Growing in Grace: A Journey of Spiritual Transformation

 

Summary

In reflecting on the past year, it's essential to recognize the profound impact of God's grace in our lives. This year has been a journey of grace and growth, as we have experienced God's unearned favor and kindness in countless ways. Our primary scripture, 2 Peter 3:18, encourages us to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This growth is not just a one-time event but an ongoing process of sanctification, where we continually strive to become more like Christ.

God's grace is the foundation of our salvation and sanctification. Salvation is a one-time event, but sanctification is a lifelong journey. It's a process of putting away the old and embracing the new, drawing us closer to God each day. This year, we've seen God's grace empower us to live for Him, even in our weaknesses. As 1 Corinthians 12:9 reminds us, His grace is sufficient, making us strong even when we feel weak.

Spiritual growth is the evidence of grace at work in our lives. Like a flower that needs water and sunlight to grow, we need prayer, scripture study, serving others, and trusting God through trials to flourish spiritually. Serving others is a crucial aspect of our growth, as we are blessed to be a blessing. Trials, as James 1:2-4 teaches, produce perseverance and maturity in faith, helping us grow closer to God.

As we reflect on our spiritual journey this year, it's important to recognize that God is patient with us. He doesn't demand instant perfection but lovingly guides us through the Holy Spirit. Philippians 1:6 assures us that He who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion. Our personal growth is a gradual process, and we should celebrate the progress we've made while acknowledging areas where we still need to grow.

Looking ahead, our primary resolution should be to grow in grace and knowledge, drawing closer to God and aligning our will with His. Grace is both the starting point and sustainer of our spiritual growth. It's the power that fills the gap between where we are and where we ought to be. By embracing grace, we can deepen our relationship with God and understand His will for our lives.

Key Takeaways:

1. Grace as the Foundation: God's grace is the cornerstone of our salvation and sanctification. While salvation is a one-time event, sanctification is an ongoing journey of becoming more like Christ. This process requires us to put away the old and embrace the new, drawing us closer to God each day. [03:13]

2. Empowerment Through Grace: God's grace empowers us to live for Him, even in our weaknesses. As 1 Corinthians 12:9 reminds us, His grace is sufficient, making us strong even when we feel weak. This empowerment is a testament to the transformative power of grace in our lives. [05:25]

3. Spiritual Growth Through Service: Spiritual growth is evidenced by grace at work in our lives. Like a flower that needs nurturing, we grow through prayer, scripture study, serving others, and trusting God through trials. Serving others is a crucial aspect of our growth, as we are blessed to be a blessing. [08:10]

4. Patience in Growth: God is patient with us, guiding us through the Holy Spirit. He doesn't demand instant perfection but lovingly nurtures our growth. Philippians 1:6 assures us that He who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion, emphasizing the gradual nature of our spiritual journey. [09:26]

5. Resolution for Growth: Our primary resolution should be to grow in grace and knowledge, drawing closer to God and aligning our will with His. Grace is both the starting point and sustainer of our spiritual growth, filling the gap between where we are and where we ought to be. [11:54]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:08] - A Year of Grace and Growth
[03:13] - Understanding Grace
[03:59] - Salvation and Sanctification
[05:25] - Evidence of Grace
[05:57] - The Gift of Grace
[07:08] - Love and Grace
[08:10] - Spiritual Growth
[09:26] - Patience in Growth
[10:12] - Reflecting on Growth
[11:54] - Resolutions for the New Year
[12:45] - The Role of Grace
[13:33] - Embracing Grace

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. 2 Peter 3:18 - "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen."
2. 1 Corinthians 12:9 - "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me."
3. Philippians 1:6 - "Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

