Lecture Notes: The Down and Dirty of Personal Growth

Introduction

• Key Question: Does personal growth work or is it a myth?
• Topic: Personal growth compared to gardening.
• Scriptural Basis: Genesis Chapter 2:7-17.
  • God formed man from the dust of the ground.
  • Planted a garden in Eden and put the man there.
• Metaphor: Garden as an analogy for personal growth.

Biblical References

• Genesis Chapter 2: Creation of man and the Garden of Eden.
  • God's creation of every tree, including the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
  • The purpose of the tree of knowledge: To give value to right choices.
• Psalm 1: Comparison to trees.
  • Blessed man likened to a tree planted by rivers of water.

Key Concepts

God's Ideal Environment for Man

• Garden = Protected place
• Eden = Pleasure
• Free Food = Provision
• Ideal Environment: A protected place of pleasure and provision.

Nature of Growth

• Seed Transformation: A seed must cease to be a seed to become a tree.
• Gravatropic vs. Phototropic Growth:
  • Gravatropic: Growth downward (towards gravity).
  • Phototropic: Growth upward (towards light).
• Root Development: The deeper the roots, the higher the potential growth.

Personal Growth Principles

• Separation for Growth: Like Abram, sometimes you need to leave the familiar to grow.
• Disruption Follows Intention:
  • Example: Physical exercise initially causes pain before strength.
• Environmental Factors:
  • Dark, damp, difficult conditions (roots phase) are necessary for growth.
• Process of Growing:
  • Breaking through the ground (initial success).
  • Continuous reaching towards light (continuous growth).

Responsibilities in Growth

Protecting the Garden

• Garden's Enclosure: Protects man from external threats.
• Man's Role: Protect the garden from internal threats (weeds, temptations).

Metaphorical Weeds

• Enemies Within:
  • World: Ambitions (seeking impressing others).
  • Flesh: Appetites (food, sex, pleasure).
  • Devil: Attitudes (pride, distractions).
• Strategies:
  • World: Avoid loving worldly praise.
  • Flesh: Flee from temptations.
  • Devil: Submit to God and resist.

God's Commands and Promises

• First Command to Man: Be fruitful, multiply, replenish the earth, subdue it, and have dominion.
• Fruitfulness: Produce externally based on internal seed (creativity, potential).
• Role of God’s Word: Like rain and snow, it waters the 'garden' that is us.

Practical Application

• Cultivating and Keeping: Balancing spiritual and practical growth.
• Submission and Protection: Aligning under God's protection to resist evil.
• Continuous Learning: Groundwork prepares for visible growth.

Conclusion

• Analogy: The gardener is also a garden.
• Call to Action: Saturate oneself with the word of God to manifest personal growth.
• Closing Encouragement: Stay blessed and continue growing.