Week 7 Crossings Huddle Group

Spiritual Growth Isn’t Easy

Spiritual Growth – Just Add Water?

Collectively, I would argue that none of us invest our time attending church, coming to Huddle, etc…and
not want to grow in our relationship with Christ. As you probably have recognized, some follow Christ
with great ferver while others seem to go at it at their own pace. Without
saying who is right or who is wrong, I think we can all agree we would
like to grow in our spiritual walk with Christ. “Well what does it take”,
we ask.

Unfortunately, its not like the Chia Pet of days gone by…where all you
have to do is take the product out of the box, add water and sit and
watch a schrub appear in the shape of your favorite pet. What would
one gain even if spiritual growth were that easy. I think we all would
agree nothing much would be gained…in fact, much would probably be
lost. JUST ADD WATER !

God expects us to invest time and discipline in order to grow spiritually. Lets take a closer look.

Strong Friendships
Strong friendships are essential to growing spiritually, we need to support. As we have talked about
many times…leaving it at the door is essential. Showing who you are to your friends (and yourself) helps
grow strong friendships…friends you can count on….friends to whom you can reveal yourself.Think
back to a time when you felt a close connection to God. What was different? Where would you say you
are now, compared to then? What is your current relationship?

It Begins With Jesus

Growing spiritually begins with Christ – the central focus of a maturing faith. When we find ourselves
aloof from Christ, it is likely we have lost focus! What does the Bible say? Read Hebrews Chapter 11 (see
back). What a great testimony to those men of faith. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to live a life known by
others as one of faith and commitment? You can…set your eyes on the goal and DO NOT become
distracted. Read Hebrews 12: 1 – 3 (see back).

-How should a great cloud of witnesses inspire us?

-What currently hinders your spiritual life? How do we remain free from them?
-Why is perseverance critical to growing spiritually?
-Why are we called to run the race “marked out for us”?
-What does it mean to “fix your eyes upon Jesus”?
-Describe a time when you were discouraged spiritually. What happened? What was it like? What was
the cause?

KEY QUESTION:
What is it going to take for you to grow spiritually?

Are you willing to make the commitment? If so, what is your plan?

Daily Bible Readings

2 Corinthians 3: 18 Philippians 3: 13 - 14 1 Thessalonians 3: 9 - 13
Colossians 1: 28 Colossians 1: 9 - 10
Hebrews 12
Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight,
and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2looking to
Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Do Not Grow Weary

3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow
weary or fainthearted.

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Hebrews 11
By Faith
1Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2For by it the people of
old received their commendation. 3By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of
God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
4By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended
as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still
speaks. 5By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because
God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. 6And without
faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and
that he rewards those who seek him. 7By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet
unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the
world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

8By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an
inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9By faith he went to live in the land of
promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.
10For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. 11By
faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him
faithful who had promised. 12Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants
as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

13These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted
them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14For people
who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15If they had been thinking of that land
from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16But as it is, they desire a
better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has
prepared for them a city.

17By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in
the act of offering up his only son, 18of whom it was said, "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named."
19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking,
he did receive him back. 20By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. 21By faith Jacob,
when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. 22By faith
Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning
his bones.

23By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that
the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. 24By faith Moses, when he was
grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with
the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ
greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. 27By faith he left Egypt, not
being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. 28By faith he kept the
Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them

29By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do
the same, were drowned. 30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven
days. 31By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had
given a friendly welcome to the spies.

32And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of
David and Samuel and the prophets— 33who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice,
obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the
sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women
received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they
might rise again to a better life. 36Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and
imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword.They went
about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38of whom the world was not
worthy— wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

39And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40since
God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.