1:13-16 October 11, 2009.

Back To The Bible Concerning How To Be Saved From Sin By Willie Alvarenga.

By What Is A Person Saved? Our focus in this lesson is upon the ultimate salvation of ending up in heaven.

You Don’t Have To Be Baptized

Unity of The Spirit Ephesians 4:1-6. Unity of The Spirit  Most see unity as desirable  Psalm 133  Jesus prayed for it  John 17:20, 21  Paul commanded.

Leaving the Basics Hebrews 6:1 Elementary Teaching to be Left Behind Repentance Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to.

Let’s open our Bibles to

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18) Physical Financial Relational Emotional Spiritual Let us leave.

Grace, Grace, Marvelous Grace

Spiritual Growth 1.

THE SEARCH FOR ASSURANCE. CHRISTIANS SEEM TO VACILLATE  Assurance – 1 John 5:3  Warning – 1 Corinthians 10:12  Assurance Has Been Hotly Debated  This.

CHANGE The irresistible force A 12 Step Program for Change 1.Ponder you motivation 2.Position yourself for change 3.Prepare to change by study 4.Purposely.

Spiritual Growth Regenerative Redemptive Renewing.

The True Vine John 15:1-8. Symbols: Jesus is the vine The Father is the gardener We are the branches Vs. 1-4 Jesus is the TRUE vine  He is the genuine.

With God’s Guaranteed “Fail Proof” Plan June 28, 2009.

KNOWLEDGE “awareness; acquaintance with facts; range of information; all that has been perceived or grasped by the mind; learning; enlightenment; the body.

Recipe for Success 2 Peter 1:1-11. A. To those who have obtained like precious faith. 1. We have been given all things that pertain to life and godliness.

2 peter Reading from God’s Word:. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6.

"SPIRITUAL GROWTH" Spiritual Growth Is A Choice. INTRODUCTION.

2 Peter 1: Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness.

We have been blessed with four new babes in Christ within the last 6 months – they need to know! we need to know There are some things they.

What Is Happening To My Faith?. Know he needs strong faith Wants to have strong faith Doesn’t want to lose his faith Makes claims to faith Know he needs.

Fruit of the Spirit “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self- control. Against.

SPIRITUAL GROWTH #3 Establishing Goals For Spiritual Growth.

Introduction Romans 15: 4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures.

Heart Conversion PROVERBS 4:23. The Bible Heart Acts 2:37 …cut to the heart… Romans 10:10 …with the heart one believes…. Romans 6:17 …become obedient.

1 Christianity: A Daily Religion And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ (Acts 5:42).

The Christian’s Movement It occurred to me that everything that describes a true Christian involves some sort of movement.

The Narrow Gate. “ Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.

Review of Philippians 4:2-9

Paul’s Prayer For The Ephesians Ephesians 1:15-20.

Is Your Name Written In Heaven? Actually, everyone’s name is written in heaven, in one book or another. How Can One Be Sure Their Name Is In The Right.

What Can You Do to Build Up the Church in Ranger?

Your Kingdom Come Your Will Be Done…. Your Kingdom Come Your Will Be Done…. A Great Church is a Growing Church.

Solid Steps of Christian Growth A Study of 2 Peter 1:1-11.

A “Last Chapter” Kind of Church Paul’s final words of encouragement show us the kind of church God wants us to be.

Corinthians 11:23-26 NKJV [23] For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in.

2 Peter 1:9-11 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore,

“Spiritual Growth” Incentives to grow spiritually.

Music - Kenny G - Always Original Created for Dolly. Slide 29 added for Jennifer..

The Need For Maturity Christians Are To Mature In All Aspects Unto Christ.

What Do I Do Now?.  Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of.

Great Reliefs. Don’t have to know Everything "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the.

Reasons Why We Should Read And Study The Bible. Introduction I ran across this list recently and I liked it. I find no error in this list. So, it is worthy.

“Lord, Increase Our Faith” (Part 2) Luke 17:5. Work of faith. 1 Thessalonians 1:3 Vain faith. 1 Corinthians 15:14,17, 58 Unfeigned faith. 2 Timothy 1:5.

December 18, 2016.

Contrasts In The Life of a Christian

Power to Persevere Ephesians 3:14-21 Power to Persevere

Spiritual Maturity.

Resolutions for Philippians 3:12-14 Resolutions for 2017

The holy spirit’s role in converting souls

Spiritual Maturity.

Presentation transcript:

Spiritual Growth Is A Choice

Introduction Just as a healthy physical life is one of growth. So a healthy spiritual life is a process of growth. Sadly, not all Christians grow spiritually… Many have been Christians for years, with little change or improvement.

Introduction They are no more, useful to the Lord than when they first became Christians. Often times they are less useful to the Lord. When they fail to grow – they become as a stagnant pool of water.

Introduction That is because Spiritual Growth Is A Choice. It doesn’t happen by default (unlike physical growth). Spiritual growth (like emotional maturity) occurs only when we choose to grow. If we do not make that choice, and stick to it, there will be no spiritual growth!

