Do you take one step forward in your walk with God - only to fail two steps back?

You are not alone. Many believers find themselves stuck in their spiritual growth. They want to move forward . . . but don't know how. I believe the Lord led me to write the Free to Grow small group curriculum to help people who are experiencing this struggle.

In 1 Corinthians 3:1-2 Paul writes, “Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly – mere infants in Christ.” None of us want to be spiritual infants for the rest of our lives, but before we can grow, we need to identify the roadblocks affecting us. Only then, with Christ’s help, can we begin to remove them and be free to grow. The apostle Paul encourages us to “grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ” (Ephesians 4:15).

Our lives are often shaped by our experiences in early life (especially birth through age 12). Negative experiences can prevent us from maturing emotionally and spiritually. “We grow physically and chronologically yet remain like children” (Hegstrom, Broken Children, Grown Up Pain, p15). Hindrances to growth may include things like unforgiveness, neglect, abuse, shame, anger, wounds from childhood, or unresolved conflict.

In Free to Grow groups, participants discuss who they are in God’s eyes and are encouraged to face the truth of the past disappointments and move forward as they learn to forgive and set boundaries. They learn the importance of being “rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith. . . overflowing with thankfulness” (Colossians 2:7). They are able to get a fresh start in life and begin to grow up in Christ.

For more information on the Free to Grow small group curriculum, please click here.trong>