Lesson One Why Growing as a Christian Is So Important II Peter 3:18 1. What are the some of the first principles of the oracles of God? (Hebrews 5:12, 6:1-2) 2. Are Christians to totally forget the first principles? (6:1) 3. When we leave the first principles, what are we to do? (6:1) 4. Why should we grow and go on to perfection as Christians? 5. What could happen if we do not grow? (6:4-6) 6. From 5:12-14, what are 3 or 4 evidences of spiritual immaturity? What does this tell you that strong Christians should be able to do? 7. What is the main thought of II Timothy 2:15? 8. What four things did the Lord grow in? (Luke 2:52) 9. An in-depth study of Ephesians 4:11-16 Discuss evangelists, teachers and pastors equipping the saints for the work of ministering...for edifying the body of Christ...building it up. The objective is to help everyone come to the ONE faith and to KNOW Jesus Christ and thus be completely developed...and the measure of that completeness is how fully we look like Christ. To fill out the full stature of Him. This will prevent the potentially disastrous problem of being led off course in our beliefs. (vs. 14) Rather, we will be able to speak the truth in a loving manner and grow up in Christ (our title for this series of lessons) to grow up in every way into to the body s head, Jesus.
In verse 16, it is from the Head (Christ) that we all receive the impetus for growth...but notice the way it works...it is in every joint supplying something...every part effectively contributing something...doing it s share...that causes growth and edification of itself. It is not mystically done by the Head for us, but with us. Lesson Two Growing ChildLIKE, Not Childish Mark 10:13-16; I Corinthians 13:11 CHILDISH CHARACTERISTICS (Grow out of these) 1. What is meant by "tossed to and fro" and how are we to no longer be this way? (Ephesians 4:14-16) 2. Luke 7:31-35. What is typical of little children and how does it apply to us spiritually? 3. What is the childish trait mentioned in I Cor. 14:20? 4. Can you give some passages that would admonish us to also put away these childish things: Always wanting to play, quarrelsome, complaining, pettiness, pickiness, pouting, discourteous. CHILDLIKE CHARACTERISTICS (Grow into these) 1. Name the childlike characteristic mentioned in Mt.18:1-5? 2. From I Cor. 14:20 again. What is to be missing and what should be present in our dealings with others? 3. To what does Peter liken our desire for God's word? I Peter 2:1-3 4. Therefore be followers of God as. (Eph. 5:1) 5. Name other childlike character traits worthy of our development.
Thought Question: Write a brief statement of how a child's humbleness of heart is going to be seen practically in us. Lesson Three GROWING Through PRAYER Luke 6:12; Mark 1:35 1. Jesus' instructions about prayer (Matthew 6:5-15) A. How are we to approach God? How are we to ask? (v.9) B. What should be our primary concern in everything? (v.10) C. How does he describe our needs physically? (v.11) D. Is the forgiveness of our sins conditional? (v.12,14,15) E. What needs to be the overriding concern? (v.13) F. What ought not to characterize our praying? (v.5-8) 2. List from the following passages some good things for which to pray. A. II Thess. 3:1-2 B. Matthew 9:38 C. James 5:13-18 D. I John 5:14-16 E. I Timothy 2:1-2 F. Romans 10:1
