Embracing a Holistic Approach to Spiritual Maturity

Devotional

Day 1: Spiritual maturity is becoming like Christ in every way

True spiritual maturity is not about excelling in just one area of the Christian life, but about growing to reflect Jesus in every aspect—intimacy with the Father, mission to the world, and deep engagement with the church community. Jesus modeled a perfectly balanced life, never overemphasizing one relationship at the expense of the others. To be mature is to be like Christ, and that means pursuing a holistic, well-rounded walk that mirrors His pattern. As you consider your own journey, ask yourself if you are neglecting any of these vital areas, and remember that maturity multiplies—our growth should lead to fruit in every direction. [45:40]

Luke 6:40 (NASB)
“A student is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.”

Reflection: Which area of your walk—intimacy with God, mission to the world, or engagement with the church—do you tend to neglect, and what is one step you can take this week to grow in that area?

Day 2: Christ commends and rebukes His church to shape us

Jesus’ letters to the seven churches in Revelation reveal both His approval and His correction, showing us what He desires for His people. He commends what aligns with His heart and rebukes what falls short, giving us a clear picture of what the church should be and do. These letters are not just ancient history; they are meant for every church and every believer to examine themselves, to see where they fit, and to respond to Christ’s call to repentance and growth. The commendations and rebukes of Jesus are invitations to become the church He approves of, not just the church we imagine. [48:17]

Revelation 2:1-7 (NASB)
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this: ‘I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent. Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.’”

Reflection: What is one area where you sense Jesus might be commending you, and one area where He might be calling you to repent and return to your “first love”?

Day 3: God desires both upward and horizontal love

God is not pleased with our acts of devotion toward Him if we neglect love and justice toward others. The church at Ephesus was commended for their perseverance and discernment, but rebuked for abandoning their first love—likely a love for both God and neighbor. Our faith is incomplete if it is only vertical; it must also be lived out horizontally in love, justice, and care for others. The call is to remember, repent, and return to the deeds of love we did at first, ensuring that our relationship with God overflows into our relationships with people. [50:56]

1 John 4:20-21 (NASB)
“If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.”

Reflection: Who is one person in your life you have found it difficult to love or serve lately, and how can you take a practical step to show them Christ’s love this week?

Day 4: Christ appoints spiritual guardians over His church

Scripture reveals that Christ appoints spiritual beings—angels—as guardians over His churches, demonstrating His care and authority over His people. This truth, seen in both Revelation and Daniel, reminds us that the church is not just a human institution but is under the watchful eye and protection of the spiritual realm. While we should not pray to angels or misunderstand their role, we can take comfort in knowing that God’s church is precious to Him and that He actively oversees and guards it through both seen and unseen means. [54:19]

Daniel 10:12-13 (NASB)
“Then he said to me, ‘Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.’”

Reflection: How does knowing that God appoints spiritual guardians over His church change the way you pray for and participate in your church community?

Day 5: The church’s mission is to equip, not just to serve personal needs

Many people have opinions about what the church should do, often expecting it to meet every personal or social need, but Christ’s vision is for the church to be a spiritual institution that equips people for the work of ministry. The church is not just a social service or a place to receive, but a body where every member is called to grow, serve, and multiply. When we focus on being what Christ calls us to be—equipping and sending—we fulfill our true purpose and become a blessing to the world. [48:17]

Ephesians 4:11-13 (NASB)
“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”

Reflection: In what ways can you move from being a consumer to an equipper in your church—what is one way you can help build up others in the body of Christ this month?

Sermon Summary

After a season of rest and reflection during sabbatical, it’s clear that the next chapter for our church is to pursue what it means to be a well-balanced church. Looking at the life of Jesus, we see a pattern: He maintained deep intimacy with the Father, engaged missionally with the world, and lived in radical community with His disciples. Too often, we tend to overemphasize one of these areas—some of us focus on prayer and spiritual disciplines, others on outreach, and still others on church community—believing that excelling in one makes us spiritually mature. But true maturity is found in becoming like Christ in every way, balancing all three relationships.

