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Introduction To Spiritual Maturity

Introduction To Spiritual Maturity. CLASS 301 South Park Church Adaptation of Material Written By Rick Warren. Barna Research: The State of Discipleship.

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Introduction To Spiritual Maturity

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  1. Introduction To Spiritual Maturity CLASS 301 South Park Church Adaptation of Material Written By Rick Warren

  2. Barna Research: The State of Discipleship • Less than one out of every five born again adults had any specific and measurable goals related to their personal spiritual development. • Less than 1% of all believers perceived a connection between their efforts to worship God and their development as a disciple of Jesus. • The most widely-known Bible verse among adult and teen believers is "God helps those who help themselves" - which is not actually in the Bible, and actually conflicts with the basic message of Scripture. • A minority of adult and teen believers contends that absolute moral truth exists. • Less than one out of every ten believers possesses a biblical worldview as the basis for his/her decision-making or behavior. • When given thirteen basic teachings from the Bible, only 1% of adult believers firmly embraced all 13 as being biblical perspectives. • Research revealed specific and significant problems related to core spiritual practices such as worship, evangelism, stewardship, community service, and lifestyles.

  3. THE PURPOSE OF THIS CLASS: " ... that you may become mature Christians and may fulfill God's will for you." Col. 4:12b (Ph) "We are not meant to remain as children ... but to grow up in every way into Christ..." Eph. 4:14-15 (Ph)

  4. THE FOCUS OF THIS CLASS: • We will focus on Four Basic Habits which help us develop & grow to spiritual maturity. This class will ... • Define maturity & discipleship • Discuss the skills helpful to begin these habits. • Provide resources helpful to continue these habits • Paint a vision of future personal growth

  5. The Heart of Discipleship Prayer God’s Word Giving Loving/ Community

  6. WHAT IS "SPIRITUAL MATURITY"? "...In the unity of common faith, and knowledge of the Son of God, we arrive at real maturity - the measure of development which is meant by 'the fullness of Christ.'" Eph 4:13(Ph) Spiritual Maturity is BEING LIKE CHRIST!

  7. FACTS ABOUT SPIRITUAL MATURITY 1. IT'S NOT AUTOMATIC "You have been Christians for a long time now, and you ought to be teaching others, but instead ... you need someone to teach you ... When a person is still living on milk, it shows he isn't very far along in the Christian life ... He's still a baby Christian!" Heb. 5:12-13 (LB)

  8. FACTS ABOUT SPIRITUAL MATURITY 2. IT IS A PROCESS "Learn to be mature." Prov. 8:5 (GN) "Continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our savior Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 3:18 (GN)

  9. FACTS ABOUT SPIRITUAL MATURITY 3. IT TAKES DISCIPLINE "Take the time and the trouble to keep yourself spiritually fit." 1 Tim. 4:7b (Ph) "Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness."(NASB)

  10. Discipleship Opener • Think of a season in your life when you felt you were really growing spiritually… what were some of the ingredients that helped you grow? • What is one thing that hinders your spiritual growth?

  11. Discipleship Opener How do you fit these 2 truths together? 1) salvation is a free gift 2) the Christian life is like a race to be run for a prize (training to do something versus trying to do something)

  12. Discipleship Is… • About the Heart of the Believer… Not Behaviors Only • About Being… Not doing • About Training… Not Trying • About Growth (A Natural Part of Being Alive)… Not Rules • Formation… not Information

  13. What Is A Disciple? • Your Definition?... • Mine... One who takes opportunity to develop Christ-likeness through a renewed or changed heart (a changed perspective- non-human perspective)… One who listens to God- and who’s heart is moved by Him

  14. UNDERSTANDING DISCIPLESHIP 4. The mark of a disciple is CROSS-BEARING (Jesus) "Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:27

  15. UNDERSTANDING DISCIPLESHIP 4b. How often am I to do this? DAILY (Jesus) "If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Luke 9:23

  16. UNDERSTANDING DISCIPLESHIP 4c. What is involved in "cross bearing"? WHATEVER IT TAKES to give Christ first place in my life!

