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Christian Growth

Christian Growth. Week 7 - Community as a Means of Growth. Preparation. Turn your assignment into the “ In Basket ” and pick up handout for Week 7. Take out your “ Exam Review Guide ” and go over page one with a partner, asking each other questions from Weeks 1, 2 and 3.

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Christian Growth

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  1. Christian Growth • Week 7 - Community as a Means of Growth

  2. Preparation... • Turn your assignment into the “In Basket” and pick up handout for Week 7. • Take out your “Exam Review Guide” and go over page one with a partner, asking each other questions from Weeks 1, 2 and 3. • A friend says “God gave humans His law so we can earn His acceptance by obeying it,” use a verse to respond to your friend.

  3. Introduction • Week 1 - new standing in Christ! • Week 2 - deep look at sin & its source • Week 3 - new identity, spiritual provisions (needs), growth resulting from operating in our new identity (know-consider-present)

  4. Introduction • Week 4 - role of Biblical faith in growing as Christians • Week 5 - role of the Holy Spirit in helping us grow as Christians • Week 6 - our relationship to God’s law as Christians

  5. Introduction • Last four weeks... • looked at the essential theological dynamics of spiritual growth (grace, faith, sin, law) • Rest of the course... • look at the practical ways we pursue spiritual growth

  6. Introduction • MOG • God’s Word • Community (koinonia) • Prayer • We pursue SG by participating in the MOG similar to the how the early church lived...and through God’s discipline (LATER) • Acts 2:42* - They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

  7. General Important Principles concerning the MOG • God’s prescribed avenues • these are how we relate personally to Jesus and are nourished by God’s grace • NOT ways to earn/keep God’s acceptance or approval... • Means of Growth ➔ Means of experiencing God’s Grace • Attitude ➔ “I get to” vs. “I have to”

  8. General Important Principles concerning the MOG • We need to consistently participate in the MOG • “...continuously devoted themselves...” • Lifestyle vs. something I plug into when it’s convenient

  9. General Important Principles concerning the MOG • If these are prescribed by God for us to relate to Jesus and experience his grace, what opposition might we face? • How do we overcome this opposition (think back to walking in the Spirit and Faith)?

  10. General Important Principles concerning the MOG • We need to participate in the MOG so we grow and develop... • A lifestyle that thrives on these spiritual activities. • An understanding of our internal spiritual struggle and the attacks by Satan.

  11. General Important Principles concerning the MOG • We need a “balanced diet” of all the MOG... • not specializing in one or two while neglecting the others, this can cause problems. • Example: just private prayer and bible study is not enough. What would be missing?

  12. General Community Word Prayer Important Principles concerning the MOG • We need a “balanced diet” of all the MOG... • MOG overlap... they are not entirely separate categories • Example...

  13. General Important Principles concerning the MOG • The MOG are an avenue through which we give God’s love and grace to others. • “set our minds on the things of the Spirit (receiving)” • “keep in step with the Spirit (giving)” • If only receive ➔ consumer mentality

  14. General Important Principles concerning the MOG • The MOG are an avenue through which we give God’s love and grace to others. • Prayer - supplication/intercessory - offering up prayers for others • The Word - learning the Bible so you can instruct others • Community - opportunity to build others up and speak the truth in love to one another

  15. General Important Principles concerning the MOG • We should participate in the MOG in both spontaneous and planned ways. • scheduled prayer times vs spontaneous times • same for relating to others and getting into God’s Word • planned and spontaneous MOG complement one another

  16. General Important Principles concerning the MOG • We should participate in the MOG both privately and corporately • Bible - Christians pray alone and with others • Meditate on the Word alone and they study and discuss the Word with others • Lean against all such dichotomous tendencies if you want to have a healthy spiritual life!

  17. Quick Review • Go back over the six General Principles concerning the MOG and pick one or two that are most challenging for you

  18. Community as a MOG John 17:20-23 “I...ask for these...who will believe in me...that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you...so that the world may believe that you have sent me...and loved them even as you loved me. • Emphasizing Community is a better place to start for new Christians • Practical • Missiological/Evangelical

  19. Community as a MOG The western view that exalts autonomous individualism is false, and Christian attempts to accommodate this view will fail to develop mature Christians who are vital witnesses for Jesus. • Emphasizing Community is a better place to start for new Christians • Practical • Missiological/Evangelical • Theological • Ephesians 4:11-16**

  20. Encourage Admonish Serve Be patient Love one another Confessyour sins Bear each other’s burdens Accept Forgive How Involved? • Need to be involved enough to practice the one-anothers reciprocally

  21. How Involved? Romans 12:4-8 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. • Need to be involved enough that we can discover and use our God-given spiritual gifts (Eph. 4:11-16**) • Each has been given gifts to build up the Body • Need to be involved enough to regularly contribute our gifts and regularly receive others’ gifts

  22. How Involved? • Ponderful Questions • How is this different than simply “going to church” on Sundays? • Are you involved enough to see and appreciate the diversity of gifts in the church? • Are you involved enough that you are gaining clarity on your specific roles/gifts and using them consistently to build others up?

