God who gives us the new birth puts all things in place so that we can grow into spiritual maturity. Just as parents provide their children food, protection, shelter, medical care and everything that a child needs to develop both physically and mentally, so also He has given us everything we need.
Topic: Christian Maturity
Texts: 1 Corinth. 13:11; 1 Peter 2:2-3; Hebrews 5:12-14.
AIMS
- To help us understand the meaning of Christian maturity
- To enable us learn about Christian growth
- To help us understand why Christians must grow
INTRODUCTION
Last week we learned about God’s mercy and patience towards babes in Christ. But babes will never remain babes forever. Therefore, it is very important to grow from infancy stage into adulthood in Christ.
Every parent has the hope of having an adult in the future out of the baby they are taking care of today. Growth is a natural phenomenon. As it is in the physically so it is in the spiritually. God who gives us the new birth puts all things in place so that we can grow into spiritual maturity. Just as parents provide their children food, protection, shelter, medical care and everything that a child needs to develop both physically and mentally, so also He has given us everything we need. 2 Peter 1:3 says “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue”. Growth is one of God’s expectations of us.
Below are some examples of growth:
Luke 2:52 “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.”
1 Samuel 2:26 “And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men.”
Luke 1:80 “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.”
1 Peter 2:2 “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby”
2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”
QUESTIONS FOR Discussion.
- Why is Christian maturity important? Ephesians 4:13, 14.
- What are the hindrances to spiritual growth?
- How can a baby Christian grow into maturity? 1 Peter 2:2
CONCLUSION
God accepts us the way we are but He expects us to grow into maturity with time. Christians who abhors growth slide into lukewarmness. God hates lukewarmness – being neither hot nor cold. Growing is an expectation that we must meet.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Nothing grows without food. Do you feed on God’s Word daily?
MEMORY VERSE
Hebrews 5:12 “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.”
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