Introduction

The Christian life begins with conception. You must first be conceived! Physical growth is inevitable as long as you are healthy—you do not have to "try" to get taller; it just happens. However, spiritual growth is not automatic. Just because someone has been a Christian for twenty years does not mean they have grown spiritually. To "grow in the Lord" is a continuous process of becoming more like Christ in our thoughts, words, and actions. In this series, we will look at the stages of spiritual development.

Main Verse:

Main Points

"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen." Essentially this verse tells us that growth is an active command, not a passive occurrence. Physically, if we do not eat properly, our growth and development will be stunted. If we do not eat the balance diet required, our growth will be stunted. In the case of the spiritual, if we do not eat the right spiritual food, our growth will be stunted. If we do not eat at all, we will not even grow, and worse case eventually die spiritually.

• The danger of staying stagnant over time: "In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!" —

  Hebrews 5:12

  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.

• The goal: Becoming like Christ in thought and action: "Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to evaluate and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." —

  Romans 12:2

  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what {is} that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

• Growth requires "training" and effort: "Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things..." —

  1 Timothy 4:7-8

  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. {little: or, for a little time}

• The process of continuous transformation: "And we all... are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." —

  2 Corinthians 3:18

  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, {even} as by the Spirit of the Lord. {by the...: or, of the Lord the Spirit}

Memory Verse

Conclusion

Spiritual growth is a deliberate, lifelong journey of being transformed into the image of Christ. While physical growth happens automatically, however stunted or healthy, spiritual maturity requires us to be active participants—moving from the "milk" of infancy to the "solid food" of mature adulthood. We will expand on this theme in the following sessions.