Scripture Reading: Luke 8:4-15

Hindrances to Spiritual Growth

Intro.

1. Earlier lesson studied the process of spiritual growth (July 4, 2004).

2. Emphasize the personal responsibility of spiritual growth – Heb. 5:12.

3. Lk. 8:8, 18 – Bear responsibility…choice: Will we hear the word of God? How will we hear it? This will either help or hinder our salvation & spiritual growth.

I. THINGS THAT HINDER SPIRITUAL GROWTH.

A. Dullness of Hearing – Lk. 8:10; Matt. 13:15.

1. Dull: “to make thick, to make fat, fatten…callous.”

2. Hearing: “to give audience to…to attend to, consider what is or has been said…to understand, perceive the sense of what is said.”

3. Closed mind – Lk. 8:5, 12.

a. Unbelief will cause some to stop following Jesus, Jno. 6:60-66.

b. Closed mind result of/equivalent to a hard heart (Heb. 3:7-8).

4. When one will not listen (learn) God’s truth he/she will not grow!

-Do you read your Bible? Do you attend Bible class? Sermons?

B. Lack of Endurance – Lk. 8:13.

1. Enthusiastic beginning (“joy”), but shallow.

-Emotional mind that doesn’t count the cost & unwilling to pay the price – Lk. 14:27-33.

2. Endure to the end to be saved – cf. Matt. 24:13 (Heb. 12:1).

C. Prevalence of Lawlessness – Matt. 24:12.

1. Like cancer that grows/increases/destroys (2 Tim. 2:16-17; 3:13).

2. Association with the world will affect growth, 1 Cor. 15:33-34.

-Some have contempt for God’s law: Their influence hinders growth!

3. Sin’s deceptions will choke us, Lk. 8:14 (Mk. 4:18-19).

4. Wandering mind that does not deny self & focus on Christ.

5. We must escape temptations, not yield to them, 1 Cor. 10:13.

D. Commands & Doctrines of Men – Col. 2:18-23.

1. Growth comes from holding fast to the Head (Christ), 2:19.

2. By yielding to men’s doctrines we replace: Christ w/ man; imperishable w/ perishable things; Kingdom of heaven for world; Potent truth w/ impotent error; Nutrition w/ junk food! (Gal. 1:6-9)

3. No value against sin; no nutrition of the soul, 2:23.

E. Spiritual Fatigue – Gal. 6:9; 2 Ths. 3:13.

1. Lose heart: Faint, exhausted…despondent, unresponsive.

2. God promises that in “due season” we will reap (reward).

3. Our labor is not vain in Christ, 1 Cor. 15:58.

a. Continue to “do good”, Gal. 6:9-10 (Eph. 2:10).

b. Be patient & wait on the Lord, Jas. 5:7-9.

F. Forgetfulness.

1. Past blessings – 2 Pet. 1:9.

2. Present privileges & responsibilities – 2 Pet. 1:3-4 (Heb. 13:16).

3. Future reward – 2 Pet. 1:10-11.

G. Neglect – 1 Pet. 2:2.

1. Stop craving (eating, depending on) the word of God.

2. Stop learning God’s word; stop assembling with the saints to worship God; stop praying; stop obeying truth.

3. Abide in Christ (the true Vine) & bear fruit, Jno. 15:1-6.

-Honest, renewed mind that holds fast the word of God, Lk. 8:15.

4. Apathy & neglect will cause many souls to be lost! (Rom. 12:11)

H. Stumbling blocks Laid by Others – Matt. 18:6-10.

1. How we treat one another may well either encourage or discourage spiritual growth (Gal. 6:1-2).

2. By our words (Prov. 15:28); by our deeds (1 Cor. 9:22; cf. 8:9-13).

3. Regardless of what others do, we must remain faithful to Christ! (Josh. 24:15)

Conclusion

1. Eph. 3:14-19 – Spiritual strength is granted by God when we live by faith.

2. Spiritual growth is not: Miraculous, accidental or automatic.

3. Accept personal responsibility to “Be strong in the Lord & in the power of His might” by refusing to be hindered in our spiritual growth (Eph. 6:10).