You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (2 Peter 3:17-18 – NASB95)
Howard Hendricks was one of the greatest professors in the history of Dallas Theological Seminary. He tells the story of coming home after a long road trip teaching and preaching. When he got home, one of his children wanted him to see how much she had grown while he was away. After lovingly affirming that she had grown one-tenth of a millimeter, the child asked “Daddy, why do big people stop growing?” Her question was about physical growth, but we can certainly ask the same thing about spiritual growth. “Why do big people stop growing spiritually?”
Jesus answered that question for us in John 15. For the past two Sundays we have been looking at what it means to “abide in the vine (Jesus).” I have been personally challenged by this study and am changing my lifestyle so I can spend more time with Jesus allowing Him to produce fruit in and through my life. It’s not easy to discern between what is good, better, and best. Most of what I do is good or better. But if I’m going to bear much fruit for the glory of God, I need to discern what is best, or in the words of the Apostle Paul, “choose the things that are excellent” (Phil. 1:9-11). This is part of what Paul was talking about when he challenged Timothy to “discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness” (1 Tim. 4:7). How do I avoid being one of those big people who stop growing spiritually? What does that look like in practical terms? What are some disciplines I can incorporate into my daily walk with Jesus so I can know Him better, keep on growing in His grace, and bear much fruit?
- Consistently listen to the Word of God preached and take notes. To facilitate this, say no to other things over the weekend so you can get rest and come to church on Sunday morning alert and ready to hear what God has to say through His Word. Print out the outline ahead of time, bring a pen and Bible, and be ready to take notes during the sermon. Then go over those notes throughout the week and prayerfully apply the principles of God’s Word to your life.
- Spend time daily reading God’s Word and praying. Set aside time each day in a place where you have few to no distractions and read the Bible. Meditate on the truth of what you read and think about how you can apply it in specific situations. Then pray what you read back to the Lord. Ask Him to make those truths real in your life that day and to give you opportunities to share them with others. If you don’t have a regular reading plan, I strongly suggest that you get a One-year Bible that will guide you to read the whole Bible in a year. A good one that I use is “The Daily Walk Bible” in the New Living Translation.
- Actively engage in a LIFE Group. We have them on Sunday mornings and throughout the week to give you options that best fit your weekly schedule. Get actively involved in one of the groups where you can exercise your spiritual gift(s) and practice the one anothers of Scripture. Studying, praying, sharing, serving, and evangelizing together will keep you on the path of consistent growth.
- Get involved in personal discipleship. Pursue relationships in the church where you can be discipled by a more mature believer and/or where you can disciple a less mature believer. Either way, the benefits are out of this world. The mutual accountability is life changing.
- Regularly share your faith with others. Telling others about Jesus will cause the Holy Spirit within you to rejoice, and it will put you in a place where questions are asked you may not be able to answer. You will pray with a broken heart for those who are lost, with a rejoicing heart over those who come to saving faith, and for your own heart to be right with Jesus so He can use you in greater ways. Since you can’t save anyone, you will grow in dependence upon the Spirit of God to open blind eyes and give new life to people who are spiritually dead.
That’s enough for this week. In the future we can talk about other spiritual disciplines to help you keep growing in the Lord (meditation, fasting, journaling, simplicity, solitude, stewardship…). These are grace gifts from the Lord so we can discipline ourselves for the purpose of godliness, abide in Jesus, grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, and bear much fruit. I look forward to seeing you on Sunday morning with your Bible, notes, and pen in hand!