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As I write this, two weeks from today my daughter will be a 3rd grader and my son will be a 1st grader. We’ve had a great Summer as a family, and now it’s time for school to begin again. We’re turning the page on Summer. When we talk with friends who live a long ways from us, a common response from them after we tell them which grade our kids will be in this year is: “I can’t believe Ainslee is going to be in 3rd grade! Is Eli really a 1st grader?!” I’m learning that the expression, “They grow upfast!” is often true. It’s sometimes hard to see one of your children grow out of a favorite phase in life and into another phase. And even though we often say something like, “I hope they never grow up!” I’m not sure we really mean that. One author put it this way: “It kills you to see them grow up. But I guess it would kill you quicker if they didn’t.” As I think about some phases of a growing child, I think there’s a lot of wisdom in this author’s statement.
What about our spiritual growth? It is a much less-predictable growth cycle don’t you think? We can’t say, “Well, you’re 30 years old, here’s where you should be at on the spiritual growth chart!” It doesn’t work that way. I know some teenagers who are much more spiritually mature than some 40-year olds! We just don’t link a person’s biological age with that person’s spiritual maturity.
It is much more important that a person intentionally takes steps toward growing in his or her relationship with God. One author’s book title puts it very well when he suggests that spiritual growth is “A Long Obedience In The Same Direction.” It takes a lifetime of intentionality to grow…and a large dose of God’s grace! So, what steps are you taking toward intentional spiritual growth these days? Here are a number of ways where we might help:
Sunday School has been around for a long time. There are classes that fit you. Why not get involved?
There are Wednesday Night classes for preschoolers up through senior adults. We have a meal at 5:45pm followed by classes at 6:30pm. Join us!
Mike Cole will be offering different events/classes for the Jr. and Sr. High. Contact him to find out more about these offerings.
Starting Tuesday, September 14th at 10:00am in the Fellowship Hall, we’ll be starting a new verse-by-verse exposition of Exodus. If you’re free on Tuesday morning, you should join us!
I’m hoping to lead another Vantagepoint3 group this Fall. This is a nine-month commitment toward growth as a follower of Jesus and development as a leader. We’re going to meet on Sunday afternoons from 12:30pm - 2:00pm. Does this scratch any itches for you?
We’re hoping to have 5 different Truth Project groups going in homes this Fall. The Christian Education Ministry is heading up this effort. Be looking for more information about these small groups.
None of these offerings are a quick fix for spiritual growth. But they are a step in the right direction.
What will your next step be this Fall?
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