Week 8 – Spiritual Growth Development Part VI

Celebration of Discipline Bible Study
Prepared by: Rev. Willetta Ar-Rahmaan
Week 8 – Spiritual Growth Development Part VI

In our last lesson we talked about the Young Adult stage. This week we will discuss the last stage, the Adult stage. This is that fully mature stage where one is reproducing in others the tools necessary for spiritual growth and maturity. This is the stage where we set the examples for others to follow. When a child grows and mature into an adult, the adult will serve as a mentor to others growing and maturing. As an adult we want to share the wisdom and knowledge we’ve gained over the years so others do not walk down some road that will cause them to be frustrated and rebellious. As an adult, whether a parent or not, we’ve learned some valuable lessons along life highway. If we take the time to think back to the Apostles, they were first call disciples. They had to go through the same stages of spiritual growth. Basically we are no different than those first disciples. We are no different than the young ruler with a mound of wealth.

Once we reach this adult stage we have become the teacher. We are taking the time to reproduce what is in us. The biggest danger we face in this stage is the lack of concern for others. Often in life when people climb the corporate ladder, excel in sports, spiritual gifts, natural talents or education we may forget or forsake those who have sacrificed, molded or groomed us so we can be who we are now. Some of us have been cold, callous and critical of our formal lives that we will do anything to bury it. As Christians who have matured into teaching vessels we want to remember parts of our lives so we can explain with real life situations. As we look at scripture we find people who demonstrated the life as a spiritual mature adult. Take the time to read and reflect on the following:
Life of Joseph, Book of Job, Book of Esther, the Apostles and the Life of Paul, there is much to learn about spiritual growth and maturity. Here are a few things to remember about Spiritual Maturity:

1. It is a process and there are no shortcuts. We can not grow from a baby to an adult overnight so remember our spiritual maturity is the same
2. Just because we are of a seasoned age and just accepted Christ we are not grandfathered in, we have to go through the same process as everyone else.

3. There will be days when we will find yourselves sliding up and down those basic needs and danger areas identified:

BASIC NEEDS: Assurance, Discernment, Discipline, Victory and Reproduce.

DANGERS: Doubt, Led Astray, Rebellion, Frustration and Apathy

4. No matter how much we know, we will never know more than God. When we surrender ourselves to God we are forsaking family and friends to follow this Gospel.
5. Stay focus because the goal of the enemy is to keep us immature in the word and growth.

Really take the time to read those books and passages. There is a lot of useful and practical wisdom. So pull out a concordance or go online and search for one. Remember we are held accountable for what we know and what we teach others on the journey.

Going Deeper:

1. If God has called you to reproduce your spiritual walk using the tools given, what will stop you from doing it?
2. In the past year what basic need you didn’t receive and where do you sit on the danger scale?
3. Do you feel that the stage of spiritual growth and maturity is too much of a process? If so, what would be a better way to get to the stage of an adult?


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