DiscipleShift Part 4: Growth Stages (Cont.)

RECAP

Answering the Call

Growth Stages

Spiritually Dead

Spiritual Infancy

Spiritual Childhood

As we continue to explore and look at where we are in our spiritual development, it’s healthy for us to take a moment and see how this plays out in our lives:

When we look at various areas in our spiritual life, we may find that we are more like spiritual infants in some ares, more like spiritual children in other areas, and more like spiritual adults in other areas.

The purpose of exploring and looking at these areas are not to get discouraged about where we are, nor to get complacent about where we are, but rather to be motivated to grow and progress in our spiritual maturity.

James 1:2–4 ESV

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Matthew 28:19–20 ESV

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

4) Spiritual Adulthood

1 John 2:14 ESV

I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

1 Corinthians 13:11 ESV

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.

Colossians 4:12 ESV

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.

James 1:4 ESV

And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Spiritual Young Adults are those who are maturing in the faith and have found their identity in Jesus and seek to live their lives according to God’s Word. Their view and their focus is transitioning or has transitioned to a Christ-focused, Kingdom Mindset. (1 Jn 2:14)

They no longer focus on what their personal wants or desires are because their wants and desires are being shaped by Jesus so that He is the object of their wants and desires. (1 Jn 2:14)

They are more others-centered, mirroring the servanthood of their Master. (Col. 4:12)

Their lives are revolving around a love for God’s Word, a love for God’s Church, and love for God’s Mission (Jam. 1:4)

They understand that God has called them to give to the body of Christ, rather than just consume from the body of Christ. As such, they are overjoyed to give and serve and have ultimate satisfaction and fulfillment in being faith to Jesus, no matter what season the church is in.

They are not just hearers of the Word, but doers also!

Characteristics of a Spiritual Adult

Daily time in God’s Word is the rule, not the exception.

They also enjoy Bible intake through listening to other preachers or people who are expositing God’s Word outside of Sunday.

They look for or create ways to be plugged in and serving others.

They are hungry and passionate about being in community with other believers.

They see and use their time, talents, and treasure as tools for worship God and serving His Church.

They have burden for lost people who are in their sphere of influence.

Their speech is seasoned with grace and their faith is generally a part of their every day conversations.

Their “down time” is still Jesus-focused along with their media choices.

They are growing and developing spiritual awareness for encouraging others around them.

What do Spiritual Adults need?

Opportunities to serve or to learn how to serve.

Spiritual mentor to help them grow and understand more the impact of what they do when they serve.

Help them to see the win, when it feels like nothing is happening.

Spiritual community that includes encouragement and accountability

Guidance in responding to the expectations of the people they serve and established boundaries for bigger picture influence.

Help identifying their Spirit-given gifts and training to develop and use those gifts appropriately

When hurt arrises from serving, and it will, they need help processing the pain so they don’t become disillusioned or cynical.

They need other mature spiritual adults to have deeper spiritual conversations with for continued growth.

They need to start working towards being a spiritual parent.

5) Spiritual Parent

Spiritual parents are those who intentionally invest in the lives of others to help them grow and mature in their faith.

This is more than teaching a Sunday School class or leading a Small Group.

This is more, life on life discipleship…mentoring and investing.

This is the personal application of the Great Commission. You’re not relying on the church nor a Sunday School Class to teach others to obey everything Jesus commanded.

You are taking the Great Commission personally!

A spiritual parent seeks out a less mature Christian who is genuinely wanting to grow and starts doing life together with that Christian.

The Spiritual parent doesn’t have to be perfect…they just have to be a believer who is maturing as a spiritual adult that wants to go further in their relationship with Jesus by being obedient to His call to make disciples.

Spiritual parents are intentional about investing what the Lord is doing in their life, into the lives of others.

What do Spiritual Parents need?

Relationship with other spiritual parents to help encourage them and hold them accountable.

Ongoing training on how to help and lead others.

They need to learn to mentor and train their replacements in the areas of the church they are serving.

They need to learn how to rest and reenergize so they don’t get burnout.