Church Mission: Edification
I. In What Respects Are We To Grow as Christians?
1. In grace and knowledge of the truth (I1 Pet. 3:18).
2. In Christlikeness (Eph. 4:15).
3. In love, in knowledge, and all discernment (Phil. 1:9).
4. Quiet, industrious Christian characters (I Thess. 4:9-12).
5. As a spiritual house to offer sacrifices (I Pet. 2:5).
6. In adding Christian graces and becoming partakers of the divine nature (II Pet. 1:4-13)
7. In the Lord and the power of His might by putting on the whole annor of God (Eph. 6:10-18).
8. In faith and love (II Thess. 1:3; I Thess. 3:12-13).
9. Ability to resist temptation (Jude 17-23; James 4:7; 1 Pet. 5:8-10).
10. In ability to serve and sacrifice (Rom. 12:1-2).
II. Requisites of Growth:
1. Things that hinder:
a. Wickedness, guile, hypocrisy, envies, evil speakings (I Pet. 2: 1-2).
b. Dullness of hearing (Heb. 5:11).
c. Youthful lusts (II Tim. 2:22).
d. Foolish and ignorant questions (II Tim. 2:23; II Tim. 1:13).
e. Love of money (I Tim. 6: 10; 6:17-19).
2. Things that promote Spiritual growth:
a. Spiritual appetite (I Pet. 2:2).
b. Exercise (Heb. 5:13-14; I Tim. 4:7-8).
c. Heeding what we hear (Heb. 2:1-3).
d. Diligence and active service (I Tim. 4:13-16).
e. Purity of mind and heart (Titus 1:11-14).
f. Prayer and communion with the Lord (Phil. 4:5-7; James 1:2-6; Heb. 7:25; Heb. 4: 14-16).
III. Avenues Through Which the Church May Encourage This Growth:
1. Take thought one for another (Phil. 2:1-4, 19-21).
2. Exhort each other (Heb. 3:12-14; 10:24-25).
3. Elders to watch after our souls(Acts 20:28-31; Heb. 13:7-17).
4. Encourage the faint hearted, support the weak, admonish the disorderly, be long-suffering
toward all (I Thess. 5:12-14).
5. By its worship services (Heb. 10:25; Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:15-16).
6. By its teaching program "Feed the Church of God" (Acts 20:28; ll Tim. 2:2; Titus 2:1-8).
Questions For Discussion:
l. Define the word "edify."
2. In what and how are Christians to grow?
3. Name some essentials of growth.
4. Specify some things that prevent growth.
5. What things promote development?
6. HOW may the Church encourage growth in grace?
7. Name some essentials of growth that are so often omitted in the teaching proram of the church.
8. Define the word "exhoration."
9. Who is charged with special responsibility for watching for souls?
10. Which is the most difficult -- teaching and convincing, r persuading to action?.