Excellence In Personal Spiritual Growth

Introduction

A, Definitions:

1. Excellence - Asking more of yourself; striving to better your own; doing better than your best.

2. Personal – Individual, self.

3. Spiritual - One whose will is set on God (1 Cor 3:1-3).

a. Spiritual things are those things that are in harmony with God's character;

b. The opposite is carnality - relating to the physical feelings and wants of the body; characterized by the flesh or the body, its passions and appetites; sensual.

B. There is a kind of Excellence which is Worldly – Education; Career; Sports.

C. Spiritual Excellence is conforming to the image of Christ. Romans 8:29; 12:1-2

Discussion

A. Spiritual Awakening - Coming to terms with God.

1. The prodigal son awakens. Luke 15:17

2. David was awakened to his sins. 2 Sam 12:7, 13

3. Saul asked: “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” Acts 9:6

4. We need to wake up to our spiritual condition. 2 Cor 13:5

B. Spiritual Excellence: 3 Aspects of Spiritual Growth.

1. Upward Growth. Col 3:1-2

2. Inward Growth. Col 3:3-10; 2 Peter 1:5-10

3. Outward Growth. Col 3:12-14

C.Upward Growth – Towards God – Setting our affection on Him. Col 3:2

1. Worship – How do you worship God? John 4:24; Heb 10:25

2. Bible Class – How do you conduct yourself in the bible class? Acts 17:11

3. Prayer – How do you pray? 1 Thess 5:17

4. Bible Study – Are you a diligent bible student? 2 Tim 2:15

5. Devotion – Do you think on spiritual things often? Jas 4:8

6. Commitment – How are you serving God? 1 Cor 15:58

D. Inward Growth. 2 Peter 1:5-10

1. FAITH – Do you have faith? How is your faith? Heb 11:6

2. VIRTUE - Moral excellence (Thayer Greek Definition)

a. Living with the highest standard of morality.

b. The Need for Moral Excellence. Isa 5:20

c. Moral Excellence means choosing the most excellent way.

d. Moral excellence means the pursuit of the moral will of God in every are of life.

e. The principles of Moral Excellence. Php 4:8

1. KNOWLEDGE - Be a lifelong learner.

a. A Christian must not be ignorant of the word of God. Matt 22:29

1. TEMPERANCE - Self-control - This is self-discipline.

a. Controlling our passions instead of our passions controlling us. Jas 1:14-15

b. Controlling our thoughts. Matt 15:18; 5:28

c. Controlling our words. Col 4:6; Eph 4:29

d. Controlling our actions. Jas 1:19; Eph 4:26

1. PATIENCE - Steadfastness, perseverance.

a. The ability to last long. 2 Tim 4:7

b. The ability to endure. Eg. The patience of Job. Jas 5:11

1. Godliness - Piety towards God; holiness.

a. How do we worship God? John 4:24

b. How is our love for Christ? Mark 12:30

c. What priority does worship and prayer have in our life? Psa 122:1

E. Outward Growth

1. Brotherly Kindness – brotherly love – Love for fellow Christians

a. Benevolence. Jas 1:27; Matt 25:31-46

b. Hospitality. Heb 13:2; Gal 6:10

c. Bearing one another’s burdens. Gal 6:1-2

d. Feeling for one another. Romans 12:10

1. Charity - Love extending to the whole human race

a. Agape love is a deliberate choice. John 13:34

b. Self-denying Love. Romans 12:20, 21

Conclusion

A. Spiritual Growth is the most important thing as we progress along life’s path.

B. Spiritual Excellence is a choice; an attitude we choose.

C. Spiritual Excellence is a habit we have to learn and apply to our dailylifestyle.

D. May we excel in spiritual growth.