3. What two things prevent receiving some things of God? (James 4:2,3) 4. What do you learn from the words of I Tim. 5:5, Acts 6:4 and Daniel 6:10,11 concerning prayer? 5. Who should we address when we pray? (Colossians 3:17; Eph. 5:20; 3:14) 6. Who do we pray through? (Rom. 1:8; I Tim. 2:5) How is that done? 7. James 1:6-7. What must always characterize acceptable requests? 8. What else ought to accompany prayer? (James 5:16) 9. What did Jesus say must be included in our prayers? (Mk. 11:24) 10. Philippians 4:6....with let your requests be made known to God." 11. 1 John 5:14... if we ask anything according to, He hears us." 12. Where ought men to pray? (I Tim 2:8) How? 13. When ought we to pray? A. I Thess. 5:17 B. I Thess. 3:10 C. Col. 1:3 D. Col. 4:2 E. Rom. 12:12 14. What are some other prerequisites for acceptable prayer? A. I John 3:22
B. I Peter 3:7 15. How is it the Holy Spirit helps our prayers? (Rom. 8:26-27) Lesson Four Growing Through Virtue Add to your faith, VIRTUE - II Peter 1:5 1. How is the word used in II Pet. 1:3? 2. What is its context in Philippians 4:8? 3. In the King James Version of Mark 5:30 it says that virtue went out of Jesus when he healed a woman. Later translations say. 4. The KJV has "virtuous", the New KJV "excellent" in Proverbs 12:4. How does excelling need to be a part of the Christian's growth? 5. Translate the characteristics of the "virtuous" woman found in Prov. 31:10-31, to apply to every maturing Christian. v. 11 v. 12 v.13-19 v. 20 v.21-22 v. 23 v.24-25 v. 26 v. 27
v.28-29 v.30-31 6. List other characteristics of virtue. Give verses also. 7. Why do we need to add this as we develop as Christians? Lesson Five Growing Through Knowledge Add to your faith, KNOWLEDGE - II Peter 1:5 1. What is the beginning of knowledge? (Proverbs 1:7) 2. In what other ways can we gain it? (Psalm 19:1-2) 3. How much is God's word a part of increasing knowledge? (Ps. 119:97-105) 4. What is the key to acquiring this understanding? (Prov. 2:1-6) 5. What are some of the potential dangers with increased knowledge? (I Cor. 8:1,2; Ecclesiastes 1:16-18; I Tim. 6:20,21) 6. How will this knowledge compare with that of the world? (I Cor. 1:19-31) 7. What does knowledge do for us? (Prov. 24:2-5) 8. How else do we grow in knowledge? (Prov. 19:25; 17:27-28; 12:1; 9:8-11) 9. What does Ephesians 3:19 say about knowledge?
10. Does all learning lead to true knowledge? (II Tim. 3:7) 11. What does knowledge produce? (Colossians 1:9-10; 3:10 12. Read and comment on these NT verses about knowledge - II Peter 1:3,8; 2:20; 3:18; II Cor. 8:7; Romans 15:14; 10:2. 13. Is knowledge unsurpassed? (I Cor. 13:2; Ephesians 3:19) 14. Who is to do the adding of knowledge? Lesson Six Growing Through Self-Control Add to your faith, SELF-CONTROL - II Peter 1:5-6 1. The KJV has temperance. What do we associate temperance with and why? 2. Galatians 5:23. In what list is self-control found? 3. Titus 2:12. Who are told to be temperate? 4. I Cor. 9:25. In what must we exercise self-control? 5. I Cor. 9:27. How did Paul accomplish such? 6. Titus 1:7-8. Who must be temperate? 7. Self Control Areas of Concern: A. James 1:26 B. I Cor. 6:12,13
C. Col. 3:5-10 D. Rom. 12:17-21 E. I Pet. 4:1-5 F. Phil. 4:8 G. Phil. 4:6-7 H. I Jn. 2:15-17 I. James 4:17 J. Matthew 6:24 8. How does Prov. 16:32 describe self mastery? 9. How will this quality be added to your life? Lesson Seven Growing Through Perseverance Add to your faith, PERSEVERANCE - II Peter 1:5-6 1. The KJV has patience. Why would newer translations better translate it perseverance? 2. In what context is patience demonstrated in James 5:10-11? 3. In I Thess. 1:2-3, how is the word used? 4. Hebrews 6:12. From this passage, for what is endurance profitable? 5. What quality must we possess in order to have eternal life? (Romans 2:7) 6. How does God say patience is produced in James 1:3?