  17. Barna Research: The State of Discipleship Religious Behavior, 1994-2004 (Source: The Barna Group, Ventura, CA) 1994 1999 2004 BEHAVIOR IN THE LAST WEEK - - read the Bible, other than at church 37% 36% 44% attended a church service 42 41 43 volunteered at church 25 24 24 prayed to God, other than at church na 77 83 attended adult Sunday school class 21 19 21 participated in a small group 12 18 20 explained beliefs to a non-Christian* na 58 55 sample size 1205 1002 1014

  18. It’s The Heart That Matters What Does the Heart Do? • it is the core, the essential- most important to life- it brings the very life blood that allows the arms to work and the legs to walk- without it the action of the limbs are impossible • same with discipleship- the heart feeds the mechanics- without it, the mechanics are meaningless and true discipleship is impossible

  19. The Heart is Central in Scripture… • The Beatitudes

  20. FOUR HABITS OF A DISCIPLE HOW CAN I BECOME A DISCIPLE? Develop DISCIPLE HABITS "... You have put off the old self with its HABITS, and have put on the new self ... which God is continually renewing in His own image, to bring you to a full knowledge of Himself." Col. 3:9-10

  21. FOUR HABITS OF A DISCIPLE 1. TIME WITH GOD/TIME IN HIS WORD "If you continue in My Word, then you are My disciples indeed. And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." John 8:31-32

  22. FOUR HABITS OF A DISCIPLE 2. PRAYER "If you remain in Me, and My words remain in you, then you will ask for anything you wish, and you shall have it ... in this way you become My disciples.” John 15:7-8 (GN)

  23. FOUR HABITS OF A DISCIPLE 3. GIVING "None of you can be My disciple unless he gives up all of his possessions.” Luke 14:33 (JB) "The purpose of tithing is to teach you to always put God first in your lives.” Deut. 14:23 (LB)

  24. FOUR HABITS OF A DISCIPLE 4. LOVING "Love each other just as much as I love you. Your strong love for each other will prove to the world that you are My disciples." John 13:34-35 (LB)

  25. REFRIGERATOR NOTES… • How is your heart of discipleship? • Are you intentional about maintaining a relationship with God & wanting it to grow? • How well are you listening to God? • How well is your heart moving in response to what you hear?

  26. Billy Graham was asked what he regretted or wished he had done differently in his life... He wished he’d spent more time reading and studying the Bible!

  27. Bible Reading Increases- (2005 Barna Study) Currently, 45% of adults read the Bible during a typical week, not including when they are at church. That figure represents a minimal increase over the past few years, but a significant rise from the 31% measured in 1995, the lowest level of Bible reading recorded by Barna in the past 15 years. Thereport shows that the trend is upward. Not surprisingly, born again adults have led the return to God’s Word since 1990. After hitting a low of just 54% in 1997, the percentage of born again individuals who have read from the Bible in the past seven days has returned to a full two-thirds of that group (67%). The group whose people are most likely to read the Bible during the week are evangelicals. Nearly nine out of ten (88%) explore God’s Word during a typical week.

  28. The Bible:Some statistics: • About 92 percent of American own at least one copy of the Bible. • The average household has 3 copies. • About 67 percent of Americans say that the Bible holds the answers to the basic questions of life. • The Bible is the world's all-time best seller. • At least 20 million copies are sold each year. • Gideon International annually distributes more than 45 million copies.

  29. Yet...Biblical knowledge (Biblical illiteracy is rampant): • Perhaps 15 percent of Americans participate in Bible studies. • The number of people who read the Bible, at least occasionally is 59 percent. • Less than 50 percent of Americans can name the first book of the Bible (Genesis). • Only 1/3 of Americans know who delivered the Sermon on the Mount (more people identified Billy Graham rather than Jesus). • Twenty-five percent of Americans don't know what is celebrated on Easter (the Resurrection of Christ, the foundational event of Christianity). • Twelve percent of Christians think that Noah's wife is Joan of Arc. • Eighty percent of born-again Christians think it is the Bible that says "God helps them that help themselves." (Actually it was said by Benjamin Franklin.)

