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Growing Down: Unlearning the Patterns of Adulthood that Keep Us from Jesus
What does it mean to be an adult? Different individuals and cultures will answer differently, but they all will have one common self-sufficiency.
Here is where the problem lies for the Christian. On the one hand, the world needs grown-ups, now more than ever. But if growing up is mainly about self-sufficiency and self-reliance, the gospel runs diametrically opposed to both of those things. The gospel tells us, in fact, that we need to "grow down”—to become like children.
True maturity, according to Jesus, is entering the kingdom of heaven like a child. In Growing Down , Michael Kelley wrestles with Jesus’ words that the kingdom of heaven belongs to the likes of little children. If that is true, then we must grow down in characteristics that make us functional and effective adults, if we want to truly grow up in Christ.
Here is where the problem lies for the Christian. On the one hand, the world needs grown-ups, now more than ever. But if growing up is mainly about self-sufficiency and self-reliance, the gospel runs diametrically opposed to both of those things. The gospel tells us, in fact, that we need to "grow down”—to become like children.
True maturity, according to Jesus, is entering the kingdom of heaven like a child. In Growing Down , Michael Kelley wrestles with Jesus’ words that the kingdom of heaven belongs to the likes of little children. If that is true, then we must grow down in characteristics that make us functional and effective adults, if we want to truly grow up in Christ.
224 pages, Paperback
Published April 1, 2018
1 person is currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Michael Kelley
103 books33 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 24, 2018
Bigger is not always better, but unfortunately we’ve grown up in a society that suggests that more is what we should be going for, not just in a paycheck, but in everything else also.
Michael Kelley sets out to remind us that ‘less is more’ is a biblical concept. Remember John the Baptizer, while talking about Jesus, saying, “He must become greater, I must become less.” (John 3:30, NIV). In Growing Down: Unlearning the Patterns of Adulthood that Keep Us from Jesus (B&H Publishing Group, 2018) Kelley offers numerous examples of areas of our life where we definitely need to become less so that Jesus can become more in our lives. Just a few examples are how we have learned to be self-reliant, when what we should be striving for is dependence on the Savior; or how we should unlearn anxiety in favor of trust. And my favorite is how the busyness that we’ve been taught is a good thing has to become secondary to Sabbath rest if we are to find time to be with Jesus in any meaningful way.
I enjoyed reading the book, but I’m not sure how much potential to be a life changer for me. It’s short and easy to read, but I didn’t find a lot of ‘AHA’ moments.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my review. I was not required to post a positive review.
3/5
Michael Kelley sets out to remind us that ‘less is more’ is a biblical concept. Remember John the Baptizer, while talking about Jesus, saying, “He must become greater, I must become less.” (John 3:30, NIV). In Growing Down: Unlearning the Patterns of Adulthood that Keep Us from Jesus (B&H Publishing Group, 2018) Kelley offers numerous examples of areas of our life where we definitely need to become less so that Jesus can become more in our lives. Just a few examples are how we have learned to be self-reliant, when what we should be striving for is dependence on the Savior; or how we should unlearn anxiety in favor of trust. And my favorite is how the busyness that we’ve been taught is a good thing has to become secondary to Sabbath rest if we are to find time to be with Jesus in any meaningful way.
I enjoyed reading the book, but I’m not sure how much potential to be a life changer for me. It’s short and easy to read, but I didn’t find a lot of ‘AHA’ moments.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my review. I was not required to post a positive review.
3/5
March 23, 2022
Shared different ways of becoming dependent on God. I liked part about busyness, don’t try to stay busy because the work has already been finished with Jesus
April 13, 2018
Growing Down
Unlearning the Patterns of Adulthood that Keep Us from Jesus
by Michael Kelley
B&H Publishing Group (B&H Books, Holman Bibles, B&H Español, and B&H Kids)
B&H Books
Christian
Pub Date 01 Apr 2018
I am reviewing a copy of Growing Down through B&H Books and Netgalley:
This book helps to answer the question what does it mean to be an adult? Individuals and cultures answer these questions differently.
For Christians though we know the world needs grown ups now more than ever. But if being grown up is about self sufficiency and being reliant on ourselves, but the gospel tells us to not to grow up but to become more like a child in our need for the Lord.
Jesus reminds us that maturity comes when we are able to enter Heaven like a little child. Instead of Growing up we as Christians should strive to grow down.
