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Amos

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.

Spiritual maturity is not an automatic result of time; it is a process of intentional growth. In this series, Pastor Chuck Swindoll explores the “ages and stages” of the Christian life. By comparing spiritual development to human physical growth—from infancy to adulthood—Chuck provides a roadmap for identifying immaturity and pursuing the “solid food” of a deep, seasoned relationship with Christ.

Message 1: Analysis of a Crop Failure

  • Overview: Why do some Christians stop growing? Using the Parable of the Soils, Chuck analyzes the internal and external “choke points” that prevent the Word of God from producing a harvest in a believer’s life.
  • Key Fact: Spiritual “crop failure” is rarely a seed problem; it is almost always a soil problem involving the distractions of the world or a lack of depth in the heart.
  • Scripture Reference: Matthew 13:1–23

Message 2: Growing Up in God’s Family

  • Overview: An introduction to the family dynamics of the Kingdom. Chuck establishes that every believer enters God’s family as a “newborn” and outlines the biblical expectation for consistent maturation.
  • Key Fact: Just as physical growth is the natural result of health, spiritual growth is the natural result of a healthy connection to the Head of the Church, Jesus Christ.
  • Scripture Reference: 1 John 2:12–14

Message 3: Ages and Stages of Growing Up

  • Overview: Chuck explores the distinct phases of spiritual life mentioned by the Apostle John: little children, young men, and fathers.
  • Key Fact: Each stage of spiritual growth has its own unique strengths (such as the energy of “young men”) and its own unique vulnerabilities.
  • Scripture Reference: 1 John 2:12–14

Message 4: Birth and Infancy: Survival Basics

  • Overview: Every believer starts at the same place: spiritual infancy. This message focuses on the “survival basics” of the new life in Christ, primarily the craving for the “pure milk of the word.”
  • Key Fact: Spiritual infants are characterized by a total dependence on others for “feeding” and a high need for protection and basic nurture.
  • Scripture Reference: 1 Peter 2:1–3

Message 5: Look . . . I’m Walking!

  • Overview: The transition from being a passive recipient of the Word to an active doer. Chuck discusses the first steps of spiritual obedience and the “wobbles” that often accompany early growth.
  • Key Fact: Spiritual “walking” begins when a believer moves from merely hearing the Truth to applying it in daily, practical decisions.
  • Scripture Reference: Hebrews 5:11–14

Message 6: The Delights of Childhood

  • Overview: Childhood is a season of wonder and simple trust. Chuck encourages believers to maintain a “childlike” faith—characterized by curiosity and dependence—without becoming “childish.”
  • Key Fact: Jesus taught that the Kingdom of God belongs to those who approach Him with the humility and openness of a child.
  • Scripture Reference: Mark 10:13–16

Message 7: Adult Talk about “Childish Things”

  • Overview: There is a point where a believer must “put away childish things.” Chuck identifies the behaviors that are appropriate for a child but indicate a lack of growth in an adult believer.
  • Key Fact: “Childishness” in the church is often manifested through divisiveness, jealousy, and a focus on self-interest rather than the needs of the Body.
  • Scripture Reference: 1 Corinthians 13:11; 1 Corinthians 3:1–3

Message 8: Three Proofs of Growth

  • Overview: How do you measure spiritual maturity? Chuck provides three objective benchmarks: a growing knowledge of Christ, an increasing discernment of truth, and a deepening stability in character.
  • Key Fact: Maturity is not measured by how much you know, but by how much your knowledge has transformed your character.
  • Scripture Reference: 2 Peter 3:18; Ephesians 4:13–15

Message 9: Adolescents in Adult Bodies

  • Overview: A challenging message regarding spiritual “arrested development.” Chuck describes the frustration of being chronologically old in the faith but spiritually immature.
  • Key Fact: Spiritual adolescence is marked by a “know-it-all” attitude combined with a lack of consistent, sacrificial responsibility.
  • Scripture Reference: Hebrews 5:12; 1 Corinthians 3:1–4

Message 10: When Peter Pan Comes to Church

  • Overview: Drawing on the literary figure who refused to grow up, Chuck addresses the “Peter Pan syndrome” in the church—believers who want the benefits of the family without the responsibilities of adulthood.
  • Key Fact: A healthy church requires “fathers and mothers” in the faith who are willing to mentor the next generation rather than remaining perpetual consumers.
  • Scripture Reference: Philippians 3:12–16

Message 11: What’s Right about Adolescence?

  • Overview: While adolescence can be a time of turmoil, it also brings passion and strength. Chuck explores how the zeal of “young men” in the faith is vital for spiritual warfare and church health.
  • Key Fact: Spiritual adolescents often possess the “word of God abiding in them” and the strength to overcome the evil one in ways that more passive believers do not.
  • Scripture Reference: 1 John 2:14

Message 12: Reasons We Resist Becoming Mature

  • Overview: Why do we stay small? Chuck identifies the common hurdles to growth: the comfort of the familiar, a fear of what God might ask of us, and a lack of spiritual discipline.
  • Key Fact: Resistance to growth is often a subtle form of self-protection that keeps us from the “abundant life” Christ promised.
  • Scripture Reference: Hebrews 6:1–3; Galatians 5:1

Message 13: The Church: Who Needs It?

  • Overview: Growth doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Chuck makes a compelling case for the necessity of the local church as the “greenhouse” where spiritual maturity is cultivated through fellowship and accountability.
  • Key Fact: Isolation is the enemy of maturity; we are commanded to “provoke one another to love and good works” through regular gathering.
  • Scripture Reference: Hebrews 10:24–25

Message 14: A Story for Adults to Remember

  • Overview: Using a narrative approach, Chuck shares a powerful “story of growth” that illustrates the shift from self-centeredness to God-centeredness.
  • Key Fact: Biblical stories and parables serve as “mirrors” that allow us to see our own spiritual standing more clearly than abstract lists.
  • Scripture Reference: Luke 15:11–32

Message 15: A Song for Adults to Sing

  • Overview: A message on the role of worship and gratitude in the life of a mature believer. Chuck explores how our “song” changes as we grow deeper in the Lord.
  • Key Fact: The mature believer’s worship is rooted in the “theology of the soul” rather than just the emotions of the moment.
  • Scripture Reference: Psalm 40:1–3; Colossians 3:16

Message 16: Growing Up in God’s Family

  • Overview: The series finale. Chuck synthesizes the lessons learned into a final call to pursue Christ with everything we have, moving toward the goal of “fullness in Christ.”
  • Key Fact: The ultimate goal of growing up in God’s family is to reflect the character of the Elder Brother, Jesus Christ, to a watching world.
  • Scripture Reference: Ephesians 4:11–16

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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.

Message 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.”

Message 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.”

Message 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.

Message 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.”

Message 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.

Message 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.

Message 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.”

Message 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.

Message 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.”

Message 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.”

Message 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.”

Message 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?'”

Message 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.”

Message 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?”

Message 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.”

Message 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.”

Message 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.”

Message 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!'”

Message 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.”

Message 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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