God expects us to grow. Everything with life should grow.

The Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13:11 – “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.”

The Bible calls us to grow in Hebrews 5:12-14 – “In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! ¹³ Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. ¹⁴ But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”

Jesus offers an example about growth in Luke 2:52 – “Jesus grew in wisdom, stature, and in favour with God and men”

Jesus grew in four areas:-

i. In wisdom – Intellectual growth

ii. In stature – Physical growth

iii. In favour with God – Spiritual growth

iv. In favour with men – Social & Emotional Growth.

**Spiritual growth is a part of a larger process, not an isolated concern, but should be integrated with the others**

a. Intellectual Growth:

– Do not fill your mind with garbage: Jesus spent time in the temple learning, asking questions and teaching.

– Maintain a consistent study and reading program.

– Enroll in continuing education courses to improve not only in content but in skills e.g. Bible study

Teaching: In 2 Timothy 2:2 Paul charges Timothy – “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ² And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”

b. Physical Growth:

– Having proper control over your body: is your body under control?

– Having proper control over your diet, exercise and rest.

***Overfeeding and being overweight is equally damaging like drunkenness**

What the Bible says about self control in Proverbs 25:28: “A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls”

Physical growth refers to the degree in which the systems of the body have developed relative to chronological growth/age

(Chronological Growth: Refers to the measurement of time a person has lived in years – i.e. Age)

c. Social Growth:

– Who do you have in terms of friends?

– The Bible talks of friendship: 1 Corinthians 15:33 – “Do not be mislead (deceived), bad company corrupts good character (morals).

– Enrich your circle of friends: who know you and accept you as you are, and criticizes you positively, and calling you to grow.

**Social growth compares social development with chronological age – “Does this person relate as well socially as he should for his age?”

d. Emotional Growth

– Compares emotional maturity with chronological age – Asks, “Does this person handle his emotions as well as he should for his age?”

Examples of volatile emotions: Explosive behaviour, temper tantrums, low frustration tolerance, oversensitivity, inability to take criticism, unreasonable jealousy, unwillingness to forgive, unpredictable mood swings, over- dependency and egocentricity Examples of emotional maturity: Ability to face reality and deal with it and viewing life experiences as learning experiences.

**The immature curses the ‘rains’, while the mature sells umbrellas**

**The immature blame or attack other, while the mature attack the problems**

e. Spiritual Growth:

– Growing and changing as we understand God’s word

– 2 Peter 3:18: “Growing in the GRACE & KNOWLEDGE of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”

– Luke 6:40: “Everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.”

– Paul as an old man nearing his death said in Philippians 3:13- 14: “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I PRESS ON toward the GOAL to WIN the PRIZE for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”