Christian Growth
Week 7 - Community as a Means of Growth
Preparation...
• Turn your assignment into the “In Basket”
and pick up handout for Week 7.
• Take out your “Exam Review Guide” and go
over page one with a partner, asking each
other questions from Weeks 1, 2 and 3.
• A friend says “God gave humans His law so
we can earn His acceptance by obeying it,”
use a verse to respond to your friend.
Introduction
• Week 1 - new standing in Christ!
• Week 2 - deep look at sin & its source
• Week 3 - new identity, spiritual
provisions (needs), growth resulting
from operating in our new identity
(know-consider-present)
Introduction
• Week 4 - role of Biblical faith in
growing as Christians
• Week 5 - role of the Holy Spirit in
helping us grow as Christians
• Week 6 - our relationship to God’s
law as Christians
Introduction
• Last four weeks...
• looked at the essential theological
dynamics of spiritual growth (grace,
faith, sin, law)
• Rest of the course...
• look at the practical ways we pursue
spiritual growth
Introduction
MOG
•God’s Word
• We pursue SG by participating
in the
•Community
MOG similar to the how(koinonia)
the early
church lived...and through God’s
•Prayer
discipline (LATER)
• Acts 2:42* - They were continually
devoting themselves to the apostles’
teaching and to fellowship, to the
breaking of bread and to prayer.
Important Principles
concerning the MOG
• God’s prescribed avenues
• these are how we relate personally to
Jesus and are nourished by God’s grace
• NOT ways to earn/keep God’s
acceptance or approval...
• Means of Growth ➔ Means of
experiencing God’s Grace
• Attitude ➔ “I get to” vs. “I have to”
Important Principles
concerning the MOG
• We need to consistently participate in
the MOG
• “...continuously devoted themselves...”
• Lifestyle vs. something I plug into when
it’s convenient
Important Principles
concerning the MOG
• If these are prescribed by God for us
to relate to Jesus and experience his
grace, what opposition might we
face?
• How do we overcome this opposition
(think back to walking in the Spirit
and Faith)?
Important Principles
concerning the MOG
• We need to participate in the MOG so
we grow and develop...
• A lifestyle that thrives on these spiritual
activities.
• An understanding of our internal spiritual
struggle and the attacks by Satan.
Important Principles
concerning the MOG
• We need a “balanced diet” of all the
MOG...
• not specializing in one or two while
neglecting the others, this can cause
problems.
• Example: just private prayer and bible
study is not enough. What would be
missing?
Important Principles
concerning the MOG
• We need a
“balanced diet”
of all the MOG...
Community
• MOG overlap...
they are not
entirely separate
categories
• Example...
Word
Prayer
Important Principles
concerning the MOG
• The MOG are an avenue through
which we give God’s love and grace
to others.
• “set our minds on the things of the Spirit
(receiving)”
• “keep in step with the Spirit (giving)”
• If only receive ➔ consumer mentality
Important Principles
concerning the MOG
• The MOG are an avenue through
which we give God’s love and grace
to others.
• Prayer - supplication/intercessory - offering
up prayers for others
• The Word - learning the Bible so you can
instruct others
• Community - opportunity to build others up
and speak the truth in love to one another
Important Principles
concerning the MOG
• We should participate in the MOG in
both spontaneous and planned ways.
• scheduled prayer times vs spontaneous
times
• same for relating to others and getting
into God’s Word
• planned and spontaneous MOG
complement one another
Important Principles
concerning the MOG
• We should participate in the MOG both
privately and corporately
• Bible - Christians pray alone and with
others
• Meditate on the Word alone and they
study and discuss the Word with others
• Lean against all such dichotomous
tendencies if you want to have a healthy
spiritual life!
