GroMh PrinciPles

0, We grow as we PraY.
Jeremiah 33:3 Mark 11:24 Hebrews 4:16
1l 13 TRATNTNG
oBJEcrrvE#b Matthew 7:?,8 John 14:13,14 James4'.2b
I
PhiliPPians4:6,7 James5:16b

ll
Matthew 18:19
BASIC
4. We grow as we fellowshiP.
GROWTHPRINCIPLES l samuel 23:16 Matthew 18:20 Hebrews 7024,25

ii Proverbs27:17
Isaiah 35:3,4
John 17:21
Hebrews 3:13
l John 4:7

I OBJECTIVE
6. We grow as we witness.
The disciplehas a basicunderstandingof spiritual growtlr
principles and is aware of the beneficialinfluencesof bime,irrl Proverbs 11:30 Daniel 12:3 Acts 1:8
versity and the sovereigntyof God. Psahn107:2 Matthew 4:19 Rornans1:16
I BIBLICAL BASIS FOR THIS OBJECTIVE Psalm 126:5,6 Matthew 5:16 James 3:18
This training objectivecoversa lot of ground, and yorr'll Isaiah 58:10-12 John 4:32-34':' l Peter 3:15
probably need to do a considerableamount of backgrourrrl t'fAfter witnessing bo the wornan at the well]
study in order to master it. If you know what the Bible has to
say about the basic principles of Christian growth, you will lrr, 6. Growth takes time.
able to help your disciple immensely in his progress towarrl o Luke 3:23: Jesuskncw all along that tlg yut the Savior"God
maturity, but actually you will benefit even more! tft" So" if,.*" 2:49\, yet God withheld Hirn frorn rninis-tty
t.ttif HL *-. thitty veals old, in order to properly train Hirn
So I suggestyou look up the following versesand jot dowrr (Hebrews5:8).
a summary for each in your notebook.There is no way we cilrl oAcLs7:23-34: God puL Mosesthlough a folty.-ycartl'aitting
coverall existing growth principles here, nor doesyour disciplt' oioor.ur. i' tlre cori'ts Pha.ao5, [hctr a',tltcr fot'ty-yeat'
need to know them all this early in his life with Christ. Wrirl i;;iilt"g pirFil * thc'f wildelness of Midian, and l/rert de-
cidcd hE waJrcad-vto bcgil his ministry'
we're trying to do here is simply get a broad view of the major'
principles. o Galatians1:15- 2:1: Aftc.r'Paul'sdrarnaticconversionou the
ioad to Damasctts.God put hirn thr'<'lugh.a scvetltcell-year
1. We grow as we give Christ top priority in our lives. training proglaln bcfole Hc finally allowed hitn to latlnch l)ls
Matthew6:33 John15:5-7 2 Tinothy 2:4 public rninistry.
2 Corinthian. 3,t8 Ephcsians4:11-13 l Tirnothy 5:22
Luke 18:29,30 2:20
Galatians Hebrews11:26
Galatians4:19 PhiliPPians2:22
John12:26 Philippians1:21
7. Adversity facilitates gr'owtll.
2. We grow as we feed upon God's Word. l Petcr 5:10
Psalm 119:71 Hebrews5:8
,l o s h u a 1 :8 Psalm 119:130 John 15:3
Romans5:3-5 Jarnes1:2-4 Revelation3:19
I'nrrlrnll7:31 Matthew 4:4 2 Tirnotliv 3:16.17
Hebrews12:5-11 1 Peter 1:7
l ' r' trl trrl l l ):1 ).l l J o hn 6:63 Hebrews4:12
l ' ri rrl rrrI l l f : l ()5 J o l tn 8:31 l Peter 2:2 8. God sovereignly oversees our growth'
196
82 HANDBOOK
FORCHRIST|AN
tvtATURtTy ChristianAdventure 83

our livesuponour invitation. FOUR

LESSON
How can you be sure that if you ask fesus Christto
assumeHis rightfulplaceon the throneof your life He OF GROWTH
THE FIVEPRINCIPLES
will do so (1 John5:14,15)?

Do you really want Him to take control of your life? To understand the essentialsof Christian growth
and putthem into Practice.
2 TimothY2:15.
MEMORIZE:
We receivethe Lord JesusChrist by faith. How then do
we allow Him to control our lives moment by moment
Deciding to receivefesus
(Colossians
2:6)? st as on6's PersonalLord
Savioris the most imPortant
ce a person will-e-vermake.
Givethree reasonsfaith is so important(Hebrews11:6; an aci of faith which startsa
Romans14223;Romans1:171? le new life. fust as PhYsical
i"ouires,air,food,iestand
Ljil;;'dies-;t;ffii iiie requirecertainthings.b'.s.tonttq
-AJ"foptJnt.'This lessondealswith
Ji".fl,Lttg:l
one canknowthat he will growto'
.'rfltldi" ii" followed,
spiritualmaturitY in Christ.
Ufe Application \ GOD
The secretof the abundantlife is to allow fesusChristto Sttdy
controlone'slife momentby moment When one realizeshe
hassinned,he shouldconfesshis sin immediately, thankGod Prtnciple one: we must BIBLE
for forgivinghim and continueto walkin fellowshipwith God. studyGod'sWord
1. Listareasof your life that you feel shouldbe broughtunder Readfames121&?17.
One would not think
the controlofJesusChrist: of going without PhYsical
food for a week or tor
even a day. lt is necessary
for physiial life.-Without
food, one becomes
eventuallY

