I'm a Christian.... so now what????

I spent the morning studying for a Bible class I am teaching and found myself pushing around some very practical information that might encourage you or at least give you a direction to consider. 
There are quite a few Bible Verses for you to look up.  If you want an interesting option to this, go to:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/
there are MANY different Bible translations for you to work with. 
I use this website 100+ times per day and often use the New Living Translation. 

STAGES of SPIRITUAL GROWTH  1 John 2:12-14

STAGE #1: “newborn” (Greek: teknia) 2:12

·         “children” literally means “newborn”
·         When John used this term, he was talking to ALL Christian:
(a)   Grieved over their sin               (Matthew 5:4)
(b)   Trusted Jesus as Savior          (Acts 16:31)
(c)   Had their lives transformed     (Titus 3:5)
(d)   Obey God’s Word                      (Romans 6:17)
(e)   Show sincere love                    (1 Peter 1:22)  

STAGE #2: “strong” 2:13c & 14b (imaging a teenager stage)

·         This stage of spiritual growth moves believers from a focus on the                       
BASIC relationship with God TO a focus on accurate BIBLE Study                                         
 (Acts 17:11, 20:32, Psalm 119:9-11,)
·         Baby Christians focus mostly on their actions ~ their life pleasing God
·         Stage 2 focus’ more on rightly understanding God’s Word and obeying it
·         Stage 2 has outgrown the childish self-focused stage obsessed with personal feelings and moved into the basic struggles with a Christian worldview, a desire to know God’s Word, a desire to share God’s Word, a desire to understand and live God’s Love
(John 13:35)

STAGE 3:  “know God” 2:14c (imagine a mature parent stage)

·         God is the source of all Truth, the focus of all our worship,
the recipient of all our praise   READ:  Philippians 3:10-14
·         The most mature Saints have come full circle ~
back to a focus on their relationship with God
·         A mature Believer’s relationship with God is richer
because it is completely anchored in sound accurate Bible Teaching
*  The only way a Believer can spiritually grow from newborn children to strong teenagers 
is through the life-transforming practical application of God’s Word                             
(2 Timothy 2:15, 2 Timothy 3:16-17)

SPIRITUALLY GROW:

ONLY by reading, studying, memorizing, meditating, and obeying God’s WORD

in every situation ~  Believers can be transformed into the image of God

(2 Corinthians 3:18, Ephesians 6:17,  Colossians 3:16, 2 Peter 1:19-21)

“grow in the grace and knowledge of our  Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” 2 Peter 3:18