I give Growing Down five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
May 22, 2018
Growing Down Is a wonderfull book on teaching you that like it was said by CHRIST that we need to be like children in the Faith - HMMM - it's says in the book, "like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the WORD, so that you may grow up into your selvation." The Bible talks about starting off your faith in milk then as you grow you will move into meat. It is all about growing in your faith in JESUS being the VINE and we all being the branches in how we have to produce or be cut off from the VINE - I don't know about you but I would do anything to stay continually connected to my FATHER in CHRIST the VINE. I received a copy of this book from the Publisher; all of the opinions expressed in this review are all my own.
if you would like to read more of my Christian book reviews go to christianlybookreviewers.blogspot.com
if you would like to read more of my Christian book reviews go to christianlybookreviewers.blogspot.com
August 5, 2020
This book is an easy read! The author does not sugar coat anything-he wants you to better yourself! Definitely recommend it!
May 31, 2018
Michael Kelley hit it out of the park with this book. It is such an informative book that shows readers just how being an adult keeps us from Jesus. It's definitely true that as we grow up we start to pick up behaviors and beliefs that keep our faith in Christ from being as strong as it could be. And that's what this book aims to help us see and visualize. It describes the importance of having a child-like faith in Christ and how that just isn't as possible unless we begin to grow down rather than up, unlearning adulthood.
Kelley does a great job describing which parts of adulthood we need to unlearn to be faithful the way we should. The first of which is unlearning self-reliance and becoming more dependent in Christ. In order to be strong in our faith, we have to rely on God and know that we can't do anything without him.
The book goes on to list a bunch of other behaviors and beliefs we have to unlearn like reducing the complexity of our lives and becoming more simple. Kelley goes on to describe how privacy steps in the way of a strong faith and keeps us from true authenticity and how we begin to lose trust in Christ which leads to a life full of anxiety, which again keeps us from a stronger faith in Christ.
As we continue to grow, and the importance of education takes over our lives, we start to lose our sense of wonder. Without wonder, we begin to be more and more apathetic and less passionate about life. We begin to let our self-consciousness take over and we begin to lose our innocence. We fill our lives with different things, tasks, and responsibilities, and we take less time to rest, and without rest, we have less and less time to spend with God.
All of these things are what we have to unlearn in order to be truly faithful. If any of these things resonate with you, then I would strongly suggest you pick up this book and you truly read it. It will help you see what it's important to unlearn these behaviors and to truly be more child-like in our relationship with Christ our father.This review was originally posted on Five Little Crayons
Kelley does a great job describing which parts of adulthood we need to unlearn to be faithful the way we should. The first of which is unlearning self-reliance and becoming more dependent in Christ. In order to be strong in our faith, we have to rely on God and know that we can't do anything without him.
The book goes on to list a bunch of other behaviors and beliefs we have to unlearn like reducing the complexity of our lives and becoming more simple. Kelley goes on to describe how privacy steps in the way of a strong faith and keeps us from true authenticity and how we begin to lose trust in Christ which leads to a life full of anxiety, which again keeps us from a stronger faith in Christ.
As we continue to grow, and the importance of education takes over our lives, we start to lose our sense of wonder. Without wonder, we begin to be more and more apathetic and less passionate about life. We begin to let our self-consciousness take over and we begin to lose our innocence. We fill our lives with different things, tasks, and responsibilities, and we take less time to rest, and without rest, we have less and less time to spend with God.
All of these things are what we have to unlearn in order to be truly faithful. If any of these things resonate with you, then I would strongly suggest you pick up this book and you truly read it. It will help you see what it's important to unlearn these behaviors and to truly be more child-like in our relationship with Christ our father.This review was originally posted on Five Little Crayons
June 8, 2018
Michael Kelley's "Growing Down" isn't necessarily a book I'd normally pick up. I hadn't heard of the author, but seeing the title and reading the back cover peaked my interest. I was not disappointed.
First of all, Kelley is funny. His anecdotes and writing style made reading "Growing Down" a breeze.
Secondly, Kelley's contrast of the attitudes often present in adults with those of children - and how they relate to our faith - was striking. While we often hear "we should have childlike faith", this is the first time I can recall ever seeing that actually broken down into tangible attitudes, practices and ways of interacting with God.
Finally, this book was a perfect mix of the practical and theological. Kelley unpacks theological concepts and quotes lots of Scripture, but it doesn't read like a theology textbook. His application is very practical and seamless, and the Scriptural naturally seems practical.
All in all, this is an excellent read - for both new and experienced believers in Jesus!
First of all, Kelley is funny. His anecdotes and writing style made reading "Growing Down" a breeze.
Secondly, Kelley's contrast of the attitudes often present in adults with those of children - and how they relate to our faith - was striking. While we often hear "we should have childlike faith", this is the first time I can recall ever seeing that actually broken down into tangible attitudes, practices and ways of interacting with God.
Finally, this book was a perfect mix of the practical and theological. Kelley unpacks theological concepts and quotes lots of Scripture, but it doesn't read like a theology textbook. His application is very practical and seamless, and the Scriptural naturally seems practical.
All in all, this is an excellent read - for both new and experienced believers in Jesus!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews