Steps to Spiritual Maturity

What does it take to grow up and become spiritually mature? Why do some Christians not grow as they should? God's word presents steps we can take toward growth and spiritual maturity by Bible study, patience, and diligent practice of good works.
People understand the concept of growth in the physical development of humans, and we know why it is important. Babies are immature physically and mentally, but we expect them to develop. If they don't, there is a problem. Spiritual growth is a similar concept but is far more important.

Growth is development or improvement toward a goal called "maturity" (or, in the Bible, "perfection"). When one is "born again" as a child of God, he is spiritually immature. As time passes, he should develop the qualities or abilities which the Bible says characterize the mature. A congregation matures as individual members mature.

Many Scriptures describe the need to grow and mature spiritually:

Ephesians 4:14,15 - Be no longer children, but grow up in Christ.
2 Peter 3:18 - but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 1:3 - The Thessalonians grew exceedingly in faith.
Philippians 1:9 - Paul prayed for their love to abound more and more.

Many problems result when members fail to grow: some go back to the world, others cause strife because of ignorance or become stumbling blocks because of irregular attendance, worldliness, or indifference. The purpose of this lesson is to study the steps each Christian should take to grow spiritually.

Just as a baby needs to do certain things to grow physically, so Christians need certain kinds of activities to grow spiritually. When members don't grow, it is because they lack one or more of these:

I. A DESIRE TO GROW

A. We Will Never Grow Unless We Want to Grow
In spiritual matters, Christians must WANT to grow.
1 Peter 2:2 - Desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.
Some seem to like being spiritual babies. They don't want to grow. It's easy to be a baby - no responsibility. Others feed you, clothe you, change your diaper. In the church, you don't have to teach, rebuke sin, or do work. It's a free ride! But being a baby is not the goal of life. We are born babies so we can grow up and be productive and useful. Likewise, we are born again, so we can become mature Christians, actively serving the Lord.
One of the conditions for becoming a child of God is REPENTANCE. One must determine to turn from sin and GO TO WORK in God's vineyard. Then one must bring forth the FRUITS of repentance. This will lead us to grow and improve in God's work. Otherwise, we have not accomplished our purpose for becoming children of God.
1 Peter 2:21 - Jesus set an example for us, and we should follow in His steps. We should ask ourselves, "Don't I want to grow up to be spiritually strong like Jesus?"

B. We Must Maintain This Desire to Grow.

Some members who once wanted to grow, may lose that desire. They may start off on fire for the Lord, but lose their zeal. They develop a spirit of indifference or negligence. Others develop a level of maturity and stagnate. They are satisfied, thinking no more growth is needed.

The Scriptures teach that growth is always needed:

Philippians 3:12-14 - Even Paul, as mature as he was, did not consider himself to have achieved perfection (maturity) such that he could cease striving to improve. He forgot past achievements (and failures) and pressed on to greater accomplishments.

Matthew 26:31-35 - Peter thought he had reached a level where he would never deny Jesus. But that very night he denied Him three times.

1 Corinthians 10:12 - Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. Christians never reach the point we are so mature that we cannot fall.

One of the main reasons Christians do not grow is that they do not see the NEED for growing. They have no desire to work and serve to the full extent of their ability. When people develop a burning hunger and thirst to work for the Lord, then they will develop the other steps they need to grow.

Do you have that burning desire to accomplish more for the Lord? Have you set specific goals of work you want to accomplish for God, improvements to make, new levels to reach?

II. We Need Spiritual Food from God's Word.

Even adults know we need food, and don't like to go long without it. We want it every day, regularly, several times a day. spiritually we cannot grow without feeding on God's Word.

1 Peter 2:2 - As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.
2 Peter 3:18 - Grow in the grace and KNOWLEDGE of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Matthew 4:4 - Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
[Eph. 4:15; Matt. 5:6]

Scriptures show the need for regular nourishment. To Get This Nourishment, We Must Study the Bible and Attend Church.

Hebrews 5:11-14 - Christians were rebuked for not growing as they should have, because they had not studied. Time and again members fall away or are spiritual midgets because they do not eat properly.

Acts 17:11 - Bereans were able to determine whether truth was taught because they searched the Scriptures DAILY. We need REGULAR nourishment.

Psalm 1:1,2 - Meditate on God's word day and night.

Children and adults need physical food regularly, and get very upset without it. But are we content to go for days at a time without feeding on God's word? [119:47,48,95-99; Josh 1:8]

Christians need regular nourishment from God's word to grow.

III. EXERCISE AND PRACTICE

A. Exercise and Practice Are Essential to Physical Development.
Athletes & musicians know they must exercise and practice to improve. Developing skills requires continual repetition: playing a song, throwing pitches, shooting baskets.
Athletes run, lift weights, and practice hour after hour in order to grow strong and develop endurance.
"Practice makes perfect" - or at least it promotes improvement.

B. Exercise and Practice Are Essential to Spiritual Growth.
Scriptures:
Hebrews 5:14 - Those who are of full age, by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Growth requires exercise as well as nourishment.
1 Timothy 4:7 - Exercise yourself toward godliness.
Like children, athletes, and musicians, we must work again and again at applying Bible principles to become effective in the Lord's work.

