Embracing Spiritual Growth: A Call to Maturity
Summary
The church is uniquely positioned to change the world, not by accident, but by God’s design. As a community, we are called not just to gather, but to grow—both individually and together. Growth is the expectation for all living, healthy things, and the same is true for our spiritual lives. Just as a child, a tree, or a relationship is expected to mature, so too are we called to move from spiritual infancy to maturity in Christ. This is not a suggestion, but a necessity, because when we stop growing, we risk losing our essence and missing out on all that God has for us.
Ephesians 4 reminds us that God has made every provision for our growth. He has given us leaders—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers—not to do all the work, but to equip each of us for ministry. The staff’s role is to help the congregation mature so that the whole body can serve and reflect Christ more fully. Our growth is not just for our own benefit; as we mature, the church itself becomes stronger, more unified, and a clearer witness to the world.
God’s purpose for our growth is deeply intentional. He desires that we reach unity in faith and knowledge, becoming mature and attaining the fullness of Christ. When we refuse to grow, we become vulnerable—tossed about by every new teaching, easily deceived, and distracted from our mission. But when we choose to grow, beautiful possibilities emerge: love becomes our language, truth our standard, and every member finds their place and purpose in the body.
God uses many means to grow us: practical biblical teaching, private spiritual disciplines, personal ministry, providential relationships, and pivotal life circumstances. None of these are wasted; God weaves them all together to shape us into mature disciples. The invitation is clear: will we choose to grow? Will we move beyond Sunday faith and become salt and light in every space we enter? God is ready to meet us in this journey, equipping and empowering us to be the church He has called us to be.
Key Takeaways
- Growth Is the Expectation for the Living
Healthy things grow, and spiritual growth is not optional for followers of Jesus. Just as a tree or a child is expected to mature, so too are we called to move from spiritual infancy to maturity. Stagnation is a sign of decline, and refusing to grow means risking the loss of our God-given purpose and vitality. [53:58]
- God Has Already Provided for Our Growth
God does not call us to grow and then leave us to figure it out alone. He has given us leaders and teachers to equip us, not to replace our responsibility, but to help us mature and serve. The church thrives when every member embraces their role in ministry, moving from passive attendance to active participation. [01:02:49]
- Our Growth Has a Divine Purpose Beyond Ourselves
Spiritual maturity is not just for personal benefit; as we grow, the entire church is strengthened and becomes a more authentic reflection of Christ. Our unity, knowledge, and maturity are essential for the church to fulfill its mission in the world. God’s purpose for each of us is significant, and we cannot treat our calling as optional or secondary. [01:08:02]
- Refusing to Grow Leads to Vulnerability and Division
When we neglect spiritual growth, we become susceptible to confusion, deception, and instability. Immaturity in the church results in being easily swayed by every new idea and distracted from our true calling. Maturity brings discernment, stability, and the ability to build up others rather than just reacting to circumstances. [01:10:31]
- God Uses Every Circumstance and Relationship to Grow Us
Growth happens through practical teaching, private disciplines, serving others, providential relationships, and pivotal life events. Nothing in our lives is wasted—God uses even our hardest seasons to deepen our faith, especially when we walk through them with others. The difference between growing through hardship and being stuck often lies in the community we keep and our willingness to let God work in us. [01:22:35]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[47:35] - Opening and Gratitude for Worship Team
[49:51] - Recap: The Value of Connection
[51:31] - Introduction to “Grow” and Ephesians 4
[52:54] - The Expectation of Growth in All Living Things
[53:58] - The Danger of Stagnation
[55:43] - God’s Call to Spiritual Maturity
[57:03] - Spiritual Growth Is Essential
[58:05] - The Context of the Ephesian Church
[59:03] - God’s Provision for Our Growth
[01:02:49] - The Role of Church Leaders in Equipping
[01:05:39] - God’s Divine Purpose for Our Growth
[01:10:31] - Problems When We Refuse to Grow
[01:12:55] - The Beautiful Possibilities of Growth
[01:15:38] - Five Ways God Grows Our Faith
[01:23:19] - The Invitation to Choose Growth
[01:24:46] - Living Out Faith Beyond Sunday
[01:29:43] - Invitation to Salvation and Church Membership
[01:31:15] - Final Blessing and Sending Forth
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: “Grow – Moving from Spiritual Infancy to Maturity”
---
### Bible Reading
Ephesians 4:11-16 (ESV)
