(Photo by Zack Martin)

Going and Growing Deeper in Christ with Your Spiritual Family

By Lexi     

Hebrews 5:12-14 says “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”

Everyone is at different stages of their faith; some of us are still drinking the milk, but craving the meat. So how can we grow in faith and chase after the meat of the Word as a group of believers? Well, one way that my old church used to try to connect us in faith as believers was through discipleship groups. I personally think that discipleship groups are great, but people have mixed feelings about them. Some people want to share what’s on their hearts in these groups and others really don’t. There have been times where I have felt pressure to share, as in I felt like I had to share, because no one else was sharing, and there have been times where I was eager to share. Yet, small groups are a great way to learn about God, grow, communicate, and pray for each other. If your church does not do discipleship groups, you can always start one up! (My new church calls them “Jesus Teams”) All that you have to do is create a group with a few of your friends and meet on a weekly or monthly basis. These groups can lead to deep conversations about Jesus, and you can start by choosing a Bible study plan or a book of the Bible that you want to read. These groups can be as small as just you and another person, or as large as your heart desires.

I never knew what a Holy Spirit-filled youth group looked like until I came to my new church. This youth is unlike any other youth group I have been to. It isn’t large, about 30 kids, yet the Spirit really moves in that room each night. During worship time, we pray for others and ask the Spirit to speak to us a word about that person. This group is all about seeking the Lord and that is what we are to do. We are to seek the Lord together as a body of Christ and we will grow in faith together by doing this.

God created us to have companionship and to encourage other believers!  

Hebrews 10:25 says “not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” God commands us not to give up on meeting with each other! We are to encourage each other even more, not less!

Well, friends, I leave you with this. We are commanded to fulfill the Great Commission which says “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20) We don’t have to go overseas to preach the Gospel; some people are called to go, and others are called to stay. God can use you right where you are if you are willing. He can use you at your school, at your church, through your small groups, or just by talking with a friend. So don’t be shy. Go start that small group up, go where God wants you. Go walk in faith with others. GO.