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We need to grow more than ever!
When I was a boy I hated school. Not until college did I start to like the learning process. I was a slow learner so slow I spent two years in grade three. I just could not get it. Looking back I think there were two issues. One being my character, I was a bad kid and second I had learning disabilities that back in the early sixties were not diagnosed and therefore I was just a bad stupid kid. Convinced of this I acted like a bad stupid kid. I eventually could not figure out the difference between a verb and a noun or good and bad. This started me on a great downward spiral that time does not allow me to expand on.
Hebrews 5 tells us that we are vulnerable to spiritual downward spirals (not knowing the difference between good and evil). This vulnerability comes from a lack of solid spiritual intake. If all we have is the basics that God loves us and Jesus died in the cross for us we will never grow up spiritually. We need to feed on the word of God, the milk first then solid food. The writer of Hebrews also talks about constantly using what you are learning. This will develop maturity in our lives and that maturity will help us to know how to live a righteous life. In these tenuous and uncertain times we need to grow more than ever.
In the past couple of years I have become lactose intolerant. Spiritual milk is comforting, but not satisfying. God has stirred a hunger in my belly for the “meat” of His word. However, when I think of the depth of God’s word, and that if I truly was eating solid food, and my actions were perpetuating an increasing hunger for this food, then I would be so much more Christ Centered. So maybe I am still on mushed up food, or God is still leaning over the table and cutting my meat into small pieces.
I am glad that I can get solid food from CCC. The accountability and perseverance toward truth that comes from the teaching at CCC will only aid my desire for spiritual maturity.
Rob,
You know, and I have told you this before, we really need to have a meal together with no agenda for dessert. You are one of my favorite people, and I can say it in this format without fear of being hugged. All dues to Alan, and many others but you have hung in there when we (CCC) were, in Southern vernacular, “just pitiful.” You were on point for us then and now. Thank you. Thank you.
I was one of those kids that for good or ill grew up in church **and** was a “straight arrow” from a “straight arrow” family as well. Really peculiar people. Sometimes I wonder if a really good case of downward spiral would not have helped me better realize the chasm between me and Christ. Regardless, we are what God makes us, from where He takes us.
Excuse the personal reference, but I have to put the verse in the context I experienced. When I was 13, in the church where I grew up, all the teenage boys went through very rigorous Bible study and ministry training. The girls went through separate training. It lasted two years. It included musical training, public speaking – which would be preachin’ (also a Southern term), and Bible. The Bible study began in Genesis and ended lightly in Revelation (uh oh). We even did inter-testament study of the Maccabees and other Jewish historical figures. I learned about Antiochus Epiphanes and the Jewish revolt in church and about Sherman’s invasion of Georgia in school. Other than skirting The Revelation, it was as deep and intense as any learning experience I ever had anywhere. I credit that training (that God really inspired) for saving me and keeping me away from many bad things. I still consider some of those teachers the greatest mentors I ever had. It shaped my own study habits, my thought processes (as odd as they are), and the desire I have to pay it forward. I have not seen that kind of program in any church I have been a member of since and I wonder why.
I don’t want to leave it at that, but I have to go to work. Maybe it will spur some more discussion.
1.) I would probably classify myself somewhere between spiritual baby and spiritual ‘old timer’. Closer to the baby side, for sure. Maybe spiritual toddler
Though I have moved beyond the milk stage of ‘God loves us’ and ‘Jesus died on the cross for me’, I have so much more to learn, and so much solid food to still feed on. What a great example of what this blog is intended to do though (FEED one another).
2.) I am trying to become more diligent about devotionals…I’m really good at starting a study in the Bible, but I’m really bad at finishing. This website is helping tremendously. Not only is the verse for the day picked out for me, but at least one other person has given their perspective on the words found there. I am finding that reading (and re-reading) God’s word is central to my growth as a Christian.
Rob I dito Bill on Thank you for hanging in there with CCC. You are a blessing and example for us as a body. As to maturity, I think my growth has and will always come when I devote time to Bible study and prayer. As I read Bill’s coments I longed for that intensive study for all our teens. A structred from Genisis to Revelations to get to know God. I am greatful to the youth leaders for what they have done in my kids lives but they went through 4 or 5 ( I lost count) youth leaders at CCC. Mike I thank you for your long term thinking and wanting to stick it out with our kids/our future. Another phrase Bill used reminded me of how to grow. He said his teachers were his mentors. When I had people in my life that held me accountable for growth I grow. For me this has been informal diciplship relationships. For my husband, he has grown when he was in formal discipleship relationship. They hold each other accountable for scripture memory and life choices. When you meet together and eat meat together you grow. Have a blessed growing day. I too have to go to work.
