Growing in Wisdom, Stature, and Favor

Text: Luke 2:52 The gospels focus primarily on the public ministry of Jesus leading up to His crucifixion (approximately 3 years). Matthew and Luke also include Jesus’ birth and infancy. Luke also briefly recorded one event in Jesus’ childhood – when He was “lost” in the temple at 12 years old. We may be curious about what […]

The Christian’s Education

Text: John 7:15 Many people in our society place a great emphasis on education. This is good. But what about our education as Christians? How are we to learn, train, grow, and develop as disciples? Let us consider what the Scriptures say. Modeled after Jesus During the Feast of Booths, Jesus went to Jerusalem and began to teach (John […]

A Right Way and a Wrong Way to Learn

Text: Proverbs 1:5 Most people understand the importance of learning, but not everyone goes about learning the same way. There is a right and wrong WAY to learn. There are right and wrong THINGS to learn. In this lesson, we will consider what the Scriptures teach about LEARNING; particularly, learning that is of a religious nature […]

Like Newborn Babies

Text: 1 Peter 2:1-3 It is not typically a compliment to say someone is acting like a baby. Yet there is a sense in which Christians are to be “like newborn babies.” In this lesson, we are going to see what Peter meant by this illustration and how we can be like this. Put Aside […]

Excel Still More

Text: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-2 Paul wrote a very complimentary letter to the brethren in Thessalonica, yet he told them to “excel still more.” Continued growth is necessary in the life of a disciple. We need to be faithfully serving the Lord today; but rather than remain in that state, we must “excel still more.” Personal Decision […]

How to Be Built Up

Text: Colossians 2:7 The New Testament repeatedly talks about being “built up” in the Lord. But how does this happen? It is not by the Lord miraculously making us stronger, more mature, better equipped to serve Him, etc. In this lesson, we will notice six ways given in the New Testament that show us how to be “built up” […]

How the Church Grew in Ephesus

Text: Acts 19:20 When Paul came to Ephesus, he quickly converted twelve men (Acts 19:1-7). In three years (Acts 20:31), the gospel grew mightily (Acts 19:20) and the church went from just twelve men to “a considerable number” (Acts 19:26). There are challenges that come with being part of a smaller congregation. But we can […]