Summary: <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/westside-christian-fellowship/id386117063">If you want to stay up on the latest audio messages from Westside Christian Fellowship, don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on iTunes.</a><a style="line-height: 1.5em;" href=""> </a><a class="twitter-share-button" href="http://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><a style="line-height: 1.5em;" href=""></a> Complete Sermon Notes Hindrances to Spiritual Growth INTRO: Preaching can hinder or help Personal Application and References God’s Word 14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: Expound [teach] 29 “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you…” Convict [growth is painful] 36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Give the Answer [even when it hurts] 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” * The “gift” is His abiding presence at conversion - but not all believers receive the fullness of the Spirit. Charles Stanley - read pages 116 117 in Stanley's book NOT OVERWHELMINGLY FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT Hindrances to Spiritual Growth: A Vital Church Grows ACTS 2:40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Be saved - “Come out from” the perversion. Be filled - “Come out from” the perversion. - Hinders Growth - 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. Receive - to take what is being offered. Failure to OBEY - to be baptized can hinder spiritual growth. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. The Model Service: Teaching, Fellowship [iron sharpens iron], Communion [remembering and thankfulness], and Prayers [no doubt worship]. Avoiding church hinders spiritual growth. Some say, “I don’t need to go to church to be a Christian.” True, but you won’t grow spiritually either. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. If you don’t fear God it will hinder spiritual growth. Proverbs 28:14, “How blessed is the man who fears always, But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.” Psalm 145:19, “He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry and will save them. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. They sold their excess - excess can prevent spiritual growth. 2 Cor. 8:13 paraphrase, “Of course, I don't mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality.” 1 Cor. 16:1-2 (NKJV) “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper,
