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The subject of Christian growth is one of tremendous importance. The effects which it has on you will depend largely upon how seriously
you view this material and how diligently you pursue such growth in your own life. Obviously, if it is of little or no importance to you,
you are likely to do nothing about it but forget the material presented in this study. However, if you can be blessed to see the importance
of Christian growth, then soon you will become a little more like Jesus. All who truly have the mind of Christ (Phil. 2:5) and who give
attention to matters which are of interest to Christ will surely benefit from a consideration of this subject. Of course, the area of growth
that is under consideration is in the realm of Christian endeavors. You should recognize the need for growth and development of your
Christian character. The objective of this lesson is to instill or to reactivate within you a desire to become more than you are today.
Hopefully we will all acquire from this study the holy quest for spiritual growth, for it is certain that we all need it. None of us have reached
perfection; we all have room for growth. If you are not interested, you should be. Even if you are not interested in growing, you will
still be growing, but you are likely to be growing in the wrong rather than the right ways.
Growth is defined as the process of growing or becoming larger by taking in food. It is also defined as development. Growth is a natural
process of life. In fact, all of life can be said to be a continuous process of growth. We grow from the moment of conception until we die.
Before birth we grow and develop until we are able to survive in this world; then we grow up. Once we reach physical maturity, we start
to grow old and continue to grow older and older until we die; therefore, growth is a natural part of living. I stopped growing in size
almost twenty years ago, but I believe that I have continued to grow in maturity, patience, and understanding from that time until now.
I really believe that I have experienced some spiritual growth, and I know that I want to experience more over the remaining years of
my life.
We all view growth as a very important ingredient in life. If your child or grandchild stopped growing, you would likely have serious
concern and expend great effort and expense endeavoring to discover the cause and correct the problem. No doubt God feels even greater
concern as He views the multitudes of His children who never grow beyond the stage of spiritual babes. Peter expressed this divine concern
in 1 Peter 2:2. God said, " ...As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby .... " When first we are
brought to a knowledge of God and His grace, we are spiritual babes, and babies need milk. There are basic truths of the Bible which are
easily understood and correspond to milk, on which the child of God may feed and grow in knowledge and service. Too many people who
come into the church are never really consistent in their church attendance or Bible reading. They get just enough gospel nourishment
to survive but not enough to grow.
This comparison between the natural and the spiritual is frequently set forth in Scripture. It was written concerning Samuel, God's prophet,
" ... the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the Lord, and also with men" (1 Sam. 2:26). It is evident that he grew
in physical size, but I believe that he also grew spiritually and by such growth pleased the Lord. Of John the Baptist it was written, "And
the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel" (Luke 1:80). He grew into a
man, but he also grew and waxed strong in the spiritual. Now consider what was written of Jesus as a boy. "And the child grew, and
waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him ...And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour
with God and man" (Luke 2:40 & 52). Jesus was then growing physically, but he was also growing in activity and service to His
heavenly Father. In His growth, He was increasing in both stature and wisdom. It seems evident that God shows us these examples and
others to give ample evidence that while we grow physically we are also to be constant! y growing spiritually.
Consider now an admonition which the Bible sets forth to enjoin us in the duty of spiritual or Christian growth. Peter said, "But grow
in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen" (2 Peter 3:18). As
recipients of God's grace, we should grow therein and become more gracious to one another as we grow in our knowledge of Jesus Christ.
To grow in such knowledge requires a diligent study of the Scripture, and thereby we feed not only upon milk but also upon meat.
Such growth is mandatory if we are to have an adequate supply of Christian teachers who are able to digest milk and meat for only those
who are mature enough to consume meat are able to discern fully the values of right and wrong (Heb. 5:12-14).Don't you want to arrive
at that point somewhere along the pathway of life?If so, it will require the ingestion of a great deal of God's Holy Word.
Spiritual maturity is necessary not only to supply able Bible teachers but also to suppress spiritual conflicts. Mature Christians acquire the
ability to consider the view of others; even when they differ, they do so without being disagreeable. The church at Corinth had strife
because it had many members who were spiritually immature. (Read 1 Cor. 3: 1-3). They had to be dealt with as children for they were
conducting themselves in that manner. It is sad to see churches today that are torn apart because of internal conflict. Often these conflicts
concern very insignificant and trivial matters. Church people often argue and struggle as children and thereby manifest their spiritual
immaturity. Conflict could have been avoided if only more of them had achieved a greater level of Christian growth.
Paul expressed this thought by saying, "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when
I became a man, I put away childish things" (l Cor. 13:11). Oh, how well he said it! You can't expect children to behave like adults until
they grow up and become adults. When church members can put away childish behaviour, speech, and thought, it is evident they have
grown into adults. Every church needs some "babes in Christ" as evidence that God is still working among them; however, no member
should remain a babe forever but should experience Christian growth through the ministry of the Word. Mature Christians can help feed
and nurture the babes in Christ, enabling them to grow up and do the same for others.
The growth which we have discussed is more important than any other kind of growth in the church. Christian growth is more
important than numerical or financial growth. If there is constant Christian growth among the members of a church, they will desire
to reach out and minister to the needs of others and new members will be added by the Lord. They will also have a proper understanding
of giving as it is taught in the Bible. This maturity will make them wise stewards of their finances, thereby supplying the financial needs
of the church. Since all aspects of church endeavors are dependent upon the spiritual maturity of its member, we cannot overemphasize
the need for Christian growth in all of us.
We are blessed to have a pattern for measuring our growth. The pattern is of course Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Example. Paul said
that we all should continuously strive to become more like Christ: "...Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge
of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. .." (Eph. 4: 13).We should regard Jesus as the
model for mature Christians and strive to be like Him in all we say and do. We need to keep looking to Jesus for strength and guidance
and keep on growing. The dream of every child is to grow up to be like his or her hero. As mature adults we should regard Jesus as the
One we want most to be like and strive to be more and more like Him each day. By Christian growth, you will experience the blessings and
joys of spiritual maturity.
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