Thrive – healthy and growing in all areas of your life.
Have you seen people or situations where there is little or no growth.
Big Idea: Make the decision to grow.
Scripture: 2 Peter 1:2-11 NLT – 2 May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. 3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. 5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. 8 The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.
What do we know about spiritual growth? (Growing in your relationship with Jesus)
o Growth is Expected
§ 2 Peter 1:2 NLT – 2 May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.
§ Hebrews 5:11-12 NLT – 11 There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. 12 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.
o All we Need to Grow…we Have
§ God has given us everything we need.
· 2 Peter 1:3 NLT – 3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.
· Godly – a life of reverence for God. A life that reflects His transformation.
§ The Holy Spirit…
· Helps us to say no to sin
· Comforts us when we need it
· Guides us into all truth
o John 16:13 NIV – …when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.
§ God’s Word
· 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT – 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
§ The Church – other people who set the example and help us
· Ephesians 4:12 NLT – 11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
· Hebrews 10:24 NLT – 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.
o God’s Promises should motivate us to Grow
§ 2 Peter 1:5a NLT – 5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises.
§ What are some of God’s promises?
· Abundant Life here and now
o John 10:10 NIV – 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
· Eternal Life
o John 17:3 NLT – 3 And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.
Getting Practical
1. Have you made an intentional decision to grow?
2. What is hindering your spiritual growth?
3. What is right in front of you that will help you grow?
What is hindering growth in my life with Christ?
o Hebrews 10:24 NLT – 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.
Next Steps
o Memorize: Hebrews 10:24 NLT
o Evaluate: What is hindering my spiritual growth?
o Action: Make a decision to grow and pursue every opportunity/relationship that will help you grow.