Growing in Grace · Knowing Yourself · Walking in the Power of the Christian Life
| Module | Title | Level | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOA-105 | Christian Development | First & Second Year | Salvation, Self-Knowledge, the Power of Christian Living, Family, Trials, and Judgment |
Christian development is a complex and multifaceted process that involves various aspects of personal, spiritual, and social growth. At its core, it is about becoming more like Christ and living out His teachings in everyday life. This involves not only a deepening of faith and understanding of God, but also a transformation of character and behavior.
Christian development typically includes regular prayer, Bible study, and participation in a Christian community, as well as engagement in acts of service and outreach. It also involves cultivating virtues such as love, compassion, forgiveness, and humility, and overcoming negative habits and attitudes. Ultimately, Christian development is a lifelong journey that requires ongoing effort, commitment, and reliance on God's grace and guidance.
To be saved means to receive salvation — the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation is not earned; it is received. It is not a reward for good behavior; it is a response to God's grace.
The Five Solas — Foundational Principles of Christian Salvation
The term "solas" comes from the Latin word "sola," meaning "alone" or "only." These are the five foundational principles of the Protestant Reformation, formulated as a response to the perceived corruption within the 16th-century Church:
The Bible is the sole authority for Christian belief and practice. No tradition, council, or human teaching holds authority equal to or above the revealed Word of God.
Salvation is achieved through faith in Jesus Christ alone, not by good works or human effort. Romans 8:28–30 establishes God's foreknowledge, predestination, calling, justification, and glorification as a unified work of divine grace.
Salvation is a free gift of God's grace, not earned or deserved by human merit. Ephesians 2:8–9 — "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."
Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and humanity, and salvation is only possible through Him. Acts 4:12 — "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
All glory and honor belongs to God alone, and salvation is ultimately for His glory. The redeemed life is not about personal achievement but about reflecting the character and glory of the God who saved us.
The Benefits of Salvation vs. the Alternative
Forgiveness of sins · Reconciliation with God · Inner peace and joy · A transformed life · The promise of eternal life · A new identity in Christ · The indwelling of the Holy Spirit · Access to God's power for daily living
Spiritual separation from God · Guilt and shame with no remedy · A life devoid of ultimate purpose and meaning · The continuation of sin's destructive patterns · The possibility of eternal separation from God and all that is good
Character Defined: Character refers to the moral and ethical qualities of a person, including their values, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors, that shape their actions and interactions with others. A person's character is an important aspect of their identity and plays a significant role in how they are perceived by others and the impact they have on the world around them.
A. Three Pillars of Self-Knowledge
Psalm 139:23–24 — "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts." Romans 12:3 — "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment." Matthew 7:3–5 — Remove the plank from your own eye before addressing the speck in another's.
Lamentations 3:40 — "Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord." 2 Corinthians 13:5 — "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith." 1 Corinthians 11:28 — "But let a man examine himself." Jeremiah 17:9 — "The heart is deceitful above all things — who can know it?"
A lifelong process that involves both successes and failures, requiring consistent effort and dedication. No one is perfect — everyone will experience setbacks and struggles along the way. It is through these challenges that we learn, grow, and ultimately become stronger in our faith. Honest assessment is not self-condemnation; it is the beginning of genuine transformation.
B. Old Issues, Drama, Pain, and Hurt
The term "stuffing it" refers to the act of inappropriately departmentalizing or hiding feelings of shame, anger, rage, embarrassment, sadness, love, and affection — cramming them into a container until the container breaks. The Bible addresses these patterns through the lives of real people who struggled with similar challenges.
David's sin with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11) demonstrates that God's forgiveness does not save us from the consequences of our conduct, but if we've abandoned the behavior and are willing to accept the consequences, God will still use us. 1 John 1:9 — "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins."
After calling down fire from heaven (1 Kings 18), Elijah fled in fear and despair (1 Kings 19). God's response? He fed him and allowed him to rest. Then He spoke in a still, small voice. Burnout is only permanent if you allow it to be. Don't listen to everything you're tempted to believe when you're exhausted.
John Mark abandoned Paul and Barnabas mid-mission (Acts 13:13). Years later, Paul wrote: "Take Mark and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry" (2 Timothy 4:11). We all develop gradually. Failure isn't always a sign that we can't cut it — sometimes we're trying to operate at a level we're not yet mature enough to handle.
