Stuck, Stagnant, or in Stride? - Next Steps

Message Summary

When it comes to spiritual growth, no one can do it for you. Discipleship is the process of growing closer to Christ and it’s a lifelong pursuit. The first step is to assess your spiritual life to see if you are still planted and growing. Self assessment is good. Are you Exploring Christ, Growing in Christ, Close to Christ, or Christ centered? Are you stuck? If so, God has a profound way to move you. He will send a storm. God turns hard soil into good soil by sending a storm. There are three types of storms: intellectual, emotional and physical storms. Intellectual storms challenge our faith and should force us to dig deeper and emerge stronger since truth will prevail. But sometimes we need to seek help. Emotional storms challenge our will to persevere and should force us to draw closer to God and to his people. Satan always wants to isolate the sheep in order to destroy. Physical storms challenge our joy and should force us to trust God in a more profound way. These challenges produce endurance, enhance our eternal perspective, strengthen our character, and produce eternal rewards. When it comes to spiritual growth, you need to own it to grow.

1) Do you still thirst for God? In what ways? Share.

2) Where do you think you are on the spiritual growth spectrum?

Consider This

Spiritual growth brings, among other things, peace and comfort during dark days, joy without regret in good times, direction in all times, supernatural power for life and inseparable intimate relationship like no other. So the psalmist said, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God” (Psalm 42:1).

1) Why do you want to grow closer to God? Why would someone not want to grow closer to God?

2) Why do you think some people walk away from their faith? How do you challenge yourself to grow?

3) Spiritual growth starts with a new birth in Christ, being made alive by Jesus—born again by the word of God. Have you been born again? Could you share with the group when, where, and how that happened?

4) Read 1 Peter 2:2. How is a new Christian like a new baby? Discuss what “spiritual milk” might consist of and what happens if a baby Christian doesn’t get it.

5) Being connected is a key component of spiritual growth. Who are you connected with? What do you need to do to remain connected and deepen those relationships?

a. If you are unconnected, what do you need to change to get connected?

6) Read Ephes 4:14-16. When believers are connected to Christ and one another, what benefits do the individuals receive? What dangers do they avoid? Which is most important to you?

7) How important is prayer to your relationships? Considering the spiritual battles besetting all believers mentioned in Ephesians 6:10-20, who should we pray for and how often? Does prayer help you to love others more authentically? Why or why not?

8) Consider 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 and Galatians 5:16-21. What are the characteristics of the spiritually immature? Which do you struggle with the most? The least? In which areas do you need to trust God more and strive for improvement?

9) Discuss how human effort and reliance upon God work together to produce spiritual growth according to 2 Corinthians 5:7 and Philippians 2:12-13.

Moving Forward

Self Identify. Determine where you are on your spiritual journey this week. You can’t move forward if you don’t know where you currently are on the path. Connect to https://freshwater.church/next to find your Spiritual Pathway!

Read “Have a Spiritual Conversation” and the next steps suggested. Take one step this week.