Nurturing Spiritual Growth | Episode 15 | Fellowship

Duane Sheriff Ministries

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Nurturing Spiritual Growth | Episode 15 | Fellowship

Grace & Truth

May 29, 2024 • Duane Sheriff • Proverbs 27:17–20, Philemon 4–25, Revelation 12:10–17, Acts 2:40–42

In the fifteenth episode of "Nurturing Spiritual Growth," Duane discusses how believers can progress from spiritual infancy to mature discipleship in Christ. He highlights the importance of consistently engaging in four foundational spiritual activities, which he compares to essential food groups in a balanced spiritual diet. These activities are based on Acts 2:42 and include the apostles’ doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer.

The significance of the apostles' doctrine provides the theological framework necessary for understanding and living out New Testament truths. This doctrine is vital for believers to accurately interpret and apply biblical principles in their lives. Christians risk falling prey to misconceptions and false teachings without a solid grasp of apostolic teachings.

Fellowship is the second component, and it is crucial for spiritual growth. Duane compares spiritual growth to natural maturity, explaining how just as marriage and family life can accelerate personal maturity in the natural realm, spiritual fellowship—consistent, deep interaction with other believers—facilitates spiritual growth. He suggests that isolation can hinder one's spiritual development and expose one to the risks of falling into error or heresy. Fellowship provides the support, accountability, and encouragement needed to navigate the complexities of life and faith.

The third component, the breaking of bread, encompasses both communion and shared meals among believers. Sharing meals fosters intimacy and community among Christians, echoing the practices of the early church. This act of communion is not only a remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice but also a celebration of the unity and mutual care within the body of Christ.

The fourth and final component is prayer. Various types of prayers are available for different circumstances and needs. Effective prayer life is taught and learned within the community of faith and is essential for personal communion with God and corporate spiritual warfare.

In order to grow, believers should balance these practices and consistently engage in them. They should apply these principles and live them out, promoting both personal and communal spiritual development.

Nurturing Spiritual Growth | Episode 1 | Immature

May 9, 2024 • Duane Sheriff • Galatians 4:19–22, Ephesians 4:11–32

In this episode, Duane discusses spiritual growth, emphasizing the journey from immaturity to maturity in the Christian faith. He explains that this growth is about increasing knowledge, deepening character, and becoming more like Christ. This process involves moving from spiritual immaturity, where believers may be easily swayed by incorrect teachings or worldly influences, to a mature understanding and application of biblical truths. Spiritual immaturity is like being a child in faith. Like young children, new believers need simple, foundational teachings, which he compares to milk. These basics are essential for starting their spiritual journey. However, staying in this stage too long can lead to a lack of depth and susceptibility to being misled. As in the physical world, where children grow and develop, spiritual growth requires moving beyond the basics to tackle more complex and substantial "food," Duane calls meat. Transitioning to spiritual maturity involves embracing and applying deeper biblical teachings—meat. Maturity is a believer's ability to handle complex situations with wisdom, reflect Christ's character in daily actions, and positively influence others toward Christ. Mature believers should not only focus on their growth but also support and mentor less mature ones, helping them grow in their faith and understanding. Christians are expected to grow from spiritual infants to mature adults in their faith. This growth is not just for personal benefit but is essential to discern truth and fulfill God's purpose for each believer, which is to reflect Christ's image to the world. Mature Christians navigate life's challenges effectively and help others do the same. The goal of every believer should be to reach a point where they are not just consuming spiritual milk but are also capable of digesting spiritual meat, thereby achieving a deeper understanding and application of God's word.

Nurturing Spiritual Growth | Episode 2 | Fivefold

May 10, 2024 • Duane Sheriff • Galatians 4:19–22, Ephesians 4:11–32

In the second episode of "Nurturing Spiritual Growth," Duane emphasizes the importance of spiritual maturity in a believer's life and how every Christian needs to transition from spiritual infancy to maturity, as it is God's will. This transition is a growth process that involves a deeper understanding and application of God's Word, aiming to mold believers into true image-bearers of Christ. When believers enter the kingdom of God, they are spiritually reborn, possessing a fully mature, righteous, and holy spirit due to the sanctifying work of Christ. However, new believers often lack knowledge and practical application of the Bible, similar to newborn babies who are entirely dependent on milk for nourishment. To address this gap, Duane discusses the necessity for believers to be nurtured with the "milk" of basic biblical teachings before they can handle the "meat" of more profound doctrines. This spiritual nourishment is crucial for their growth, enabling them to gradually develop the capacity to apply God's Word in their lives to reflect Christ's character and love. Spiritual maturity involves more than personal holiness; it also encompasses how believers interact with the world around them. Mature believers should manifest Christ's traits in their actions, attitudes, and interactions with others, effectively displaying the gospel's transformative power. Ephesians 4 explains the role of the fivefold ministry – apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. These ministry gifts are given to equip the saints for service and build up the body of Christ until all attain unity in faith and knowledge of Jesus. This unity is crucial for the church's collective maturity, reaching the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Duane warns against the dangers of spiritual immaturity, which can leave believers susceptible to being misled by false doctrines and deceitful teachings. He emphasizes the importance of community in the church, where mature believers help to nurture and guide the less mature, promoting growth and stability in faith. Believers should continuously strive for spiritual growth, not settling for mere infancy in their faith but pressing on toward the fullness of maturity that God desires for them. This journey requires intentionality, commitment, and a deep engagement with God's Word, ensuring that believers are not just hearers but doers. Spiritual growth is a progressive journey that every believer is called to embark on, with the ultimate goal of being conformed to the image of Christ and effectively impacting the world with the gospel's truth.

Nurturing Spiritual Growth | Episode 3 | Image-Bearers

May 13, 2024 • Duane Sheriff • Romans 8:28–39, Matthew 25, Isaiah 5:13–30, 1 Corinthians 13

In the third episode of "Nurturing Spiritual Growth," Duane discusses spiritual growth from a Christian perspective. He emphasizes that spiritual growth is more about internal transformation than external conformity. Duane also discusses the importance of believers being image-bearers of Christ and explores the concepts of predestination and God's will in Christians' lives. Christians often have questions about God's will for their lives, such as career choices or personal decisions. While these decisions are essential, they are secondary compared to God's primary will, which is for believers to be transformed into the image of Christ. This transformation involves how believers reflect Christ's image in every aspect of their lives. The concept of predestination is often misunderstood. Predestination in the biblical context refers not to a predetermined fate of salvation or condemnation but to God's plan for believers to conform to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. This idea is foundational to understanding spiritual growth because it aligns with God's purpose for every believer—becoming like Christ in character and action. Sin can hinder transformation, which distorts God's image in people. Jesus restores our image and relationship with God, allowing us to reflect God's glory. Romans 8:28-29 explains that God's foreknowledge and predestination involve shaping believers to mirror Christ's image, which is the ultimate goal of Christian growth. The process of transformation involves the renewal of the mind, as stated in Romans 12:2. Believers should change their thinking, aligning it with God's truths to demonstrate the reality of God's kingdom on Earth. This mental renewal is crucial because it affects how believers understand and live out their faith in practical terms. Duane cautions against the dangers of conforming to the world's values, often contrary to God's principles. He stresses that societal pressures to adapt to secular standards can lead believers away from the truth of Scripture and hinder their spiritual growth. Instead, he encourages believers to stand firm in their faith and pursue a life that reflects Christ's love and righteousness. Believers are encouraged to rise above cultural and personal challenges by focusing on the transformative power of Christ's love and renewing their minds. By doing so, they will grow in faith and become effective ambassadors of Christ's kingdom on Earth. This process involves learning about God and living in a way that genuinely reflects His love and truth to the world.