How to Grow as a Christian
HOW TO GROW AS A CHRISTIAN
INTRODUCTION
Accepting Christ as the Lord and Savior of your life is the most important decision a person can make. After you have made Him Lord of your life by inviting Him into your heart to rule your life, and demonstrated that with Christian baptism, you have become a child of God.
However, you must also realize that this new birth, though necessary as a beginning, it is only the beginning. God’s desire is that you grow up to maturity in Christ.
Just as a baby needs air, food, rest and exercise to grow, so is your consistent spiritual growth dependent upon certain essential elements. This lesson will deal with those ingredients essential for a life of maturity in Christ.
“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith.” Col. 2:6,7a
I. CHRIST IS LORD
As the hub is the center of a wheel, so Christ is the center of everything in our Christian life.
1. How do the following verses describe Jesus Christ?
John 13:13 _____________________________________________________________________
Acts 2:36 ______________________________________________________________________
Revelation 19:16 ________________________________________________________________
- What would be your own definition of the word “Lord” as you feel it applies to Jesus?
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
We should give Christ the same place in our hearts that He holds in the universe. Jesus Christ, Lord of Lords, has always existed and always will. Not all people presently acknowledge Him as their Lord, but that does not alter the fact of His Lordship. All will someday acknowledge Christ as Lord, but the privilege of acknowledging and obeying His Lordship is possible now. - What does Romans 12:1-2 says that you should do? _____________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
What will be the results if you do this? _______________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ - What are some of the fears that might keep a person from making Christ Lord of their life?
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ - How does Jeremiah 29:11 dispel these fears? __________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________ - How might Christ change your life if He were Lord of all? _______________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
In all Christians, Christ is present; in some Christians Christ is prominent; but in only a few Christians is Christ pre-eminent.
II. THE WORD OF GOD
“The vigor of our spiritual life will be in exact proportion to the place held by the Bible in our life and thoughts.” - George Mueller
1. Why is God’s Word so important for a new Christian?
2 Tim. 3:16-17 __________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
2. What will result in your life when you get into God’s Word?
Ps. 119:11, 105 __________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
3. Can you think of ways that your life has already changed through your study of God’s Word?
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
III. PRAYER
“The great people of the earth today are the people who pray. I do not mean those who talk about prayer, nor those who can explain about prayer, but I mean those people who take time and pray. They have no time. It must be taken from something else. This something else is important – very important and pressing, but still less important and less pressing than prayer.” - S. D. Gordon
1. What conditions for prayer do you find in the following verses?
Psalm 66:18 ____________________________________________________________________
Matthew 21:22 __________________________________________________________________
John 15:7 ______________________________________________________________________
John 16:24 _____________________________________________________________________
1 John 5:14-15 __________________________________________________________________
2. What does Hebrews 4:16 teach us about prayer? ________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
3. What does Phil. 4:6-7 teach about the benefits of prayer? _________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
It is impossible for a believer, no matter what his experience, to keep right with God if he will not take the time to spend time with God.
IV. FELLOWSHIP
“The Church is the body of Christ. Every Christian is a member or organ of the body, while Christ Himself is the head, controlling the body’s activities. Not every organ has the same function, but each is necessary for the maximum health and usefulness of the body. Moreover, the whole body is animated by a common life: this is the Holy Spirit. It is His presence which makes the body one.” - John R. W. Stott
1. From Hebrews 10:24-25, what would you say is the purpose of meeting together with other Christians? _____________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
2. What are some of the ways that you might stimulate other believers? _______________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
3. What did the early Christians do when they gathered together?
Acts 2:41-42 A._____________________________________________________________________________
B._____________________________________________________________________________
C. ____________________________________________________________________________
D. ____________________________________________________________________________
4. Briefly explain why fellowship with other Christians is important to you. ____________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
V. WITNESSING
A witness is a person who tells what he has seen and heard. He shares his own personal experience. Anyone who has a personal relationship with Christ can be a witness for Him. Witnessing is the overflow of the Christian life. As our lives are filled with the presence of the Lord Jesus, we cannot help but share Him with those we come in contact with.
1. What was Paul’s attitude concerning sharing the gospel with others?
Romans 1:14-16 _________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
2. What was Jesus’ promise in Acts 1:8? ________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
3. What should you share with others? 1 John 1:3 ________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
What is the purpose? _____________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
4. 1 Peter 3:15 gives both a challenge and an instruction with regard to witnessing.
The challenge: __________________________________________________________________
The instruction: _________________________________________________________________
5. Make a list of several persons whom you may need to share Christ with. Begin to pray for opportunities to share with them. ____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CONCLUSION:
What specific steps of action would God have you take in order to continue growing as a Christian? ____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
As a result of this study, the area of my life that I most need to work on is ___________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
What specifically do you plan to do? _________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________