Growing in Godliness E-Book

Lindsey Carlson

• Herausgeber: Crossway
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 150

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2019

Beschreibung

"Hands down my favorite book for teen girls." Rosaria Butterfield, author, The Gospel Comes with a House Key Your teen years matter. Of all the ways you're learning and changing during the busy teenage years, your growth in Christ is the most important. God intends to use your teen years as a launching pad into a lifelong pursuit of looking more like Jesus. This book will help you prioritize your Christian growth—pointing you to the resources God has given you in his Word, in prayer, and in the church; offering help for managing your emotions, watching your words, and bearing spiritual fruit; and challenging you with ways to center your life around this important task.  Even as a teenager, you have all it takes to grow in godliness.

Leseprobe

Thank you for downloading this Crossway book.

Sign-up for the Crossway Newsletter for updates on special offers, new resources, and exciting global ministry initiatives:

Crossway Newsletter

Or, if you prefer, we would love to connect with you online:

“In a world where teens are too often viewed as incapable of earnest discipleship practices, Lindsey Carlson’s book communicates a refreshing and much-needed message: maturity starts now. Growing in Godliness offers basic concepts, accessible tools, and practical steps for teens to understand themselves as devoted followers of Christ. And it offers parents a rare gift as well: the golden opportunity of faith-infused dialogue with their young-adult child.”

Jen Wilkin, Director of Classes and Curriculum, The Village Church; author, Women of the Word; None Like Him; and In His Image

“So much of the person we turn out to be hinges on decisions made in our teenage years. Those years can be filled with wonder, but also with fears and dangers. In this book, Lindsey Carlson gives a practical guide for how young women can use their teenage years to grow in Christ. This advice could be life-changing for you, or for someone you love.”

Russell D. Moore, President, The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention

“Growing in Godliness is hands down my favorite book for teen girls. Its fresh writing, theological grit, accessible advice, grace-driven counsel, and practical application of the means of grace make me want to put it in the hands of all of the girls I know. No Pollyanna fluff or theological bricks here. I started to read this in the hospital, watching my own teenage girl recover from major surgery, and the sections that I read filled me with hope in the dark hours of my daughter’s pain.”

Rosaria Butterfield, Former Professor of English, Syracuse University; author, The Gospel Comes with a House Key

“As children grow into teenagers, there is also a growing sense of urgency in their parents. There’s so much to say, so much to teach, and still so much to learn. It’s hard to know where to start. Parents can trust that Growing in Godliness will give their teen girls a great place to start in their discipleship. This practical resource is grounded in the gospel and candidly conversational to reach teen girls where they are.”

Gloria Furman, author, Missional Motherhood

“It’s not easy to be a teen girl. The world tells you to follow your heart, your peers encourage you to conform to their image, and even your own emotions threaten to overwhelm you. Which of us didn’t long for a trustworthy friend to guide us through those messy middle school years? Thankfully Lindsey Carlson is that friend—warm, wise, funny, and direct—pointing teens to the only source of certainty and hope in a confusing world. Again and again, she brings girls back to God and his word, encouraging teens to shake off the worldliness that stunts their spiritual growth and to reach instead for Christ alone. As a pastor’s wife and mother, I couldn’t be more pleased to have this book on my shelf. Give it to the teens in your church or, better yet, gather a group and read it together. Growing in Godliness is an invaluable resource for young teen girls and the adults who care about their souls.”

Megan Hill, author, Praying Together and Contentment; Editor, The Gospel Coalition

“While I have no experience in being a teenage girl, I’ve got a fair bit of experience in raising them. And from the perspective of a father, I can say this book represents exactly the kind of knowledge and wisdom that will serve them well for the few years they are teenagers and for the lifetime beyond.”

Tim Challies, blogger, Challies.com

“Growing in Godliness is one of the best resources I’ve read on the topic of discipleship in the teen years. Lindsey Carlson is relatable, engaging, understanding, wise, and laugh-out-loud funny as she helps teen girls grasp their need for God and learn how to grow in faith. I plan to read this book with my daughter and will be recommending it for all her friends!”

Melissa Kruger, Director of Women’s Content, The Gospel Coalition; author, In All Things: A Nine-Week Devotional Bible Study on Unshakeable Joy

“As a fellow victim of the glamour shots trend of the 1990s, I can relate to Lindsey Carlson’s described desire for quick fixes and microwaved maturity. But she has given teenage girls a gift in these pages—not only a description of what it means to be spiritually mature but also a relatable guide for pursuing that growth. I’m thankful my own daughter will have these words to encourage her as she grows in grace.”

Catherine Parks, author, Realand Empowered: How God Shaped 11 Women’s Lives (and Can Shape Yours Too)

“This book was a heart-changing read. It altered my perspective on many things. The author had lots of stories, which made reading it fun. Now I can’t wait to grow in godliness!”

