Every believer who has genuinely tried to live righteously understands the problem of sin. The good we desire we donʼt do. The evil we hate is what we practice. God doesnʼt intend for the believer to live this way. But what is the answer to this problem?
Spiritual Maturity: The Road to Wonderland walks the reader through the biblical data and reveals Godʼs divine solution to the problem of sin in the life of the believer. Following firmly in the traditional dispensational tradition, Pastor Bruce Baker shows that spiritual growth comes from being rightly related to God the Holy Spirit, not from any works that we accomplish.
Beginning each chapter with an illustrative quote from Lewis Carroll, author of Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, the reader is taken on a journey that answers such questions as:
- What are the three types of people the Bible mentions with regard to Maturity?
- What is Spiritual Maturity anyway?
- What is Carnality?
- What does God desire of me?
- Does effect does Law have upon my spiritual life?
- Does God have plan for me?
- What happens when I disobey?
Written in a style that is at once readable and entertaining, the serious student of the Bible wonʼt walk away empty-handed.
What others are saying about
Spiritual Maturity: The Road to Wonderland
“With skill and clarity Bruce Baker takes the biblical principles of growing toward spiritual maturity and casts them in language that is both relevant and engaging. There is comforting truth to be found in Spiritual Maturity, but there is also much to challenge and even convict you. As well, the words found in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland never before enjoyed such eternal impact as they do in the pages of this book. Don't hesitate to read it all the way to the end.”
Dr. Woodrow Kroll, President, Back to the Bible International
“This book presents clearly the Biblical evidence for how to mature in Christ in an arresting and interesting way. This is a layman’s map providing directions for growing up in Christ. You will be blessed by reading and following the directions.”
Dr. Robert Lightner, Professor of Systematic Theology, Dallas Theological Seminary, Retired.
“Bruce Baker has provided for us a great help for our spiritual lives in The Road to Maturity. The biblical and theological content is combined with great illustrations from a classic piece of literature and a modern day narrative applying the truths about the Christian life to the realities of earth-side living. It maps the journey to spiritual maturity in a way that will be a guide to believers and offer fresh help and hope in their pilgrimage.”
Dr. James E. Jeffery, President, Baptist Bible College & Seminary
"I so enjoyed reading this book. Bruce has a great writing style that is easy to understand. I can't wait to use it in our Women's Ministries here at Mesa Hills!"
Lisa Gemmell, Director of Women's Ministries at Mesa Hills Bible Church, Colorado Springs, CO.
Here is the latest review that I've received. Keiki Hendrix is the national religious book reviewer for Examiner.com.
Book Review of Spiritual Maturity: The Road to Wonderland by Bruce Baker
In Pastor Bruce Baker’s work ‘Spiritual Maturity: The Road to Wonderland‘, I was first intrigued by the polarizing title. How can ‘Alice in Wonderland‘, a classic children’s story relate to spiritual maturity? After all, most Christians spend their lives attempting to achieve some level of maturity – how can a children’s story benefit them?
After reading (and re-reading several chapters), I found myself going from AMEN to AHA in lightning speed. Perhaps this occurred because many of the concepts I thoroughly understood or many of the concepts I have yet to fully embrace. Whatever the reason, this was a thought provoking read.
When Truth enters your life, you are at a crossroad. You must either accept it, allowing God to reshape your perceptions, or you must reject it, which inevitably result in detrimental consequences. The basics of the disciplined life are discussed in this book and one would do well to read (and reread) it.
What will you find in this book? 21 chapters, all addressing specific areas of maturity all prefaced by a quote from ‘Alice in Wonderland’; an interwoven story of a troubled woman on her way to maturity; and chapter discussion questions that cause you to reflect on the focus of the chapter.
The illustrations were sometimes comical, sometimes engaging and written with simple conversational frankness. For instance, the authors search for research material in three local Christian book stores, or the acknowledgement (in the Preface) that the author’s ego stays securely in check by his gracious wife.
Is this a handbook in which one can assuredly become spiritually mature? Hear the author words from Chapter 21 –
“I’ve found that people like to speak of ‘absolute’ devotion, ‘complete’ surrender, ‘total’ submission….From God’s standpoint, all our devotion is limited, all our surrender incomplete, all our submission partial. Even though His enablement is perfect, our response to it is human and therefore subject to improvement.”
In summary, this is a genuine look at becoming a mature Christian. To quote a Chinese proverb “To know wisdom you must first begin to call things for what they really are.” It is an excellent book to read and will be very beneficial to the reader who chooses to face these steps to maturity and begin to grow more and more.