When looking for the key to Christian growth the Christian might find more answers than desired.
The amount of material published and number of plans promoted staggers the mind. However, categorizing them into five general approaches will make it easier to evaluate which approach might be most helpful for yourself or your ministry, next.
Five General Approaches
1. Knowledge. Many plans focus on growing in our knowledge, whether it be of the Bible, theology, or some other related area. Greater knowledge of ourselves, one another, and our culture can also bring valuable insight for spiritual growth. Knowledge is critical for growth, obviously.
2. Action. Others programs push us into action. This might include serving in the church fellowship. It might include serving in the community or beyond it, such as reaching out to the disadvantaged, or seeking to influence the influential. We do need to use our spiritual gifts in a variety of ways to serve one another and bless the world in Jesus’ name.
3. Disciplines. Practicing spiritual disciplines leads to deeper communion with God. It might be as simple as spending more time with God through worship and prayer. Or it might include more contemplative, even mystical, exercises. Such Gospel-centered disciplines are definitely needed.
4. Obedience. Simply doing what the Bible teaches in regard to holy behavior is yet another approach. Many programs focus on the basics of moral obedience in our personal lives and with our families. Examining our our own lives and speaking into one another’s lives can often lead to big changes, or to the very important but subtle aspects of growing in Christ-likeness.
5. Mission. There are many people near us, and many many more around the world, who have never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Consequently, a number of other approaches promote evangelism and mission work. Strategic intentionality, or being truly missional, is yet another approach to Christian growth.
Two Cautions
First, avoid super-spiritual programs that guarantee progress that sounds too good to be true, especially if a program uses only one of the approaches. Discard those plans that promise special insight without much Bible study, community impact without using the Gospel, closeness to God without Christ at the center, holiness without the Holy Spirit at work, or multitudes of conversions without fighting spiritual battles.
Second, beware of those who motivate with a relentless focus on the negative. Severity has its own appeal, but more often than not this cripples growth rather than assists it. People will come to think of themselves more highly than they ought, or go to the other extreme and think too poorly of themselves—in what they know, what they do, how they live, and how they perceive their spiritual progress.
Take Advantage of All Five
We are confident that God will give His grace for our growth through all of the above five approaches. This might mean cycling back through various approaches at different times in our lives, or in the lives of those to whom we are ministering.
There is not one best approach or even methodology (e.g., one-on-one, triads, small groups, communities, etc.); nor is there just one that is best for any one of us, or for any particular culture. None of us are ever done with any of the approaches, or outgrow them. We all need to use all of them to our full advantage. If we only use one or two, we will not realize all the growth that could be gained.
Think about which one or two you have emphasized often and the one or two which you have not emphasized recently or enough. Select an approach that might be the next best thing for yourself or your ministry. Encourage one another. And may God bless!
The amount of material published and number of plans promoted staggers the mind. However, categorizing them into five general approaches will make it easier to evaluate which approach might be most helpful for yourself or your ministry, next.
Five General Approaches
1. Knowledge. Many plans focus on growing in our knowledge, whether it be of the Bible, theology, or some other related area. Greater knowledge of ourselves, one another, and our culture can also bring valuable insight for spiritual growth. Knowledge is critical for growth, obviously.
2. Action. Others programs push us into action. This might include serving in the church fellowship. It might include serving in the community or beyond it, such as reaching out to the disadvantaged, or seeking to influence the influential. We do need to use our spiritual gifts in a variety of ways to serve one another and bless the world in Jesus’ name.
3. Disciplines. Practicing spiritual disciplines leads to deeper communion with God. It might be as simple as spending more time with God through worship and prayer. Or it might include more contemplative, even mystical, exercises. Such Gospel-centered disciplines are definitely needed.
4. Obedience. Simply doing what the Bible teaches in regard to holy behavior is yet another approach. Many programs focus on the basics of moral obedience in our personal lives and with our families. Examining our our own lives and speaking into one another’s lives can often lead to big changes, or to the very important but subtle aspects of growing in Christ-likeness.
5. Mission. There are many people near us, and many many more around the world, who have never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Consequently, a number of other approaches promote evangelism and mission work. Strategic intentionality, or being truly missional, is yet another approach to Christian growth.
Two Cautions
First, avoid super-spiritual programs that guarantee progress that sounds too good to be true, especially if a program uses only one of the approaches. Discard those plans that promise special insight without much Bible study, community impact without using the Gospel, closeness to God without Christ at the center, holiness without the Holy Spirit at work, or multitudes of conversions without fighting spiritual battles.
Second, beware of those who motivate with a relentless focus on the negative. Severity has its own appeal, but more often than not this cripples growth rather than assists it. People will come to think of themselves more highly than they ought, or go to the other extreme and think too poorly of themselves—in what they know, what they do, how they live, and how they perceive their spiritual progress.
Take Advantage of All Five
We are confident that God will give His grace for our growth through all of the above five approaches. This might mean cycling back through various approaches at different times in our lives, or in the lives of those to whom we are ministering.
There is not one best approach or even methodology (e.g., one-on-one, triads, small groups, communities, etc.); nor is there just one that is best for any one of us, or for any particular culture. None of us are ever done with any of the approaches, or outgrow them. We all need to use all of them to our full advantage. If we only use one or two, we will not realize all the growth that could be gained.
Think about which one or two you have emphasized often and the one or two which you have not emphasized recently or enough. Select an approach that might be the next best thing for yourself or your ministry. Encourage one another. And may God bless!
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