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Lesson 4: Growing in your Relationship with Christ God desires to empower you through the Holy Spirit to live a Christ-directed life. As you continue to breathe spiritually (confess your sin and claim the fullness of the Spirit), you will experience a deepening fellowship with God enabling you to grow in Christian maturity. 1. What does it mean to grow in Christ? It means to increase in your knowledge of Christ, your love for Him, and in obedience to Him. "Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom You have sent" (John 17:3). a) What does Jesus say is the essence of eternal life? "Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment." b) There are more than 600 commands in the Old Testament. Why do you
think Jesus singled out this one in Matthew 22:37,38? c) How would loving God with all your heart, soul and mind affect
your life? (Christ speaking) "Whoever has My commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves Me. He who loves Me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him" (John 14:21). d) What will be a result of your growing love for Him? How can you grow in Christ? Communication is vital to any relationship, including your relationship
with Christ. 2. God communicates with us through the Bible, revealing His character and His will. "All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16,17). a) How would you define each benefit described in this passage? b) Which of these benefits would be most helpful to you right now? c) How would you evaluate the helpfulness of the Bible reading you
have done so far? 3. We communicate with God through prayer -- sharing our thoughts, our needs and our desires to do His will. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hears and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6,7) "This is the assurance we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us -- whatever we ask -- we know that we have what we asked of Him" (1 John 5:14,15). a) What do these verses tell us about prayer? b) What are some things you can be praying about? "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you
in Christ Jesus" "Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 5:20). c) Why is it important to be thanking God? 4. We communicate with Christians through fellowship -- encouraging and building up one another. "And let is consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another -- and all the more as you see the Day approaching" (Hebrews 10: 24,25). a) Why is it important to spend time with other Christians? b) Why would this be important for you now? The Greek word for fellowship, koinonia, means "sharing in common." We desperately need to share our Christian experience with others who love God and walk with Him, and likewise allow them to share with us. The church where we can meet other Christians and hear God's word, is God's appointed place for Christians to meet. Bible studies and meetings are also extremely helpful. 5. We communicate with non-Christians by witnessing -- sharing about our relationship with Christ. "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to me by which we must be saved" ( Acts 4:12) a) What would motivate you to tell another person about Christ? b) Who would you like to tell about what Christ has done in your life?
Summary: Read 1 Corinthians 3:6,7. God is the source of your growth. You cannot develop spiritual maturity just by trying real hard. As you walk in power of the Holy Spirit, read the Bible, pray, tell people about Christ and spend time with other believers, God will be at work in you producing fruitfulness and maturity. Suggestions for Further Growth Set aside time and a place for daily personal Bible study and prayer.
A good book to begin with is the New Testament book of John. As you read,
underline particularly meaningful verses. Pray and ask God to show you who
He is and how you can respond to Him. Some additional suggested passages
for study are the ones in this lesson. Other passages are: Colossians 1:9-12; Answers: 1a) Knowing God. 1b) If we truly love God we will fulfil the other commandments. 2a) Teaching --presents truth about God and ourselves; rebuking -- points out what is wrong; correction -- shows us how to do what is right; training in righteousness --describes how to live a life which pleases God. 3a) Pray about everything. When we pray according to God's will, He hears and answers us. 3c) God wants us to; by thanking God, we express our trust in Him. 4a) To be in an environment of mutual encouragement to love and do good deeds.
This is the Beginning of Your Christian life and there is much more to understand than just these four lessons. The church is God's appointed place for Christians to learn and grow. Take the initiative today to find a Bible-teaching church in your neighbourhood and make plans to attend regularly. Additional Christian growth materials are available at your local Christian bookstore or email: orders@ccc-van.crusade.org |
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