Stages Of Spiritual Growth #3
Child/ Learner
This is part 3 of my 5 Stages of Spiritual Growth series. If you haven’t read parts 1&2 you can click here for part 1 and here for part *******************************************************************************************************
Once an infant has grown through infancy to a child they are no longer just consuming milk for nutrition. They have moved on to solid food. But the child is still not able to choose and eat whatever they want. Their parent still has to help them choose and consume the right foods. With the right guidance and care the child consistently grows intellectually and physically. This is the same with the new Believer who has matured to the 3rd stage of spiritual maturity-Spiritual Child phase.
THE SPIRITUAL CHILD/LEARNER:
This phase can also be known as a Spiritual Adolescent. The principles are still the same. The most dominant characteristic of a Spiritual Child is that they are always learning. They are spiritual sponges!
These are Believers who are beginning to grow in their knowledge and walk with the Lord. They are starting to apply God’s word and eager and willing to be discipled. They are not only growing in the knowledge and wisdom of the Lord, they are also growing in relationships with their new spiritual family- other Believers. They are going from self-centered to others-centered.
Just like human children, spiritual children are still learning how to live their new life and use the new tools they have to grow. They are creating new habits of studying the Bible, prayer, attending church and living in a godly manner. But just like you don’t want a child wielding a sword, we can’t release spiritual children into the world wielding their faith and beginning Bible knowledge in a manner that can cause harm! We must train them up! Jim Putnam describes this stage accurately: “They can be excited about their faith, and in many ways, they are innocent and cute. However, they still act childishly and are often rebellious and self-centered in many ways.”
The Spiritual Child’s/ Learner’s Next Action Steps:
Get Baptized.
Continue to study God’s Word and pray daily. Pray for continued spiritual growth.
Continue attending your church faithfully. Change from being an attender to a member of that church body.
Join a discipleship small group.
Find a spiritual mentor.
This could be your pastor, a deacon in your church, your discipleship group leader, another ministry leader or more mature Christian within your church. This should be a person you know who can invest in your personally. Don’t get into the habit of only following Bible teachers online or on TV.
Search for ways you can begin to serve in your church.
Scriptures for further reading:
Acts 16: 30-33, Psalm 119:105, 2 Timothy 3:16, Acts 17:11, 2 Timothy 2:15, Hebrews 10:25, Acts 16:1-40, Psalm 122:1, 2 Thessalonians 1:11
THE DISCIPLEMAKER’S RESPONSE TO THE SPIRITUAL CHILD/LEARNER:
Pray that God would point out a growing Believer who’s life you can invest in.
Invest, invest, invest.
Reach out to that Believer. Invite them to join your small group. Encourage them to faithfully attend church services and be ready to answer any questions they may have about church Ask them how you can pray specifically for them. Ask to meet up for coffee several times. Get to know them and their needs. Offer one to one discipleship. Encourage them frequently with scripture that speaks to whatever is going on in their life and other spiritual growth and material. Walk with them through any trials.
Help them find areas in which they can begin to serve and plug in at church.
Scriptures for further reading:
2 Peter 1:8-10, Ephesians 1:15-20, Ephesians 6:7, 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Remember, pouring into someone else’s life isn’t just one drip and that’s it. It’s a continual watering. This isn’t just a one and done thing. You are cultivating and nurturing a new disciple.
For the calling,
Melissa
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