John Lloyd - Growing In Our Walk With Jesus
/Growing in Our Walk with Jesus
Colossians 1:9-14
June 23, 2019
Pastor John Lloyd
Devoting attention to our walk with God is important and should be a priority. How is it going? How could it improve? First is our relationship with God. Second is our relationships with other Christians. Third is daily pouring out the love and resources of God to those outside our door. Today, we will look at the end goal of what it means to grow in our walk with Jesus. Our prayer is that we each of us would bear fruit and increase in our knowledge of God. Keep abiding and abounding, PJ
Colossians 1:9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. 11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Matthew 22:37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38This is the great and first commandment. 39And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
BLESS: Begin with prayer, Listen with empathy, Eat with others, Serve with love and Share our story.
“The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deeper people.” Richard Foster
I. It is God’s will for us to __________ in our walk with Jesus.
Colossians 1:9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
Filled – to put into us as much as we can hold. Knowledge – to know thoroughly. Wisdom – Sophia - ability to direct our life toward moral fulfillment.
John 15:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
What helps: I Peter 2:2 Pray for a spiritual hunger. Joshua 1:8 Mediate on the Word of God. Isaiah 40:31 Let this process continually bring renewal. John 15:5 Stay connected to Jesus.
John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
II. May my walk be _______________ and ______________ to God.
Colossians 1:10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
Walk – customary manner, way of life. Fully pleasing – the favor of God
Bearing fruit – to produce a crop.
Ephesians 5:10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.
2 Corinthians 5:9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.
Points of Action: Hebrews 13:21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Consistent prayer. Lord, are you pleased with what I am thinking or doing?
Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
Invite a trusted friend to walk with you on your journey. Prov. 27:17 Iron sharpens iron…. Eccl.4:9- Two are better than one.
III. May my __________ help others see Jesus.
Colossians 1:10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
Philemon 1:6 and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.
Colossians 1:11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy,
Strengthened with all power – power to protect, power to serve and endure because it brings us in touch with Jesus.
I Cor.1:24b Jesus Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God.
His glorious might – the one who has power over death (Hebrews 2:14).
All endurance – capacity to bear up under difficult circumstances
Patience with joy – facing provocation or misfortune without losing joy.
Colossians 1:12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
Giving thanks – expressing gratitude for every blessing. Qualified- to make adequate. Inheritance- given as a rightful possession, what is possessed.
John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. (Abiding)
I Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (Abounding)
Keep me abiding and abounding!
Communion Verses: Colossians 1:13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Spiritual Growth Questions for June 23, 2019
Opener: Share about a time when you felt the power of God in your walk.
1. Read I Corinthians 1:18-25. Circle words that you see as important. What was Jesus trying to get across to the disciples? Write the passage in your own words. What application can you make in your own life? What things does God want you to change and/or do?
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2. Read I Corinthians 1:26-31. Circle words that you see as important. What was Jesus trying to get across to the disciples? Write the passage in your own words. What application can you make in your own life? What things does God want you to change and/or do?
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3. Read Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:2, John 15:5-7, Colossians 3:16. What is each verse teaching us to do? How could you implement these verses into your life? With whom and how could you share what you are learning? What promises does God make to the person who implements this way of life?
Four types of fruit:
1. Spiritual fruit of Christlike love, John 15:9.
2. Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith 3. Fruit of spiritual gifts, Ephesians 4:12. 4. Fruit of new disciples, John 15:16.
4. Read John 15:8-9. What is your strongest area of “fruit” production? What is your weakest area of “fruit” production? What can you do to improve your weak area?