Stages of Spiritual Development

As an educator I am somewhat embarrassed to admit that for several years of church work I failed to realize that some adult believers are babes in Christ who need milk but others are grown-up adults who can chew meat. I suppose I came by that point of view because I always attended churches that gathered adults together in one big room to be "fed" by the "Pastor/ Shepherd of the sheep." (We were the sheep.) Everybody ate the same food and we all sat with mouths open in anticipation whether we had just come to the Lord or were veterans of fifty spiritual years.

Hebrews 6 gives us a completely different point of view. When I read it I can clearly see that the Spirit who inspired the Bible understood developmental stages of growth and change. God is an educator who develops some teachings for Babes and others for Disciples and still more for us in Ministry. Would we present the same things to my four-year-old grand daughter as we would to her mother?

1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death and of faith in God, 2 instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

3 And God permitting, we will do so. (NIV)

Can you imagine adults sitting in a large classroom listening to the same tired old talks about adding 2 + 2 and how to spell c-a-t? Yet we do that in many church assemblies. No wonder so many Christian people stop attending services. They are bored to distraction by elementary teachers repeating elementary teachings to adults.

The Vineyard Community Church has done a great service to our community and our world. It has moved the discussions beyond the elementary things into growth, healing and service. As a result they have planted over 25 churches in the Tri-State region since being founded here about 20 years ago.

To my knowledge, no other denomination or association has done as much to touch the area. They began with one small struggling congregation and now have 26. Other mainline groups started the latter part of the 20th Century and the New Millennium with 75 to 150 congregations and are rapidly losing members and churches. Why? Maybe because the Vineyard vision is to help people grow, change and impact others.

Starting Tuesday, October 17 at 7:00-9:00 PM I will continue Dave Workman's great series an expand it to include long time Christians. We will examine what it means to grow deeper and stronger in the Spirit as Boomers and Busters. We will cast a vision for deeper works of God with a relaxed but effective process of growth and impacting the world more fitting to mature folks who have already served God and discovered their gifts.

Bring a friend or foe.
Bibles are welcome; any translation from KJV to The Message
Cranky christians will be loved
Admission is Free but will cost you your stress and self-condemnation.

Continuing the Call!
Sabbath Rest!
Deeper, Better and Easier!
Resting in Christ!
Flowing in the Spirit!
Special guests!