GROWING

IN CHRIST
 2

ACTS 9:20-31 NLT

Saul stayed with the believers* in Damascus for a

few days. 20 And immediately he began preaching
about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is indeed
the Son of God!"
21 All who heard him were amazed. "Isn't this the

same man who caused such devastation among

Jesus' followers in Jerusalem?" they asked. "And
didn't he come here to arrest them and take them in
chains to the leading priests?"
 3

ACTS 9:20-31 NLT

22 Saul's preaching became more and more powerful,

and the Jews in Damascus couldn't refute his proofs

that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. 23 After a while
some of the Jews plotted together to kill him. 24 They
were watching for him day and night at the city gate
so they could murder him, but Saul was told about
their plot. 25 So during the night, some of the other
believers* lowered him in a large basket through an
opening in the city wall.
 4

ACTS 9:20-31 NLT

26 When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet
with the believers, but they were all afraid of him.
They did not believe he had truly become a believer! 27
Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told
them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to
Damascus and how the Lord had spoken to Saul. He
also told them that Saul had preached boldly in the
name of Jesus in Damascus.
 5

ACTS 9:20-31 NLT

28 So Saul stayed with the apostles and went all

around Jerusalem with them, preaching boldly in the
name of the Lord. 29 He debated with some Greek-
speaking Jews, but they tried to murder him. 30 When
the believers* heard about this, they took him down
to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus, his
hometown.
 6

What does a growing

Christian look like?
A Christian growing
up wants to know
who God is
 8
▪ 10 I want to know Christ
and experience the mighty
power that raised him from
Phil 3:10-11 the dead. I want to suffer
with him, sharing in his
death, 11 so that one way or
another I will experience
the resurrection from the
dead!
A growing Christian
embraces the process
of growth
 10

Butterfly
Story
Struggle make us shine!!
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
 2 Cor. 4:8-10
30

8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but

we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not

driven to despair. 9 We are hunted down, but
never abandoned by God. We get knocked down,
but we are not destroyed. 10 Through suffering,
our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus
so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our
bodies.
 2 Cor. 4:7-12 msg.
31

7 If you only look at us, you might well miss the

brightness. We carry this precious Message

around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary
lives. That's to prevent anyone from confusing
God's incomparable power with us. 8 As it is,
there's not much chance of that. You know for
yourselves that we're not much to look at. We've
been surrounded and battered by troubles, but
we're not demoralized; we're not sure what to do,
 2 Cor. 4:7-12 msg.
32

9 but we know that God knows what to do; we've

been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn't left our

side; we've been thrown down, but we haven't
broken. 10 What they did to Jesus, they do to us —
trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did
among them, he does in us — he lives! 11 Our lives are
at constant risk for Jesus' sake, which makes Jesus' life
all the more evident in us. 12 While we're going
through the worst, you're getting in on the best!
A Christian who is
growing knows how
to deal with conflict
Conflicts:
34

 The Jews in Damascus

tried to kill Paul.


23 After a while some
of the Jews plotted
together to kill him.
Conflicts:
35

 The Christians in
Jerusalem initially
rejected Paul out of fear

 29 He debated with some

Greek-speaking Jews, but
they tried to murder him.
How:
36

Matt 5:43-44 NIV

43 "You have heard that it was said,

'Love your neighbor and hate your
enemy.' 44 But I tell you: Love your
enemies and pray for those who
persecute you,
How:
37

Heb. 12:14-17

14 Work at getting along with each other and with God.

Otherwise you'll never get so much as a glimpse of God. 15
Make sure no one gets left out of God's generosity. Keep a
sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two
gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time. 16 Watch out
for the Esau syndrome: trading away God's lifelong gift in
order to satisfy a short-term appetite. 17 You well know how
Esau later regretted that impulsive act and wanted God's
blessing — but by then it was too late, tears or no tears.
How:
38

14 Strive to live in peace with everybody and pursue that

consecration and holiness without which no one will [ever]
see the Lord.

15 Exercise foresight and be on the watch to look [after one

another], to see that no one falls back from and fails to secure
God's grace (His unmerited favor and spiritual blessing), in
order that no root of resentment (rancor, bitterness, or hatred)
shoots forth and causes trouble and bitter torment, and the
many become contaminated and defiled by it —
AMP
How:
39

14 In every relationship be swift to choose peace over

competition,[w] and run swiftly toward holiness, for
those who are not holy will not see the Lord.[x] 15
Watch over each other to make sure that no one
misses the revelation of God’s grace. And make sure
no one lives with a root of bitterness[y] sprouting
within them which will only cause trouble and poison
the hearts of many.
TPT
 40

So, don’t let conflict or opposition

become an offense that spreads
throughout your life and into the
lives of others. Pray, love, and
forgive, and God will take care of
the rest.
A growing Christian is
learning to trust
fellow believers
 42

Acts 9:25
25 So during the night, some of
the other believers* lowered him
in a large basket through an
opening in the city wall.
 Acts 9:27 43

27 Then Barnabas brought him to the

apostles and told them how Saul had
seen the Lord on the way to
Damascus and how the Lord had
spoken to Saul. He also told them that
Saul had preached boldly in the name
of Jesus in Damascus.
 44

Acts 9:30
30 When the believers* heard
about this, they took him down to
Caesarea and sent him away to
Tarsus, his hometown.
 45

Thanks!