Christian GrowthI Peter 2:1-3

I. The Possibility of I. The Possibility of Spiritual GrowthSpiritual Growth

A. Good People Can Deny This PrincipleA. Good People Can Deny This Principle

• ““But I can’t” implies that God asks saints But I can’t” implies that God asks saints to do what they can’t do to do what they can’t do Jud.6:11-17Jud.6:11-1715 So he said to Him, “15 So he said to Him, “O my LordO my Lord, , how can I how can I save Israelsave Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in ? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” house.” Jud.6Jud.6

- Good men might waver but, at last, they - Good men might waver but, at last, they can do great things can do great things Jud.7:16-25Jud.7:16-25

- After Israel exits Egypt, how many enter - After Israel exits Egypt, how many enter the promised land? the promised land? Num.14:24Num.14:24

• Attitudes preventing spiritual GrowthAttitudes preventing spiritual Growth

• “ “Others are more able” Others are more able” Ex.4:10-13Ex.4:10-13

B. Each Christian Can GrowB. Each Christian Can Grow

A. Good People Can Deny This PrincipleA. Good People Can Deny This Principle

• Some tire and give up Some tire and give up 2 Tim.1:52 Tim.1:5

• Fear stops spiritual growth Fear stops spiritual growth 2 Tim.1:6-82 Tim.1:6-8

• Any saint can lose their faith Any saint can lose their faith 2 Tim.4:102 Tim.4:10

- What attitude should growing saints have?- What attitude should growing saints have?

• ““I can do all things through Christ who I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” strengthens me” Phil.4:13Phil.4:13

B. Each Christian Can GrowB. Each Christian Can Grow

8 To me, who am less than the least of all the 8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, saints, this grace was given, that I should that I should preach among the Gentilespreach among the Gentiles the unsearchable the unsearchable riches of Christ riches of Christ Eph.3Eph.3

A. Good People Can Deny This PrincipleA. Good People Can Deny This Principle

- Oh, that we could have such a driving - Oh, that we could have such a driving passion to grow in The Lord!passion to grow in The Lord!

II. Hindrances To II. Hindrances To Christian GrowthChristian Growth

A. No One Can Grow With A Heart ProblemA. No One Can Grow With A Heart Problem

• We must look in God’s medical book to We must look in God’s medical book to see our spiritual condition see our spiritual condition I Pet.2:1I Pet.2:1• Malice Malice Mk.3:6Mk.3:6 • Guile Guile Matt.22:15-22Matt.22:15-22

• Hypocrisy Hypocrisy Matt.23:23Matt.23:23 • Envy Envy Matt.27:18Matt.27:18

• All evil speaking All evil speaking 3 Jn.9-113 Jn.9-11

- Israel was to clean up Canaan - Israel was to clean up Canaan Jos.14:8-14Jos.14:8-14

- Replace evil with good! - Replace evil with good! I Thess.5:21-22I Thess.5:21-22

• There is the ideal way to deal with spiritual There is the ideal way to deal with spiritual problems but not everything is ideal!problems but not everything is ideal!

52 They answered and said to him, “52 They answered and said to him, “Are you Are you also from Galileealso from Galilee? Search and look, for no ? Search and look, for no prophet has arisen out of Galilee.” prophet has arisen out of Galilee.” Jn.7Jn.7

1 Bitter and hateful 1 Bitter and hateful Jn.7:45-52Jn.7:45-52

B. What Complicates This Heart CheckupB. What Complicates This Heart Checkup

A. No One Can Grow With A Heart ProblemA. No One Can Grow With A Heart Problem

- Holding on the hateful grudges will - Holding on the hateful grudges will destroy personal and church growth!destroy personal and church growth!

• There is the ideal way to deal with spiritual There is the ideal way to deal with spiritual problems but not everything is ideal!problems but not everything is ideal!

31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking and evil speaking be put away from yoube put away from you, , with with all maliceall malice..

1 Bitter and hateful1 Bitter and hateful

B. What Complicates This Heart CheckupB. What Complicates This Heart Checkup

A. No One Can Grow With A Heart ProblemA. No One Can Grow With A Heart Problem

2 Wait on The Lord! 2 Wait on The Lord! I Pet.4:12-14I Pet.4:12-14

• There is the ideal way to deal with spiritual There is the ideal way to deal with spiritual problems but not everything is ideal!problems but not everything is ideal!

32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ just as God in Christ forgave youforgave you. . Eph.4Eph.4

1 Bitter and hateful1 Bitter and hateful

B. What Complicates This Heart CheckB. What Complicates This Heart Check

A. No One Can Grow With A Heart ProblemA. No One Can Grow With A Heart Problem

2 Wait on The Lord! 2 Wait on The Lord!

III. What Produces Spiritual III. What Produces Spiritual Growth?Growth?

A. The Pure Milk of God’s WordA. The Pure Milk of God’s Word

• It’s the same milk that gave saints birth It’s the same milk that gave saints birth into Christ Jesus into Christ Jesus I Pet.1:23I Pet.1:23

Two things stand out in this passageTwo things stand out in this passage

1 Desire for the milk 1 Desire for the milk Psa.34:8Psa.34:8

- Too often “religious people” starve - Too often “religious people” starve because they won’t drink the milkbecause they won’t drink the milk

- The only food that creates real faith and - The only food that creates real faith and keeps it growing is God’s Word keeps it growing is God’s Word Rom.10:17Rom.10:17

A. The Pure Milk of God’s WordA. The Pure Milk of God’s Word

• It’s the same milk that gave saints birth It’s the same milk that gave saints birth into Christ Jesus into Christ Jesus I Pet.1:23I Pet.1:23

Two things stand out in this passageTwo things stand out in this passage

1 Desire for the milk 1 Desire for the milk Psa.34aPsa.34a

2 The milk must be pure 2 The milk must be pure 2 Thess.2:10-122 Thess.2:10-12

- Mere change is not what saints look for - Mere change is not what saints look for but change for good but change for good Gal.2:3-5Gal.2:3-5

• There is a time to grow up into spiritual There is a time to grow up into spiritual adulthood adulthood Heb.5:12-14Heb.5:12-1414 But solid food belongs to those who are of 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their have their senses exercised to discern both senses exercised to discern both good and evilgood and evil. . Heb.5Heb.5

- There are some Bible subjects that are - There are some Bible subjects that are difficult to understand difficult to understand 2 Pet.3:162 Pet.3:16

B. Saints Must Grow To Eating MeatB. Saints Must Grow To Eating Meat

A. The Pure Milk of God’s WordA. The Pure Milk of God’s Word

Why Is Christian Growth Why Is Christian Growth Important?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