Stages of Spiritual Development

• Spiritual FoundationInstilling basic concepts about God
  • God
    • God is special, no one is like Him - Isaiah 46:9
    • God is always with me - Psalm 139:7
    • God always keeps His promises - Deuteronomy 7:9
    • God wants people to pray to Him - 1 Chronicles 16:11
    • God loves me - Jeremiah 31:3
      • I can show love for God by obeying Him - 1 John 5:3
      • God loves people even when they make wrong Choices - Romans 5:8
  • Jesus
    • Jesus grew, learned, and had friends - Luke 2:52
    • God sent Jesus to earth because He loves us - Luke 2:10-11
    • Jesus performed miracles and healed the sick - Matthew 4:23
  • Creation
    • God made me (Psalm 139:13)
      • God created me to worship, praise and honor Him - Psalm 139:14
      • God Knows me - Matthew 10:30
      • God created me to know Him - Matthew 19:14
      • God has planned work for me to do - 1 Peter 4:11
      • God has a plan for me - Jeremiah 29:11
      • God wants me to love others (Mark 12:31)
    • God made the world (Genesis 1:1)
      • I can care for the things that God made - Genesis 1:26
      • I can thank God for the things He made - Nehemiah 9:5-6
    • God made my family
      • I can do my part by helping my family - 1 Timothy 4:12
      • I can trust my parents
    • God made the church
      • God created the Church to tell others about Him - Matthew 5:14-16
      • Churches are a part of God’s plan for people - Hebrews 10:24-25
  • Security
    • I can trust God
      • God will be with me and help me at all times - Psalm 28:7
      • God will always forgive my sin - 1 John 1:9
    • I can trust that the Bible is true - Psalm 19:7
      • The Bible is for everyone - Romans 15:4
• Spiritual BirthBeginning a relationship with Jesus
  • Trust/Believe
    • God is real - Revelation 1:8
      • Nature and Creation prove God’s Existence - Romans 1:20
      • God is real - Revelation 1:8
      • God is the only true God - Isaiah 45:5
      • God proved his love for people through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ - 1 John 4:9-10
    • Jesus is real - 1 John 5:9
      • Jesus died on the cross for the forgiveness of my sin - Matthew 26:28
      • Jesus is God in human form John 1:14
      • Jesus is alive today - Acts 1:3
      • Jesus is fully God - John 10:30
      • Jesus never sinned - Hebrews 4:15
      • Jesus is real - 1 John 5:9
      • Jesus was born of a virgin - Luke 1:34
      • Jesus is my friend - John 15:13
      • Jesus rose from the grave - Luke 24:6-7
      • Jesus is coming again - Hebrews 10:37
      • Jesus wants me to talk to Him - Matthew 7:7
    • The Holy Spirit is real - 1 John 5:6
      • The Holy Spirit lives in me once I choose Jesus - John 14:16
      • The Holy Spirit never leaves me - Ephesians 4:30
      • The Holy Spirit teaches me and helps me learn about God - John 14:26
      • The Holy Spirit is sent by God - 2 Corinthians 13:14
      • The Holy Spirit is Real - 1 John 5:6
    • The Bible is true - Psalm 111:7
      • The Bible helps me understand how God wants me to live - Psalm 119:9
      • The Bible helps me make right choices - Psalm 119:105
      • The Bible has truth and meaning for me - Matthew 7:14
      • Bible truths never change - Matthew 5:18
      • The Bible is true - Psalm 111:7
  • Sin
    • I am a sinner - 1 John 1:8
      • The Holy Spirit convicts me of sin - John 16:8
      • I am a sinner - 1 John 1:8
    • Sin is disobeying God - 1 John 3:4
      • My sin separates me from God because He has no sin - Isaiah 59:2
      • Sin is disobeying God - 1 John 3:4
    • Jesus died for my sins
      • Salvation through Jesus is God’s gift - Romans 6:23
      • I can’t do anything on my own to clean myself of my sins - Ephesians 2:8-9
    • Repentance
      • I must choose to turn away from my sin - Acts 3:19
  • Forgiveness
    • I can be forgiven because Jesus died to pay for my sin - Acts 13:38
    • I have to ask for forgiveness - 1 John 1:9
    • God wants me to forgive others like He has forgiven me - Ephesians 4:32
  • Salvation
    • God had a plan for my salvation before the beginning of time because He loves me - Acts 2-21
    • God sent Jesus so I can have a personal relationship with God - 1 John 4:9
    • I can have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ - 2 Peter 3:9
      • I must ask Jesus to forgive me of my sin and come be the leader of my life forever - 1 John 4:15
      • I can have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ - 2 Peter 3:9
      • I must believe Jesus is God’s Son and he died on the cross to forgive me of my sins - Romans 10:9-10
  • Obedience
    • Living a God honoring life - Philippians 3:13-14
    • Observing the Lord’s Supper - Luke 22:19-20
• Spiritual DiscoveryUnderstanding basic Christian truths
  • Assurance
    • I will live forever in Heaven with God and Jesus - John 14:2
    • I am God’s child forever - John 1:12
    • Jesus will be my Savior forever - 2 Timothy 1:12
    • God’s Holy Spirit seals me and is evidence from God of my salvation - Ephesians 4:30
    • Nothing/no one can take me away from Him - Romans 8:38-39