  30. THE HABIT OF A DAILY TIME WITH GOD Or… The Heart Value of Time with God… Learning & Listening

  31. Quiet Time Opener… What are some of the things that help or motivate you to set aside time alone with God? What is the one feature about your life that interferes with time alone with God?

  32. Getting a grasp on your Bible

  33. WHAT IS A QUIET TIME? DEFINITION: "A quiet time is a daily time I set aside to be alone with God to get to know Him through the Bible and prayer."

  34. THE VALUE OF A DAILY QUIET TIME Value Your time alone with God for these reasons: 1. Because we are CREATED to have fellowship with God. "So God created man in his own image ..." Gen. 1:27, 2:7, 3:8

  35. THE VALUE OF A DAILY QUIET TIME 2. Personal time alone with God was Jesus’ SOURCE OF STRENGTH Mark 1:35, Luke 22:39, Luke 5:16 "Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed."

  36. THE VALUE OF A DAILY QUIET TIME 3. You can be a HEALTHIER Christian with it! "Man cannot live on bread alone but on every word that God speaks.” Matt. 4:4 (GN)

  37. THE PURPOSE OF A DAILY QUIET TIME 1. TO GIVE DEVOTION TO GOD. "Give to the Lord the glory due to His name. Worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness.” Ps. 29:2

  38. THE PURPOSE OF A DAILY QUIET TIME 2. TO GET DIRECTION FROM GOD. "Show me the path where I should go, O Lord; point out the right road for me to walk. Lead me ...” Ps. 25:4 (LB)

  39. THE PURPOSE OF A DAILY QUIET TIME Get Input: "Ponder the path of your feet and let all your ways be established.” Prov. 4:26 (KJV) Submit to God: "Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him to help you do it and He will."Ps. 37:5 (LB)

  40. THE PURPOSE OF A DAILY QUIET TIME 3. TO GAIN DELIGHT IN GOD. "Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Ps. 37:4 (KJV)

  41. THE PURPOSE OF A DAILY QUIET TIME FACT: The better I get to know Christ, the more I LOVE HIM. The objective of your Quiet Time is not to study about Christ, but to actually spend time with Him!

  42. TIPS FOR A DAILY QUIET TIME 1. SELECT A SPECIFIC TIME. • The best time to have a quiet time is when I am AT MY BEST! • Whatever time you set, BE CONSISTENT

  43. TIPS FOR A DAILY QUIET TIME 2. CHOOSE A SPECIAL PLACE. "Jesus left the city and went, as He usually did, to the Mount of Olives ... to pray." Luke 22:39 (GN)

  44. TIPS FOR A DAILY QUIET TIME 3. GATHER THE RESOURCES YOU'LL NEED. • A Bible - with readable print. • A Notebook - to write down what the Lord speaks to you about, and to keep your prayer list. • A Songbook - if you want to sing.

  45. TIPS FOR A DAILY QUIET TIME 4. BEGIN WITH THE RIGHT ATTITUDES • REVERENCE "Be still, and know that I am God.” Ps. 46:10 • EXPECTANCY "Open my eyes to see wonderful things in Your Word.” Ps. 119:18 (LB)

  46. TIPS FOR A DAILY QUIET TIME OBEDIENCE “The thing you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what God wants” Mat t. 6:33 (NCV)

  47. TIPS FOR A DAILY QUIET TIME 5. FOLLOW A SIMPLE PLAN A. RELAX (1 Minute) Be still and quiet! Slow down! Prepare your heart. Take a few deep breaths and wait on God.

  48. TIPS FOR A DAILY QUIET TIME B. READ A VERSE. (4 Minutes) See the section on "How To Read God's Word". Begin reading where you left off the day before. Read until you feel God has told you something. Then stop and think about it.

  49. TIPS FOR A DAILY QUIET TIME C. REFLECT ON THE VERSE. (4 Minutes) See the section on "How To Meditate on God's Word".

  50. TIPS FOR A DAILY QUIET TIME D. RECORD WHAT GOD SAID. (2 Minutes) See the section on "How To Apply God's Word".

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