I heart Rob! Thanks for leading us as a staff and for also being so humble, kind, and compassionate to others. We really value your insight and your ability to deal with the hard people….thanks for all adopting us “youngsters” as your own.
We love ya! 
Thanks Rob. I noticed while reading your bio that you went to seminary in Culver City, CA. That’s where I grew up for awhile. Congrats on the grandbaby expected in January. Being 10 months from now, that is what I call family planning!!!
I like how today’s verse and yesterdays flow together. Yesterday we were talking about being a new creation. Today discussion is about moving from spiritual infancy to spiritual maturity. It’s a natural flow. Milk is fine at infancy but we need solid food to sustain us as adults.
I think of the book of Daniel. Daniel ate a very healthy diet and in a very disciplined manner, constantly spent time with God. Boy did his way of life sustain him or what? And also more importantly he honored our God.
A key phrase in today’s passage is “who by constant use have trained themselves”. As you mentioned, we live in tenuous times. More than ever we need grow as Christ followers. We must train ourselves to learn discernment and to be able to distinguish good from evil.
The bio is old news we had a wonderful granddaughter in Jan. She is so precious.
I got a minute to add a thought. Also I didn’t want to leave any doubt that I am a big fan of the team Mike leads that mentors and teaches my own daughter.
There’s all kinds of challenges and competition for the time it takes to get deep Bible study and strong spiritual growth. I am challenged personally by me living off Spiritual equity from my investment years ago. But I have a lot of trouble putting in more capital – to use a familiar analogy. It’s like not taking advantage of spiritual compound interest if that make sense. I could use some big returns financially. I could **really** use some big returns spiritually. The only thing I know to do first is turn off the TV, or Blackberry, or computer, or whatever it is and dig in. Get someone to help. Did the hot pink cards we turned in last Sunday offer a service opportunity for “mentor?” … But that gets scary because that means time and relationships.
Rob, I echo Bill, Penny and Kacy’s sentiments. You have poured it out for CCC and we have all benefited. Even those who are new to CCC are beneficiaries. Thanks my brother.
Regarding Bill’s comment on the rigorous discipleship he experienced as a youth, it made me think that the Jewish kids of today have Hebrew School and then Bar/Bat Mitzvah, the Catholic kids have Catechism classes and then Confirmation, and almost every culture around the world has some type of “right of passage” into adulthood. So what are the rights of passage in the evangelical church and American culture? I realize that this is off the text, but it seems like the course of study and hard work for the purpose of “growing up” has been largely lost in our church culture. Also lost is the celebration that marks the crossing over into adulthood with all of the responsibilities and rights associated with growing up.
I’m not in favor of developing a program of force-feeding our young people (and ourselves) with Bible. But the experience Bill describes doesn’t sound like it was forced.
Dear Rob,
We were so happy to meet you on our last visit to see Kacy and Ben. You made us feel so welcome, and your easy style is so well received! Comfortable is the word that comes to mind! A very special gift!
I can relate to the infant milk diet, but we must also grow as we mature in our faith.
I am studying the book of Esther, and even though it is a short book it is a 10 week study. We are getting into the “meat” of the book. A truly God inspired book. Learning how easy God’s style really is, and how complicated we can make things!
FYI, the study is by Beth Moore…called It’s Tough To Be A Woman. The women’s ministry here in Arizona, is finding it a great source of encouragement for both the milk and meat groups.
Thanks for your transparency, I really enjoyed your Bio.
Rob,
I think I most grew spiritually while attending your Community Group meetings on the Back Porch for many years. I watched you accept and value each individual that showed up (some I thought just got off the train out back!). I got annoyed with how they took too much of our time and kept ME from getting fed! I finally got it. It’s called love – the Jesus kind of love. Thanks for loving everybody – especially me. And thanks for the spoon-feeding.
PS I’m sending a long-distance hug. I saw Judi and got a hug from her Sunday but I missed seeing you. I’m coming into town to help with the job fair if there is a need, so I’ll get my hug then.
PPS Congrats of the third grandkid! Are all three your daughter’s children?