i )1,:
weakened and
2. To make1 fohn 1:9 meaningful in yourlife: may become ill. Lack of
Makea list of your sinsand failureson a separatesheetof spiiitual food Produces
paper. the same results in our JI
Claim1 John1:9for yourown life bywritingthewordsof the spirituallives. \ a -/
verseoverthe list 7. What is the food of
Thank God for His forgiveness and cleansingand then the YoungChristian(1 Peter2:2X
destroythe list
84 85
lhe Christian Adventure
2. fesussaid,"Man shallnot live by breadalone.,,How did it?
Whydidhecommand
He say that we should live and'be nourished(Matthew
2, Whydid Peterfail to resisttemptation?
424)?

3. Whatwasthe mostseriousresultof Peter'sprayerlessness?

3. Listthe two characteristics

of the workmanof whom God
4, Why did Christ experienceinner power to face the
approves, accordingto 2 Timothy2:15.
test of His life?
severest

4. Whatdid Jesussayaboutthosewho readandbelieveGod,s

Word(John8:31)? 5. How oftenarewe to pray(1 Thessalonians
5:17X

5. Whendoesthe manwho is spirituallymaturemeditateon

theWordof God(Psalm
1:2,3)?

6. ln what specificwaysdo you expectGod,sWord to affect

you?

Principletwo: we mustpray
ReadMatthew26:31-75. Principlethree: we mustfellowship with other Christians
ReadCorinthians12:12'27.
Fellowshipis spendingtime.and.doing.thingswith others
who loveChiist.f ristas severallogsburn brightlytogether,but
the fire goesout of one placedaloneon the cold hearth,so clo

?
(., ,
r.,
1, What was Jesus'commandin
G

\r
ltl S
I
..

\r
a
Matthew26:41?
Christiansneedto work togetheror the fire of enthusiasm will
Fellowship is vitaifor Christiangrowth' That is why
Jo out.
ihurch attendanceis imPortant.
 86 HANDBOOKFORCHRISTIANMATURITY ChristianAdventure 87

1. fu God'schildren,what shouldwe not neglect(Hebrews

10:23-25.l?

2. Accordingto the aboveverses,what shouldwe do for one

another? 1. What is the greatestthing that hasever happenedto you?

3. The new believersin Acts 2:42 continued steadfastlyin

whatfour things? What, then, is the greatest thing you can do for another
person?
own attitude con-
-- tn Romans1:14-16, Paul tells us hisgospel
2.
cetning the matter' of sharing. the
-his three "l am's" as the keys to the.with others'
Using passage,
4. In what ways do you profit from Christian fellowship? desciibe his attitude in your own words.

5. Why is it-importantfor a Christianto be part of a small

group with other Christianswho are sharirigthe Word of
cod?

Compare your owr attitude concerningwitnessingwith

D. Principlefour: we mustwitnessfor Christ
that of Paul's.

?
t\
What did Petertelt us we shoutd alwaysbe readyto do
lt'sr) a
(1 Peter3:15)?
5. WhatwasJesus'Promisein Acts1:8?
a
6. Name at leastthree peopteto whomyou canwitnessin
Read Acts 26:12-29.
the power of Christ.
A witnessis a personwho tellswhat he hasseenand heard.
He shareshis own personalexperience.Anyone who
 B9
88 HANDBOOKFORCHRISTIANMATURIW The ChristianAdventure

It is the privilegeand responsibilityof every Christianto 6. Where do we get the power to obey God (PhiliPPians
reach"his world" with the messageof Christ.(lf you would 22131?
like to receiveinformationregardinghow to witnesseffec-
tively for Christ, write to Campus Crusadefor Christ,
Arrowhead Springs,San Bernardino,Ca 92414. Ask for you
fn fight of Christ'sillustrationin Luke 6246'49,whydo
specialllypreparedmaterialsconcerningwitnessingfor Christ
think obedience to Christ is imperative for your life?
Principlefive: we must obey God
ReadRomans6:14-23.
The key to rapid growth in the
Christian life is instantaneousobe-
diencetothe willof Cod.Knowingthe
principlesof groMh is of no value
unlesswe actuallyapply them to our
lives.This is why obedienceis a basic
necessityto all Christian growth. To
be disobedientto the One who loves
usand who aloneknowswhat is really
best for us would be sheer folly.
Rememberthat He is even more
desirousthan you are that you have
an abundantlife.
1. What did Christteach concerning
: ""F'"lr:
JD

the possibilityof serv in gmo re

than one master(Matthew 6:24)?

2. How much are you to love the Lord (Matthew 222371?

3. How can you prove that you love Him (John 14:21)?

4. What will be the result of keeping Christ's command-

ments(John15:10-11)?

5. What would you sayGod's standardlife is for those who

saythey are abidingin Christ(1 John 2:6)?