There is one common analogy used throughout the New Testament regarding the local church. It is not a business, farm, team, school, or hospital, though those word pictures are frequently used by us to convey various dimensions of congregational life. The most often used analogy is that of a family. God is our Father; we are called His offspring—sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, even fellow heirs. Since this is true, it stands to reason that congregations, like families, go through definite ages and stages as they progress toward maturity. This message will help us gain an overview of where we are going. In the process, we'll discover some of the reasons and results of an interrupted growth process.