The Pilgrim’s Progress Discipleship Course

In addition to the thoughtful questions in this comprehensive study, students will enjoy an abundance of inspirational helps placed throughout. Here is a sampling:

Progress Tip

Don’t be surprised when you feel you are in a tug-of-war between God’s Spirit leading you forward and the devil trying to stop or hinder you. Choose progress! Be prepared with your armor on and weapon drawn; be prepared to fight your way through. This way, the devil’s efforts may slow you down, but he can never stop you. You will emerge from your trial victorious.

Key Pilgrim’s Perspective

God has charted a roadmap for each of us. We might want our way to be happy and carefree; but we are in training, and the narrow way is never easy. Our training is often humbling, but Scripture assures us that “humility comes before honor” (Proverbs 15:33; 18:12). In these difficult places, dark forces may assail us, and darkness may engulf us; but we should not give up. God is with us and will lead us safely through. True, we may experience pain and trauma; in the end, however, we will find ourselves more God-reliant, courageous, faith filled, and rich in hope. As we look back, we see real progress. We are learning that God’s grace in us conquers the challenges of Apollyon and the Valley of the Shadow of Death. We realize that God has been there all along, weaving everything into His plan for our ultimate good. Remember that the strongest pilgrims, like refined metal, are those who have passed through fires of adversity.

Progress Tip

Don’t fall for the notion that knowing the Bible from cover to cover, or even possessing doctrinal purity, marks an authentic Christian. One can possess these and miss the reality of knowing Christ. Of course, saving faith involves knowing the Gospel and accepting its truth. However, receiving the message into your heart and living it are more important than head knowledge. Look to Jesus as your Example of authentic Kingdom living. We should make it our goal to have no dissonance between what we proclaim and how we live.

Key Pilgrim’s Perspective

The world soothes itself with false hopes. But like a vicious giant, “Despair” will ultimately seize and destroy every unbeliever’s soul. Christians, on the other hand, should never allow this giant to bully them. We are people of genuine hope, not despair. Still, getting into Doubting Castle is so incredibly easy. Any conviction of sin without a corresponding hope in Christ’s mercy can drive Christian pilgrims there. In this condition, we can actually think the giant has some legal right to march us into his dungeon. But that is a lie! If we truly repent of our sins, that miraculous key always is available for opening every prison door.

Key Pilgrim’s Perspective

On the day we gave our heart to Christ, it was like the day of our betrothal. Christ proposed to us, and we accepted. As wonderful as that day is, the wedding day will be far better. The day He comes for us – either by our dying here or by His second coming –will be our wedding day. We, His spectacularly prepared bride, will be ushered as royalty into heaven’s grand wedding hall. Then, we will exult in our Bridegroom’s love, and delight together in the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

Today, we see as through a veil. We do our best, as Heb. 12:2 urges, to fix our eyes on Jesus. Still, we see only in part. One day soon, however, Jesus will lift our wedding veil, and suddenly we will see Him face to face. What an amazing sight that will be! With the eyes of our heart fixed on this awe-inspiring certainty, we can maintain an ardently burning flame in our souls until that glorious day.