#### Observation Questions
1. What does 2 Peter 3:18 encourage believers to do, and how is this reflected in the sermon? [01:08]
2. How does the sermon describe the difference between salvation and sanctification? [03:13]
3. According to the sermon, what role does grace play in our weaknesses as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:9? [05:25]
4. What are some ways mentioned in the sermon that we can nurture our spiritual growth, similar to how a flower grows? [08:10]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of grace as both a starting point and sustainer of spiritual growth challenge or affirm your understanding of spiritual maturity? [11:54]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that serving others is a crucial aspect of spiritual growth? How does this align with the biblical teaching in James 1:2-4? [08:10]
3. How does the sermon illustrate the patience of God in our spiritual journey, and what implications does this have for our personal growth? [09:26]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between understanding God's will and growing closer to Him? [11:54]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your past year. Can you identify specific instances where you experienced God's grace in your life? How did these moments impact your spiritual journey? [05:25]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of serving others as part of spiritual growth. What is one practical way you can serve someone in your community this week? [08:10]
3. Consider the idea that God is patient with our growth. How can this understanding change the way you approach your spiritual goals for the coming year? [09:26]
4. The sermon encourages us to grow in grace and knowledge. What is one specific area of your life where you feel called to grow in the coming year, and what steps can you take to pursue this growth? [11:54]
5. How can you use the concept of grace filling the gap between where you are and where you ought to be to address a current struggle or weakness in your life? [12:45]
6. Identify one resolution you can make for the new year that aligns with growing in grace and knowledge. How will you hold yourself accountable to this resolution? [11:54]
7. Reflect on the sermon’s message about aligning our will with God's will. What is one area in your life where you struggle to understand God's will, and how can you seek clarity and alignment in this area? [11:54]

Devotional

Day 1: Grace as the Cornerstone of Transformation
God's grace is the essential foundation for both our salvation and our ongoing journey of sanctification. Salvation is a one-time event where we accept God's gift of grace, but sanctification is a lifelong process of becoming more like Christ. This journey involves putting away our old selves and embracing the new life that God offers us. Each day, we are drawn closer to God as we allow His grace to transform us. This transformation is not instantaneous but requires a daily commitment to grow in grace and knowledge. As we reflect on this past year, we can see how God's grace has been at work in our lives, guiding us and helping us to grow spiritually. [03:13]

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age." (Titus 2:11-12, ESV)

Reflection: What old habits or attitudes do you need to put away to embrace the new life God offers you through His grace?


Day 2: Empowerment Through Grace in Weakness
God's grace empowers us to live for Him, even in our moments of weakness. As 1 Corinthians 12:9 reminds us, His grace is sufficient, making us strong when we feel weak. This empowerment is a testament to the transformative power of grace in our lives. When we rely on God's grace, we find the strength to overcome challenges and live according to His will. This year, we have witnessed how God's grace has enabled us to persevere through difficult times and grow in our faith. By acknowledging our weaknesses and relying on God's strength, we can experience the fullness of His grace in our lives. [05:25]

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel weak, and how can you rely on God's grace to empower you in those areas today?


Day 3: Spiritual Growth Through Service
Spiritual growth is evidenced by grace at work in our lives. Just as a flower needs nurturing to grow, we need prayer, scripture study, serving others, and trusting God through trials to flourish spiritually. Serving others is a crucial aspect of our growth, as we are blessed to be a blessing. This year, we have seen how serving others has helped us grow closer to God and develop a deeper understanding of His love and grace. By serving others, we not only bless them but also experience the joy and fulfillment that comes from living out our faith. [08:10]

"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." (Galatians 5:13, ESV)

Reflection: Who is someone in your life that you can serve this week, and how can you be a blessing to them through your actions?


Day 4: Patience in the Journey of Growth
God is patient with us, guiding us through the Holy Spirit. He doesn't demand instant perfection but lovingly nurtures our growth. Philippians 1:6 assures us that He who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion, emphasizing the gradual nature of our spiritual journey. As we reflect on our spiritual journey this year, it's important to recognize that growth takes time and that God is with us every step of the way. We should celebrate the progress we've made while acknowledging areas where we still need to grow. [09:26]

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your spiritual life where you need to be more patient with yourself, and how can you trust God's timing in your growth?