Before becoming the writer of most of the New Testament, Paul persecuted and consented to the murder of Christians (Acts 7:58–8:1). He later wrote: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners — of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy" (1 Timothy 1:15–16). God can use even the most unlikely vessels for His glory.
C. Learning to Let Go — Matthew 11:28–29
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."— Matthew 11:28–30
A yoke is a wooden crosspiece fastened over the necks of two animals so they can pull together. Metaphorically, Israel was "yoked" to the Mosaic Law's 613 commandments — a genuine but heavy burden. Jesus frees us from all that by inviting us to be yoked with Him. "The yoke of Jesus as understood by Matthew was not one of fidelity to a code but of dedication to a Person who was God's representative among men."
A. The Benefits of the Christian Life
B. Responsibilities of the Christian Life
Worship God through prayer, praise, and obedience. Obey God's commands as revealed in the Bible. Share the Gospel. Serve others in the name of Christ. Be a good steward of the resources God has given — time, money, and talents. Love and serve God with your whole being (Mark 12:30).
Love and serve others as Christ did, reflecting God's love and compassion. We are mandated to love, serve, forgive, pursue justice, evangelize, and disciple. Mark 12:31 — "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." This is the outward expression of inward transformation.
Spiritual growth through prayer, Bible study, and worship. Self-care — "your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 6:19–20). Pursuing holiness. Living with purpose, using gifts and skills for God's glory. Rest and Sabbath — taking time to recharge physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
A. A Yielded Vessel — The Fruit of the Holy Spirit
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."— Galatians 5:22–23
The evidences of a personal salvation are visible in the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit working in a believer's life. These are not achievements we manufacture — they are the natural overflow of a life surrendered to God.
B. A Willing Worker — The Gifts of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit gives gifts to the believer for the service of the body of Christ and the advancement of the Kingdom. 1 Corinthians 12:4–11 outlines these gifts — wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues, and interpretation of tongues. Every believer is equipped by God for meaningful ministry. The question is not "am I gifted?" but "am I exercising the talents that Divinity has imparted to me?"
C. Christ Yeshua (Jesus) — Our Template for Righteous Living
Philippians 3:10 — "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death." The goal of the Christian life is not rule-keeping — it is Christlikeness. We study Christ's character, His response to temptation, His love for the marginalized, His submission to the Father, and His sacrificial service, and we allow the Holy Spirit to form those qualities in us day by day.
A. Family
Marriage is a sacred covenant between a man and a woman. Ephesians 5:25 — "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her." Ephesians 5:22 — "Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord." The model is sacrificial, covenant love — not power, but mutual service.
Deuteronomy 6:6–7 — "These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road." Parents are responsible to teach their children about God, lead by example, and provide for their physical, emotional, and social needs.
Exodus 20:12 — "Honor your father and your mother." James 1:27 — "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress." Colossians 3:13 — "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone."
Christians are called to share the message of Christ with their coworkers and friends, being a witness in the workplace and in their social circles. Galatians 5:22–23 and Mark 12:31 form the foundation: live with the fruit of the Spirit in all relationships, loving neighbors as yourself.
A. How to Maintain and Overcome Trials
Christians maintain and overcome trials by relying on their faith in God and His promises. They trust that God is sovereign and in control of all things, and that He is working all things together for their good (Romans 8:28).
B. Strengthening the Spiritual Person Within
Strengthening the spiritual person within involves engaging in regular prayer and meditation, studying the Bible, participating in worship, fasting, and serving others. By doing these things, Christians can deepen their relationship with God, grow in spiritual maturity, and reflect the love of Christ in their daily lives.
C. Judgment — What We Put In Is What We Get Out
The judgment of God is the concept that God will ultimately judge every person according to their thoughts, words, and deeds. Romans 2:6–8 — "God will repay each person according to what they have done. To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger."
The Bible also teaches that God desires for all people to be saved and that He has provided a way for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. John 3:16 — "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." The judgment of God serves as a reminder of the importance of living a life of obedience to God and putting our faith in Jesus Christ — a call to repentance and faith, and a reminder of the eternal consequences of our choices.
Christian development is not a destination — it is a direction. The goal is not perfection achieved by the end of this module, but a trajectory of growth that continues through every season of life. Philippians 1:6 remains our anchor: "He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." Keep walking, keep growing, keep surrendering — the God who started this work in you will not leave it unfinished.