Benchmarks
Adulthood encompasses
diverse milestones and exciting
experiences over the span
of a few decades. Adults will
be exposed to decisions and
situations that shape who they
are, how they behave, how they
relate to God, how they learn, and
how they interact with peers. It's
a fun, exhilarating season of life.
Spiritual
Adults will often be more self-
disciplined about growing their
faith through personal devotions,
a healthy prayer life, small group
study, and weekly church attendance.
These practices help adults to build
a deeply personal relationship
with Christ. Support adults by
pointing them to Bible classes,
introducing them to peers at church,
or meeting with them for prayer.
Social
Adults value healthy relationships
and friendships; they are also the
foundation of the life of a church.
During challenging seasons or
times of change, adults benefit
from having a Christian support
system to lean on. Parents
find solace in other parents;
newlyweds find wisdom from
older married couples. Encourage
adults to enhance their social lives
by inviting them to adult Bible
class; or ask them to join a tech
team or teach Sunday School.
Emotional
Unlike children or teens, adults
are bestowed with emotional
maturity. God provides adults with
discernment, allowing them to
make decisions out of love and
good judgment. Adults recognize
when a child is acting out or when
a teen could use a supportive
role model instead of criticism.
But adults also experience
joy, satisfaction, contentment,
loneliness, emotional fatigue, and
uncertainty themselves. Adults
can increase their emotional IQ by
taking leadership roles at church.
Intellectual
Research shows that adults learn
best by first understanding why
they need to learn something, as
well as when internal motivations
such as desire for success push
them to increase their knowledge
about a subject. Encourage
adults intellectually by providing
resources to stimulate learning,
such as challenging Bible studies
or deep theological discussions
on podcasts or radio broadcasts.
Physical
Adults recognize that their bodies
endure internal and external
changes with age. However, it's
important to remind adults of
God's promises to be with them,
love them, protect them, and
encourage them. Adults can thank
God for all the blessings that He
provides, even as they age.
Adults • 2 • cph.org • Copyright © 2019 Concordia Publishing House
