1. 1. Growing Up Aint Hard To Do
2. 2. Hebrews 5:12-14For when for the time ye ought to be teachers,ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.But strong meat belongeth to them that are offull age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern bothgood and evil.
3. 3. Ten Stops#1 Ignorance of the concept or existence of sin#2 Aware of and indifferent to sin#3 Concerned about the implications of personalsin#4 Confess sins and ask Jesus to be their Savior#5 Commitment to faith activities
4. 4. Ten Stops#6 Experience a prolonged period of spiritualdiscontent#7 Experience personal brokenness#8 Choosing to surrender and submit fully to God:Radical dependence#9 Enjoying a profound intimacy with and love forGod#10 Experiencing a profound compassion and lovefor humanity
5. 5. Maximum FaithBut what you might not know is theitinerary of that journey: the stopsalong the way, what happens ateach of those stops, and how tosuccessfully navigate through theobstacles that you encounter andkeeping advancing while enjoyingthe journey.
6. 6. Maximum FaithA majority never make aconfession and profession of faith inwhich they invite Jesus Christ tosave them from the penalty of theirsins against God. They are not, inother words, born-again Christians.(p.xviii)
7. 7. Maximum FaithEven among the born-againpopulation, only a tiny proportionget beyond their profession of faithto experience the more robust andsignificant outcomes that are madeavailable by Christ to His followers(p. xviii)
8. 8. Maximum FaithA majority of believers who figureout where the journey goes, andwhat it takes to maximize theopportunity God grants us bycompleting the journey towholeness, instead choose to settlefor a less complete and fulfilling life.(p. xiv)
9. 9. Maximum FaithWe are pretty random about ourefforts to experience genuine God-driven transformation. Think of it asa mindless mutiny: we refuse togive God control of our lives, butwere not really guiding the shiptoward a particular destination
10. 10. Maximum Faithsometimes it seems as if theChurch is indeed a ship of fools. Weare not so much Christ followers aswe are Christ admirers who listen tostories about His life and Histeachings, then go about ourbusiness with a smile and alobotomy. (p. 16)
11. 11. Stages of GrowthBasic TrustJude 1:21: Keep yourselves in thelove of God, looking for the mercy ofour Lord Jesus Christ unto eternallife.
12. 12. Stages of GrowthBasic TrustIndependenceIndividuationInternalization
13. 13. Stages of GrowthBasic TrustIndependenceGangIncorporate
14. 14. Stages of GrowthBasic TrustIndependenceGangAdult
15. 15. Causes of ImmaturityMissing one or more stages.Lack of practice.Discussion.
16. 16. The Middle Road?
17. 17. I am the Way