Growing in God

The following Bible Studies are designed for the purpose of helping you grow as a Christian toward spiritual maturity. Covering a variety of topics, they can be studied alone, or used as an opportunity for discussion with others.

If you wish to see a particular topic discussed from a Biblical perspective, please e-mail your suggestion to pastor@danvillealliancechurch.com.

The "Growing in God" studies are in .pdf format, and you will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to access these files.

Understanding the Christian Life

Our Disciples Breakfasts are currently studying the book "30 Days to Understanding the Christian Life" by Dr. Max Anders.  As Christians, it's important to know what God expects from us, and the first step to living the Christian life, is understanding the Christian life.  With this in mind, we are seeking to gain a better understanding of God's plan for us.  The material below is being used along with our study of God's Word and the material written by Dr. Anders.

Section One
The Human Condition and the Ways of God

Lesson 1
What Gives Me Meaning in Life?
[Jesus]: "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
(John 3:16)

Lesson 2
How Does God See Me?
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.
The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave himself for me.
(Galatians 2:20)

Lesson 3
How Do I Fit into God's Plan?
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.
(Galatians 5:22-23)

Section Two
Just What Does God Expect From me?

Lesson 4
Love God
[Jesus]: "A time is coming and has now come
when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth,
for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
(John 4:23-24)

Lesson 5
Love Others
[Jesus]: "A new command I give you: Love one another.
As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
(John 13:34-35)

Lesson 6
Esteem Yourself
I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices,
holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship.
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is —
his good, pleasing and perfect will.
(Romans 12:1-2)

Lesson 7
Be a Steward
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you,
whom you have received from God?
You are not your own; you were bought at a price.  Therefore honor God with your body.
(1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Lesson 8
Be a Servant
[Jesus]: "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,
and to give his life as a ransom for many."
(Mark 10:45)

Section Three
What Has to Happen for Me to Be Holy?

Lesson 9
The Work of God
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
(Proverbs 3:5-6)

Lesson 10
The Word of God

Lesson 11
Personal Commitment
[God]: "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all you heart."
(Jeremiah 29:13)

Lesson 12
Other Believers
From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament,
grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
(Ephesians 4:16)

Lesson 13
Time and Trials
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete,
not lacking anything.
(James 1:2-4)

Section Four
Spiritual Snares

Lesson 14
Intellectual Intimidation

Lesson 15
Materialism

Lesson 16
Spiritual Discouragement

Lesson 17
Carelessness
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
(Galatians 5:25)

Lesson 18
Toying with Sin

Lesson 19
Spiritual Exhaustion

Section Five
Spiritual Warfare

Lesson 20
Spiritual Warfare

Lesson 21
Spiritual Armor

Lesson 22
The Battle for the Mind

Section Six
Spiritual Disciplines

Lesson 23
Prayer

Lesson 24
Worship

Lesson 25
Balancing Life's Competing Priorities

Lesson 26
Using Your Spiritual Gifts

Lesson 27
Sharing the Good News

Lesson 28
Knowing God's Will

Lesson 29
Spiritual Vigilance

Lesson 30
Living a Life of Love