“Knowing And Encountering God Through Spiritual Growth”

Grow To Know and Encounter God More Deeply

I. Perspective On Growth

II.  Grow in W__________ of God

III.  Grow in O__________ to God

IV.  Grow in J___________in God

V.  Practical Steps For Growth

I.  Perspective On Growth

A. Priority of Growth – Phil. 3:

B. Pattern of Growth – Eph. 5:25-32

C. Pace of Growth – Heb 12:1-2, 2 Pet 3:11-18

D. Position of Growth – Psalm 27:7-14

D. Position of Growth

1. Seek His Face

2. Turn From Evil Ways – 2 Chron. 7:143. Hosea 7:10 – “Pride…testifies to His face” a. Duty – Matthew 15:8-9

b. Religion – Phil 3:c. Others – Judas

d. Self confidence – Rom 12:3,

e. Selfishness – Matthew 16:24

II. Grow in Wonder of God

Rev 1:10-20Isaiah 6

Psalm 8:1-4

III. Grow in Obedience to God

Duet. 30:8-10, 19-20John 21:15-17

IV. Grow in Joy in God

Psalm 37:4Psalm 63:5-6, Psalm 42:1-2, Psalm 63:1

V. Practical Steps For Growth

Grow in Wonder Obedience Joy

III.  Take A Stand By Sharing God's Truth

Daniel 3:16-181 Peter 3:15

How Can A Good God Allow Suffering?

IV.  Take A Stand For Righteousness

Daniel 3:12, 15, 19-24 1 Peter 3:8

How Can A Good God Allow Suffering?

IV.  Take A Stand For Righteousness

It “…Ain’t Easy!”

Daniel 3:24

Is Jesus Real?

Matthew 28:20

B. A Biblical Example – Daniel 3

Is God Real?Is Jesus Real?Is the Bible True?Secularism/HumanismDo All Roads Lead To Heaven?How Can A Good God Allow Suffering?Why Not Evolution?Does Life Have Meaning And Purpose?

V.  Summary = Holiness

1 Peter 1:1-18

Daniel 1:15-21, 3:30

Does Life Have Meaning And Purpose?

V.  If It Doesn’t Kill You It Makes You Stronger

A. James 1:1

B. 2 Corinthians 4:16-17

B. THE RESURRECTION!

1. Matthew 28:1-20, Luke 23, 35-49

2. I Cor. 15:3-8

3. I Cor. 15:14-19, I Peter 1:1-7

II.  Is Jesus who He said He is?No Middle Ground!

A Quote From C.S. Lewis

"A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic--on the level with a man who says he is a poached egg--or he would be the devil of hell. You must take your choice. Either this was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being just a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us.

What Did He Say About Himself?

• I came from Heaven!• I am the Messiah• I am God

– Same work– Same ability to give life– Same authority– Same honor– Same will

What Did He Say About Himself?

• I am the bread of life• I existed before Abraham• I am the eternal God, Creator of the Universe• I am the door to salvation• I am equal to God• I am the resurrection and life itself• I am the way, the truth, and the life• I am the only way to God

Josh McDowell puts it this way;

• His claims are either True • or they are False

• Evidence That Demands A Verdict

Jesus: His Claims Were Either

False True

Assume they are False

• Then He either Knew they were False• Or He believed they were True

Jesus: His Claims Were Either

False True

He didn’t knowHe Knew

Or

Assume He Knew they were False

• Then He is not a great moral teacher• He is a liar• Hypocrite• Demon• Fool

Jesus: His Claims Were Either

False True

He didn’t knowHe Knew

Deliberate Misrepresentation

Liar

Hypocrite

Demon

Fool

Or

Assume He believed they were true

• He was sincerely deluded• He was a lunatic

Jesus: His Claims Were Either

False True

He didn’t knowHe Knew

He was deluded

He was a Lunatic

Deliberate Misrepresentation

Fool

Demon

Hypocrite

Liar

Or

But what if He is God?

• He Is LORD• You have only two choices• Accept Him and His Lordship• Reject Him

If You Accept Him

He offers you Eternal Life

If You Reject HimYou must expect Eternal Punishment

Jesus: His Claims Were Either

False True

Reject

He is LORD

He didn’t knowHe Knew

AcceptHe was deluded

He was a Lunatic

Deliberate Misrepresentation

Fool

Demon

Hypocrite

Liar

Or

Eternal Life

Eternal Punishment

John 3:18(*)

But what if He is God?

• He Is LORD• You have only two choices• Accept Him and His Lordship

(*) His Lordship demands obedience!

But what if He is God?

• Reject Him and be forever lost!

What About A Believer?

• Can we claim He is our Savior and reject Him as our LORD?

• (*) His Lordship demands obedience!

III.  How is Jesus' identity “proven” today?

A. You are His Witnesses – Luke 24:48

B. John 17:20

C. Walk Worthy of His Calling (Eph 4:1, I Thes 2:9-12, Col 1:10-12)