Week 1 Do You Really Want to Grow

Week 1: Do You Really Want to Grow Up?

GROWTH IS GOD’S WILL … MANY PEOPLE ONLY GROW OLD, NOT UP! “We are not meant to remain as children at the mercy of every chance wind of teaching … Instead we are meant to hold firmly to the truth in love, and to grow up in every way into Christ. . ” Ephesians 4: 14 Phillips

SIX LAWS OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH: 1. WE GROW WHEN WE FEED ON GOD’S WORD

“People need more than bread for their life; they must feed on every Word of God. ” Matthew 4: 4 New Living Translation

“. . . THE WORD OF GRACE IS ABLE TO BUILD YOU UP AND GIVE YOU ALL THE BLESSINGS THAT GOD HAS FOR HIS PEOPLE. ” HOW? HEAR IT / READ IT / STUDY IT / MEMORIZE IT / MEDITATE ON IT / APPLY IT Acts 20: 32

2. WE GROW WHEN WE LEARN IN DIFFERENT WAYS: AUDITORY / VISUAL / VERBAL / DOING “IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS JOHN PREACHED THE GOOD NEWS TO THE PEOPLE. ” - LUKE 3: 18

3. WE GROW WHEN WE DEVELOP SPIRITUAL HABITS “HABIT” - UALLY “NOW THAT YOU KNOW THESE THINGS, YOU’LL BE BLESSED IF YOU PRACTICE THEM!” - JOHN 13: 17

“Solid food is for mature people, whose minds have been trained by practice to know the difference between good and evil. ” - Hebrews 5: 14

“All good athletes train hard and practice to get better. They do it to win a prize that won’t last. But we practice to win a prize that will last forever!” 1 Corinthians 9: 25

“Every day the believers had the habit of meeting together in the temple courts (to worship together) and also in their homes (for fellowship). They ate together and celebrated with happy and thankful hearts. ” Acts 2: 46 -47

“…They praised God and the whole community liked what they saw in these people. As a result, the Lord added to their groups daily as their neighbors were being saved. ” Acts 2: 46 -47

4. WE GROW WHEN WE HELP EACH OTHER GROW SPIRITUAL GROWTH IS RELATIONAL! YOU & I WILL NEVER GROW TO SPIRITUAL MATURITY BY OURSELVES!

“I want us to help each other with the faith we have. Your faith will help me, and my faith will help you. ” Romans 1: 12 New Century Version

“Let us be concerned for one another, to help one another to show love and to do good. Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Instead, let us encourage one another all the more. . . ” Hebrews 10: 24 -25 Today’s English Version

5. WE GROW WHEN WE EXPECT TO GROW CLAIM IT: * EXPECT TO GROW * SET A GOAL * PROCLAIM A GROWTH

6. WE GROW WHEN WE COMMIT TO GROW: - DO YOU REALLY WANT TO GROW UP? GET SERIOUS - READ IT, REFLECT ON IT, REMEMBER. . - 56 ONE ANOTHERS!

“You'll find me when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else…” Jeremiah 29: 13 The Message

PRAYER POINTERS!

Point 1: CHILL OUT … this isn’t a date! God already loves you!!! From Genesis through Revelation! “God has planted eternity in the human heart. ” Ecclesiastes 3: 11

Point 2: ACCEPT YOUR HUMANITY! “We don't even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. . . ” – Romans 8: 26 (NLT)

“One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When He finished, one of the disciples said ‘Lord, teach us to pray. . . ’” Luke 11: 1 New International Version

Point 3: Understand That Our Prayer Fears & Frustrations Come From Our Misconceptions!

• PRAYER IS NOT A MAGIC WAND!

• PRAYER IS NOT A FIRE EXTINGUISHER!

• PRAYER IS NOT A RITUAL TO RELIEVE GUILT!

Point 4: Prayer is Relationship! So, Embrace Your Perfect Parent’s Love … “The Lord is like a father to His children, tender and compassionate to those who reverence Him. ” - Psalm 103: 13

WHEN YOU PRAY, YOU ARE: * IN A CONVERSATION, NOT A CEREMONY * IN A RELATIONSHIP, NOT A RITUAL * A DAUGHTER OR A SON SHOWERED IN THE PARENT’S LOVE.

“Call to me and I will answer you. I will show you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own. ” Jeremiah 33: 3 The Message

“If you, being imperfect and sinful parents know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him? ” Matthew 7: 11 New Living Translation

“I don't want your sacrifices – I want your love! I don't want your offerings, I want you to know me!” Hosea 6: 6 Living Bible

ACTION STEP: JOIN A GROUP … AND: GROW MORE THAN OLD! … GROW BLESSED!