Therefore, laying aside all malice, all guile,

hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as

newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the
word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you
have tasted that the Lord is gracious. (1 Peter
2:1-3)

ASPECTS OF SPIRITUAL
GROWTH

There are many terms in the NT which

describe the Christian.
He is a disciple, a branch, a sheep, a lively
stone, a soldier and a saint.
Each of these reflects some quality or trait
that should characterize the Christian.
From the standpoint of the new birth, a
Christian is a child of God.
At first, he is a babe in Christ.

ASPECTS OF SPIRITUAL
GROWTH
But each Christian is expected to grow to
spiritual maturity.
The means of spiritual growth is the word
of God.
As newborn babes, desire the pure milk
of the word, that you may grow thereby.
(1 Peter 2:2)

ASPECTS OF SPIRITUAL
GROWTH
But each Christian is expected to grow to
spiritual maturity.
The means of spiritual growth is the word of
God.
But there are several aspects of both physical
and spiritual growth. There will be:
Changes
Challenges
Pain
Joy

THERE WILL BE CHANGES

Our children change daily, though
gradually, right before our eyes.
Their physical appearance changes.
Their eating habits change.
Their moods change.
Their abilities change.
Our hearts are touched by children whose
growth is stunted, for this is not natural.
We expect our children to grow and we
realize that this involves change.

THERE WILL BE
CHANGES
As a Christian grows spiritually, he or she
also goes through certain changes.
The new birth brings about a change in
relationship from servant of sin to
servant of righteousness.
Spiritual growth brings about a change in
ones knowledge and understanding.
Spiritual growth brings about a change in
faith and love.
Spiritual growth brings about a change in
ones attitudes and actions.

CHANGES IN A CHILD OF
GOD
A change in relationship from servant of
sin to servant of righteousness

But God be thanked that though you were

slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart
that form of doctrine to which you were
delivered. And having been set free from
sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
(Rom. 6:17-18)

CHANGES IN A CHILD OF
GOD
A change in relationship from servant of
sin to servant of righteousness
A change in knowledge and understanding

For though by this time you ought to be

teachers, you need someone to teach you
again the first principles of the oracles of
God; and you have come to need milk and
not solid food. For everyone who partakes
only of milk is unskilled in the word of
righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid
food belongs to those who are of full age,
that is, those who by reason of use have
their senses exercised to discern both good
and evil. (Heb. 5:12-14)

CHANGES IN A CHILD OF
GOD
A change in relationship from servant of
sin to servant of righteousness
A change in knowledge and understanding
A change in faith and love

We are bound to thank God always for you,

brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith
grows exceedingly, and the love of every
one of you all abounds toward each other. (2
Thess. 1:3)

CHANGES IN A CHILD OF
GOD
A change in relationship from servant of
sin to servant of righteousness
A change in knowledge and understanding
A change in faith and love
A change in attitudes

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,

longsuffering,
faithfulness,
Therefore
if kindness,
there is goodness,
any consolation
in
gentleness,
Against
there
no
Christ,
if self-control.
any comfort
of such
love,
if isany
law. And those
who
are Christ's
have crucified
fellowship
of the
Spirit,
if any affection
and
the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live
mercy,
fulfill my joy by being likeminded,
in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us
having the same love, being of one accord,
not become conceited, provoking one another,
of
one mind.
Let nothing
be done through
envying
one another.
(Gal. 5:22-26)
selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech
of
let worthy
each esteem
others
better
youmind
to walk
of the calling
with
whichthan
you
himself.
Let each
of you
look out
only for
were called,
with all
lowliness
andnot
gentleness,
his
interests, bearing
but also
forone
theanother
interests
withown
longsuffering,
with
in
of
others.
(Phil. 2:1-4)
love,
endeavoring
to keep the unity of the Spirit
in the bond of peace. (Eph. 4:1-3)

CHANGES IN A CHILD OF
GOD
A change in relationship from servant of
sin to servant of righteousness
A change in knowledge and understanding
A change in faith and love
A change in attitudes
A change in actions

