Personal Christian Growth

1. Read: 2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”

2. About the Text:

1) Peter is writing to Christians.

2) At the close of this, his second epistle, he gives a command to all Christians.

3) Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

4) For something to grow it needs.

i. Proper Nourishment.

ii. Proper Exercise

iii. Proper Rest

5) In humans growth depends upon our attitude toward it.

6) What is the alternative to growth?

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. Improper Nourishment

i. Junk Food

ii. Candy

iii. Eating too much of one thing.

iv. Not eating enough.

2. Proper Nourishment

i. Balanced diet.

ii. Whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27). “I shunned not to declare unto you the whole counsel of God.”

iii. Matthew 4:4 “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”

3. Good Spiritual Nutrition

i. Matt.5:6 Hunger and Thirst “Blessed is they who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.”

ii. John 6:27, 35, 48-69, 63 Meat and Drink/Bread of Life

iii. John 4:13, 14; Rev.22:17 Living Water

iv. Acts 17:11 Ready mind and open Bible. “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

v. Acts 2:42 “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

vi. Hebrews 5:12-14 Word of God is Meat and Milk–we must grow “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

1. Improper Exercise

i. Too much exercise will burn a person out.

ii. Not enough exercise will cause atrophy.

2. Proper Exercise

i. 1 Tim.4:7,8 Exercise in godliness “But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come”

ii. Hebrews 5:14 Exercise to discern “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

iii. Hebrews 12:11 Exercise to bear the fruit of righteousness “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”

iv. Acts 24:16 Exercise to have a conscience void of offense “And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.”

v. Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to OBSERVE all things “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

1. Improper rest

i. Too much rest causes laziness.

ii. Not enough rest causes lack of sobriety.

2. Proper Rest

i. Must rest from daily life activities.

ii. Meditation Psalm 119:97 “Oh how love I thy law. It is my meditation all the day.”

iii. Psalm 1:2 “But his delight is in the law of the Lord and upon His law doth he meditate day and night.”

iv. Prayer Matt.14:23, Mark 6:46

v. Singing James 5:13

vi. Worship John 4:24

vii. Lectureships, Devotionals, Fellowships, Youth Rallys, Bible Camps.

1. To grow spiritually, we must maintain the proper balance in our life. This involves….

i. The proper nourishment.

ii. The proper exercise.

iii. The proper rest.

2. Invitation

i. If you are a Christian but have fallen away

1) You have failed to grow.

2) What is the alternative?

ii. If you are not a Christian this morning . . .

1) You need to be born into Christ and begin to grow.

2) Heed the plan that it has for man’s salvation today!

i) Hear the word; Romans 10:17 “Faith comes by hearing . . .”

ii) Believe with all your heart; Hebrews 11:6 “For without faith it is impossible . . . .”

iii) Repent of your sins (Acts 17:30).

iv) Confess Jesus as the Son of God (Matt.16:16).

v) Be baptized for the remission of your sins (Mark 16:15,16).