The Key to Spiritual Growth
We trust today’s message encouraged and guided you in your journey of following Jesus. These notes are meant to help you remember and reflect on the message, help you go deeper into study on the subject, or to be used for a sermon group discussion. CLICK HERE to find a discussion group. Enjoy!
Sermon Title: The Key to Spiritual Growth
Main Scripture: Philippians 2:12-13; James 1:19-27; Psalm 119:34
If you’re going through this discussion with a community group this week consider taking the time to read the provided scripture to catch everyone up!
Summary:
It’s a natural part of life to grow and that is no different in the Christian life. Pastor Ryan unpacked scripture to show us the difference between someone who grows spiritually and someone who doesn’t. The key to spiritual growth is the Bible, but specifically not how much we consume but how much we obey. We learned from Paul in Philippians to work out, to exercise our salvation, or to show the results by doing what God wants us to do. We learned that we’re not alone, God empowers and gives us the desire to do what he wants but we must apply ourselves or obey and practice what God’s Word teaches. James taught us the importance of this as well, to be good listeners and doers of the Word. Psalm 119 taught us the importance of gaining understanding so we can live out God’s Word. But the Psalmist even went as far as saying to practice “with all my heart.” We were challenged to have hearts that will intentionally seek to apply the word to our everyday lives. Overall, The key to spiritual growth: discipline ourselves to read and apply scripture in our everyday lives.
Notes:
The Key to Spiritual Growth
I’m excited to teach today’s message. I love helping believers grow in their faith. I’ve discovered something that is key to spiritual growth.
The greatest means of spiritual growth has and always will be the Bible. However, the difference-maker in whether we grow or not grow is how much we obey, not how much we consume.
“All of life should be a theater in which we learn to apply the Word of God. Almost every event, every activity, every circumstance may be or should be an occasion of applying a scriptural principle or even a specific verse to the situation.” -Jerry Bridges
Scripture talks a lot about the importance of doing and obeying but I’ll teach only a few, today.
Philippians 2:12-13
12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
V. 12 Paul was their teacher and example of the Christian life. Now that he is away, it is important that they are careful to remember and do what he instructed them because he’s not around for accountability's sake.
V. 12 Notice the effort Paul asks of them: “Work hard,” “Show the results” or evidence of salvation, “Obeying God” and in verse 13, “to do what pleases Him.”
V. 12 They were told to “work out,” to put into practice in their daily living, what God had worked in them by His Spirit. They were not told to work for their salvation but to work out the salvation God had already given them. Lightner, R. P. (1985). Philippians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 655). Victor Books.
V. 12 “with deep reverence and fear.” - dependent on God, humble, and care to honor and appreciate all God has done.
V. 13 You’re not alone in this effort. Both divine enablement and human responsibility are involved in getting God’s work done. Believers are partners with God, laboring together with Him. The verb works (v. 13) means “energizes” or “provides enablement.” God makes His own both willing and desirous to do His work. Lightner, R. P. (1985). Philippians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 655). Victor Books.
I think you should know you’ve literally been empowered to grow and to do what is right. Doing what God wants isn’t done in your own power but it is worked out through your effort and obedience. The Word of God planted in your heart and the grace of God’s Spirit working in you enables you to follow, obey or live out the righteousness of Christ. God gives us the desire but He also gives us the freedom to exercise our effort and obedience. But this also means we have the potential to be disobedient (which is sin) and not grow or mature.
Read James 1:19-21 NLT
V. 19-21
V. 20 - God desires righteousness. That means right living.
V. 21a - We stop filling our minds and our actions with wrongdoing, but replace it with the word and righteousness of God.
V. 21b - Humbly accept the Word planted in you. This implies that they have Christ in them because of Salvation but also implies the word, truth, and scripture planted and sown into their hearts. (Psalm 119:11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.)
I heard someone once say, “Get into the word until the Word gets into you.”
