how god uses people problems to help us grow

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SERIES CONCLUSION – THE GROWING CHRISTIAN MATT DAVIS

“THERE IS A TIME FOR EVERYTHING, AND A SEASON FOR EVERY ACTIVITY UNDER THE HEAVENS...” (ECCLESIASTES 3:1) “HE HAS MADE EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL IN ITS TIME. HE HAS ALSO SET ETERNITY IN THE HUMAN HEART.” (ECCLESIASTES 3:11)

HOW GOD USES PEOPLE PROBLEMS TO HELP US GROW: * RELIGIOUS PERFECTIONISTS HELP US UNDERSTAND OUR _________________ * CHURCH COMMUNITY HELPS US PRACTICE FRIENDSHIP * THE SPIRITUALLY UNINTERESTED HELP US OWN OUR _______________ * THE PERPETUALLY PESSIMISTIC HELP US SEE GOD AT WORK IN OUR LIVES * THE SELF-ABSORBED HELP US ________________ OTHERS FIRST * THE VISION KILLERS HELP US FIGHT FOR GOD’S PURPOSE FOR OUR LIVES “JESUS CONTINUED: „THERE WAS A MAN WHO HAD TWO SONS. THE YOUNGER ONE SAID TO HIS FATHER, „FATHER, GIVE ME MY SHARE OF THE ESTATE.‟ SO HE DIVIDED HIS PROPERTY BETWEEN THEM.” (LUKE 15:11-12)

MY GREATEST PEOPLE PROBLEM IS…ME 5 COMMONALITIES OF THE CHRISTIAN JOURNEY 1)

_____________________ “NOT LONG AFTER THAT, THE YOUNGER SON GOT TOGETHER ALL HE HAD, SET OFF FOR A DISTANT COUNTRY AND THERE SQUANDERED HIS WEALTH IN WILD LIVING. AFTER HE HAD SPENT EVERYTHING, THERE WAS A SEVERE FAMINE IN THAT WHOLE COUNTRY, AND HE BEGAN TO BE IN NEED.” (LUKE 15:13-14)

2)

_______________________________ “WHEN HE CAME TO HIS SENSES, HE SAID, „HOW MANY OF MY FATHER‟S HIRED SERVANTS HAVE FOOD TO SPARE, AND HERE I AM STARVING TO DEATH!‟” (LUKE 15:17)

3)

_____________________________ “‟I WILL SET OUT AND GO BACK TO MY FATHER AND SAY TO HIM: FATHER, I HAVE SINNED AGAINST HEAVEN AND AGAINST YOU. I AM NO LONGER WORTHY TO BE CALLED YOUR SON; MAKE ME LIKE ONE OF YOUR HIRED SERVANTS.‟ SO HE GOT UP AND WENT TO HIS FATHER.” (LUKE 15:18-20A)

4)

___________________________________ “‟BUT WHILE HE WAS STILL A LONG WAY OFF, HIS FATHER SAW HIM AND WAS FILLED WITH COMPASSION FOR HIM; HE RAN TO HIS SON, THREW HIS ARMS AROUND HIM AND KISSED HIM.‟” (LUKE 15:20B)

5)

____________________________ “BUT THE FATHER SAID TO HIS SERVANTS, „QUICK! BRING THE BEST ROBE AND PUT IT ON HIM. PUT A RING ON HIS FINGER AND SANDALS ON HIS FEET. BRING THE FATTENED CALF AND KILL IT. LET‟S HAVE A FEAST AND CELEBRATE. FOR THIS SON OF MINE WAS DEAD AND IS ALIVE AGAIN; HE WAS LOST AND IS FOUND.‟ SO THEY BEGAN TO CELEBRATE.” (LUKE 15:22-24)

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7 WAYS TO GROW IN CHRIST: 1)

_______________ ON GOD’S VISION FOR MY LIFE “I PRAY THAT THE EYES OF YOUR HEART MAY BE ENLIGHTENED IN ORDER THAT YOU MAY KNOW THE HOPE TO WHICH HE HAS CALLED YOU.” (EPHESIANS 4:18A)

2) COUNT THE ______________ ____________ TO FOLLOWING CHRIST “THEN JESUS SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES, “WHOEVER WANTS TO BE MY DISCIPLE MUST DENY THEMSELVES AND TAKE UP THEIR CROSS AND FOLLOW ME. FOR WHOEVER WANTS TO SAVE THEIR LIFE WILL LOSE IT, BUT WHOEVER LOSES THEIR LIFE FOR ME WILL FIND IT.‟” (MATTHEW 16:24-25)

3)

__________________ THE DIRECT PATH TOWARDS GOD, EVEN WHEN IT INTERSECTS WITH DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES AND PEOPLE

“NOW JESUS LEARNED THAT THE PHARISEES HAD HEARD THAT HE WAS GAINING AND BAPTIZING MORE DISCIPLES THAN JOHN— ALTHOUGH IN FACT IT WAS NOT JESUS WHO BAPTIZED, BUT HIS DISCIPLES. SO HE LEFT JUDEA AND WENT BACK ONCE MORE TO GALILEE. NOW HE HAD TO GO THROUGH SAMARIA.” (JOHN 4:1-4)

4)

ASK GOD AND OTHERS FOR HELP IN REMOVING SPIRITUAL _______________ _______________ “DON‟T LET ME LIVE A LIE. GUIDE ME WITH YOUR TEACHINGS.” (PSALMS 119:29)

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5)

_________ NEW HABITS TO MY SPIRITUAL TOOLBOX “HIS DIVINE POWER HAS GIVEN US EVERYTHING WE NEED FOR A GODLY LIFE… FOR THIS VERY REASON, MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ADD TO YOUR FAITH… FOR IF YOU POSSESS THESE QUALITIES IN INCREASING MEASURE, THEY WILL KEEP YOU FROM BEING INEFFECTIVE AND UNPRODUCTIVE IN YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.” (2 PETER 1:1, 5A, 8)

6)

GET __________________ IN GOD’S FAMILY “TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE, BECAUSE THEY HAVE A GOOD RETURN FOR THEIR LABOR: IF EITHER OF THEM FALLS DOWN, ONE CAN HELP THE OTHER UP. BUT PITY ANYONE WHO FALLS AND HAS NO ONE TO HELP THEM UP.” (ECCLESIASTES 4:9-10)

7)

__________________ MY TIME & ENERGY TO DEVELOP AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THROUGH PERSONAL SPIRITUAL PRACTICES “BUT GROW IN THE GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST”. (2 PETER 3:18A)

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