Are You Growing?

I have discovered a great tool for discipleship.  It’s called “Real-Life Discipleship Training Manual.”  It was written by Jim Putman, Avery T. Willis Jr., Brandon Guindon, and Bill Krause.  

In the third week, the study addresses how a disciple grows.  It gives five stages of spiritual growth: dead, infant, child, young adult, and parent.  Each one of these stages has a “phrase from the stage.  Our words and actions reveal where we are at in the spiritual growth journey.   Look at each stage and determine where you are at in your spiritual growth.   Contact me if I can help you with anything.

Dead Stage

This stage is characterized by unbelief.  Everyone is in this stage before they come to Christ.  They are dead in their sins and objects of God’s wrath.  Here are some typical phrases a dead person might say. 

·      “I don’t believe there is a God.”

·      “The Bible is just a bunch of myths.”

·      “God is just a crutch.”

·      I am not a Christian because religion is responsible for most of the wars in history.” 

·      “There are many ways to God.”

·      “There is no hell because God is a God of love.”

·      “I have been a good person, so I will be okay.”

·      “There is not absolute right or wrong.”

·      “I’ll take my chances with the man upstairs.”

Infant Stage

This stage is characterized by ignorance.  Everyone who comes to Christ begins in this stage.  Here are some of the phrases that characterize what a spiritual infant might say. 

·      “Why do I need to go to church regularly?”

·      “I’ve been hurt by a lot of people, so it’s just me and God.  I don’t need others.” 

·      “If I pray and read my bible, will I be good enough?”

·      “I didn’t know the Bible said that.”

·      “I know that Jesus is Lord and Savior, but is karma real?”

·      “I provide for my family, I don’t have time for church.”  

Child Stage

This stage is characterized by selfishness.  Here are some phrases that a child might say. 

·      “I believe in Jesus and my church is in the woods, just him and me.” 

·      “Don’t branch my group into two groups.  It is comfortable for me right now.”  

·      “Who are all these new people coming to our church? The church is getting so big.” 

·      “I love my small group; don’t add anymore people to it.” 

·      “If we do table groups, I will stop coming to church.” 

·      “I’m not being fed in my church, so I am going to a church that meets my needs better.” 

Young Adult Stage

This stage is characterized by a change from being focused on self to being focused on God and others. Here are some of the phrases that might characterize what  a young adult might say. 

·      “I love my group, but there are others who need a group like this.” 

·      I think I could lead a group with a little help.  I have three friends I have been witnessing to, and this group would be too big from them.”

·      “Look how many are at church today—it’s awesome! I had to walk two blocks from the closest parking spot.” 

Parent Stage

This stage is characterized by intentionality in feeding themselves and reproducing disciples.   Here are some of the phrases from this stage that a parent might say.

·      “I have a person in my small group who is passionate about children.  Can you have the children’s ministry people call me?” 

·      “This guy at work asked to go and explain the Bible to him.  Pray for me.” 

·      “We get to baptize someone from our small group tonight.  When is the next 101 Class? I want to get her plugged into ministry somewhere.”

·      “I realized that discipleship happens at home, too. Will you hold me accountable to spend time discipling my kids?” 

How to Pray for Your Pastor

“Let the thought sink deep into the heart of every church, that their minister will be such a minister as their prayers make him. . . . How perilous is the condition of that minister . . . whose heart is not encouraged, whose hands are not strengthened, and who is not upheld by the prayers of his people! . . .
“It is at a fearful expense that ministers are ever allowed to enter the pulpit without being preceded, accompanied, and followed by the earnest prayers of the churches. It is no marvel that the pulpit is so powerless, and ministers so often disheartened when there are so few to hold up their hands. . . . When the churches cease to pray for ministers, ministers will no longer be a blessing to the churches.”
                
                                                                                                                 --Gardiner Spring (1785-1873)

How to Pray for Your Pastor

R.W. Glenn is pastor of preaching and vision at Redeemer Bible Church in Minnetonka, MN. He blogs at Red Meat for the Soul.

About nine years ago, I developed the following list of prayer requests that I gave to every willing hand. I haven’t passed them out in at least four years, but I decided to resurrect them. Why? I need prayer…badly! And so does your pastor. As leaders in the church, we have unique and often more intense temptations (“Strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter”). So will you consider praying for your pastor the way I ask my people to pray for me?

1. That the gospel would be the focal point of my life and identity – not manhood, not being a husband, not being a father, not being a pastor, but who I am in Christ.

2. That I would not fear man by desiring the admiration of people; that the Lord’s “Well done” would be ever before my eyes.

3. That the Lord would not allow me to go long between repentances; that I would keep short accounts with Him and be sensitive to and ruthless with my sin.

4. That I would continue to grow in the character qualities of a man of God (1 Tim. 3:1-7; 2 Tim. 2:22-26; Titus 1:5-9).

5. That I would have a consistent, powerful, diligent life of private prayer; that I would grow in my dependence on the Holy Spirit.

6. That the Lord would give me great diligence in study and sermon preparation, making the most of my time.

7. That my preaching and teaching ministry would be empowered by the Holy Spirit; that the Lord would effect real change in our lives through it; and that by it we would be more endeared to Christ.

8. That I would boldly and faithfully and humbly and joyfully and intentionally share the gospel with the non-Christians in my social orbit.

9. That I would see Jesus as supremely valuable, my greatest treasure, and as my dear friend.