Day 5: Resolution for Growth in Grace and Knowledge
Our primary resolution should be to grow in grace and knowledge, drawing closer to God and aligning our will with His. Grace is both the starting point and sustainer of our spiritual growth, filling the gap between where we are and where we ought to be. By embracing grace, we can deepen our relationship with God and understand His will for our lives. As we look ahead to the new year, let us commit to growing in grace and knowledge, allowing God's grace to transform us and guide us in our spiritual journey. [11:54]

"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." (2 Peter 3:18, ESV)

Reflection: What specific steps can you take this year to grow in grace and knowledge, and how can you align your will with God's in your daily life?

Quotes

"God's grace is the foundation for everything that we do. God's grace is to find God's unearned favor and kindness. It's something that we can't earn. Grace is central to both our salvation and sanctification. Let me distinguish between salvation and sanctification. Salvation is a one-time event. Sanctification is an ongoing." [00:03:13] (31 seconds)


"continual event okay, I'll say it again salvation is a one time event and sanctification is an ongoing event we are saved and then we begin the walk and that sanctification is a walk where we're getting closer and closer to God that we begin to put away the old and take on the new but it's a process it's not a one time event so salvation is a one time event but sanctification is an ongoing everyday battle that we have to go through but we can do it because of grace" [00:03:59] (47 seconds)


"And God has been good to us this past year. Again, grace brings salvation. Ephesians 2, 89. It empowers us to live for God. That's what it does. It empowers us to live for God. Now, take a minute and think about how has grace been evident this year to you? You know, what has happened to you during this year that you have seen God's grace in your life?" [00:05:25] (33 seconds)


"Spiritual growth is the evidence of grace working in our lives. How do we grow? Just like a flower. A flower is fertilized. It's watered. Everything you do to get that flower to grow to be the prettiest flower in the garden that it can be. We grow through prayer, scripture study, serving others, and trusting God and trials." [00:08:10] (29 seconds)


"And I go back, and I want to emphasize serving others. We are blessed so that we can be a blessing to others. And so, yes, it's important for us to pray, it's important for us to study the scripture, but we can never forego serving others. We talked about that in the Serving Leadership training we had. And most importantly, it's trusting God and trials." [00:08:35] (29 seconds)


"Now, God is patient with us. It's not like he expects us to have the spiritual growth overnight, that we have this gigantic growth. It doesn't happen that way. It does not happen that way. peace by peace by peace as we get closer and closer and closer to God. God does not demand instant perfection, but he lovingly guides us through the Holy Spirit." [00:09:26] (29 seconds)


"Philippians 1 .6, he who began a good work in you will carry on to completion. He who began good work in you will carry on to completion. So it's not overnight, but it's carrying on a little bit by a little bit by a little bit every day personal growth. Our personal growth." [00:09:45] (32 seconds)


"I don't know what resolutions that you came up with, but the primary resolution would be identifying ways that we can grow in grace and in knowledge, growing closer to God. That should be our primary focus, is growing closer to God, understanding what is willed in our life, because we still struggle with what is his will." [00:11:08] (28 seconds)


"And remembering that grace is both the starting point and a sustainer for spiritual growth. We cannot do it without God's grace. I know a person, a friend of mine said once that he was talking to someone trying to explain to him grace. And the person couldn't understand it. He says, well, let's look at it this way. How good are you?" [00:12:45] (28 seconds)


"And the person said, well, I'm not very good. I'm a disappointment. I sin, I do this, I do that. And then he says, what's perfection? And the person said, well, perfection is, you know, where you don't sin. You know, you get up in the morning, you say your prayers, and throughout the day, and you never sin. That's perfection." [00:12:54] (23 seconds)


"again, figure out what that one thing, not 20 things, just one thing that you can identify, that you can do that will allow you to get closer and closer to God by using the power of grace." [00:14:22] (20 seconds)


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Transcript
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