5 Stages Of Spiritual Growth
The Spiritual Parent
This part is part 5 and final article of my 5 Stages Of Spiritual Growth Series. You can view part 1 here, part 2 here, part 3 here and part 4 here.
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The fifth and final stage of spiritual growth is the Spiritual Parent. What does it mean to have reached the Parent Phase of spiritual growth? Does it mean you have arrived? You are fully mature and don’t need to grow anymore?
Not at all. Becoming a Spiritual Parent means we become spiritually mature enough to reproduce more of ourselves. We are consistently creating and mentoring new disciples for Christ and helping others mature in their faith. We go from the Adolescent Phase of being mostly self-centered to being consistently others-centered. While the Adolescent Phase is mostly focused on serving others, the Parent Phase is focused on serving AND helping others grow through the stages of spiritual maturity. A Spiritual Parent invests their time and efforts into growing Spiritual Infants to maturity. This also means that we’ve reached a point in our spiritual maturity that is worth reproducing. We can only bring others to as far as we are in our spiritual maturity. So let’s make sure we are constantly growing and walking by the Spirit!
Traits Of A Spiritual Parent
They have a solid understanding of God’s Word. ( 2 Timothy 2:15)
Daily study of the Word and consistent prayer life. (2 Timothy 3:16, Psalm 119:105, Proverbs 2:1-5, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Colossians 4:2)
They are members of their local Bible believing and teaching church and attend faithfully and serve there in some capacity. ( Ephesians 4:11-13, Hebrews 10:24-25)
They are living out God’s Word daily in their lives. (James 1:22, Galatians 5:22)
They are others-centered. ( Philippians 2:3-4, 1 Corinthians10:24, Galatians 5: 13-14, 1 Peter 3:8)
They understand their need to always be continually growing as a disciple of Christ and have Christian mentors. ( Titus 2:3-5, Proverbs 27:17)
They are always in the process of discipling others rather through one-to-one or in a small group setting. They are consistently investing in and pouring into their disciples’ lives. ( 2 Timothy 2:2, 1 Corinthians 11:1)
They are able to discern where their disciple(s) are in their spiritual growth and disciple accordingly. ( Hebrews 5:12-13, 1 Peter 2:2)
They are Kingdom growth and missional minded. ( Matthew 28:16-20, 1 Thessalonians 2:8, Romans 1:16)
THE DISCIPLMAKERS / MENTOR’S RESPONSE TO THE SPIRITUAL PARENT:
Pray for them!
Be a listening ear and provide scriptural guidance when needed.
Cheer them on and provide encouragement in their disciple making journey.
Hold them accountable and exhort when necessary.
Spiritual Parents still need a lot of encouragement and support. Especially from other Spiritual Parents and church leadership. Discipleship can be emotionally and mentally draining and Satan doesn’t like it. So be prepared for attacks! We have to daily put on the Armor Of God and seek fellowship and counsel with other mature Christians.
I hope my Stages Of Spiritual Growth series has been helpful to you. My research into this series has surely convicted me! I encourage you to continue studying God’s Word, praying and seeking God’s direction in your life when it comes to your spiritual growth and disciple making journey.
For the Calling,
Melissa
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