We Start as Spiritual Infants But Should Mature to the Next Level:

When we think of spiritual infants, we tend to think of new Christians.  That, however, is not always the case.  The writer of Hebrews addressed people who were believers for a sufficient length of time to have matured more than they did.  He said, “In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers (spiritual parents), you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!” (Heb. 5:12)

Also, be aware that spiritual growth does not necessarily correlate with physical growth.  Adults by physical age can be spiritual infants.  I’ve seen children by physical age who appeared to be more spiritually grown up than some adults I know.  The physical age level development of those we serve must be taken into consideration when serving but guard against treating them solely in accordance with their physiological stage.

Spiritual Infants Described:

1)  Spiritual infants are not very good at discerning right from wrong.  They have a shallow understanding of truth.

Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.  But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. (Heb. 5:13-14)

2)  Spiritual infants are not very steady when it come to standing in the face of adversity.  They have a hard time standing firm.

. . . infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.  (Eph. 4:14)

Ministering to Spiritual Infants:

• They need basic content — pure spiritual milk, not solid food (Heb. 5:13-14; 1 Pet. 2:2). Start with what they can understand and build on that.  If you get too far ahead of them, they will not make progress.

• They must want to be fed spiritually, to “crave” it so they can grow (1 Pet. 2:2).  Work at building a passion for truth within them.  Help them see how essential God’s Word is to their lives so they want to be fed.

• They must learn to feed themselves (Heb. 5:13-14).  Accept that you might initially have to spoon-feed them but work toward weaning them.  They will never grow up if they remain dependent on others.

• They must learn to walk in the Spirit so they don’t give in to the flesh (Gal. 5:16-26).  Help them take small baby steps until they become more steady.

Bible teachers, you can take a strategic role in discipling spiritual infants toward spiritual growth.  The Discipling Students Toward Spiritual Growth PowerPoint and worksheets will provide a greater understanding of spiritual infants in different areas of their walk with God along with instruction about the other levels of spiritual growth.

No matter how you serve, however, it is important that you understand where the people are spiritually if you want to best meet their needs.  Bible teachers aren’t the only ones with opportunity for discipling people toward spiritual growth.  We all have a part.

Growth is God’s Intent:

Certain spiritual gifts have been given to the Body with the key purpose being “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up” to “become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:11-13). “Then we will no longer be infants” (Eph. 4:14).

Question: How intentional are you in lining up with God’s growth objective?

God Has an Ultimate Growth Objective:

Ephesians 4:15 –

“in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.”

“in all things grow up” -

We grow in grace, knowledge, faith, love, etc. (2 Pet. 3:18; 2 Thess. 1:3; Col. 1:10) which will touch all areas of our lives wherever we are in whatever we do … our feelings, thoughts, words, attitudes, actions.

“grow up into Him … “

Growth has an objective, that of becoming Christ-like so that the fullness of Christ fills all in all of our lives so we are “conformed to the likeness of Christ” (Rom. 8:29) that “in everything he might have the supremacy” (Col. 1:18).

If you want a picture of what a mature believer should be like, look at Jesus.

Questions: How Christ-like are you personally?  How Christ-like is your church?

Growth isn’t automatic but tends to happen developmentally:

1.  We are commanded to grow (2 Pet. 3:18) and to make every effort to increase in faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. (2 Pet. 1:5-7)

2.  God’s Word identifies people at varying stages in their spiritual growth: infants (Eph. 4:14; Heb. 5:13; 1 Pet. 2:2), children, young men/adults, and parents/fathers  (1 Jn. 2:13-14)

In the next five posts we are going to look at different levels of spiritual growth.  Subscribe to receive e-mail notice of upcoming posts.

A teacher training resource published by Ministry Tools Resource Center with PowerPoint slides and worksheets,  The Teacher’s Role in Discipling Students Toward Spiritual Growth, uses these same levels we will be looking at to help Bible teachers think through where students are in their walk with God in order to help them get to the next level.

Questions: At what level of spiritual growth are you?  Are you growing, plateauing, regressing?

Growth must be facilitated:

We each have a part in one another’s growth.

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.  (Eph. 4:16)

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up . . . warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.  (1 Thess. 5:11-14)

We merely facilitate growth. God actually brings the growth.

… the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. (Col. 2:19)

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.  So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.  (1 Cor. 3:6-7)

If we remember God’s strategic role in the process, we will be less likely to get proud or self-righteous when growth comes.  We will be more prone to be like the Apostle Paul who said, “We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.”  Glory goes to God.

Questions: What is your part in helping others grow?  Are you faithfully doing your part?  Are you open to learning from others?  Are you giving God the credit when growth occurs?