We had a great group meeting last night. Three members from the Damascus group came (Alex, Justin, and John) due to a last minute cancellation. It worked out great for us because they balanced out our guy to girl ratio.
We discussed The Necessity of Spiritual Growth, and addressed such questions like:
- How have you grown over the past 1-2 yrs?
- How can you tell?
- Where do you still need to grow?
- What does a “mature” christian look like?
- What are consequences for refusing to grow?
If you think about it, baby’s are cute with their little bibs, but a 20-something year old, wearing a bib with food all over his face is anything BUT cute. Much like a baby grows in Height, Weight, and Appearance, we should be growing similarly in our spiritual life. How?
As we get taller, we have a different perspective. Spiritually, we should be getting “taller” and getting different (and better) perspectives as God’s Will is revealed in our lives.
As we gain weight, we get stronger. Big strong muscular people are heavier than small, thin, weak people. In the same way, we should be putting on healthy spiritual weight (knowledge in the Word, strength in numbers with christian fellowship, etc.) to help us combat the enemy.
We literally change in our appearance as we mature. We become more shapely, grow hair, and develop style and personality. Ever notice how we’ve received comments from distant relatives about how much we’ve “blossomed” or “grown”? Similarly, there should be a noticeable difference in our appearance as Christians. There’s value to consistency in some things, but we should not look the same from year to year spiritually. People should be able to notice how you’ve changed for the better over time.
Check yourself. If you’re not GROWING, are you becoming that disgusting guy with a bib, talking baby talk and pooping your pants?
11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Ephesians 4:11-16
(Contact me if you’d like a .pdf of the handout for this bible study.)
The Calm Before the Storm 