The Essentials of Spiritual Growth
Are you concerned about your own spiritual growth in Christ? Perhaps you're wondering about the spiritual journey of those around you—your family, your friends, your fellow believers? In Philippians 1, the apostle Paul shares his heart—his deep concern for the spiritual growth of the church in Philippi. In his prayer, Paul outlines seven timeless principles for spiritual growth. Join Tom Pennington as he unpacks each principle to help us understand and implement The Essentials of Spiritual Growth.
Part 1
The apostle Paul took spiritual growth seriously, which is one of the reasons why he prayed for the Philippians. He was deeply concerned about their growth in godliness and Christlikeness—so He goes to Father in prayer on their behalf. And in Paul’s prayer, the verses we’ll be studying together in this series, he identifies seven essential principles of spiritual growth.
Part 2
What do you truly love in this world? Perhaps you love money or possessions—the things you can see and touch and hold. Maybe you love entertainment—your favorite movies, your music, and the things that capture your attention and your time. But for us as Christians, we're called to something higher. We're called to love God and love others.
Part 3
Tom Pennington continues unpacking Philippians 1, compelling Christians to live out these truths daily, particularly this vital principle: as believers, we are called to seek to please Christ in all areas of life—not just on Sundays, but in every decision, every conversation, every moment.
Part 4
Is your public persona different from what God knows you to be? Is your public ministry different from your private devotion to Christ? Have you developed habits of doing what Scripture requires simply so other people will notice? These are uncomfortable questions, but vital ones. In Paul's prayer in Philippians chapter one, he calls Christians to reject hypocrisy and to be truly sincere in Christ—genuine and authentic, the same person, whether anyone's watching or not.
Part 5
Pastor Tom helps us understand what it truly means to guard our hearts and why we must fight daily against the relentless temptations of our flesh, of Satan, and of this world system that pulls us from Christ. So let me ask you: Are you standing firm today? Or are you vulnerable to the next temptation?
Part 6
How important is your spiritual growth in the Lord Jesus Christ? And do you genuinely care about the spiritual growth of your brothers and sisters in your local church? In Philippians chapter one, Paul displays his passionate pursuit of pleasing the Lord and his deep longing to see Christ's people grow in their sanctification. Throughout this series, we've walked through Paul's seven essential principles for spiritual growth, and Pastor Tom has shown us why they can transform your life.