Quick Review
• Go back over the six General
Principles concerning the MOG and
pick one or two that are most
challenging for you
John 17:20-23
Community as
a
MOG
“I...ask for
•
these...who will
Emphasizing Community
a better
believe is
in me...that
they
may all be one,
place to start for new
Christians
just as you, Father,
• Practical
are in me, and I in
you...so that the
• Missiological/Evangelical
world may believe
that you have sent
me...and loved them
even as you loved
The western view
that exalts
autonomous
individualism
is
Emphasizing Community
is a better
false, and Christian
place to start for new Christians
attempts to
accommodate this
• Practical
view will fail to
develop mature
• Missiological/Evangelical
Christians who are
vital witnesses for
• Theological
Jesus.
• Ephesians 4:11-16**
Community as a MOG
•
How Involved?
• Need to be involved enough to
practice the one-anothers
reciprocally
Encourage
Admonish
Serve
Be patient
Love one
another
Confess
your sins
Bear each
other’s burdens
Accept
Forgive
Romans 12:4-8
How Involved?
For as in one body we have many members,
and the members do not all have the same
function, so we, though many, are one body in
•
Need to be involved enough that we
Christ, and individually members one of
can discover and use our God-given
another. Having gifts that differ according to the
spiritual
gifts
(Eph.
4:11-16**)
grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy,
• Each has
given
gifts toinbuild
in proportion
to been
our faith;
if service,
our up the
Body
serving;
the one who teaches, in his
teaching;
who exhorts,
in his
• Needthe
to one
be involved
enough
to regularly
exhortation;
the one
in receive
contribute
our who
giftscontributes,
and regularly
generosity;
one who leads, with zeal; the
others’the
gifts
one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
How Involved?
• Ponderful Questions
• How is this different than simply “going to
church” on Sundays?
• Are you involved enough to see and appreciate
the diversity of gifts in the church?
• Are you involved enough that you are gaining
clarity on your specific roles/gifts and using
them consistently to build others up?
How Involved?
• CONTEXT IN WHICH THIS HAPPENS
• Increasing clarity normally develops only
as you get involved in community and
love/serve others consistently (one
anothers, follow up, discipling)
• In this context of serving, God begins to
give you insight into your own spiritual
gifts.
How Involved?
• INDICATORS OF GIFTING
• Feedback from others, consistent desire
• Needs you see, experience of God’s power
and joy as you serve
• God-given opportunities in response to
prayer
• As you gain insight, you also gain
responsibility to faithfully use your gifts
to serve others
How Involved?
• How involved in community should
we be? (support with Scriptures)
Beliefs/Attitudes Impede
involvement in Christian Community
• We shouldn’t legislate or impose
• Key ➔ develop deep theological and
principle-based convictions
• Let’s look at some common attitudes
that impede Christian community and
the Biblical provision for each...
1 Romans
Cor 12:15-19
12:3-5
Beliefs/Attitudes
Impede
If For
the by
footthe
should
“Because
I amtonot a hand, I
gracesay,
given
to me I say
involvement in Christian Community
do
not belong
to the
body,”
would
everyone
among
you
not tothat
think
of not make it
any
less amore
part highly
of the than
body.heAnd
if the
should
himself
ought
to ear
think,
•
Autonomy/individualism
vs.
Healthy
say,
I am
not an
eye, I do
not belong to
but “Because
to think with
sober
judgment,
each
Individuality
the
body,” that
would
not make
it any
a part
according
to the
measure
of faith
thatless
God
ofhas
theassigned.
body. If the
whole
were we
an eye,
For
as inbody
one body
havewhere
would
the sense
of the
hearing?
If thedo
whole
manybe
members,
and
members
not body
were
an ear,
would beso
thewe,
sense
of
all have
the where
same function,
though
smell?
it is,
God
the members in
many,But
areas
one
body
in arranged
Christ, and
the
body, each
one of them,
he chose. If all
individually
members
one ofasanother.
were a single member, where would the body be?
Beliefs/Attitudes Impede
involvement in Christian Community
• Spiritual pride vs. humility &
self-distrust
• Heb. 3:12,13 Take care, brethren, that there
not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving
heart that falls away from the living God. 13
But encourage one another day after day, as
long as it is still called “Today,” so that
none of you will be hardened by the
deceitfulness of sin.