Emily H., age 11

Growing in Godliness

Growing in Godliness: A Teen Girl’s Guide to Maturing in Christ

Copyright © 2019 by Lindsey Carlson

Published by Crossway1300 Crescent StreetWheaton, Illinois 60187

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided for by USA copyright law. Crossway® is a registered trademark in the United States of America.

Cover design: Crystal Courtney

First printing 2019

Printed in the United States of America

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added by the author.

Trade paperback ISBN: 978-1-4335-6384-3 ePub ISBN: 978-1-4335-6387-4 PDF ISBN: 978-1-4335-6385-0 Mobipocket ISBN: 978-1-4335-6386-7

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Carlson, Lindsey, 1982– author.

Title: Growing in Godliness : a teen girl’s guide to maturing in Christ / Lindsey Carlson.

Description: Wheaton, Illinois : Crossway, [2019] | Includes bibliographical references and index. | Audience: Ages 12–19.

Identifiers: LCCN 2018046531 (print) | LCCN 2018054103 (ebook) | ISBN 9781433563850 (pdf) | ISBN 9781433563867 (mobi) | ISBN 9781433563874 (epub) | ISBN 9781433563843 (tp) | ISBN 9781433563874 (ePub)

Subjects: LCSH: Teenage girls—Religious life. | Christian teenagers—Religious life.

Classification: LCC BV4551.3 (ebook) | LCC BV4551.3 .C374 2019 (print) | DDC 248.8/33—dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018046531

Crossway is a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

2019-04-24 04:04:28 PM

For my daughter,

Madeline Claire Carlson—

may you grow in the grace and knowledge

of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

all of your days.

With hope and love,

Mama

Contents

Introduction

Part 1: Partner with God

 1  Live to Grow

 2  Get to Work

 3  Relax and Trust Him

Part 2: Depend on His Ways

 4  Learn from Your Limits

 5  Search for Riches

 6  Love His Church

 7  Pray Continually

Part 3: Monitor Your Growth

 8  Use Your Words

 9  Steward Your Feelings

10  Examine Your Fruit

Acknowledgments

Notes

Scripture Index

Introduction

Congratulations.

If you are reading this book, you’ve finally hit the teen years, or you’re about to. Gone are the days of parent-planned playdates; you’re firing off texts to your friends faster than your mom can find her phone. You’re negotiating privileges like wearing makeup, staying home alone, and babysitting the neighbor’s kids for a little extra cash. You’re growing up.

You can expect your teen years to be filled with all kinds of growth. First, you’re growing physically. Just ask your poor parents, whose pantry shelves are always empty. I’m sure they’ve noticed the way your jeans always seem too short and your shoes too small. It’s like one night you went to bed as a kid and the next morning your body decided to wake up as a grown-up.

Of course, also present are the less-than-enjoyable growing and often raging hormone levels. Cue the unwelcome unpredictability of acne and surging emotions. So long, steadiness; hello, stereotypical mood swings. Growing up means learning to woman-handle your body’s hormonal rises and falls and learning to deal with the happy-one-minute-and-weeping-the-next feelings that come along with them.

You’re growing socially, too. Don’t worry, so are all of your friends. You’re each learning to evaluate the kind of friends you want around and the kind of friend you want to be. Sometimes this means outgrowing certain friendships and gaining new ones. Combine this social switcheroo with your influx of growing hormones and emotions, and it makes the teenage years a tad bit challenging.

Unfortunately, there’s no rest for the weary teen. You’re still growing as a student, and schoolwork doesn’t ease up as you try to make sense of all your new physical, emotional, and social growth spurts!

As a teenager, you are surrounded by growth potential. At school, in your relationships, when dealing with your emotions, and in your changing physical body, growthis a good thing. Ask the doctor checking your height and weight each year. Ask the teacher recording your homework and test grades to ensure your successful progress. Ask your parents who love and guide you and pray you’ll grow into a mature adult. Growth is a sign of life, and the resulting fruit that blossoms is a sign of maturity.

Now I’d like to ask you something. Are you also growing in godliness? Because this area of growth and maturity is more important than all the rest. Beloved, as a Christian you are called to grow in godliness until you are conformed to the image of Jesus (Rom. 8:29). You do this by growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 3:18). Christian growth should take top priority in your life not only as a teenager, but as long as you’re alive. In the following chapters, we will examine what the Christian’s growth in godliness looks like and learn to strive for maturity in Christ.

As a teenager longing to follow Jesus, you are on the front end of what should be a lifelong pursuit of spiritual growth! I pray your desire to read this book is an indication of your desire to look more like Jesus. Even though you’re young and busy growing in so many ways, in Christ you have all it takes to grow in godliness.