Therefore, putting away lying, Let each one of you

speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members
of one another. Be angry, and do not sin: do not
let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place
That
you put
off,who
concerning
former
to
the devil.
Let him
stole steal your
no longer,
but
conduct,
thelabor,
old working
man which
grows
rather
let him
with his
handscorrupt
what is
good,
that heto
maythe
havedeceitful
somethinglusts,
to giveand
him who
according
be
has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your
renewed
theisspirit
mind,edification,
and that
mouth,
butin
what
goodof
foryour
necessary
you itput
on
the new
which
wasAnd
created
that
may
impart
graceman
to the
hearers.
do not
grieve
the Holy
Spiritinoftrue
God,righteousness
by whom you were
according
to God,
and
sealed
for the
day4:22-24)
of redemption. Let all bitterness,
holiness.
(Eph.
wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away
from you, with all malice. And be kind to one
another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just
as God in Christ forgave you. (Eph. 4:25-32)

THERE WILL BE
CHALLENGES
Children face many challenges at various
stages of life as they grow to physical
maturity.
Four- and five-year-olds, preteens and
teenagers all have their peculiar
challenges.
But, in spite of these challenges, we still
encourage physical growth.
We simply try to help them rise to the
challenges we know they will face.

THERE WILL BE
CHALLENGES
Spiritual growth also involves challenges.
The five-talent man (Matt. 25) not only
had greater responsibility, he also had a
greater challenge than both the one- and
two-talent men.

For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling

to a far country, who called his own servants and
delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave
five talents, to another two, and to another one, to
each according to his own ability; and immediately
he went on a journey. Then he who had received
the five talents went and traded with them, and
made another five talents. And likewise he who had
received two gained two more also. But he who had
received one went and dug in the ground, and hid
his lord's money. After a long time the lord of those
servants came and settled accounts with them. So
he who had received five talents came and brought
five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to
me five talents; look, I have gained five more
talents

besides them.' His lord said to him, 'Well done,

good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a
few things, I will make you ruler over many things.
Enter into the joy of your lord.' He also who had
received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you
delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two
more talents besides them.' His lord said to him,
'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have
been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler
over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'
Then he who had received the one talent came
and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man,
reaping where you have not sown, and gathering
where you have not scattered seed. And I was
afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground.'

'Look, there you have what is yours.' But his

lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and
lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have
not sown, and gather where I have not scattered
seed. So you ought to have deposited my money
with the bankers, and at my coming I would
have received back my own with interest.
Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to
him who has ten talents. For to everyone who
has, more will be given, and he will have
abundance; but from him who does not have,
even what he has will be taken away. And cast
the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness.
There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
(Matt. 25:14-30)

THERE WILL BE
CHALLENGES
Spiritual growth also involves challenges.
The five-talent man (Matt. 25) not only
had greater responsibility, he also had a
greater challenge than both the one- and
two-talent men.
Growth doesnt mean life gets easier; it
means the challenges get bigger.
The more we know and understand about
His word, the more God expects of us in
return.

Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow

we will go to such and such a city, spend a
year there, buy and sell, and make a profit;
whereas you do not know what will happen
tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a
vapor that appears for a little time and then
vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, If
the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or
that. But now you boast in your arrogance.
All such boasting is evil. Therefore, to him
who knows to do good and does not do it, to
him it is sin. (James 4:17)

THERE WILL BE PAIN

What child has not experienced pain while
growing up?
A baby tries to walk but falls down and skins
his knees. Does the parent say, I dont want
my babys knees skinned, so Im not going to
teach him to walk? Of course not!
Children get their share of bumps and
bruises while learning to swing, roller skate,
ride a bicycle, etc., but its all part of growing
up!

