Session #4 - Rick Warren
THE LAWS OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH HE MODELED
1. SPIRITUAL GROWTH IS INCARNATIONAL
-Spiritual growth is not by imitation but by inhabitation.
“ I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.
The life I live in my body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and
gave himself for me.” Gal. 2:20 (NIV)
“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.” 1 Cor. 3:6 (NIV)
“Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” Phil. 2:12-13 (NIV)
FACT SPIRITUAL GROWTH IS BOTH MYSTICAL AND PRACTICAL
2. SPIRITUAL GROWTH IS INTENTIONAL
MYTH: GROWTH IS AUTOMATIC
REALITY: WE GROW BY MAKING COMMITMENTS
“COME & SEE” to “COME & DIE”
“Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground and building lives of
obedience into maturity until finally we all believe… and become full-grown in the Lord-- to the point of being filled full with Christ.” ph.. 4:13 (LB)
TOOLS WE USE:
1. A weekly commitment card - commitment is how people grow – draw the net closed!
-Need a “next step” in every sermon – Will You ______? (application)
2. Covenants – membership, maturity, ministry, mission
“Because of all this, we again promised to serve the Lord! And we, and our princes and Levites and priests al; put our names to this covenant. I, Nehemiah signed this covenant. The others who signed it were...”
Neh. 9:38-10:1 (LB)
3. Message notes – we forget most of what we hear
“The man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.” James 1:25 (NIV)
8 reasons to use an outline/sermon notes in preaching
1- Increases attention
2- Increases retention – the shortest pencil is longer than the longest memory
3- Increases participation
4- You can cover more scripture in less time
5- You can review the message for years to come
6- It can be the basis for small group discussion
7- It allows you to use multiple translations
8- Unbelievers don’t bring Bibles to church
3. SPIRITUAL GROWTH IS INCREMENTAL
MYTH: GROWTH IS INSTANT
REALITY: WE GROW THROUGH a step by step process
“...our lives are gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.” 2 Cor. 3:18 (Mes)
There are developmental stages to spiritual growth too!
Knowing Christ, Loving ,Growing, Serving, & Sharing
TOOLS WE USE: THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE DEVELOPMENT CLASSES (101/201 etc. classes)
-Purpose Driven is a catechism for the 21st century.
4. SPIRITUAL GROWTH IS PERSONAL
REALITY: WE GROW ACCORDING TO OUR S.H.A.P.E.
Spiritual gifts
Heart
Abilities
Personality
Experiences
TOOLS WE USE
1. S.H.A.P.E. interview
2. Spiritual Help Assessment
“Examine yourselves to see whether you are living in the faith. Test yourselves.” 2 Cor. 13:5 (NRSV)
5. SPIRITUAL GROWTH IS HABITIAL (disciplines)
REALITY: WE GROW BY developing good habits
“Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Instead, let us encourage one another all the more...” Hebrews 10:25 (TEV)
-Character is the sum total of your habits.
-You must teach them the habits (class 201)
TOOLS WE USE:
1. Assign homework
2. The Purpose Driven Life and Journal
3. Drive time devotions
4. Email devotions
5. Guide to fasting
6. Podcasts, internet resources etc.
6. SPIRITUAL GROWTH IS Relational
MYTH: CAN ATTAIN MATURITY BY YOURSELF
REALITY: WE ONLY GROW in community
-You cannot grow without the church – you can get knowledge, but not maturity.
“Let us be concerned for one another, to help one another to show love and to
do good. Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing.
Instead, let us encourage one another all the more...” Heb. 10:24-25 (TEV)
-58 One Another’s in the New Testament
TOOLS WE USE:
1. Small Groups
2. Retreats
3.
“By this time you ought to be teachers!” Heb. 5:12 (NIV)
7. SPIRITUAL GROWTH Multi-dimentional
MYTH: MATURITY IS MEASURED BY YOUR BIBLE KNOWLEDGE
“Tell believers to live the kind of life that goes along with accurate teachings.”
Titus 2:1 (GW)
-You only believe the part you do.
REALITY: IT TAKES ALL 5 purposes
Warmer through fellowship
Deeper through discipleship
Stronger through worship
Broader through ministry
Larger through mission
“Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God means that we must care for orphans and widows in their troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us.” James 1:27 (NLT)
8. SPIRITUAL GROWTH IS Seasonal
“As long as the earth remains, there will be springtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, day and night." Genesis 8:22 (NLT)
REALITY: WE GROW in spurts
THE TOOLS WE USE: Spiritual Growth Campaigns
I WANT TO GROW
I LOVE MY CHURCH
MILLENNIAL MEMBERS
BUILDING FOR LIFE
40 DAYS OF COMMUNITY
40 DAY OF FAITH
40 DAYS OF PURPOSE (Personal Renewal)
40 DAYS OF LOVE (Relational Renewal) FALL 08
40 DAYS OF MISSION (Missional Renewal)
40 DAYS OF PEACE
FIVE REINFORCEMENTS:
HEAR IT!
READ IT!
TALK ABOUT IT!
MEMORIZE A VERSE!
DO IT!
THIS NEXT YEAR:
Fall 09 LIFE’S HEALING CHOICES
Christmas 09 THE PURPOSE OF CHRISTMAS
Spring 2010 GOD’S ANSWER’S TO LIFE’S DIFFICULT QUESTIONS
Summer 2010 PILGRIM’S PROGRESS
Fall 2010 THE HOPE OF THE WORLD!
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