Leadership, Spiritual Growth

2 Peter 3:18

Introduction

  • Illustration: Two women applying for a teaching position
  • Lesson: Experience doesn’t always equate to growth; same in spiritual life
  • Theme Verse: 2 Peter 3:18 – “But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

The Necessity of Spiritual Growth

  • Importance: Growing in the Lord vs. just growing old
  • Question: How do you grow?

Four Guidelines for Spiritual Growth

  • Daily Intake of the Word of God
    • Scripture: 1 Peter 2:2
    • Illustration: The analogy of a newborn baby craving milk
    • Emphasis: Developing an appetite for the Word
    • Practical Advice: Asking six questions when studying any passage of Scripture: Who, What, Where, When, Why, Wherefore
  • Intelligent Understanding of the Enemy
    • Scripture: 1 Peter 5:8
    • Illustration: Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness (Luke 4:1-2)
    • Emphasis: Satan's subtlety and persistent attacks
    • Application: Knowing Satan’s strategies and being vigilant
  • Constant Communication with the Father
    • Scripture: James 4:2-3, 1 Thessalonians 5:17
    • Illustration: The necessity of prayer and its power
    • Practical Advice: Incorporating prayer into daily routine activities
    • Emphasis: Dependence on God through prayer
  • Cultivation of Faith
    • Scripture: Hebrews 11:6, Genesis 15, Genesis 22
    • Illustration: Abraham’s faith and trust in God’s promises
    • Emphasis: Faith as a requirement for pleasing God and spiritual growth
    • Application: Growing in faith through trust and obedience

Conclusion

  • Are you growing older or growing up?
  • Aligning life with God's will and making an impact in the community

*The above summary is AI-generated, so discrepancies may exist. Please refer to the audio or video file to verify accuracy.

About the Contributors

Howard G. Hendricks

Dr. Howard G. Hendricks, known simply as “Prof,” directly or indirectly touched millions of lives in the evangelical community and beyond. For more than sixty years Prof served on the faculty of Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS), where he taught more than ten thousand students. He served as the chairman of the Center for Christian Leadership for over twenty years. He also ministered in person in more than eighty countries. Through speaking engagements, radio, tapes, films, the sixteen books he authored and coauthored, countless journal and popular-market articles, his service on numerous boards, and his work as a chaplain to the Dallas Cowboys (1976–1984), his reach was and is worldwide.

His legacy, in partnership with Jeanne, his wife of more than sixty-five years, includes four children and six grandchildren. Holding large audiences enthralled at venues such as Billy Graham’s conference center or Promise Keepers’ stadium rallies, Prof would confide, “It’s wonderful to be here with you, but I have a group of delicious students waiting for me back at the seminary.”