So, strive for growth:

Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature [wo]manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Eph. 4:13–16)

Your maturity in Christ is meaningful and necessary both for you personally and for the building up of the body of Christ. Your growth is imperative. God wants to use every area of your life—each experience, challenge, and privilege—as spiritual fertilizer, feeding your growth in godliness.

How does God intend for you to grow in godliness? That’s what this book is all about. In the following chapters I’ll challenge you to live to grow in Christ, to find purpose in all you do, and to trust God’s sovereign goodness. We’ll talk about your limitations, and I’ll point you to the tools God uses to equip you through his Word, his church, and prayer. I’ll show you why it’s important to keep a close watch on your words, emotions, and spiritual fruit, as they are all signs of spiritual life and health. There’s a lot to learn, but it’s all within reach.

Congratulations. You’ve picked up the book, you’ve made it through the intro, and now you’re ready to go. “Now to him who is able to strengthen [and grow] you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ . . . to bring about the obedience of faith—to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ!” (Rom. 16:25–27). Let’s get growing!

Part 1

Partner with God

1

Live to Grow

As a child, I was always in a hurry to grow up. I wanted the privileges and freedom that came with maturity, but I didn’t want to wait through the awkward period of growing. It was this desire for unearned maturity that prompted me to ask for a makeover for my eleventh birthday. It was 1993, and a company called Glamour Shots was happy to prey upon my desire for change. For a fee, I could walk inside the local mall, and the Glamour Shots professionals promised to change my look, making me glamorously grown-up.

Right down the hall from the wafting smells of pizza and corn dogs in the mall’s food court, my hair was teased, curled, and hair sprayed until it stood up by itself. My face was painted with layers of thickly caked stage makeup, my eyes sparkled with glittery eye shadow, and red lipstick only highlighted the fact that my crooked teeth were in desperate need of orthodontia. They dressed me up in feather boas and leather jackets bedazzled with rhinestones. The makeover culminated in a photo session where I was coached to pose in laughably unrealistic ways: tossing my head back, staring solemnly into the camera, or placing my fist under my chin. After a few hours and a sizable financial investment on my parents’ part, I walked out with pictures that made me look like a forty-year-old real estate agent. Happy birthday to me.

My “before and after” transformation was bizarre. They had contoured my cheekbones and jawline, dressed me like an adult, and dramatically backlit my photos, and in the end, I sure did look different. But, creepy different. I didn’t look more mature. I looked like a little girl whose dress-up play had gone terribly wrong. When I left the mall that day, I went home and washed all the hairspray and makeup off and returned to my regularly scheduled life as a normal makeup-lesseleven-year-old. Growing up required more than makeup, big hair, and a bedazzled jacket.

Sometimes as Christians, we can become so preoccupied with looking mature that we attempt to skip the process of actually growing up. Like little children wearing their mom’s high heels, we clip-clop around pretending to be all grown up before we’ve had the chance to gain the wisdom necessary to become mature. In order to avoid the Glamour Shots edition of Christian growth, we need God’s help to grasp the beauty of true growth in godliness.

The Original Picture

I love a good “before and after” reveal. I can’t wait to see how beautiful my teenage daughter’s once-crooked teeth will look after her braces come off. And I am guilty of fast-forwarding through hour-long episodes of television shows like Fixer Upper just to catch the big reveal of the beautiful house at the end. As a growing Christian, you are likely painfully aware of all your imperfections and the ways you need to grow in holiness and your ability to honor God. You know where you need God to work. But before the work begins on your before picture, you’ll need to understand the original picture.

Most before pictures aren’t complete pictures; they leave important pieces out. When my daughter’s orthodontist took before pictures of her crooked adult teeth for her medical chart, she ignored her originalset of perfectly straight baby teeth. She cared only about the unruly progression of the adult teeth. As Chip and Joanna Gaines escort homebuyers and cameras through dilapidated homes on Fixer Upper, I always wonder what the homes originally looked like when they were first built. How impressive were they before the previous owners ruined them? As viewers, we never see the glorious original picture that preceded the less-than-gloriousbefore picture. Instead, we cut in on the dirty middle. The place in need of assistance. The work in progress.

Your original picture dates back to before you were born, when God spoke the heavens and earth, planets and stars, seas, mountains, plants, and animals into being and called humanity very good (Gen. 1:31). He formed you imago Dei, in the image of God. By nature, you are wonderful because you were made to reflect God throughout creation, bringing him glory in all you do. In the original picture, your spiritual parents Adam and Eve stood smiling in the garden, still in good standing with God. They trusted him, enjoyed fellowship with him, and walked in obedience.

Like the dilapidated house ruined by previous owners, your original glorious picture eroded before you stepped foot on the scene. You wouldn’t have done any better. In Genesis