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THE GROWTH PRINCIPLE:
We experience joy when we do not follow evil men's advice and do not hang around with sinners, scoffing at the things of God: but instead delight in doing everything God wants us to, and day and night are always meditating on His laws and thinking about ways to follow Him more closely. [Psa 1:1, 2]

THE GROWTH PRINCIPLE

We experience joy when we do not follow evil men's advice and do not hang around with sinners scoffing at the things of God: but instead delight in doing everything God wants us to, and day and night are always meditating on His laws and thinking about ways to follow Him more closely. [Psa. 1:1,2]

We can't stand still in the Christian life. We either move ahead of fall behind. Moving ahead means growth. 2 Pet. 3:18 presents two areas of growth essential to the godly person. "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ".

Grow in Grace

Through God's grace we are provided with those things that produce wholeness and well-being: salvation, forgiveness, power, freedom, and much, much more. All of these are undeserved, but oh how they are needed.

Grace is not a reward for our good works. We read of Abraham, "If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about -- but not before God" (Rom. 4:2). God's promises rest on grace not works.

We note that we grow in the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our experience of grace is in Him. This book of 2 Peter begins, "Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust" (2 Peter 2:2-4).

When God "graces" uys he grants us an experience of love. He treats us with extraordinary favor that we do not deserv e.

How is God's grace a healing agent in the issues that our group faces?

Grow in the Knowledge of Jesus Christ

The basic means of knowing Jesus Christ is through the Word of God. The Written Word reveals the Living Word.

As we study the Scriptures , we must go beyond an academic pursuit of knowledge. It must extend to a deeper personal relationship with the one who is the center of all that God has revealed. Paul had been saved about 30 years when he exclaimed, "That I may know him [Jesus Christ]" (Phil. 3:10).

How do we cultivate a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ through the Word?

Remember:

Grace is an inexhaustible treasure house.