7. Show the connection with hope in Rom. 5:1-4. 8. With whom should we be patient? (I Thess. 5:14) 9. Who else is patient? (Rom. 15:5) 10. Where else do we derive patience? (Rom. 15:4) How does that work? 11. What are ought older men to be sound in? (Titus 2:2) Why and how might older men need this admonition? 12. Comment on these other facets of patience: (Give Scriptures) A. Longsuffering B. Waiting C. Enduring D. Forbearance 13. Give examples of how each of these four are needed in the Christian s everyday life. 14. Read Psalm 40:1 and comment. Lesson Eight Growing Through Godliness & Goodness Add to your faith, GODLINESS - II Peter 1:5-6 1. Define godliness. 2. How valuable is godliness? (I Tim. 4:7-8)
3. How might some view godliness wrongly? (I Tim. 6:5) 4. But with is great gain. I Tim. 6:6 5. What teaches us to be godly? What must be denied if we are be adding godliness? (Titus 2:11-12) 6. II Pet. 1:3... as His divine power has given to us that pertain to and through the of him who has called us by and. (NKJV) 7. Practically, what is involved in my adding godliness to my faith? What must I do to become godly? 8. What is the opposite of godliness? (Do not say UNgodly) 9. How does professing godliness affect our daily lives? (I Tim. 2:2, 9-10) Give other examples. 10. Part of the fruit of the Spirit is goodness (Galatians 5:22). What does the word mean? 11. How is goodness properly determined? (II Timothy 3:16-17) 12. What might we do to grow in doing good? 13. To whom are we to always do good? (Galatians 6:10) 14. How ought we to react to accusations of being a goodie two shoes or holier than thou?
Lesson Nine Growing Through Brotherly Kindness Add to your faith, BROTHERLY KINDNESS - II Peter 1:5-7 1. What is the underlying principle of our behavior to all men? (Luke 6:31) 2. Is there a special degree of kindness to be shown fellow Christians? (Galatians 6:10) 3. How does I Pet. 3:8 describe it? 4. I Pet. 1:22. How are we to love our brothers and sisters? 5. How does Romans 12:10 word it? 6. What is connected with brotherly love in Hebrews 13:1-2? 7. Who teaches us to possess this sort of love? Do we ever peak in this? (I Thess. 4:9,10) 8. List some ways we can display brotherly kindness. 9. Who is responsible for adding this quality of behavior? 10. Why do you think we must love as brothers? Lesson Ten Growing Through Love Add to your faith, LOVE - II Peter 1:5-7 1. Define love.
2. Are we to owe any man anything? Romans 13:8 3. What is the greatest exhibition of love? John 15:13 4. How much are we to love God? Luke 10:27-28 5. To what extent are husbands to love their wives? (Ephesians 5:25-29) 6. What about loving our enemies? See Matt. 5:43-48 7. 1 John 4:7-12 A. How can God be described as love? B. How is it if we do not love we do not know God? C. Did God love us because we were loving Him? D. How did God demonstrate His love for us? E. What should God's love for us motivate us to do? F. We cannot see God, but what can we see as evidence of His dwelling in us? G. What casts out fear? v. 18 H. We Him because He loved us. v. 19 I. Can we love God and not love our brother? v. 20 8. Must there be priorities in love? See Matt. 10:37
9. How will our love for God be seen? John 14:15 10. List all the characteristics of love in I Corinthians 13:1-8 and explain each and show application. Lesson Eleven Continuing To Grow Our FAITH Jude 20-21 1. Luke 17:5 - And the apostles said to the Lord, our. 2. How will we be able to increase our faith? Rom. 10:17 3. For what was Paul thankful concerning the Thessalonians? (II Thess. 1:3) 4. Mark 9:24. Explain the man s statement, Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief. 5. Christians must constantly beware of what sin? (Heb. 3:12) 6. How do trials help our faith? (James 1:2,3; 1 Pet. 1:6-9) 7. Can being around others of faith encourage our own faith? (Romans 1:12) 8. I Thess. 3:10. For what does Paul say he prayed? 9. Some areas where growing in faith is needed: (read context) A. Matthew 6:30 B. Matthew 8:10 C. Matthew 8:26