Spiritual maturity isn’t about being a monk, an evangelist, or a church worker exclusively. It’s about reflecting Jesus’ holistic approach: loving God, loving others, and living on mission. If we only excel in one area, we miss the fullness of what Christ modeled. This year, our aim is to grow in all three areas, not neglecting any, so that we become a church that truly mirrors Christ’s life.

To guide us, we’ll be studying the seven letters to the churches in Revelation. These letters reveal what Christ commends and rebukes in His church. They serve as a mirror, helping us see where we are strong and where we need to repent and grow. The first letter, to the church in Ephesus, shows a community that excelled in doctrine and perseverance but had lost its first love—its love for others. Christ makes it clear: He is not pleased with deeds done for Him if love for others is absent. Our vertical love for God must be matched by our horizontal love for people.

We also explored the fascinating reality that Christ appoints spiritual guardians—angels—over churches. This isn’t just a poetic idea but a biblical truth, seen throughout Scripture. These spiritual beings are tasked with watching over regions and churches, reminding us that the church is both a physical and spiritual community. As we move forward, let’s ask ourselves: Where do we fit in these letters? Are we balanced, or have we neglected an area of Christlikeness? The call is to become like Christ in every way, both as individuals and as a church.

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Key Takeaways

1. Spiritual Maturity Is Holistic, Not Compartmentalized True spiritual maturity is not found in overemphasizing one aspect of the Christian life—whether prayer, mission, or community—but in reflecting the balanced life of Christ. Jesus maintained intimacy with the Father, engaged the world missionally, and lived in deep community. To become like Christ, we must grow in all three areas, refusing to neglect any part of His example. [43:37]
2. Our Deeds for God Are Empty Without Love for Others Christ’s letter to Ephesus reveals that it’s possible to do many good works, persevere, and even defend sound doctrine, yet still fall short if love for others is missing. God is not pleased with our service to Him if it is not matched by genuine love for people. The measure of our faithfulness is not just in what we do for God, but in how we love those around us. [50:56]
3. The Church’s Identity Is Defined by Christ, Not Public Opinion Many have opinions about what the church should be—social service, community center, or something else—but only Christ’s voice defines the church’s true calling. The letters in Revelation show that Christ alone commends and rebukes, setting the standard for what pleases Him. Our task is to listen to His voice, not the shifting expectations of the world, and align ourselves with His vision. [48:17]
4. Spiritual Guardianship Is a Biblical Reality Scripture teaches that Christ appoints spiritual beings—angels—over churches and regions. This spiritual guardianship is not a myth or a sentimental idea, but a reality that underscores the spiritual dimension of church life. While we don’t pray to these angels or confuse them with human leaders, we recognize that God’s care for His church is both seen and unseen. [54:19]
5. Self-Examination Is Essential for Growth The letters to the churches were circulated so that every church and believer could examine themselves in light of Christ’s words. We are called to ask: Where do we fit in these letters? Are we being commended or rebuked by Christ’s standard? Honest self-examination, both individually and corporately, is the pathway to repentance, growth, and becoming a church that truly reflects Jesus. [50:56]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[38:37] - Reflections from Sabbatical
[39:49] - The Call to a Well-Balanced Church
[43:37] - The Jesus Pattern: Three Relationships
[45:40] - Defining Spiritual Maturity
[48:17] - What Should the Church Be?
[50:56] - Christ’s Letter to Ephesus
[52:15] - Who Is the Angel of the Church?
[54:19] - Spiritual Guardianship in Scripture
[57:11] - The Three Falls and Spiritual Realities
[59:00] - Lessons from Daniel and Psalms
[61:00] - Applying the Letters to Our Church
[63:00] - The Call to Self-Examination
[65:00] - Prayer and Closing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Revelation 2:1-7 (NASB) — “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this:
‘I know your deeds and your labor and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people, and you have put those who call themselves apostles to the test, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured on account of My name, and have not become weary. But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and I will remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. But you have this, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will grant to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.’”

