Title: Growing in Grace
Theme: Part 1 of The Spiritual GROWTH series
Introduction
One of the main responsibilities of anyone in leadership is to help guide people in their spiritual growth. You want to help them know God better, follow Him, have their lives reflect His love and grace and you want for them to help others. These are the hallmarks of someone growing in Christ.
So for the next 6 weeks we are going to look into the subject of spiritual growth.
Specifically we are going to address 6 key factors that must be present in our lives in order for spiritual growth to happen.
Each of these key factors begins with a letter used to spell the word “Growth.” (A key factor in our spiritual growth begins with the letter G. A key factor in our spiritual growth begins with the letter R…etc)
The single most important factor in our spiritual growth begins with the letter G. That word is GRACE.
Consider the following
1.How can I even be saved? GRACE
“For it is by grace you are saved.” (Eph 2:5)
2.How can I get victory over sin? GRACE
“For sin shall not be your master because you are not under law but under grace.” (Romans 6:14)
3.How can I overcome my weaknesses? GRACE
“my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor. 12:9)
4.How can I abound in every good work? GRACE
“And God is able to make all grace abound to you so that in all things at all time, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Cor. 9:8)
5.How can I be more encouraged and hopeful? GRACE
“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope…” (1 Thess. 2:16)
6.How can I conduct myself in the world in holiness and sincerity? GRACE
“Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relationship to you, in the sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God’s grace.” (2 Cor. 1:12)
7.How can I say no to ungodliness and worldly passions, and live a self-controlled upright life in this present age? GRACE
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright lives in this present age.” (Titus 2:11)
8.How can I bear fruit for God? GRACE
“All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it is been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth.” (Col. 1:6)
I could go on and on but I think it should be clear by now that we need “Grace for the Race.”
What is grace?
Grace is God’s unmerited favor. That is, although we can do nothing to deserve it, God wants to favor us with His grace.
But often, we concentrate on the “unmerited” part and miss the “favor” part of grace. That is, we’re glad we sinners don’t get the punishment and judgment that we deserve. That’s a relief. But grace is much more than the absence of judgment. It is also the presence of favors, encouragement, love, help and support.
Grace is God’s Riches At Christ Expense.
“From the fullness of his grace we have received one blessing after another.”(John 1:16)
What are God’s Riches = everything we need for spiritual growth to occur in our lives
We are told concerning the grace of God to…
1, See to it that no one misses the grace of God (2Timothy 2:1)
2. Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18)
3. This is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. (1 Peter 5:12)
4. Urged them to continue in the grace of God (Acts 13:43)
5. Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed (1 Peter 1:13)
6. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace (Heb 12:15)
7.Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus (2 Tim. 2:1)
Saving grace opens the door to other types of grace such as
1.Sanctifying grace
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright lives in this present age.” (Titus 2:11)
What is the name of your teacher? Grace!
2. Sustaining grace
“my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor. 12:9)
Everything runs on Dunkin. Everything runs on grace!
3. Serving grace
“By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder…” (1 Cor. 3:10)
Job interview = how much experience do you have with grace?
4. Speaking grace
“Let your conversation always be full of grace.” (Col. 4:6)
We have to speak more about grace…
The key to Spiritual growth = full of grace
“Jesus came from the Father full of grace and truth…” John 1:14
“Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power” (Acts 6:8)
What is necessary on our part in order for us to receive all the grace we need for spiritual growth?
1.Humility
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6)
“Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me…(Eph. 3:8)
The more humble you are the more room you create to receive God’s grace.
The more pride you have the less room you create to receive God’s grace.
God resists the proud but assists the humble
“I need help.” “I can’t do this by myself.”
By Grace God saves us but everything after that we must do by ourselves
“Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come;
Tis grace has brought me save thus far, and grace will lead me home.”
2.Faith
“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace in our time of need.” (Heb. 4:16)
“through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.” (Rom. 5:2)
Faith is the key by which we open the door to the grace we need
Faith is not passive but instead is active = let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence
3.Becoming more grace–minded
My Goal = To increase your awareness of what’s out there to help bring about your spiritual growth.
What does the New Testament have to say about grace?
The very last verse of the Bible
“The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.” (Rev. 22:21)
God is grace (The God of all grace 1 Peter 5:10)
Scripture is grace (The word of grace Acts 14:3)
Christ is grace (Jesus came full of grace John 1:14)
Grace abounds (where sin abounds grace abounds all the more Romans 5:20)
“All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all it’s truth.” (Col. 1:6)
Conclustion
Where do you stand on grace?
1, See to it that no one misses the grace of God (2Timothy 2:1)
2. Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18)
3. This is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. (1 Peter 5:12)
4. Urged them to continue in the grace of God (Acts 13:43)
5. Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed (1 Peter 1:13)
6. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace (Heb 12:15)
7.Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus (2 Tim. 2:1)
Have you experienced saving grace?
Are you currently experiencing sanctifying grace?
Are you currently experiencing sustaining grace?
Are you currently experiencing serving grace?
Are you currently experiencing speaking grace?
