Christian Growth: Knowing, Doing, Teaching
Growing
as a Christian can seem like a mysterious process. And to some extent it is. As
a Christian we are being transform by God to will and to work his good purposes
in our life and the world (Philippians 2:13). It is nothing short of a miracle
that God can take sinful people and transform them by implanting his Spirit
within them to do good that is completely contrary to their sinful nature!
Christian growth is a great mystery made possible by Christ’s sacrifice on the
cross.

Ezra
set himself to growth in the Lord. Ezra 7:10 says “[He] set his heart.” That is
what Christian growth takes at its inception, and really everyday. It is a
conscious decision to follow the Spirit’s leading to deeper relationship.
And
Ezra set his heart to do three things: 1) study God’s Law, 2) to live out the
Law in his life, and 3) to teach God’s Law to others. This could be summarized
as knowing, doing, and teaching.
Knowing – If you want to grow as a
Christian you have to spend time in God’s Word. Christian’s often bemoan the
fact that they want to hear from the Lord and don’t know how to do that. God has
given us several thousand pages of words from his very mouth handed down
through the ages for us to read. Spending time in the Word of God is essential
to Christian growth. A simple way to study God’s Word is to set aside regular
times to read it and respond in prayer. I underline in my Bible anything that
‘speaks’ to me and then I go back and pray through my underlines. You will be
amazed at how much just this simple type of Bible study will change your life.
Doing – There is knowledge to be
gained from Bible study. There is a level of information that must be learned
about God, Christ, and man if you are to grow. The second step is doing. I fear
this may be where most Christians fail. We are always looking for better
teaching, more teaching, deeper teaching, when many times what we need to do is
just put into practice what we know. In fact we see Jesus get mad at the
Scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23:2-3 not because they were teaching the Law
of Moses, but because they were not practicing what they were preaching! Part of
praying through the underlines in your Bible is praying that God would help you
put into practice what you are reading. Read the Word, listen to what it is
teaching you, and attempt by God’s help to put it into practice.
Teaching – Teaching is the natural
end of growth. Everybody has someone to teach. Teaching others to grow in the
Lord is not just the job of Pastors and evangelists. The Great Commission was
given to everyone who claims the name of Christ because we all have someone to
teach. But you can’t teach if you are not experiencing the God you espouse.
Everyone knows that Christian sage in their church. That elder man or woman who
can drop the best Bible study you ever heard at the drop of a hat, no prep.
That is because they have set themselves to study God’s Word and to do it. Then
when the occasion arises they can teach. Who has God put in your life that you
should be discipling? Your kids, wife, co-workers, neighbors?
Knowing,
Doing, Teaching; a simple path to growth. Here is the cool thing, sometimes we
do all three at the same time. You may be learning about God, while you are
struggling to live out his Word, while teaching someone what you are learning
in the midst of your own growth! This is part of the mystery of the grace of
God. We can learn, attempt, fail, repent, and try again, and God grows us and
those around us right in the middle of our own growth. Christian growth takes a
heart that is willing to engage with God’s Word and walk with him in life. Like
Ezra set your heart to know God’s Word, to do it, and to teach it.
This
blog in part came from a sermon on Christian growth that I preached at Risen Life Church as we were working through our vision statement of Real Life
Transformation: Connect, Grow, Serve, Reach.
ClickHere to Listen to the Sermon
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