"We know the only way we can avoid conformity to the values of this world is consistent exposure to the Word of God so that its teaching can continually influence and change our values and convictions." -Jerry Bridges
Humbly accept, let it change you. Accept it as truth and let it fill you to the brim so much that it even affects the way you live!
James drives home the difference-maker now in the next portion of scripture
Read V. 22-25
V. 22 It’s not enough to listen and learn about God’s Word, we must do what it says.
V. 22 “You are only fooling yourselves.” This is implying that we’re not the good listeners we think we are if we don’t do what it says. The achievement isn’t being able to sit through a lecture, teaching, or a sermon and say, “I have grown…”
V. 23-24 The Mirror: The word of God sticks to us and gets into us when we do what it says. The more we do what the Word says, the more it leaves a lasting impression we can’t forget because it changes who we are and how we live.
V. 25 “But if you look carefully” or “intently” (NIV) This means to stoop down to get a closer look. Have you ever been reading the Bible and three paragraphs or a whole chapter later you realize you have no idea what you read? That would be an example of not looking intently or carefully.
“And if you do what it says,” “then God will bless you for doing it.” It doesn’t say for knowing it…but for doing it.
Look at when the blessings come? The Bible didn’t work for me? Did you work the Bible into your living?
I love what the Psalmist said in Psalm 119:34
Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions; I will put them into practice with all my heart.
We need knowledge, we need understanding. We must be good listeners and learners. A disciple of Jesus Christ is a student and learner of Jesus, but disciples were also imitators of Christ.
The hunger for knowledge comes before doing and obedience. We can’t obey what we don’t know.
Do we have intentional hearts?
Here’s what God said about the Jewish People in Ezekiel 33:31-32 “So my people come pretending to be sincere and sit before you. They listen to your words, but they have no intention of doing what you say. Their mouths are full of lustful words, and their hearts seek only after money. 32 You are very entertaining to them, like someone who sings love songs with a beautiful voice or plays fine music on an instrument. They hear what you say, but they don’t act on it!”
“One of the banes of present-day Christianity is the way we sit every week under the teaching of God's Word, or even have private devotions and perhaps participate in a Bible study group, without a serious intent to obey the truth we learn.” -Jerry Bridges
Every day and every Sunday, let’s approach the Holy Scriptures with reverence and respect. Let’s approach our daily Bible time and our weekly sermons at church with the intention to listen well and find something we can apply to our lives.
Then James gives three examples of a life that obeys the word, true religion, or faith with works.
Read V. 26-27
How we use our words is a qualifier or indicator of our faith and spiritual maturity.
The care of others, specifically those in great need.
Not letting the world get into us and corrupt us as we live in this world.
“One thing we can be sure of: If we do not actively seek to come under the influence of God's Word, we will come under the influence of sinful society around us. The impact of our culture with its heavy emphasis on materialism, living for one's self, and instant gratification is simply too strong and pervasive for us to not be influenced by it.” -Jerry Bridges
How are we doing on those?
The Spirit of God is working and helping you obey more than you realize. Let me give you some examples of what I mean…
Close:
The key to spiritual growth: discipline ourselves to read and apply scripture in our everyday lives.
What’s a step of obedience for you today?
Get into the Word with the intention to practice what you read.
Be mindful to apply yourself to basic principles of scripture while at work, school and around others.
Discussion
What spoke to you or stuck out to you the most from this message?
Which scripture resonated with you the most and why?
What scripture has been a joy to apply to your life?
What scripture has been a challenge to apply in your life?
Pastor Ryan challenged us to have intentional hearts when reading scripture, attending Bible studies, and church services…Why is it important to have that intentional heart?
What are some ways and steps you’re taking to be more intentional at applying scripture?
The most important decision you will ever make!
Are you ready to experience salvation and be transformed we encourage you to say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I see my sin and how wrong it is. I see how without Jesus I’m lost. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Thank you for saving me from my sin, my past, this world, and your judgment. I repent, I turn away from that life and I put my faith and life in Jesus! Amen!
We would love to know if you made the decision to accept this wonderful gift from God. Let us know here.
Pray Together
We hoped you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!