Infant Stage

John 3:3–8 “Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.””

1 Peter 1:23 “since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;”

SPIRITUAL INFANT In this stage, people have accepted Christ, but haven't moved much past that point. They can be new believers, or they might be stagnant, long-time Christians. Life is generally all about them and their needs.

Characteristic TRAITS

“I don’t have to go to church to be a Christian.”

“I pray and read my Bible. That’s good enough for me.”

“I didn’t know the Bible said that.”

“Jesus helps me be a good person. I don’t need church.”

Characterized by ignorance, confusion, dependence, worldly perspective.

Needs personal attention of a spiritual parent, teaching and modeling the Christian faith, accountability to develop new habits.

Eventually, they will learn to feed themselves, but at this point, they don’t know how.  They need protection and guidance during this vulnerable stage of discipleship.”   It is not enough to show them how to do it, but just like any parent we must pray them through it.  Prayer is critical.

Actual Infants Need

Comfort

Care

Consistency

Play

Praise

Partnership

Spiritual Infants Need?

Food

Milk

1 Peter 2:2–3 “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.”

Baby Food

1 Corinthians 3:1–4 “But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?”

Introduced to new Things

Zechariah 4:10 “For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. “These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range through the whole earth.””

Isaiah 43:18–19 ““Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

Shelter

Philippians 4:19 “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

A safe space

John 17:15 “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.”

Comfortable

Philippians 1:29–30 “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.”

Proverbs 11:14 “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.”

Family

Parent

1 Corinthians 4:15 “For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”

1 Timothy 1:1–2 “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Grandparent

2 Timothy 2:25 “correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,”

Sibling

Hebrews 10:24–25 “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

Education

Sunday School

Acts 2:42 “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”

Homework

1 Timothy 4:12–13 “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.”

The Inductive Method

The SOAP Method

The TEXT Method

The Verse-Mapping Method

The Topical Study Method

The Character Study Method

D-Group

Matthew 4:19 “And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.””

Mark 1:16–18 “Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him.”

Corporate Worship

Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

Fun

Fellowships

Ecclesiastes 2:24 “There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God,”

In-House Activities

Proverbs 17:22 “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

Extracurricular Activities

Proverbs 15:13 “A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.”