Christian Growth I Peter 2:1-3

I. The Possibility of Spiritual Growth

A. Good People Can Deny This Principle “But I can’t” implies that God asks saints to do what they can’t do Jud.6:11-17 “But I can’t” implies that God asks saints to do what they can’t do Jud.6: So he said to Him, “O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” Jud.6 - Good men might waver but, at last, they can do great things Jud.7: After Israel exits Egypt, how many enter the promised land? Num.14:24

Attitudes preventing spiritual Growth Attitudes preventing spiritual Growth “Others are more able” Ex.4:10-13 “Others are more able” Ex.4:10-13 B. Each Christian Can Grow A. Good People Can Deny This Principle Some tire and give up 2 Tim.1:5 Some tire and give up 2 Tim.1:5 Fear stops spiritual growth 2 Tim.1:6-8 Fear stops spiritual growth 2 Tim.1:6-8 Any saint can lose their faith 2 Tim.4:10 Any saint can lose their faith 2 Tim.4:10 - What attitude should growing saints have?

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” Phil.4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” Phil.4:13 B. Each Christian Can Grow 8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ Eph.3 A. Good People Can Deny This Principle - Oh, that we could have such a driving passion to grow in The Lord!

II. Hindrances To Christian Growth

A. No One Can Grow With A Heart Problem We must look in God’s medical book to see our spiritual condition I Pet.2:1 We must look in God’s medical book to see our spiritual condition I Pet.2:1 Malice Mk.3:6 Malice Mk.3:6 Guile Matt.22:15-22 Guile Matt.22:15-22 Hypocrisy Matt.23:23 Hypocrisy Matt.23:23 Envy Matt.27:18 Envy Matt.27:18 All evil speaking 3 Jn.9-11 All evil speaking 3 Jn Israel was to clean up Canaan Jos.14: Replace evil with good! I Thess.5:21-22

There is the ideal way to deal with spiritual problems but not everything is ideal! There is the ideal way to deal with spiritual problems but not everything is ideal! 52 They answered and said to him, “Are you also from Galilee? Search and look, for no prophet has arisen out of Galilee.” Jn.7 1 Bitter and hateful Jn.7:45-52 B. What Complicates This Heart Checkup A. No One Can Grow With A Heart Problem - Holding on the hateful grudges will destroy personal and church growth!

There is the ideal way to deal with spiritual problems but not everything is ideal! There is the ideal way to deal with spiritual problems but not everything is ideal! 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 1 Bitter and hateful B. What Complicates This Heart Checkup A. No One Can Grow With A Heart Problem 2 Wait on The Lord! I Pet.4:12-14

There is the ideal way to deal with spiritual problems but not everything is ideal! There is the ideal way to deal with spiritual problems but not everything is ideal! 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you. Eph.4 1 Bitter and hateful B. What Complicates This Heart Check A. No One Can Grow With A Heart Problem 2 Wait on The Lord!

III. What Produces Spiritual Growth?

A. The Pure Milk of God’s Word It’s the same milk that gave saints birth into Christ Jesus I Pet.1:23 It’s the same milk that gave saints birth into Christ Jesus I Pet.1:23 Two things stand out in this passage 1 Desire for the milk Psa.34:8 - Too often “religious people” starve because they won’t drink the milk - The only food that creates real faith and keeps it growing is God’s Word Rom.10:17

A. The Pure Milk of God’s Word It’s the same milk that gave saints birth into Christ Jesus I Pet.1:23 It’s the same milk that gave saints birth into Christ Jesus I Pet.1:23 Two things stand out in this passage 1 Desire for the milk Psa.34a 2 The milk must be pure 2 Thess.2: Mere change is not what saints look for but change for good Gal.2:3-5

There is a time to grow up into spiritual adulthood Heb.5:12-14 There is a time to grow up into spiritual adulthood Heb.5: 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. Heb.5 - There are some Bible subjects that are difficult to understand 2 Pet.3:16 B. Saints Must Grow To Eating Meat A. The Pure Milk of God’s Word

Why Is Christian Growth Important? 24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. I Cor.9