How can we help others progress from "milk" to "solid food" spiritually? The Urgent Call to Grow Deeper “Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to reteach you the basic principles of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food!” (Hebrews 5:12). The writer sounds an alarm: believers can stall. God’s plan is steady, thriving growth—moving from the nursery bottle to the supper table. Milk vs. Solid Food—What’s the Difference? • Milk: the elementary truths—repentance, faith, baptism, resurrection, eternal judgment (Hebrews 6:1–2). • Solid food: the fuller counsel—how Christ fulfills the Law, how the new covenant works, how suffering refines, how the Spirit empowers, how the church functions (Acts 20:27; Colossians 1:28). • Both are good; milk is foundational, but we are never meant to stay on it. Spotting Spiritual Infancy • Reliance on others for every answer (Hebrews 5:13). • Shallow grasp of doctrine; confusion when faced with error (Ephesians 4:14). • Limited discernment—difficulty distinguishing good from evil choices (Hebrews 5:14). Recognizing these signs helps tailor our encouragement. Helping Others Transition to Solid Food 1. Feed Consistently on the Word Together • Schedule regular, text-centered studies. • Read whole chapters, not snippets, building biblical literacy (Nehemiah 8:8). 2. Model Personal Bible Intake • Share your study methods—observation, interpretation, application. • Let them “see” your notebook, margins, or digital highlights. 3. Explain Doctrine Clearly • Break down key teachings—atonement, sanctification, sovereignty—using accessible language (2 Timothy 2:15). • Connect Old and New Testament threads so Scripture feels like one unbroken story. 4. Encourage Exercise in Obedience • Solid food is “for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses” (Hebrews 5:14). • Assign practical steps—serve in a ministry, share the gospel, handle finances biblically—so truth meets life. 5. Cultivate Discernment Skills • Compare sermons, podcasts, and books with Scripture (Acts 17:11). • Discuss cultural issues through a biblical lens, sharpening moral reflexes. 6. Promote Memorization and Meditation • Hide larger passages in the heart—Psalm 1, Romans 8, John 15—fortifying mind and spirit (Psalm 119:11). 7. Invite Ownership • Transition learners into teachers—small-group facilitation, one-on-one discipling, children’s classes. Teaching locks in learning. God’s Provision for Growth • The Spirit—our internal Teacher (John 14:26). • The Church—pastors, elders, and seasoned believers (Ephesians 4:11–13). • Trials—“testing of your faith” that produces perseverance (James 1:2–4). All three work together to deepen roots. Guardrails Against Regression • Watch for dull hearing (Hebrews 5:11): boredom toward Scripture signals drift. • Counter isolation: growth accelerates in community, stalls in solo mode (Hebrews 10:24–25). • Protect daily habits: neglect of prayer and the Word invites spiritual malnutrition (Luke 4:4). Encouragement for Faithful Disciple-Makers Your labor matters. Every step from bottle to banquet sets another believer up to reproduce. “We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ” (Colossians 1:28). Keep setting the table; God will grow the appetite and maturity. |
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