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Growing Up in God’s Family

God’s Word describes the body of believers as “brothers and sisters” and “co-heirs” with Jesus, and when Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He began by saying, “Our Father.” Why?

We’re a family in Christ. And like any family, God’s family is filled with people in all stages of spiritual development: newborn believers, those still adolescent in their walk, and the spiritually mature.

Join Chuck Swindoll as he takes an in-depth look at the stages of growth that characterize the Christian walk.


The Bible frequently uses family language to describe the church—we are brothers, sisters, and co-heirs with Christ, under the care of “Our Father.” Like any healthy family, God’s family is composed of individuals at different stages of development. In this 16-part series, Chuck Swindoll examines the spiritual parallels to physical growth, identifying the characteristics of newborn believers, spiritual adolescents, and mature disciples. By understanding these “ages and stages,” we can better navigate our own growth and support others as we all strive toward the ultimate goal of Christlike maturity.

Analysis of a Crop Failure

Sermon Summary Jesus, the master teacher, often used parables to illustrate deep spiritual truths. This opening message analyzes the Parable of the Sower, which Chuck calls an “analysis of a crop failure.” We learn that spiritual growth depends heavily on the condition of the heart—the “soil” in which the Word is planted. By identifying the obstacles to growth, such as the hardness of the path or the thorns of worldly worry, we can prepare ourselves to become fruitful soil for God’s Kingdom.

Key Facts & Themes

  • The Master Teacher: Exploring Jesus’ use of imagery to explain spiritual receptivity.
  • The Role of the Heart: Understanding why some “crops” fail while others thrive.

Primary Scripture Reference

  • Mark 4:1–20

Birth and Infancy: Survival Basics

Sermon Summary Every spiritual journey begins with a new birth. This message focuses on the “survival basics” for newborn believers. Just as physical infants require constant care and pure milk, spiritual infants need the foundational truths of God’s Word to survive and begin to grow. Chuck discusses the vulnerability of this stage and the necessity of a nurturing community to protect and feed those who are new to the faith.

Key Facts & Themes

  • The New Birth: The essential starting point for entering God’s family.
  • Spiritual Nourishment: Why foundational doctrine is “milk” for the infant soul.

Look . . . I’m Walking!

Sermon Summary There is a thrilling moment in every believer’s life when they take their first stable steps in the faith. This message explores the transition from infancy to early childhood. We learn that “walking” in the Spirit involves a new level of coordination between hearing the Word and applying it. Chuck encourages those who are beginning to find their spiritual footing, emphasizing the importance of consistency and dependence on the Father’s hand.

Key Facts & Themes

  • Active Application: Moving from passive hearing to active walking in truth.
  • Spiritual Coordination: Learning to balance grace and obedience in daily life.

Adolescents in Adult Bodies

Sermon Summary One of the most challenging stages in God’s family is spiritual adolescence. This message addresses the phenomenon of “adolescents in adult bodies”—believers who have been in the church for years but still exhibit the volatility and self-centeredness of a teenager. Chuck discusses the symptoms of spiritual immaturity and the necessity of pushing through this awkward stage to reach a stable, selfless maturity.

Key Facts & Themes

  • Symptoms of Immaturity: Identifying the “childish things” that hinder spiritual progress.
  • The Stagnation Trap: Why some believers remain stuck in a state of perpetual adolescence.

When Peter Pan Comes to Church

Sermon Summary “Peter Pan” is the boy who never wanted to grow up, and sadly, his spirit is often found in the church. This message explores the resistance many feel toward becoming spiritually mature. Chuck warns against the desire to remain in a state of “carefree” irresponsibility. We learn that true maturity involves taking on the burdens of others and accepting the responsibilities that come with being a seasoned member of God’s family.

Key Facts & Themes

  • The Fear of Responsibility: Why we often prefer the ease of infancy over the weight of maturity.
  • The Call to Grow Up: Understanding that spiritual maturity is a mandate, not an option.

Growing-Up Goals for Diligent Disciples

Sermon Summary The series concludes by outlining the “growing-up goals” for every diligent disciple. Chuck summarizes the hallmarks of a mature believer: a stable walk, a selfless heart, and a deep, intimate relationship with the Father. We are encouraged to keep pressing forward, realizing that growth is a lifelong process that requires diligence, grace, and a constant reliance on the Holy Spirit.

Key Facts & Themes

  • Hallmarks of Maturity: Identifying the visible traits of a seasoned saint.
  • Diligent Discipleship: The intentional effort required to reach spiritual goals.

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The Church Awakening: An Urgent Call for Renewal

The church belongs to Jesus and to no one else. She is His bride. But if a local church strays from its holy calling, that church risks losing its very identity.