Beliefs/Attitudes Impede
involvement in Christian Community
• Relational idolatry vs. trusting God to
meet love needs.
• 1 Pet. 4:19 Therefore, those also who
suffer according to the will of God shall
entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in
doing what is right.
Beliefs/Attitudes Impede
involvement in Christian Community
• Materialism vs. gaining joy and
significance from taking up the role
God gives you in the church.
• Preoccupation with media or hobbies
vs. finding blessing (joy and peace)
through God’s work
Beliefs/Attitudes Impede
involvement in Christian Community
• Super-spirituality vs. scriptural
priorities & wise counsel
• Tribalism vs. realizing that
community involvement is necessary
for a healthy marriage & family
(Colossians 3)
Beliefs/Attitudes Impede
involvement in Christian Community
• Moral impurity (e.g., sexual
immorality; substance abuse) vs.
walking in the light
• 1 Jn. 1:7 But if we walk in the Light as He
Himself is in the Light, we have
fellowship with one another, and the
blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from
all sin.
Beliefs/Attitudes Impede
involvement in Christian Community
• Excessive dependence on Social
Networking vs. real friends that you
grow with
• 1 Thess. 2:17-3:11, Paul longing to see
the Thessalonians face to face
• Quote from Douglas Grootuis, The Soul
in Cyberspace
Beliefs/Attitudes Impede
involvement in Christian Community
• Previous bad experiences with
Christian community may sour one’s
perspective vs. embrace healthy
community as God’s will as revealed
in Scripture
Beliefs/Attitudes Impede
involvement in Christian Community
• Which do you struggle with?
• Acknowledge wrong actions, beliefs,
attitudes and repent, NOT MINIMIZE
and RATIONALIZE
• Some are broken by decisive repentance
(sins of commission)
• Others are gradually expelled (omission)
John 15:11-12
“These things I have
spoken to you so that
My
joy
may
be
in
you,
Repenting will NOT be enough to
and
that
your
joy
may
build a lifestyle that thrives in
be made full. This is
Christian community!
My commandment,
• We must embrace thethat
promise
that
real
you love one
Christian communityanother,
leads tojust
fullness
of
as I have
joy
loved you.”
• Q: What do you think are some ways God
gives us his joy through community?
Joy of living in Community
•
Joy of living in Community
• The joy of experiencing God’s help
and encouragement in personal and
timely ways through your brothers
and sisters vs. being adrift and/or
alone when crises hit
Joy of living in Community
• The joy experienced when giving
God’s love to others (Jn. 13:17; Acts
20:35) vs. the disappointment &
bondage of seeking joy from
favorable circumstances & people
treating you the way you desire
Joy of living in Community
• The joy of deep and lasting spiritual
friendships vs. the hollowness &
loneliness of shallow relationships
• The joy of being part of a team and
playing your special role in ministry
Joy of living in Community
• The joy of seeing God draw others to
Christ through your community
• The joy of seeing spiritual children
flourish and mature (3 Jn. 1:4;
1 Thess. 2:19)
Joy of living in Community
• Ponderful Questions...
• How much joy do you want to have?
• How deep do you want this joy to be?
• How long do you want this joy to last?
• What One step of faith does God
want you to take toward Christian
community?
Conclusion
• MOG are God’s provisions for us to
know Jesus more and experience
God’s grace as we
• seek Him
• give his love away to others
• Community is VITAL...
Conclusion
• Goal for tonight:
• To understand the role community in our
own spiritual development
Questions?
Next Week
• God’s Word as a Means of
Growth/Grace
Memory Verses
• Acts 2:42*
• Eph 4:11-16**
Assignment
• McCallum, Members of One Another,
Chapters 2 & 3. Write responses as
requested on handout.
• Shane Hipps, “From the Printing
Press to the iPhone” (extra pts)
• Turkle, “The Flight From
Conversation” (extra pts)
Corporate Prayer