  • God's Character
    • God is Merciful - Lamentations 3:22-23
    • God is holy, eternal, perfect - Isaiah 6:3
    • God is omnipresent - Jeremiah 23:24
    • God is a Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) - 2 Corinthians 13:14
    • God is not limited physically or mentallly - Psalm 139:7-10
    • God is Powerful and Strong - Psalm 62:11
    • God is truthful, dependable, reliable, faithful - Psalm 36:5
    • God is omnipotent - Psalm 135:6
    • God is sovereign - Psalm 83:18
    • God is nurturing - Isaiah 49:15-16
    • God is intelligent, creative and artistic - Nehemiah 9:6
    • God disciplines those He loves - Deuteronomy 8:5
  • Biblical Worldview
    • Personal choices and decisions
      • My worldview is based on scripture - Psalm 24:1; 2 Timothy 3:16-17
      • My self-control honors God and benefits me - Galatians 5:22
      • I can take responsibility for my choices and their consequences - Ephesians 5:17
    • Social Issues
      • Family
        • Families are a part of God’s plan for providing my needs - 1 Timothy 5:8
      • Friends
        • My self-control and obedience to God can help me stand up to peer pressure - Hebrews 12:1
      • Social Media - Colossians 3:1-2
        • Social Media - Colossians 3:1-2
      • Absolute Truth
      • Social Issues - Creation
        • Purity - Matthew 5:8
        • Value and respect of all people - 1 Timothy 5:21
  • Identity in Christ
    • I am a Child of God - Romans 8:16
    • I can understand and follow God’s specific plan for my life - Psalm 32:8
  • Relationships
    • Relationships - God
      • I can acknowledge and follow God’s authority in my life - Matthew 28:18
    • Relationships - Others
      • Respect for authority - Romans 13:1
      • Right relationships with peers - Proverbs 27:17
    • Relationships - Worship
      • I can worship God personally - Psalm 96:9
      • I can participate in corporate worship - Hebrews 10:25
      • I can worship God with my life - 1 Chronicles 16:29
  • Spiritual Growth
    • I can take deliberate actions to grow in Christ-likeness - 1 Peter 2:21
      • I can look for opportunities to serve God and others - Ephesians 6:7
      • I can develop a strong prayer life - Jeremiah 29:13
      • I can study my Bible regularly by myself and with others - Deuteronomy 17:19
      • I can take deliberate actions to grow in Christ-likeness - 1 Peter 2:21
      • I can continually memorize scripture - Romans 10:8
      • I can have a Quiet Time regularly - Mark 1:35
      • All Christians are called to be on mission - John 3:14
        • All Christians are called to be on mission - John 3:14
    • I can honor God through my stewardship
      • Time - Ephesians 5:15-16
      • Possessions - Leviticus 27:30
      • Money - Malachi 3:10
      • Talents - Romans 14:12
    • I can learn to recognize and develop my spiritual gifts - I Cor. 12:4
      • I can learn to recognize and develop my spiritual gifts - 1 Corinthians 12:4
      • My spiritual gifts are used to do God’s work - 1 Peter 4:10
• Spiritual OwnershipTaking personal responsibility to continued spiritual growth
  • Growth
    • Understanding the Bible - Acts 17:11
    • Knowing God - James 4:8
    • Apologetics - 1 Peter 3:15
    • Knowing the Gospel - 1 John 2:2
    • Scripture Memory - 2 Timothy 3:15
  • Worship
    • Worship As A Lifestyle
      • Obeying God - 1 John 5:3
      • Loving God - 2 John 1:6
      • Trusting God - Psalm 55:22
    • Corporate Worship
      • Prayer - 2 Chronicles 7:14
      • Tithing - Malachi 3:8 & 10
      • Fellowship - Acts 2:46-47
    • Private Worship
      • Praying - Daniel 6:10
      • Quiet time - Psalm 29:4
      • Repentance - Luke 5:32
  • Identity
    • Identity - In Christ
      • Self-worth - Psalm 139:13-14
      • Child of God - 2 Corinthians 6:18
    • Identity - Purpose in Life - Philippians 2:13
      • Purpose in Life - Philippians 2:13
    • Identity - Character
      • Honesty - Psalm 119:104
      • Blamelessness - Psalm 119:1
      • Integrity - 1 Chronicles 29:17
      • Self-Control - James 4:7
      • Selflessness - Acts 2:44-45
      • Humility - Micah 6:8
      • Purity - Psalm 119:9
• Spiritual LeadershipLearning to use your influence for the Lord
  • Influence
    • Having Spiritual Conversations - Exodus 4:11-12
    • Sharing Faith - Matthew 5:14-16
    • Discipling Others - Matthew 28:18-20
    • Responding to Non-Christian Influence - Luke 6:22
    • Spiritual Pacesetting - 1 Thessalonians 1:6-7
  • Christlikeness
    • Accountability - Ezekiel 3:18
    • Modeling Perseverance - Romans 5:3-4
    • Living By Faith - Galatians 2:20
    • Facing Persecution - Matthew 5:11-12
    • Dying to Self - Philippians 1:21
    • Making Sacrifice - Hebrews 10:10
    • Being Spirit-led - Romans 8:14
  • Loving Others
    • Loving Others - Serving
      • Using Spiritual Gifts - 1 Corinthians 12:4-6
      • Missions - 1 Corinthians 9:19-22
      • Others - 1 Peter 4:10
    • Loving Others - Relationships
      • With Non-Believers - 2 Corinthians 6:14-16
      • With Believers - John 13:35
      • With Parents - Proverbs 17:21