SPIRITUAL GROWTH

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SPIRITUAL GROWTH IMPROVEMENT

• Kingsville Church of Christ
• June 24, 2007

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SPIRITUAL GROWTH IMPROVEMENT

• There is always room for improvement.  It's the
  biggest room in the house.
• I am the only one who can make spiritual
  improvements in my life.  Others may help but I
  must accept personal responsibility.
• Acts 240

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Acts 240

• And with many other words did he testify and
  exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this
  untoward generation.

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SPIRITUAL GROWTH IMPROVEMENT

• There is always room for improvement.  It's the
  biggest room in the house.
• I am the only one who can make spiritual
  improvements in my life.  Others may help but I
  must accept personal responsibility.
• Acts 240
• 2 Peter 318

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II Peter 318

• But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our
  Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory
  both now and for ever. Amen.

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SPIRITUAL GROWTH IMPROVEMENT

• There is always room for improvement.  It's the
  biggest room in the house.
• I am the only one who can make spiritual
  improvements in my life.  Others may help but I
  must accept personal responsibility.
• Acts 240
• 2 Peter 318
• Do we just "go through the motions" of religion?
   Have you ever seriously thought about the kind
  of spiritual person you really are?

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SPIRITUAL GROWTH IMPROVEMENT

• AM I THE PERSON I OUGHT TO BE?
• 2 Peter 311

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II Peter 311

• Seeing then that all these things shall be
  dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be
  in all holy conversation and godliness,

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SPIRITUAL GROWTH IMPROVEMENT

• AM I THE PERSON I OUGHT TO BE?
• 2 Peter 311
• The first requirement is to become a Christian.
   Then we must fill the role that our personal
  abilities and opportunities enable us to fill.
• DO I RESPECT BIBLICAL AUTHORITY AND SOUNDNESS?
• 1 Peter 411

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I Peter 411

• If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of
  God if any man minister, let him do it as of the
  ability which God giveth that God in all things
  may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be
  praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

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SPIRITUAL GROWTH IMPROVEMENT

• AM I THE PERSON I OUGHT TO BE?
• 2 Peter 311
• The first requirement is to become a Christian.
   Then we must fill the role that our personal
  abilities and opportunities enable us to fill.
• DO I RESPECT BIBLICAL AUTHORITY AND SOUNDNESS?
• 1 Peter 411
• 2 John 9-11

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II John 9-11

• 9Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the
  doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth
  in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the
  Father and the Son. 10If there come any unto
  you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not
  into your house, neither bid him God speed
  11For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker
  of his evil deeds.

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SPIRITUAL GROWTH IMPROVEMENT

• AM I THE PERSON I OUGHT TO BE?
• 2 Peter 311
• The first requirement is to become a Christian.
   Then we must fill the role that our personal
  abilities and opportunities enable us to fill.
• DO I RESPECT BIBLICAL AUTHORITY AND SOUNDNESS?
• 1 Peter 411
• 2 John 9-11
• Do I follow God's word in ALL areas of my life?

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SPIRITUAL GROWTH IMPROVEMENT

• AM I WILLING TO MAKE SACRIFICES FOR THE CAUSE OF
  CHRIST?
• Philippians 37-8

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Philippians 37-8

• 7But what things were gain to me, those I counted
  loss for Christ.  8Yea doubtless, and I count
  all things but loss for the excellency of the
  knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I
  have suffered the loss of all things, and do
  count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

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SPIRITUAL GROWTH IMPROVEMENT

• AM I WILLING TO MAKE SACRIFICES FOR THE CAUSE OF
  CHRIST?
• Philippians 37-8
• 2 Corinthians 82-4

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II Corinthians 82-4

• 2How that in a great trial of affliction the
  abundance of their joy and their deep poverty
  abounded unto the riches of their liberality.  
  3For to their power, I bear record, yea, and
  beyond their power they were willing of
  themselves 4Praying us with much intreaty that
  we would receive the gift, and take upon us the
  fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

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SPIRITUAL GROWTH IMPROVEMENT

• AM I WILLING TO MAKE SACRIFICES FOR THE CAUSE OF
  CHRIST?
• Philippians 37-8
• 2 Corinthians 82-4
• Jesus was willing to sacrifice himself for us.
   Others have sacrificed themselves for our
  freedoms.
• Can we find a balance in sacrificial giving and
  the abundant life Jesus promised.