Observation Questions

What are the three main relationships Jesus modeled in His life, according to the sermon? ([43:37])
In Revelation 2:1-7, what does Jesus commend the church in Ephesus for, and what does He rebuke them for?
According to the sermon, who or what is the “angel” of the church in Ephesus, and what is their role? ([52:15])
What does Jesus say will happen if the church in Ephesus does not repent and return to their first love? (Revelation 2:5)

Interpretation Questions

Why does Jesus emphasize the need for both love for God (vertical) and love for others (horizontal) in the life of the church? ([50:56])
How does the pattern of Jesus’ life challenge the idea that spiritual maturity is found in focusing on just one area (prayer, mission, or community)? ([43:37])
What does it mean that Christ alone defines what the church should be, rather than public opinion or tradition? ([48:17])
What is the significance of Christ appointing spiritual guardians (angels) over churches, and how should this shape our understanding of church life? ([54:19])

Application Questions

Looking at your own life, which of the three areas—intimacy with God, mission to the world, or community with believers—do you tend to overemphasize or neglect? What is one step you can take this week to grow in a more balanced way? ([43:37])
The church in Ephesus was strong in doctrine and perseverance but had lost its first love. Have you ever found yourself doing good things for God but lacking genuine love for people? What would it look like to return to your “first love”? ([50:56])
When you think about what the church should be, do you find yourself influenced more by culture, tradition, or by what Christ says in Scripture? How can you realign your expectations with Jesus’ vision for the church? ([48:17])
The sermon talked about spiritual guardianship and the unseen spiritual reality of church life. How does knowing that God cares for the church both physically and spiritually affect the way you pray for and participate in church? ([54:19])
The letters to the churches in Revelation are meant for self-examination. What is one area where you sense Christ might be commending you, and one area where He might be calling you to repent and grow? ([50:56])
If spiritual maturity is “becoming like Christ in every way,” what is one practical way you can imitate Jesus’ balance this month—in your time, relationships, or priorities? ([45:40])
As a group, how can we help each other pursue a well-balanced faith, making sure no one is left to grow alone in just one area? What support or accountability would be helpful for you?

Sermon Clips

When you look at Jesus' life, he had a very well -balanced life, right? He did not do as many of us do at often, which is we pick one of these relationships and we emphasize that. And then as we emphasize whatever relationship we think matters most, we then gauge our spiritual maturity based upon that, right? [00:42:57] (18 seconds) #BalancedFaithJourney

``Because you're not mature if you just grate with your upward relationship with the Father. It seems mature. It looks mature. But if you got all this prayer time, but you don't go and proclaim the gospel, how is that maturity? Right? Because maturity multiplies, somebody. [00:45:19] (18 seconds) #ChurchBalanceChallenge

At the same time, how can you claim to be mature because you're always engaging with the world, but you forget the church? Because the...body of Christ belongs to each other, right? My point is, you, to be, what is, okay, let me give you a definition. Spiritual maturity is becoming like Christ in every way, okay? [00:45:41] (21 seconds) #LettersToChurches

Spiritual maturity is becoming like Christ in every way, and this is what Jesus teaches us in Luke 6 and 40. He says, what, a student is not like his, I mean, a student is not above his teacher, but when he is fully trained, he will be like his teacher. That means in order to claim spiritual maturity, we must become like Christ, and so if Christ had a balanced walk with his relationship with the Father, if Christ had a balanced walk with the mission to the world, if Christ had a balanced walk with his engagement with the church, then we cannot claim to be spiritually mature if we lack in any of those areas, or not lack, if we neglect any of those areas, and so my goal this year is to make us balanced, right? [00:46:02] (48 seconds) #EphesusLoveLesson

Because you got to remember, letters were circulated around. It may have been addressed to one church, but then those letters would be circulated around the Christian community. And so other churches got the eavesdrop in on what Christ was saying to another church. But they also had to ask the question, where do we fit in this as a church and as individuals? [00:50:21] (18 seconds)

We're going to see that Christ commends the church of Ephesus for having an upward love towards him, but missing out on the horizontal love towards others. And so in today's message, what we're going to see is that God is not pleased with our love deeds towards him if our love deeds towards each other are nil or absent or unjust. [00:50:56] (22 seconds)

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