  23. How Involved? • CONTEXT IN WHICH THIS HAPPENS • Increasing clarity normally develops only as you get involved in community and love/serve others consistently (one anothers, follow up, discipling) • In this context of serving, God begins to give you insight into your own spiritual gifts.

  24. How Involved? • INDICATORS OF GIFTING • Feedback from others, consistent desire • Needs you see, experience of God’s power and joy as you serve • God-given opportunities in response to prayer • As you gain insight, you also gain responsibility to faithfully use your gifts to serve others

  25. How Involved? • How involved in community should we be? (support with Scriptures)

  26. that Beliefs/Attitudes Impede involvement in Christian Community • We shouldn’t legislate or impose • Key ➔ develop deep theological and principle-based convictions • Let’s look at some common attitudes that impede Christian community and the Biblical provision for each...

  27. that Beliefs/Attitudes Impede 1 Cor 12:15-19 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? Romans 12:3-5 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. involvement in Christian Community • Autonomy/individualism vs. Healthy Individuality

  28. that Beliefs/Attitudes Impede involvement in Christian Community • Spiritual pride vs. humility & self-distrust • Heb. 3:12,13 Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

  29. that Beliefs/Attitudes Impede involvement in Christian Community • Relational idolatry vs. trusting God to meet love needs. • 1 Pet. 4:19 Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.

  30. that Beliefs/Attitudes Impede involvement in Christian Community • Materialism vs. gaining joy and significance from taking up the role God gives you in the church. • Preoccupation with media or hobbies vs. finding blessing (joy and peace) through God’s work

  31. that Beliefs/Attitudes Impede involvement in Christian Community • Super-spiritualityvs. scriptural priorities & wise counsel • Tribalism vs. realizing that community involvement is necessary for a healthy marriage & family (Colossians 3)

  32. that Beliefs/Attitudes Impede involvement in Christian Community • Moral impurity (e.g., sexual immorality; substance abuse) vs. walking in the light • 1 Jn. 1:7 But if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

  33. that Beliefs/Attitudes Impede involvement in Christian Community • Excessive dependence on Social Networking vs. real friends that you grow with • 1 Thess. 2:17-3:11, Paul longing to see the Thessalonians face to face • Quote from Douglas Grootuis, The Soul in Cyberspace

  34. that Beliefs/Attitudes Impede involvement in Christian Community • Previous bad experiences with Christian community may sour one’s perspective vs. embrace healthy community as God’s will as revealed in Scripture

  35. that Beliefs/Attitudes Impede involvement in Christian Community • Which do you struggle with? • Acknowledge wrong actions, beliefs, attitudes and repent, NOT MINIMIZE and RATIONALIZE • Some are broken by decisive repentance (sins of commission) • Others are gradually expelled (omission)

  36. Christian Joy of living in Community John 15:11-12 “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.” • Repenting will NOT be enough to build a lifestyle that thrives in Christian community! • We must embrace the promise that real Christian community leads to fullness of joy • Q: What do you think are some ways God gives us his joy through community?

  37. Christian Joy of living in Community • The joy of experiencing God’s help and encouragement in personal and timely ways through your brothers and sisters vs. being adrift and/or alone when crises hit

  38. Christian Joy of living in Community • The joy experienced when giving God’s love to others (Jn. 13:17; Acts 20:35) vs. the disappointment & bondage of seeking joy from favorable circumstances & people treating you the way you desire

  39. Christian Joy of living in Community • The joy of deep and lasting spiritual friendships vs. the hollowness & loneliness of shallow relationships • The joy of being part of a team and playing your special role in ministry

  40. Christian Joy of living in Community • The joy of seeing God draw others to Christ through your community • The joy of seeing spiritual children flourish and mature (3 Jn. 1:4; 1 Thess. 2:19)

  41. Christian Joy of living in Community • Ponderful Questions... • How much joy do you want to have? • How deep do you want this joy to be? • How long do you want this joy to last? • What One step of faith does God want you to take toward Christian community?

  42. Conclusion • MOG are God’s provisions for us to know Jesus more and experience God’s grace as we • seek Him • give his love away to others • Community is VITAL...

  43. Conclusion • Goal for tonight: • To understand the role community in our own spiritual development

  44. Questions?

  45. Next Week • God’s Word as a Means of Growth/Grace

  46. Memory Verses • Acts 2:42* • Eph 4:11-16**

  47. Assignment • McCallum, Members of One Another, Chapters 2 & 3. Write responses as requested on handout. • Shane Hipps, “From the Printing Press to the iPhone” (extra pts) • Turkle, “The Flight From Conversation” (extra pts)

  48. Corporate Prayer

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