THERE WILL BE PAIN

Spiritual growth also involves a certain
amount of pain.
We must exercise our spiritual senses.
But solid food belongs to those who are
of full age, that is, those who by reason
of use have their senses exercised to
discern both good and evil. (Heb. 5:1214)

THERE WILL BE PAIN

Spiritual growth also involves a certain
amount of pain.
We must exercise our spiritual senses.
Spiritual
exercise
[godliness]
is
profitable for all things, having promise
of the life that now is and of that which is
to come. (1 Tim. 4:8)
Spiritual exercise is strenuous.

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. 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. Therefore I run thus:
not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one
who beats the air. But I discipline my body
and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have
preached to others, I myself should become
disqualified. (1 Cor. 9:24-27)

THERE WILL BE PAIN

Spiritual growth also involves a certain
amount of pain.
We must exercise our spiritual senses.
(Heb. 5:14)
Spiritual exercise [godliness] is profitable
for all things, having promise of the life that
now is and of that which is to come. (1 Tim.
4:8)
Spiritual exercise is strenuous.
Christians are often called upon to make
difficult, painful decisions.

Do not think that I came to bring peace on

earth. I did not come to bring peace but a
sword. For I have come to 'set a man against
his father, a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-inlaw'; and 'a man's enemies will be those of
his own household.' He who loves father or
mother more than Me is not worthy of Me.
And he who loves son or daughter more
than Me is not worthy of Me. (Matt. 10:3437)

Then Peter began to say to Him, See, we

have left all and followed You. So Jesus
answered and said, Assuredly, I say to you,
there is no one who has left house or
brothers or sisters or father or mother or
wife or children or lands, for My sake and
the gospel's, who shall not receive a
hundredfold now in this time--houses and
brothers and sisters and mothers and
children and lands, with persecutions--and in
the age to come, eternal life. (Mark 10:2830)

THERE WILL BE PAIN

Spiritual growth also involves a certain amount
of pain.
We must exercise our spiritual senses. (Heb.
5:14)
Spiritual exercise [godliness] is profitable for
all things, having promise of the life that now is
and of that which is to come. (1 Tim. 4:8)
Spiritual exercise is strenuous.
Christians are often called upon to make
difficult, painful decisions.
Someone has said, No pain, no gain.

THERE WILL BE JOY

There will be joy in a parent whose children
have grown up and become successful in life.
It is exciting to see them learn new
things and develop new skills.
Children also experience joy as they grow
in knowledge, understanding and ability.
Likewise, spiritual growth is joyous!
Consider the words of John the apostle.
I have no greater joy than to hear that
my children walk in truth. (3 John 4)

THERE WILL BE JOY

There will be joy in a parent whose children
have grown up and become successful in life.
It is exciting to see them learn new things
and develop new skills.
Children also experience joy as they grow
in knowledge, understanding and ability.
Likewise, spiritual growth is joyous!
Consider the words of John the apostle.
We are to be joyful in our own growth.

For this reason we also, since the day we

heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to
ask that you may be filled with the
knowledge of His will in all wisdom and
spiritual understanding; that you may have
a walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing
Him, being fruitful in every good work and
increasing in the knowledge of God;
strengthened with all might, according to His
glorious power, for all patience and
longsuffering with joy. (Col. 1:9-11)

THERE WILL BE JOY

There will be joy in a parent whose children
have grown up and become successful in life.
It is exciting to see them learn new things
and develop new skills.
Children also experience joy as they grow in
knowledge, understanding and ability.
Likewise, spiritual growth is joyous!
Consider the words of John the apostle.
We are to be joyful in our own growth.
We are even to be joyful in tribulation.

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we

have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
Christ, through whom also we have access by
faith into this grace in which we stand, and
rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not
only that, but we also glory in tribulations,
knowing
that
tribulation
produces
perseverance; and perseverance, character;
and character, hope. (Rom. 5:1-4)
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into
various trials, knowing that the testing of your
faith produces patience. But let patience have
its perfect work, that you may be perfect and
complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:2-4)

There is only one alternative to spiritual

growth.

Let us grow in the grace and knowledge

of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:18)