1. Lesson 6:Growing in Christ August 2-8,2014 By :Carlene Burrell

2. Memory Text “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God’ ” (John 3:3, NKJV).

3. Introduction What does it mean to grow in Christ?

4. Read John 3:1. What do we learn about Nicodemus?John 3:1 Answer: That he was a religious and political leader. Night Interview

5. Jesus says something that seems very odd, "Spirit gives birth to spirit." What does this mean? Answer: It means that the Holy Spirit is giving birth to something spiritual in our life. God is reproducing Himself in us.

6. How We Grow? Read John 3:5-6. Jesus explains that being "born again" is essential to salvation. Being born again is being "born of water and the Spirit." How do you understand this?John 3:5-6 Answer:Being born of water is baptism. Being born of the Spirit is having the Holy Spirit live in us.

7. Read Romans 6:4. When Jesus says that we must be born of water, He is talking about grace. Through baptism we participate in Jesus' sacrificial death on our behalf. When we rise from the waters of baptism, we rise to a new life. How does this fit with the idea of being born of the Spirit?Romans 6:4 Answer:Part of our new life is the Holy Spirit imparting God's nature in us. Helping us to live a life of love, just as Jesus did.

8. Read John 3:19-21. Is Jesus making a statement about their night meeting? (Perhaps!) Who is the "Light [which] has come into the world?"John 3:19-21 Answer: Jesus is the light. But, note the close connection between coming into the light of Jesus and our deeds. We cannot love light and want to live in darkness.)

9. Our Daily Cross Read Luke 9:22-23. The disciples did not know when Jesus spoke these words that Jesus would be killed on the cross. Does this mean that we must suffer every day? (Read Galatians 5:22. Suffering every day is inconsistent with living a life of joy and peace.)Luke 9:22-23Galatians 5:22

10. Read Luke 9:24-25. What does Jesus means by us taking up our cross daily? Answer: Jesus is talking about life and death. He is talking about a mental attitude. Either we put our life first or we put the Kingdom of God first. Either we live to benefit ourselves, or we live to benefit others.Luke 9:24-25

11. Deny Self When Jesus says a person "must deny himself," is Jesus talking about money? (Notice Jesus compares it with saving our life and gaining the whole world. This covers much more than money.)

12. Conclusion Brothers and Sisters, we are not saved by our works, but by grace experiences a new life in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit living in us changes us so that we want to live in the light, we want to deny self to bless others. Will you ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in living a righteous life?