Hebrews 6:1 (AMPC) Therefore let us go on and get past the elementary stage in the teachings and doctrine of Christ (the Messiah), advancing steadily toward the completeness and perfection that belong to spiritual maturity. Let us not again be laying the foundation of repentance and abandonment of dead works (dead formalism) and of the faith [by which you turned] to God,

If you are in elementary school you know it. In Christ what is the elementary teachings? The writer of Hebrews hints at what is taught in elementary school but only nothing of what might be next. In this opening verse we only see three issues listed. Those are repentance, dead works, and faith. I feel this is a good place to start as these words are identified but I know that there are other important kingdom words that need to be learned. A proper understanding of them will allow you to grow in Christ and move on to higher education.

Repentance is often associated with regret, an emotional consequence of sin. If allowed to be defined purely as regret, what prevents you from repeating that sin? If you define repentance as turning away from sin and returning to God, how do you feel when you sin again? As a youthful Christian you will find that just because you are walking with God, the body does not stop being flesh? If it were otherwise you would never be tempted again and we have read that we will suffer temptations.

James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

1 Peter 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

Think of repentance as giving up the direction of your life in self-will with no consideration for the will of God. Seeking God’s will is a long journey through a new land, one that is not your home. We are sojourners in this life seeking to get home to God. On this journey we will encounter all that this world, Satan, and workers of evil can throw at you.

Romans 5:2-4 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

When you were a child you experienced growing pains. It is not all that much different with this spiritual life in Christ. Some things are given, like grace, unearned, not painful, and always present in all conditions. Then there are the developed traits which on the surface are painful but needed for growth. Which are the grace traits of God and which are the devopmental traits?

If I told you, would you avoid the pain? Did heartbreak stop you from falling in love? Avoiding pain will only delay the inevitable but now that you are a child of God, grace will allow you to endure knowing that on the other side of pain is glory to God.

2 Thessalonians 1:4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:

Here once again I stop short of tell you all of the truth but only enough to absorb some until you are ready to learn more. If during the course of these studies on growth in Christ you believe you are ready for more, by all means study for yourself. If you discover discomfort in that which you read, seek trusted counselors, teachers, pastors, who will administer a healing balm to your soul.

The comparison of reading the word of God to digestion, e.g. milk, herbs, strong meat, is given with purpose because moving on to strong meats before your digestive system is ready will cause you pain. No one likes to eat that which is painful. All the Word is good for you, but grow according to His plan for you.