5 Ways To Grow Spiritually Series

5 ways to grow spiritually

I see our church’s vision and mission is in helping people grow spiritually and this is done by 5 different ways:

• By engaging with relevant Biblical teaching and preaching.

• By connecting in divine appointed relationships.

• By practicing spiritual disciplines daily which enable us to experience God.

• By serving in a ministry or on a mission trip.

• By praying through and adjusting to unexpected circumstances in life.

Let’s look at these 5 paths to spiritual growth in more detail: Five ways to grow spiritually! The fab 5!

1. Practical teaching/preaching – Hearing, learning and then the application of what you learned by doing it - are all keys to growing in our faith walk.

a. Making God’s Word practical is the calling of a pastor/teacher.

i. The key: God wants us to not just know the Bible but do the Bible.

ii. We learn by anointed preaching and teaching. This is one of God’s methodologies to have us grow in our faith and our spiritual wisdom.

b. Andy Stanley states, “Practical teaching that moves people to action is one of the primary things God uses to grow our faith.”

c. The problem in American Churches is too many know the Bible but they do not do what the Bible says to do.

i. They hear the Word but they do not apply it or even believe it!

ii. James 1:22: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

2. Providential relationships – In our lives we can name key people who have all played divine rolls in helping us to grow in our faith.

a. Every one of us most likely can tell of a person who has helped us in our spiritual journey. These people all played key roles in growing your faith because God brought them into your life to help you grow..

i. Think for a moment – Can you name a few key people in your life who helped you grow?

ii. God brings people into our lives at just the right moment to help us grow spiritually.

1. Can you identify who these people are?

2. Can you identify a key teacher – a youth pastor?

b. We have an example of this Acts with Paul and Ananias/Barnabas.

i. Acts 9:10-19: 26-31:

1. 10In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered.

11The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.

12In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”

13“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem.

14And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”

15But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.

16I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

17Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

18Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and

19after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus…

i.

26When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple.

27But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.

28So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.

29He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him.

30When the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

31Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.

c. Now the next question: Who have you helped to grow spiritually?

3. Private Spiritual disciplines – these include prayer, and giving and striving to stretch us in our faith so it will grow – so we will grow.