Directions of Growth

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Directions of Growth
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Introduction

• It is a natural process for living things to grow
• An infant begins to grow at the point of
  conception
• In Psalms 13 the writer compares man to a
  flourishing tree

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Introduction

• The tree grows in four directions
• downward
• upward
• inward
• outward

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I. The Christian Must Grow Downward

• The root system of a tree is very important
• Withstands wind storms and draws in food

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I. The Christian Must Grow Downward

• We must have deep spiritual roots
• Eph. 317
• Col 27
• Col. 123
• Lk. 86, 13

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II. The Christian Must Grow Upward

• Many are concerned only with the physical life
• They never look up!
• We must look up to God in order to grow
  spiritually

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II. The Christian Must Grow Upward

• Heb. 121-2
• As we are going upward, we are growing upward
• Phil. 314
• Phil. 320

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III. Christians Must Grow Inward

• Many fail to grow because they never truly change
  their hearts
• Mt. 58
• Proverbs 237
• 2 Pet. 1 5-8

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III. Christians Must Grow Inward

• Ones outward life reflects what is inside
• Mt. 516
• If you are not getting stronger spiritually, it
  is because you are not growing inwardly.

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IV. Christians Must Grow Outwardly

• We are to bear spiritual fruit
• Jn. 15 4-6
• 1 Cor. 36-7
• Let us look outward-to the lost, the needy, the
  discouraged, the wayward

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IV. Christians Must Grow Outwardly

• Mt. 2819-20
• Gal. 610
• Gal. 61

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Conclusion

• 2 Pet. 318
• We are to grow in a way which is pleasing to God
• As we grow, the Kingdom of God will grow