This post is from the Sunday morning message, “Rethinking Spiritual Growth.” You can listen to the message at this link and discuss it with your lifegroup using the questions below. PLEASE NOTE that this entry ONLY WORKS within the context of JUSTIFICATION, as explained in Sunday’s message.
Have you ever grown anything? (anything… plants, animals, businesses, etc.)
A pastor I know used to always make this statement, “Any living thing that isn’t growing is dying.” Do you agree with that statement? Why or why not? Typically, how can you tell that something is growing? How do we typically measure growth?
On Sunday, I talked about how spiritual growth is sort of the opposite of every other kind of growth… In a sense, we grow spiritually by becoming smaller. What does that mean? Do you agree? John the Baptist was a great example of this for us.
I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.’ He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less. -John 3:28, 30
The Apostle Paul seemed to understand this idea, also… Here’s what he wrote:
I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. -2 Corinthians 12:9-10
On Sunday, the last blank on the page was “when I disappear, He is revealed.” Is this true? Does it fit with what John the Baptist and the Apostle Paul said? If so… What does this mean for us?
So, back to the earlier question… Can I measure my spiritual growth? Can other people measure my spiritual growth? Okay, probably not… At least you can’t put it on a chart. So, here’s the big question for us… Does the inability to precisely measure our spiritual growth allow a permissiveness on our part to remain stagnant? Does this somewhat contribute to a laziness or even ambivalence about growing spiritually? Can we find support for this in Scripture?
You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong. -Hebrews 5:12-14
While we may not be able to incrementally measure our spiritual growth, what is the gold standard for the growth pattern, according to Jesus?
Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them. -John 14:21
So, it looks like we will be held responsible to live what we have been given. What is the result?
Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. -Ephesians 4:14-15
Just think about what it will be like to have consistent spiritual growth, to be used by God in peoples’ lives, and to look back on a long track record of faithfulness and obedience to Him…
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing. -2 Timothy 4:7-8