What can a church do, then, to remain pure and deep? God’s Word has the answer.

In this important series, Pastor Chuck Swindoll casts a clear, biblical vision of what comprises a healthy church. Learn these essential truths and timely applications in this nine-part series that will inspire church leaders and congregants alike!


In a culture that is increasingly secular and a church that is often drifting toward entertainment or legalism, there is an urgent need for a “wake-up call.” In this 9-part series, Pastor Chuck Swindoll returns to the foundational blueprint of the New Testament church. By emphasizing the Lordship of Christ and the essential marks of a healthy community, Chuck provides a roadmap for local churches to move away from “the long drift” and toward a vibrant, contagious, and deep spiritual life.

1. The Church: Let’s Start Here (Matthew 16:13–19)

  • Overview: Sets the foundation by declaring that the Church belongs to Jesus and no one else. The Church is built on the confession of Christ as Lord, not on human personalities or clever marketing.
  • Key Fact: The existence and purpose of the church rest entirely on the authority and Lordship of Jesus Christ.
  • Scripture: Matthew 16:18 – “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the symbols of Hades will not overpower it.”

2. Challenges, Struggles, Solutions, Priorities (Selected Scriptures)

  • Overview: Addresses the modern “identity crisis” of the church. Chuck identifies the specific cultural challenges that cause churches to lose their way and points back to the priorities of the early church in Acts.
  • Key Fact: When a church confuses its mission with cultural trends, it risks losing its power to transform lives.
  • Scripture: Acts 2:42 – “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

3. Distinctives of a Contagious Church (Selected Scriptures)

  • Overview: What makes a church “contagious”? It is not high-production value, but the presence of genuine love, uncompromised truth, and a spirit of joyful resilience.
  • Key Fact: A contagious church doesn’t just attract a crowd; it impacts a community through the visible transformation of its members.

4. Worship: A Commitment . . . Not a War (Part One)

  • Overview: Tackles the “worship wars” that have divided many congregations. Chuck argues that worship is a heart-commitment to God, not a matter of musical style or personal preference.
  • Key Fact: True worship is vertical (directed at God) and should never be sidelined by horizontal arguments over tradition versus contemporary trends.
  • Scripture: Psalm 95:6 – “Come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.”

5. Worship: A Commitment . . . Not a War (Part Two)

  • Overview: Continues the study on worship, focusing on the “spirit and truth” required for genuine encounter with God.
  • Key Fact: Worship is an active response of the soul to the greatness of God, which transcends the “performance” aspect of a service.
  • Scripture: John 4:24 – “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

6. What Must the Church Realize? (Selected Scriptures)

  • Overview: A sobering look at the spiritual reality of the Church’s position in the world. Chuck encourages churches to realize their role as a “lighthouse” in a dark culture.
  • Key Fact: The church must realize that its primary influence comes from being different from the world, not similar to it.

7. How Should the Church React? (Selected Scriptures)

  • Overview: Provides a strategic response to cultural hostility and internal apathy. The church is called to react with grace, boldness, and a renewed commitment to its first love.
  • Key Fact: The church’s reaction to a wrong world should be “right living” and a fearless proclamation of the Gospel.

8. The Church on a Long Drift (Revelation 2–3)

  • Overview: Uses the letters to the seven churches in Revelation to illustrate how a healthy church can slowly “drift” into lukewarmness, legalism, or compromise.
  • Key Fact: The “long drift” is usually subtle and occurs when we stop being vigilant about our spiritual health and doctrine.
  • Scripture: Revelation 2:4 – “But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.”

9. It’s Time to “Restore the Years” (Joel 2:25)

  • Overview: The series concludes with a message of hope and restoration. No matter how far a church has drifted, God is able to restore what has been lost through genuine repentance and renewal.
  • Key Fact: Renewal is always possible because the Potter is still at work on His human clay, and He delights in “restoring the years that the locust has eaten.”
  • Scripture: Joel 2:25 – “Then I will make up to you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten.”

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God’s Masterwork, Volume Four

It’s time to open a section of your Bible that rarely sees the light of day.

Many people who read the Old Testament finish Daniel and skip over the next twelve books on their way to the New Testament. What a loss! The Minor Prophets deal with some major life issues: adultery, grudges, pride, disobedience, and injustice—just to name a few! When sin clouds your vision and you’re in need of a clear perspective, these lesser-known prophets offer a wealth of wisdom. In this fourth volume of the God’s Masterwork Series, Chuck Swindoll explains the practical, and often overlooked, applications found in the Minor Prophets.


In this fourth volume of the God’s Masterwork series, Pastor Chuck Swindoll guides us through the twelve “Minor Prophets” (Hosea through Malachi). While these books are shorter in length than the Major Prophets, their messages are of major importance. They address a spectrum of human struggle—from betrayal and pride to injustice and spiritual apathy—all while extending God’s persistent invitation for His people to return to Him.

