Are You an Infant?
We all remember the infant stage.
I am very familiar with it, as I have a 2-year-old and an 8-month-old at the time of writing this. As all you mathematicians out there probably put this together already, that is 2 infants in less than 2 years. Here are a couple of photos of my two boys when they were in this stage. (You're welcome)
It was extremely hard, but also one of the most rewarding things I will ever do.
The infant stage is a time of complete dependence, lack of sleep, extra prayers – mostly out of desperation–, loads of coffee (sorry breastfeeding moms, keep on pumping!), and lots of newborn cuddling. This is primarily a time when our children rely on us for, quite literally, everything.
Spiritually, this can be similar.
In 1 John 2:12-14, John describes the stages of spiritual growth and maturity in comparison with our actual physical and emotional development and maturity. The three stages he emphasizes are infancy, adolescence, and maturity (or parenthood).
In this article, I will touch on the stages of Spiritual Growth listed in the Bible and then will explain the 3 Stages of Spiritual Development in Children with examples of how we can help aid our children in each stage.
Which stage do you think you are in? Are you an infant?
Three Stages of Spiritual Growth and Maturity
The Bible, in 1 John 2:12-14, describes three key stages of spiritual development, they are:
Infant (New Christian): This stage is characterized by a basic understanding of faith and a dependence on others for spiritual growth. New Christians are eager to learn and grow, but they need guidance and support to develop their faith.
Adolescent (More of an understanding): Just like teenagers, Christians in this stage begin to develop their own beliefs and question things more. They may explore different aspects of their faith and wrestle with doubts. The most important part of this stage is growing a personal relationship with God.
Parent (Mature: able to train and disciple): In the final stage, Christians become spiritually mature. They have a deep understanding of their faith and can guide and disciple others (a.k.a. The Great Commission – Matthew 28:16-20). They can share their faith confidently and live a life that reflects their beliefs.
Being a “Parent” Parent
But how does this involve your children? Well, the greatest key to your child’s success in their spiritual growth and maturity is you. Your influence is the biggest source of development for your young child.
Let me explain.
The University of Chicago highlights the importance of the words we use in shaping a child's development. This short video shows how powerful our words can be in our child’s developing brain.
“Think of your child’s brain like a piggy bank. Every word you say is a coin in the bank. The more you talk, the richer your child’s brain gets. The more you invest now, the richer your child will be later.” TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health | University of Chicago
Our words impact our children, so much so that each word we say and action we take creates new connections in their developing brains.
Our faith journey impacts them just as much. If we want our children to grow spiritually, we must be intentional with our spiritual growth and maturity. This means taking our Faith seriously, living a life that reflects that Faith, and using positive, Faith-filled language.
Learn more about the #1 Job of a Christian Parent in my blog post A Parents Role in Children's Spiritual Development Stages.
3 Stages of Spiritual Development in Children
A child’s spiritual development looks very similar to an adult's, but to make it more age-appropriate for young children I have renamed the stages and given ways that you can help aid them in each of these stages. Take note that these vary on age as well, no child has begun the stage too early or too late:
1. Understand
This stage is about planting the seeds of faith. Children begin to grasp basic concepts like:
God created them and loves them unconditionally
Jesus wants to be their friend
How You Can Help:
Read age-appropriate Bible stories and/or storybooks together
(A great Bible-Based Storybook is my book, Every Tree Has Its Place, which uses Ephesians 2:10 to explain to young children that they are created uniquely by God with great purpose!)
Talk about God's presence in nature and everyday life
Encourage simple prayers of thanks and gratitude
2. Grow
As children mature, their understanding of faith deepens. This is where you can lean in and be more intentional in helping them:
Learn how, when, and where to pray
Develop Bible study habits (reading age-appropriate scripture together)
Explore what it means to live a Christ-centered life through age-appropriate examples
How You Can Help:
Incorporate regular prayer time into your family routine
Find a children's Bible or devotional book that interests them
(A great tool is the Jesus Storybook Bible. It has simple and unique illustrations and each passage of scripture is written in a way that is easy for children to understand!)
Discuss real-life situations where Christian values can be applied (honesty, kindness, forgiveness, etc.)
3. Act
This stage is when children put their faith into action. They may start to:
Serve others in their community, or their parents/siblings at home without being asked
Share their faith with friends and family
Develop a personal prayer life
How You Can Help:
Find volunteer opportunities suitable for their age (ask your children’s pastor about this)
Encourage them to share their faith through words and actions
Create a space for them to explore their prayer practices
A Lifelong Journey
Spiritual development is a lifelong journey that we all are on. By understanding these stages and how to support our children within them, we can fast-track their spiritual growth and help them grow in their faith at a young age so that they may eventually become strong, mature Christians. That’s all we as parents want after all, isn’t it?
Sources
All Bible references are made from the NIV unless stated otherwise. The links lead to Bible Gateway at https://www.biblegateway.com/
Links and Resources
The Jesus Storybook Bible | A great Bible for young children with full illustrations and age-appropriate text.
Every Tree Has Its Place is my Bible Storybook which uses Ephesians 2:10 to explain to young children that they are created uniquely by God with great purpose!
Read this article by Jonathan Arnold for more information on Spiritual Growth: Discipleship 101: Three Stages of Spiritual Growth