Christian Growth

Exam Review Guide

Week 1

• Be able to explain the key differences between the three phases of salvation (justification, sanctification & glorification).

• Be able to explain the three aspects of spiritual maturity (loving others, sound doctrine, transformed character)

• Be able to explain the key differences in the activity of the Holy Spirit under the Old Covenant and under the New Covenant (with/in; temporary/permanent; selective/universal), and the main reason for these differences (Christ paid for sins).

Week 2

• Know the ministries of the Holy Spirit in the non-Christian’s life, at conversion, and in the Christian’s life.

• Be able to define biblical faith: A willingness to act according to God’s truth with dependence on him to perform it through you.

• Be able to define “indicative” and “imperative,” and explain the relationship between them in the New Testament (What God commands us to do [imperative] is based upon what he has done is doing or will do [indicative]).

Week 3

• Be able to explain the three different elements involved in walking by the Spirit (set your mind on the things of the Spirit, keep in step with the Spirit, sow to the Spirit).

• Be able to name each of the means of growth.

Week 4

• Be able to explain both aspects of our union with Christ (indwelling of Holy Spirit & new identity in Christ).

• Know why the new identity is so important for sanctification: identity precedes and affects behavior, or what I do will tend to flow from who I perceive myself to be.

• Know the 7 aspects of your new identity from the chart and what basic needs they meet.

Week 5

• Be able to define the sin-nature (the deeply ingrained drive to rule our own lives and rebel against God).

• Be able to define “besetting sin” (special areas of vulnerability to sin or deeply ingrained sin-habits).

• Be able to define temperament (a collection of personality traits that show up as we respond to situations).

Week 6

• Be able to explain how the Law is our tutor both in justification and sanctification, and in what sense we are no longer under moral law (don’t have to earn God’s acceptance by keeping it; don’t have to keep it by our own power).

• Be familiar with a few of the different types of legalism.

Week 7

• Be able to identify the three main causes of suffering (fallen world; wrong choices; as a result of following Christ) and give examples of each.

• Know the ways God wants us to respond to suffering (3 do’s and 2 don’ts)

Week 8

• Know the main types of prayer, and one reason why each is important.

• Know the reasons why prayer requests may go unanswered.

• Be able to answer the question of how involved a Christian should be in fellowship (involved enough to live consistently with your new identity or involved enough to love one another as Christ loved us). Use biblical references to support your answer (Romans 12, 1Cor. 12).

Week 9

• Know the common barriers to body life.

• According to Hebrews 5:11-14, what are the four competencies in the Word a mature Christian should be able to demonstrate?

Memory Verses

Week 1

• Phil. 1:6* - speaks of three stages of salvation, and emphasizes God's faithfulness in each of these stages

• Jn. 15:7-12** - speaks of all three aspects of spiritual maturity

Week 2

• Eph. 1:13,14** Christians are normally indwelt by the Holy Spirit the moment they put their faith in Christ

• Jn.13:17* Experience flows from active faith

Week 3

• Romans 8:4-14** An extended passage on walking by/according to the Spirit

• Galatians 5:16-25** An extended passage on walking by/according to the Spirit

• (These are parallel passages which teach how to walk by the Spirit and the results of doing or not doing this.)

• Acts 2:42* Consistent participation in the Word, prayer and fellowship were keys to their spiritual vitality.

Week 4

• Eph. 1:3-14** - Key new identity passage

• Col. 3:1-3**- Importance of setting mental focus on new identity for sanctification

• Rom. 6:6, 11,13** - Appropriating your identity: know, consider, present

Week 5

• Gal. 5:17* - It is healthy and normal for Christians to experience a battle between sinful nature and Spirit.

• 2 Tim. 2:19-21** - There is an intimate connection between our personal sanctification and our effectiveness in God’s work.

Week 6

• Gal. 3:24,25* - The purpose of the Law is to lead us to faith in Christ

• Rom. 7:7-25** - A picture of Christian’s struggle under the law

Week 7

• 2 Cor. 4:7-12** - main ways that we suffer due to our commitment to Christ

• Heb. 12:11* - reminder that discipline is painful now, but rewarding later if you submit to its training

Week 8

• 1 Jn. 5:14,15* We can be certain God will answer our requests when they are according to his will.

• Rom 12** & 1 Cor. 12** Christians are members of the Body of Christ and therefore members of one another. This is the basis for interdependent involvement with other Christians Assignment

Week 9

• 1 Pet. 2:2* - We will always be dependent on God's Word for spiritual growth.

• Heb. 5:11-14** - Knowing the word is essential for Christian maturity. The passage also teaches four areas of biblical competency for the mature Christian.