1. Hosea: Love That Never Dies

  • Overview: The heartbreaking story of Hosea’s marriage to an unfaithful wife serves as a living illustration of God’s relentless love for His wayward people.
  • Key Fact: Hosea’s message demonstrates that God’s love is not based on our performance, but on His own character and covenant.
  • Scripture: Hosea 3:1 – “Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, even as the Lord loves the sons of Israel.”

2. Joel: Preparing for the Day of the Lord

  • Overview: Uses a devastating locust plague to warn of the coming “Day of the Lord,” calling for a sincere, internal repentance rather than mere outward ritual.
  • Key Fact: Joel provides a glimpse of the future outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which was later quoted by Peter on the Day of Pentecost.
  • Scripture: Joel 2:13 – “And rend your heart and not your garments. Now return to the Lord your God.”

3. Amos: From Fig-Picker to Prophet-Preacher

  • Overview: A rugged shepherd from Judah travels north to confront the wealthy and powerful in Israel who were exploiting the poor and maintaining a hollow religious life.
  • Key Fact: Amos teaches that true worship is inseparable from social justice and personal integrity.
  • Scripture: Amos 5:24 – “But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”

4. Obadiah: Strong Warning to the Proud

  • Overview: The shortest book in the Old Testament, delivering a focused message of judgment against Edom for their pride and their mistreatment of their “brother” Israel.
  • Key Fact: Obadiah warns that God will not overlook those who gloat over the misfortune of others or rely on their own perceived security.
  • Scripture: Obadiah 1:3 – “The arrogance of your heart has deceived you… you who say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the earth?'”

5. Jonah: The Prodigal Prophet

  • Overview: The famous account of a reluctant missionary who tried to run from God’s call, illustrating God’s vast mercy toward even the most “unworthy” nations.
  • Key Fact: Jonah’s story shows that God is more interested in the heart of His messenger than just the completion of the mission.
  • Scripture: Jonah 4:2 – “I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness.”

6. Micah: Advocate for the Poor

  • Overview: Contrasts the corruption of the leadership in Jerusalem with God’s simple requirements for a life well-lived.
  • Key Fact: Micah contains the specific prophecy that the Messiah would be born in the obscure town of Bethlehem.
  • Scripture: Micah 6:8 – “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

7. Nahum: The Consequences of Negligence

  • Overview: A “sequel” to Jonah, written 150 years later, announcing the final judgment on Nineveh after they returned to their cruel and wicked ways.
  • Key Fact: Nahum reminds us that while God is slow to anger, He will not leave the guilty unpunished if they persistently reject His mercy.
  • Scripture: Nahum 1:7 – “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who take refuge in Him.”

8. Habakkuk: Wrestling, Waiting, Praying, Praising

  • Overview: A unique dialogue where a prophet questions God’s use of a wicked nation to discipline His people, eventually moving from doubt to a song of absolute trust.
  • Key Fact: Habakkuk teaches that even when we don’t understand God’s methods, we can rest in His character.
  • Scripture: Habakkuk 2:4 – “But the righteous will live by his faith.”

9. Zephaniah: Bright Light in a Dark Day

  • Overview: A sobering announcement of universal judgment that concludes with a beautiful promise of God’s presence and a song of restoration.
  • Key Fact: Zephaniah reveals a God who not only judges sin but also “exults over” His redeemed people with joy and singing.
  • Scripture: Zephaniah 3:17 – “The Lord your God is in your midst… He will exult over you with joy… He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.”

10. Haggai: Persuasive Prophet of Priorities

  • Overview: A practical, direct challenge to the returned exiles who had prioritized their own paneled houses while the Temple of God lay in ruins.
  • Key Fact: Haggai shows that a lack of spiritual priority leads to a life of “dissatisfaction” and missed blessings.
  • Scripture: Haggai 1:5 – “Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Consider your ways!'”

11. Zechariah: Man of Vision and Faith

  • Overview: Uses a series of eight complex visions to encourage the remnant to finish the work of the Temple, pointing toward the future coming of the Messiah-King.
  • Key Fact: Zechariah contains more specific prophecies about Christ’s first and second comings than any other Minor Prophet.
  • Scripture: Zechariah 4:6 – “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.”

12. Malachi: Last Call before Silence

  • Overview: The final message before 400 years of prophetic silence, confronting a people who had become bored with God and casual with their worship and relationships.
  • Key Fact: Malachi warns that God keeps a “book of remembrance” for those who fear Him and esteem His name.
  • Scripture: Malachi 3:1 – “Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me.”

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