The Critical Journey, Stages in the Life of Faith, Second Edition

This is a book that everyone over the age of forty needs to read and re-read. Even younger Believers can gain insight and wisdom from it. Older, more mature Believers will find it a must read as will the Reveal Willow Creek folks who have just woken up to the fact that as we age in the Lord our spiritual needs change.

The author takes us on a whirlwind tour of a totally new way of thinking about our spiritual journey. In my experience, most people get stuck at only half of their God-given spiritual potential for growth, and Hagberg is showing us how much more there is. There are stages of growth in Christ that most of us haven't even begun to get involved with. Although I think the book could have stood to be longer and more detailed, it is a five-star book in my opinion anyway. Great complement to the works of people like Richard Foster and Dallas Willard.

I have used this book with several study groups since I read it as required reading in Spiritual Direction training. It is a must read for any person who is ever unclear about the way different Christians respond to things. This books changed the way I view my life. It has shed so much light on my relationship with God. We were not meant to go through this journey of faith alone, and this book is the absolute best word on that subject.

This is an extremely helpful book for Christians and Christian leaders to understand the stages of spiritual formation of individuals and of congregations. Hagberg breaks down the Christian journey into very understandable and comprehensive stages that are relavent and make great sense. I would recommend it to all who want to have a better understanding of their own and other's journey in Christ.

This is "my subject," the spiritual journey. I have read many, many books on the subject. This one stands out a mile!Written for present-day Christians (although there is plenty for followers of any spiritual path), The Critical Journey is clear, easy to read, well organized, and full of excellent advice and guidance. It is obviously based upon the classic teachings about the progressive stages of inner growth, but the authors had digested all the information so thoroughly that it seems newly invented, created especially for people of our own day. One point I have never seen explained anywhere before is that a person can easily identify the material that describes his or her place on the path right now, and can get some meaning from material about the next stage in order. However, when she comes to a stage beyond that, it doesn't make any sense at all. This is very true. It explains why so much of what we read seems nonsensical, meaningless.That being said, anyone can find sound advice, answers to many questions, and inspiration for continuing on the inner way to full maturity.review by Janet Knori, author of Awakening in God