IV. TIME AND PATIENCE

By definition, growth requires TIME. It is progress and development as time passes. Several important lessons follow:
A. Don't Expect to Reach Your Goal Overnight.
Children do not become full-grown instantaneously.
At birth they are so small you can hold them in a little basket. Soon they are outgrowing new clothes every month. Eventually they can wear their parents' clothes or even larger. But it takes time.
Sometimes children become impatient. "I can't wait till I'm 18 (or 21)." We say, "Take your time. It will come soon enough." Time passes and, sure enough, what they were waiting for has come and gone, and they're looking back wondering how the time passed so fast!
Likewise spiritually, do not expect maturity overnight.
James 1:4 - To become perfect and mature (entire), lacking nothing, we must have patience.
Some new-born Christians want to know everything and do everything right away. They may not be willing to take the TIME to STUDY and DEVELOP ability. Yet they want to be just like the mature members - and want other members to treat them with the same respect that they do mature members - before they have taken time to grow.
Sometimes older members are impatient with new members. We don't understand why new converts have trouble with some basic concepts. Then sometimes these new members explain, "I never was really taught what the BIBLE said before." They have no background in the Scriptures, and it takes TIME to grow.
Remember that people who may be mature today did not get that way overnight. It took years of study and practice. And new converts will not become mature overnight. It will take time.
New members should not get discouraged and give up. Older members should not be impatient or overly demanding. Remember how our children took time to grow, and how we had to show patience with their immature ways as they grew. But growth will come as long as people are trying and we give them time.

B. Don't Become Discouraged by Mistakes and Rebukes.

Children make many mistakes and must often be told they are wrong.
How often does a child fall while learning to walk? They fall again and again, gathering bumps and bruises. They spill their milk, don't hold their spoon properly, fall off their bikes, and come to bat in the bottom of the ninth with the winning run in scoring position and strike out.
Parents are continually correcting, instructing, and punishing, till we almost feel sorry for the kids. Growing up is tough!
If kids are going to become mature, they have to keep going in spite of mistakes and rebukes. And someday they will look back on their own childish mistakes and just smile.
Likewise, new converts will make many mistakes and must often be told they are wrong.
Some of the greatest Bible characters committed terrible errors and had to be rebuked.
* Moses made excuses when God called him to lead Israel out of bondage.
* David committed adultery with Bathsheeba and was rebuked by Nathan.
* Peter denied Jesus three times.
* Paul persecuted Christians before his conversion.
* Thomas doubted Jesus' resurrection.
* All the apostles forsook Jesus when He was arrested and crucified.
Matthew 16:21-23 - Shortly after he had confessed Jesus and been highly praised (v15-18), Peter contradicted Jesus and was severely rebuked.
Yet all of these are remembered as some of God's greatest servants.

Great servants are not people who live without ever sinning, but people who learn from their mistakes and go on to serve God faithfully.
Judas betrayed Jesus and is remembered as a traitor. Peter denied Jesus three times and is remembered as a great apostle. What is the difference? Judas, after betraying Jesus, hung himself. Peter, after denying Jesus, repented and went to work preaching the gospel.
Proverbs 29:1 - A person is destroyed, not simply because he errs, but because he becomes stubborn when he is rebuked and will not repent. What is needed is repentance and patience to learn to do right.
Everyone needs to grow as a Christian, and everyone can grow, if he/she simply applies the Bible principles of growth.

Happy Sunday!

Pastor’s Bible Study & Teaching Moments Ministry

The mission of Way Ministry's site is to transform lives through the Love of God, proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Power of the Holy Spirit by worshiping, serving and teaching. Accordingly, this ministry trains individuals in the knowledge of the Bible and gives biblical and theological responses to help people deal with daily stresses and issues of today's society.

Spiritual Mission Directives

To become knowledgeable of the Word of God and engage in regular devoted time to bible study, prayer and meditation; and to equip and strengthen families to meet daily challenges in this environment

Why Desire the Word

i] It is living, Act.7:38, 1Pet.1:23. It is a personified word from God.

ii] It is active, Isa.55:11. It is a communication which fulfills the purpose for which it is uttered.

iii] It is penetrating. The Word of God can probe the innermost motives of the real self and bring them out into the open, and then, with the self exposed to the light, prompt repentance and forgiveness.
Encourage member to tithe: time, talent and resources.

"As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby" (1 Peter 2:2).

Evangelism, The Way of Contact

To witness of the redeeming love of God, urging others to repent and to be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ; by creating a climate for evangelism through small group studies that, enlist, train, and support members in evangelism.

Way Ministry understands that to know the Word of God is one of the most important components of every believer’s life. For it is in the study of God’s Word that one first learns to follow Christ and become His disciple, and secondly, learns how to apply the Word of God to their everyday life. It is God’s desire that every believer study His Word, grow spiritually and “make disciples." A disciple of Christ is a “learner." To follow Christ, one must know and understand the principles by which one must live for the:

Development of faith, belief, self, relationships through the Word of God.

Communication ministry – E-mail bible study, Prayer-mail, DVD, CD, text-blast and booklets.

Kingdom newsletter to keep our family and friends informed where we converse with questions and answers, not just lectures. We look at lesson on living covering all aspects of our life here on earth from: salvation, marriage, family, parenting, relationships, careers, sex, and, money,... you name it.

Thoughts on Christian living detailed with scriptural reference; study materials all to promote positive Christian growth in the word.

Welcome

In the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I welcome you. We are grateful for the way God has opened up the windows of heaven and poured into our life overflowing abundance and evidences of faithfulness that have surpassed what God has done in our lives in times past.

We hope that you are blessed, and are excited to partner in worship. Under the direction of the Holy Ghost, we represent believers who are studying, learning, growing, serving, and further developing ourselves into effective Christian servants.

We are grateful for what God has already done and we are excited that God by the power at work within us is about to "accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever, Amen." If you are looking for a church home we extend ours to you, at Scotts Chapel AME, 511 Tulip Grove Rd., Hermitage TN, or here. We hope that you will take the time to join us as we fellowship and Praise God!