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SPIRITUAL GROWTH IMPROVEMENT

• DO I UNDERSTAND THE TRUE NATURE AND MISSION OF
  THE CHURCH?
• Eph. 39-11

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Ephesians 39-11

• 9And to make all men see what is the fellowship
  of the mystery, which from the beginning of the
  world hath been hid in God, who created all
  things by Jesus Christ 10To the intent that now
  unto the principalities and powers in heavenly
  places might be known by the church the manifold
  wisdom of God, 11According to the eternal
  purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our
  Lord

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SPIRITUAL GROWTH IMPROVEMENT

• DO I UNDERSTAND THE TRUE NATURE AND MISSION OF
  THE CHURCH?
• Eph. 39-11
• Eph. 321

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Ephesians 321

• Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus
  throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

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SPIRITUAL GROWTH IMPROVEMENT

• DO I UNDERSTAND THE TRUE NATURE AND MISSION OF
  THE CHURCH?
• Eph. 39-11
• Eph. 321
• The church is the body of Christ.  We represent
  Him today by doing the things He did.
• He came to "seek and save the lost
• He edified and strengthened the disciples
  (learners).
• He was touched by human suffering and showed
  compassion in benevolent acts.
• He engaged in worship, prayer, and praise to God.

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SPIRITUAL GROWTH IMPROVEMENT

• AM I GROWING TO PERSONAL SPIRITUAL MATURITY?
• Hebrews 512-14

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Hebrews 512-14

• 12For when for the time ye ought to be teachers,
  ye have need that one teach you again which be
  the first principles of the oracles of God and
  are become such as have need of milk, and not of
  strong meat. 13For every one that useth milk is
  unskilful in the word of righteousness for he is
  a babe.  14But strong meat belongeth to them that
  are of full age, even those who by reason of use
  have their senses exercised to discern both good
  and evil.

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SPIRITUAL GROWTH IMPROVEMENT

• AM I GROWING TO PERSONAL SPIRITUAL MATURITY?
• Hebrews 512-14
• 1 Corinthians 31-3

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I Corinthians 31-3

• 1And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as
  unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto
  babes in Christ.  2I have fed you with milk, and
  not with meat for hitherto ye were not able to
  bear it, neither yet now are ye able.  3For ye
  are yet carnal for whereas there is among you
  envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not
  carnal, and walk as men?

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SPIRITUAL GROWTH IMPROVEMENT

• AM I GROWING TO PERSONAL SPIRITUAL MATURITY?
• Hebrews 512-14
• 1 Corinthians 31-3
• 1 Corinthians 1420

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I Corinthians 1420

• Brethren, be not children in understanding
  howbeit in malice be ye children, but in
  understanding be men.

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SPIRITUAL GROWTH IMPROVEMENT

• AM I GROWING TO PERSONAL SPIRITUAL MATURITY?
• Hebrews 512-14
• 1 Corinthians 31-3
• 1 Corinthians 1420
• 1 Corinthians 1613-14

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I Corinthians 1613-14

• 13Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you
  like men, be strong.  14Let all your things be
  done with charity.

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SPIRITUAL GROWTH IMPROVEMENT

• AM I GROWING TO PERSONAL SPIRITUAL MATURITY?
• Hebrews 512-14
• 1 Corinthians 31-3
• 1 Corinthians 1420
• 1 Corinthians 1613-14
• Growth takes time, but it requires getting
  started.

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SPIRITUAL GROWTH IMPROVEMENT

• HOW ARE YOU DOING IN THESE FIVE AREAS?  MOST OF
  US CAN ADMIT A NEED FOR IMPROVEMENT.
• ARE WE THE PERSON WE OUGHT TO BE?
• DO WE HAVE RESPECT FOR BIBLE SOUNDNESS?
• ARE WE WILLING TO MAKE SACRIFICES?
• DO WE UNDERSTAND THE NATURE AND MISSION OF THE
  CHURCH?
• ARE WE GROWING EACH DAY TO BE MORE SPIRITUALLY
  MATURE?

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SPIRITUAL GROWTH IMPROVEMENT

• Kingsville Church of Christ
• June 24, 2007