SPIRITUAL GROWTH IS A CHOICE COMMANDED BY GOD This command is implicitly stated in what we call the Great Commission. Matthew 28:18-20. Jesus commanded His apostles to make disciples, baptize, and TEACH. Implicit in the command to teach, is that disciples would be obedient learners, i.e., constantly growing as they learned and obeyed their Lord.

SPIRITUAL GROWTH IS A CHOICE COMMANDED BY GOD Commanded explicitly in the Apostolic Epistles. 2 Peter 3:18 We are to grow in grace. We are to grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

SPIRITUAL GROWTH IS A CHOICE COMMANDED BY GOD Peter begins his second epistle describing how we are to grow (2 Peter 1:5-8). We must add to our faith such graces as virtue, knowledge, self-control, etc. Abounding in these graces, being fruitful, which implies growth.

SPIRITUAL GROWTH IS A CHOICE COMMANDED BY GOD Christians who did not grow, were sternly rebuked (Hebrews 5:12-6:1). Spiritual growth is a not an option, reserved for a few select Christians. The Word of God commands growth! We should also remember that…

SPIRITUAL GROWTH IS A CHOICE THAT REQUIRES DILIGENT EFFORT This is unlike physical growth. People grow physically by default (unless … disorder). No effort is required on our part; we mature physically whether we want to or not. Don’t think that just because you grow older, you are growing spiritually! That is two different things.

SPIRITUAL GROWTH IS A CHOICE THAT REQUIRES DILIGENT EFFORT Spiritual growth requires concentrated effort… Jesus said it requires labor… John 6:27. Paul wrote that it requires work, pressing on… Philippians 2:12; 3:13-14. Peter wrote that it requires diligence… 2 Peter 1:5,10. Like physical health, spiritual growth requires regular exercise… 1 Timothy 4:7-8.

SPIRITUAL GROWTH IS A CHOICE THAT REQUIRES DILIGENT EFFORT Spiritual growth is not easy. We must work at it. Today. Tomorrow. As long as we live and are able to function.

SPIRITUAL GROWTH IS A CHOICE THAT IS ASSISTED BY GOD We are not alone in our efforts… While we work out our salvation, God is at work in us… Philippians 2:12-13. God desires to complete the work He started when He saved us… Philippians 1:6. We are strengthened by God in our efforts…

SPIRITUAL GROWTH IS A CHOICE THAT IS ASSISTED BY GOD He strengthens us by His Spirit in our inner man… Ephesians 3:16. He empowers us with unimaginable power that is in us… Ephesians 3:20. He provides the armor to stand strong in the power of His might… Ephesians 6:10-11.

SPIRITUAL GROWTH IS A CHOICE THAT IS ASSISTED BY GOD There is no excuse not to grow, for Christ strengthens us! … Philippians 4:13. With God as our aid, spiritual growth is possible. And not mediocre growth, but spiritual growth beyond what limits we might think hinder us! Finally, let us remember that…

SPIRITUAL GROWTH IS A CHOICE THAT IS BLESSED BY GOD The blessings begin in this life… 2 Peter 3:18 As we grow we experience the blessings of the grace in which we stand. Such as peace with God, rejoicing in hope… Romans 5:1-2. When we grow we experience the blessings of adding virtue, knowledge, self-control, etc. to our faith.

SPIRITUAL GROWTH IS A CHOICE THAT IS BLESSED BY GOD Such as a victorious life, in which we do not stumble so as to fall… 2 Peter 1:10. Indeed, it is spiritual growth that ensures the “abundant life” – now that Jesus promised! … John 10:10. The blessings continue into the life to come. We will experience an “abundant entrance” into the everlasting kingdom… 2 Peter 1:11

SPIRITUAL GROWTH IS A CHOICE THAT IS BLESSED BY GOD In some way, our works do follow us…Revelation 14:13. At the very least, we know that our labors will not be in vain! … 1 Corinthians 15:58

WARNING ABOUT THE WRONG KIND OF GROWTH We have been talking about growth; but not just any growth, for not all growth is good… The hearts of some grow dull (Matthew 13:15). The love of many grow cold (Matthew 24:12). There is the danger of growing weary in doing good (Galatians 6:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:13).

WARNING ABOUT THE WRONG KIND OF GROWTH There is possibility of growing corrupt according to deceitful lusts (Ephesians 4:22). There is danger of growing wanton against Christ (1 Timothy 5:11). There are those who grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived (2 Timothy 3:13). Like the growth of cancerous cells, the wrong growth can be deadly!

WARNING ABOUT THE WRONG KIND OF GROWTH Is it a deadly kind of growth, creating dull hearts, love that is cold, weariness in doing good, even moral corruption? Or is it a vibrant kind of growth in which we are abounding in love, joy, and peace, being faithful and fruitful in our service to Jesus Christ? The one kind of growth is often the result of neglect, the other kind of growth comes only when we make the right choice! If we desire to experience the blessings of the right kind of growth, then never forget that Spiritual Growth Is A Choice!

Conclusion We have been talking about spiritual growth, the kind of growth that is… Commanded by God Requires diligent effort Assisted by God Blessed by God It is this kind of growth that Peter enjoined as he closed his epistle (2 Peter 3:18). What kind of growth is taking place in our spiritual lives? Each of us must give an answer. Are you making the right choice today and every day?