Home Small Group Leaders Small Group Leaders Blogs 5 Stages of Spiritual Growth… Stage 2, The Spiritual Infant

5 Stages of Spiritual Growth… Stage 2, The Spiritual Infant

Each day this week I’m giving you information from the Real Life Discipleship Training Manual used at Real Life Ministries.

Real Life Ministries in Post Falls, Idaho is truly making disciples who make disciples. One of the key components of the training they give their disciple-makers/small group leaders is an understanding of the five stages of spiritual growth and how to disciple someone who is in any particular stage. The five stages are, 1) The Spiritually Dead, 2) The Spiritual Infant, 3) The Spiritual Child, 4) The Spiritual Young Adult, 5) The Spiritual Parent.

The second stage is The Spiritual Infant, someone who is new in Christ. Check out this invaluable information.

A little explanation… “The Phrase from the Stage” is a list of phrases that are often used by people in that particular stage. This helps a disciple-maker to evaluate and conclude which stage a person is in.

1. Characterizing the Spiritual Infant:

a. Ignorance: Don’t know much about biblical truth.

b. Confusion: Don’t know how to replace old, familiar habits with the habits and attitudes of a disciple.

c. Dependence: Cannot accomplish growth alone any more than a baby can feed and care for itself.

2. The Phrase from the Stage

a. “Why do I need to go to church regularly?”

b. “I’ve been hurt by a lot of people, so it’s just me and God. I don’t need others.”

c. I don’t need anyone else, just me and Jesus.”

d. “If I pray and read by Bible, will I be good enough?”

e. “I provide for my family. I don’t have time for the church.”

f. “What should I do about my old friends who don’t believe?”

g. “I didn’t know the Bible said that.”

h. “I know that Jesus is Lord and Savior, but is karma real?”

i. “Does God let dead people, such as my grandma, visit us to give us messages from Him?”

3. The Spiritual Infant’s Needs

a. The personal attention of a disciple-maker/spiritual parent

b. Care and protection during this vulnerable stage of discipleship

c. Teaching and modeling the new truths of the Christian faith

d. Developing new habits that become the rhythms they will live by as disciples

Previous article6 Truths I Learned from a Failed Presentation
Next article12 Must-Know Tips for Senior Pastors
rhowerton@churchleaders.com'
Rick has one passion… To see “a biblical small group within walking distance of every person on the planet making disciples that make disciples.” He is presently pursuing this passion as the Small Group and Discipleship Specialist at LifeWay Church Resources. Rick has authored or co-authored multiple books, studies, and leader training resources including A Different Kind of Tribe: Embracing the New Small Group Dynamic, Destination Community: Small Group Ministry Manual, The Gospel and the Truth: Living the Message of Jesus, Small Group Life Ministry Manual: A New Approach to Small Groups, Redeeming the Tears: a Journey Through Grief and Loss, Small Group Life: Kingdom, Small Group Kickoff Retreat: Experiential Training for Small Group Leaders, and Great Beginnings: Your First Small Group Study, Disciples Path: A Practical Guide to Disciple Making. Rick’s varied ministry experiences as an collegiate minister, small group pastor, teaching pastor, elder, full-time trainer and church consultant, as well as having been a successful church planter gives him a perspective of church life that is all-encompassing and multi-dimensional. Rick is a highly sought after communicator and trainer.