“Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God.” — Hebrews 6:1

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If you played baseball during your childhood, there’s a good chance your first introduction to the game was at very young age in tee ball. In those early days, we didn’t worry about stealing bases, perfect pitching mechanics or advanced strategy. We learned the basics of the game, because without a solid foundation, nothing else would work.

You would most likely struggle to hit a ball thrown to you if you didn’t first learn how to make contact when the ball was stationary. You needed to learn the rules of the game before you could formulate strategy or advanced skills.

Our faith works the same way. In the beginning, God often meets us where we are, teaching us the foundational truths: who He is, what Jesus has done for us, and how to trust Him. These are the spiritual “fundamentals” — prayer, Scripture, worship and simple obedience. For many of us, these basics are all we grasp when we first step up to the plate of life, just like that little league tee.

But as we grow older — on the field and in faith — we are called to progress beyond the basics. Just as coaches add new drills, teach situational plays and refine mechanics, God invites us to develop a deeper understanding and a more mature faith. Hebrews 6:1 reminds us, “Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God.”

We aren’t meant to stay in tee-ball faith forever. God’s design is growth. He wants us to wrestle with hard questions, dive into Scripture, and practice the disciplines that transform not just our knowledge but our hearts. This is the spiritual equivalent of learning to hit curveballs and turn double plays.

Sometimes, we resist growth because it feels riskier. Advanced plays require more focus, more accountability and a willingness to fail. But just like a coach cheering on a young player, God is there, guiding, correcting and encouraging us. And every time we step into deeper faith, we’re not leaving the fundamentals behind, we’re building on them to make them stronger.

So whether you’re still at the beginning of your spiritual journey or you’ve been playing the game for years, remember this: The goal is to grow. It’s to seek a faith that’s mature, that can handle curveballs and trusts God even when the play isn’t obvious. The deeper you go, the more equipped you’ll be to serve, love and lead others on the field of life.

The next time you watch a young ballplayer swing at a ball on the tee, remember God is shaping your swing too. Start with the fundamentals, but don’t stop there. Step up, swing with faith and keep moving toward maturity.

— Cole Claybourn

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