Ron Hutchcraft Ministries - The Four Phases

In the previous blog we established that God is calling you and me to be faithful "links in the chain" helping bring people into relationship with Him. Sometimes we will be the first link, sometimes the middle, and at times we will be the last. But for us to become effective links, it's important that we try to discern where people are in their spiritual journey. Let's look at four phases people whom God will bring you into contact with for His purposes typically go through.

Please bear in mind that while I do not necessarily believe each phase follows the previous in a neat and tidy sequence over time, I do believe that these are very accurate and observable in the lives of today's lost person.

The first phase is what I call Spiritual Indifference. Picture in your mind someone you know who just doesn't want to have anything to do with God, church, or anything related to spirituality. That's the kind of person I am placing in this first phase of the spiritual journey. While they show respect for your beliefs, nothing you say to them or invite them to will interest them if it involves God.

Let's call the second phase Spiritual Curiosity. I think of someone who grew up going to church, but has just recently darkened a church door for the first time in 15 years. Perhaps as parents they now are beginning to realize that the same spiritual questions and needs their children have are nothing less than a mirror of their own. It's amazing how God will use our children to open our eyes to things we otherwise would not see.

So this person's heart becomes more open to spiritual things than before, and while they may not come out asking a lot of questions about Jesus, they are realizing their own limitations in meeting all the needs of their kids, including giving them a spiritual identity and purpose.

The third phase is Spiritual Readiness. Very clearly, this person is not only open to listening to you about the Gospel but they are ready to make a commitment of their life to Jesus.

These phases can be found in a story tucked away in Acts 17:32-34 . The apostle Paul had been preaching and teaching in Athens, explaining the story of Jesus and how important it was for people to believe what Jesus had done for them. "When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, 'We want to hear you again on this subject.' At that, Paul left the Council. A few men became followers of Paul and believed."

Did you notice the three phases? Here they are again in case you missed them. When they heard the message of Jesus, some sneered (Spiritual Indifference), some wanted to hear more (Spiritual Curiosity), and a few believed (Spiritual Readiness). Can you think of people who fit into these three phases?

I've added a fourth phase that I believe is also worth noting. I call it The Return to Spiritual Indifference. This occurs when a person is at the point of committing their life to Christ but chooses for whatever reason to wait. I have known people like this and so have you; people who would listen to the Gospel, recognize their need for a Savior, but refuse to respond in faith. I'm thinking of a friend of mine who, as a teenager, heard the Gospel, fell under deep conviction (even raised his hand during the invitation time acknowledging his need for Jesus), yet never followed through with a commitment of his life to Jesus. He has basically been closed to spiritual things ever since, not to say that his heart won't re-open somewhere down the road.

While understanding and recognizing these phases will effect our approach as we prayerfully seek out opportunities to share Christ, there's something that encourages me greatly when I consider these truths. There is no such thing as a wasted attempt to help someone find Jesus. God may very well use your efforts to help move someone out of Spiritual Indifference and into the phase of Spiritual Curiosity. Likewise He may use your efforts to help move someone who is Spiritually Curious into becoming Spiritually Ready. The main thing is that we are faithful as a link and we allow God to use us to move people closer to Him.