Stages of Faith

Stages of Faith

God may choose to work outside of the patterns of human growth and development as well as within them.

Overview

How does faith develop? James Fowler feels faith is something common to every human being, and that each person develops faith through the same six stages. What differs is the content of that faith. This study asks: How does God work both through natural human development and through supernatural means to bring a person to himself?

Table of Contents

SCRIPTURE: Romans 8:38–39; 10:8–10, 17; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 3:5–14; Ephesians 2:8–9; Philippians 3:12–14; 4:13; 1 Timothy 6:11–12; 2 Timothy 4:7–8; Hebrews 5:11–6:1; 11:6, 11:1, 8–10, 13–16; James 2:14–18; 2 Peter 1:5–11; 1 John 2:12–14; 4:4–6

LEADER'S GUIDE

• The Issue

Sample questions:

Can ultimate love and justice be expressed apart from faith in Christ?

How might God work within normal human development to bring someone to himself?

• The Scriptures

Sample Scriptures:

Hebrews 11:1, 8–10, 13–16. How does faith carry us through uncertainty?

James 2:14–18. What should be the response of faith?

• The Application

Sample application questions:

Has your faith changed much in the past year or so?

What stage do you feel you are in right now?

ARTICLE FROM CHRISTIANITY TODAY

Is Faith Staged? by Perry G. Downs (October 1986, 4 printed pages)

Total number of pages

$4.95
  • Word Document
  • SMG-CLBS47-D