D. Matthew 9:2 E. Matthew 14:31 F. Matthew 15:28 10. From I John 5:4, what ultimately does our faith do for us? Lesson Twelve Growing Through Joy & Peace Our Joy Definitions: 1. gladness 2. akin to love - a product of love 3. to take great pleasure and satisfaction in something 4. blessed happiness 1. Rejoice in the Lord always (Philippians 4:4). How can this possibly be done in a world full of grief, sorrow and disappointment? 2. This joy is indescribable. (I Peter 1:8) Why? Our Peace Definition: 1. harmonious co-existence; togetherness 2. absence of hostilities and tumult 3. wholeness, salvation, reconciliation 3. This peace surpasses all human comprehension. (Philippians 4:7) Why? 4. There is a peace the world gives. (John 14:27). Name some places the world looks for peace. How Is This Joy and Peace Grown 5. It is the product of a what kind of life? (Galatians 5:22)
6. Where must our minds be focused if it is to improve? (Romans 8:5-6) 7. How does Christian fellowship help? (Acts 2:46-47) 8. What does this passage say will produce a great joy? (III John 3,4) 9. What does God desire for us? (Isaiah 55:12). 10. The kingdom of God is not food and drink but and (Romans 14:17). Lesson Thirteen Growing Through Gentleness or Meekness Definition: 1. calmness under provocation 2. power under control 3. Not rough, not boisterous, not loud, not harsh, not domineering 1. To whom are we to be gentle? (Titus 3:1-2) 2. From this passage, what is said to be opposite of gentleness? 3. Just how gentle is God thinking we ought to be? (I Thessalonians 2:7) 4. In what area is gentleness so necessary? (2 Timothy 2:24-26) 5. What does gentleness demonstrate? (James 3:17) 6. Just how valuable does God view this spiritual quality? (I Peter 3:3-4) 7. When seeking to restore a brother, what ought to characterize our attempts to do so? (Galatians 6:1)
8. Where ought gentleness to be seen? (Proverbs 15:1) 9. Where else? (Ephesians 4:1-2) 10. Just how hard should we try to be gentle? (I Timothy 6:11) Lesson Fourteen Growing Through SERVICE Mark 10:42-45 1. Galatians 5:13. How should our liberty in Christ be viewed? 2. What did Paul say Christians ought to be sure they maintain? (Titus 3:8) 3. Are the instructions of James 2:14-26 primarily addressed to Christians or non Christians? What is the point? 4. Elaborate on Romans 12:1-2 5. What does God regard as acceptable sacrifices today? (Heb. 13:15-16) 6. In Romans 14:18, how is it we serve Christ in dealing with other people? (see context) 7. What should accompany our serving God? (Acts 20:19; Heb. 12:28; Luke 17:5-10) 8. List some areas where improved service is needed. 9. Who should receive the glory in any ministering we do? (I Pet. 4:10-11)
10. What does the Savior teach us in John 13:14-17 Lesson Fifteen Growing In Grace and Mercy Grace is the favor we show others we feel do not deserve it Mercy is the leniency, compassion or pity we have on others we feel do not deserve it Both are spiritual qualities that the growing Christian will have to give attention to if he is to be truly developing as a Christian ought. Many are the Scriptures that teach it... So many of the salutations, both beginning and ending, make reference to it. For example...ephesians 6:24; Philippians 1:2; I Tim. 1:2; II Tim. 1:2; 4:22 and many, many more. We first need to grow in the grace and mercy of God - II Peter 1:2; 3:18; II John 3; Jude 2 From God and toward God - We receive His grace and mercy 1. Where and how do we seek grace? (James 4:6) 2. How else do we receive them? (Hebrews 4:16) 3. When is compassion needful? (Jude 22-23) 4. What is the context of James 2:13 and when mercy is needful? 5. Just how much mercy are we talking about? (James 3:17) 6. How does the Christian establish his heart by grace? (Hebrews 13:9)
7. Where else ought we to be gracious? (Ephesians 4:29) 8. Can grace abound in us? (II Cor. 9:8) How? 9. What is the grace under consideration in II Cor. 8:6-7? 10. How must our mercy be shown? (Romans 12:8)