1. How do we make real spiritual progress?
Avoid Distractions
How do we make real spiritual progress?

2. Avoid Philosophy and Traditions
Colossians 2:8 8  See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.

3. Avoid Living In The Shadows
Colossians 2:  Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day— 17  things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.

4. Don’t Live in the Predictions
Galatians 4:  But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again? 10  You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11  I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain.

5. Avoid Mysticism
Colossians 2:  Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, 19  and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.

6. Avoid Legalism
Colossians 2:  If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, 21  "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!" 22  (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men?

7. Avoid Asceticism
Colossians 2:  These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.

8. Food Will Not Bring Us Before God
1 Corinthians 8:8 8  But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat.

9. Grace, Not Food!
Hebrews 13:9 9  Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.

10. Not Encouraging Poor Discipline
1 Corinthians 9:  Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25  Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26  Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27  but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

11. Avoid Fables
1 Timothy 4:  But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; 8  for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

12. Avoid Genealogies
1 Timothy 1:  nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith. 5  But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

13. How Should We Make Progress
Colossians 2:  Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7  having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.