One of the first lessons to learn as a growing Christian is how to serve. In contrast to a "me-centered" culture, Christians should not merely satisfy themselves but instead seek to emulate Jesus. Growing Toward Spiritual Maturity advocates a strategy for growing toward Christlikeness based on the actual ways that people develop. By understanding the dynamics of spiritual growth, readers are more aware of how God uses the specific circumstances of life to draw people closer to himself. Text and discussion questions help believers mature as Christians by identifying and understanding spiritual disciplines, such as Bible study, prayer, a godly lifestyle, witnessing, and using spiritual gifts. This title is one in a series being published by Crossway Books in cooperation with Evangelical Training Association. ETA provides Christian education resources for individuals, leaders and teachers, churches, Bible institutes, and other adult educational settings. With short chapters and thought-provoking questions, this book is useful for both personal study and group learning. Book jacket.

It seems that much of American Christianity has lost sight of the goal of growing to maturity in Christ. This loss of vision has had serious consequences for the quality of our witness and ministry. In Aiming at Maturity, Steven W. Rankin seeks to bring back into focus key qualities of spiritual maturity and summarizes important biblical passages to show the scriptural foundations that call for spiritual maturity. Rankin also addresses certain tendencies in popular Christian culture to reduce doctrinal truths to sound bites with the laudable but counterproductive goal to make doctrine memorable, therefore applicable. Thinking more expansively about certain key doctrines related to the work of Christ and the impact of grace contributes to growth toward maturity in a way that popular descriptions of these doctrines do not. Finally, Rankin also challenges readers to consider the important role of emotions in developing Christlike dispositions, which contribute toward producing the fruit of a mature Christian life. By looking at relevant modern research, Aiming at Maturity shows the inherent connection between thoughts and feelings that draw us closer to the actual biblical description of the heart.

What are the most important lessons the New Testament has to teach us about being a Christian? Sinclair Ferguson shows that a deep-seated concern of the writers of the New Testament was to see Christians grow to spiritual maturity‚"‚€‚"and if that was the concern of the first believers, then it should be our concern too. In clear and logical chapters that are rooted in the reality of the Christian life, the author, who has had long experience in pastoral ministry and seminary teaching, seeks to show what Christian maturity is, and how it is to be obtained. It was the apostle Paul's desire to present those to whom he ministered 'mature in Christ'‚"‚€‚"for such a maturity would lead to stable, servant-hearted Christians, and healthy, fruit-bearing churches. All those who desire to live useful, mature, and consistent Christian lives will gain much wisdom from reading and reflecting upon the contents of this book.

How to raise kids who can handle the real world Today's Generation iY (teens brought up with the Internet) and Homelanders (children born after 9/11) are overexposed to information at an earlier age than ever and paradoxically are underexposed to meaningful relationships and real-life experiences. Artificial Maturity addresses the problem of what to do when parents and teachers mistake children's superficial knowledge for real maturity. The book is filled with practical steps that adults can take to furnish the experiences kids need to balance their abilities with authentic maturity. Shows how to identify the problem of artificial maturity in Generation iY and Homelanders Reveals what to do to help children balance autonomy, responsibility, and information Includes a down-to-earth model for coaching and guiding youth to true maturity Artificial Maturity gives parents, teachers, and others who work with youth a manual for understanding and practicing the leadership kids so desperately need to mature in a healthy fashion.

Spiritual maturity is not a level of growth Christians achieve, but the passion to press on in Christ. In these concise chapters J. Oswald Sanders explores the primary source of continual growth. As we embrace God's providence, hardship, and more, we can move from infancy toward the fruitful maturity we were created to enjoy. Now, this new edition of "Spiritual Maturity" includes a "For Reflections" section making it an ideal resource for both individual and group study.