11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
---
### Observation Questions
1. According to Ephesians 4:11-12, what roles did Christ give to the church, and what is their main purpose?
2. What are some of the dangers Paul describes in verse 14 for those who remain spiritually immature?
3. In the sermon, what examples did the pastor give to show that healthy things are expected to grow? [53:58]
4. What does Paul say happens to the church “as each part does its work” in verse 16?
---
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Paul emphasize that leaders are given to “equip the saints for the work of ministry” rather than to do all the ministry themselves? How does this challenge common ideas about church staff and members? [01:02:49]
2. The pastor said, “When we refuse to grow individually or collectively, we lose ourselves and we risk losing all that God has for us.” What does it look like for a church or a person to “lose their essence” by not growing? [55:43]
3. According to the sermon, what are some of the “beautiful possibilities” that emerge when a church chooses to grow in Christ? [01:12:55]
4. The pastor listed five ways God grows our faith. Which of these do you think is most often overlooked in churches, and why? [01:15:38]
---
### Application Questions
1. The sermon said, “Healthy things grow, and spiritual growth is not optional for followers of Jesus.” In what area of your spiritual life do you feel you have stopped growing? What is one step you could take this week to move forward? [53:58]
2. The pastor challenged the idea that church staff should do all the ministry, saying instead that every member is called to serve. What is one way you could move from being a “passive attender” to an “active participant” in the life of the church? [01:02:49]
3. Paul warns that spiritual immaturity leaves us “tossed back and forth by the waves.” Are there teachings, trends, or voices that have distracted you from your faith? How can you develop more discernment and stability? [01:10:31]
4. The sermon described five ways God grows us: practical biblical teaching, private disciplines, personal ministry, providential relationships, and pivotal circumstances. Which of these is God using in your life right now? How can you lean into it more intentionally? [01:15:38]
5. The pastor said, “The difference between growing through a difficult season and staying stuck often lies in the community we keep.” Who is walking with you in your current season? Is there someone you need to invite into your journey, or someone you could support? [01:22:35]
6. The invitation was given to “move beyond Sunday faith and become salt and light in every space we enter.” What is one specific way you can live out your faith at work, school, or home this week? [01:24:46]
7. The pastor prayed that no one in the church would feel alone in their desire to grow. Is there a next step you need to take to connect with others for accountability or encouragement? What might be holding you back? [01:27:37]
---
Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite group members to pray for one another, asking God to help each person take a next step in spiritual growth and to strengthen the church as a whole.
Devotional
Day 1: God Provides for Our Growth
God, in His infinite wisdom, has not left us to figure out spiritual growth on our own. He has given the church apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers as gifts to equip us for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up. These leaders are not meant to do all the ministry themselves, but to help every believer mature and take responsibility for their own faith journey. As we recognize and receive these provisions, we are reminded that God is deeply committed to our growth and has already put in place everything we need to become who He has called us to be. [01:01:57]
Ephesians 4:11-12 (ESV)
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
Reflection: Who in your life has God placed to help you grow spiritually, and how can you intentionally receive from them or express gratitude for their role in your journey?
Day 2: God’s Divine Purpose for Your Growth
Your spiritual growth is not just for your own benefit; it is part of God’s greater purpose for the church. As you grow in unity and in the knowledge of Jesus, the whole church becomes more mature and more reflective of Christ to the world. God’s call for you to grow is a sign of your significance and purpose in His kingdom. You are not expendable or overlooked—your growth is essential to the health and witness of the entire body of Christ. [01:08:02]
Ephesians 4:13 (ESV)
until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
Reflection: In what ways do you see your personal growth impacting the unity and maturity of your church community, and what is one step you can take this week to contribute to that growth?
Day 3: The Dangers of Refusing to Grow
When we refuse to grow spiritually, we risk becoming spiritually immature, easily swayed by every new teaching or trend, and vulnerable to confusion and deception. A church that is not committed to growth is like a group of infants tossed about by the waves, unable to stand firm in faith or discern truth from error. Spiritual maturity means learning to discern who and what you allow to shape your beliefs and actions, and it is essential for the health and mission of the church. [01:10:31]
Ephesians 4:14 (ESV)
so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
Reflection: What voices or influences do you need to limit or let go of in order to focus on growing in Christ and standing firm in your faith?
Day 4: The Beautiful Possibilities of Choosing to Grow
When we choose to grow in Christ, the church becomes a place where love is the language, truth is the standard, and every member is actively contributing to the health and strength of the body. Growth leads us to stop competing and start completing one another, building each other up in love. As each part does its work, the church becomes a powerful witness to the world of what Jesus is like, and together we experience the fullness of God’s vision for His people. [01:14:37]
Ephesians 4:15-16 (ESV)
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
Reflection: What is one way you can “speak the truth in love” or use your gifts to build up someone else in your church this week?
Day 5: Embracing the Rhythms That Grow Our Faith
God uses practical biblical teaching, private disciplines, personal ministry, providential relationships, and pivotal circumstances to grow our faith. Growth is not accidental—it happens as we intentionally engage in these rhythms, both individually and together. Whether through studying Scripture, serving others, building relationships, or trusting God in life’s turning points, every moment can be an opportunity for spiritual growth if we are willing to say yes to God’s invitation. [01:16:47]
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Reflection: Which of these five rhythms—biblical teaching, private disciplines, personal ministry, providential relationships, or pivotal circumstances—do you sense God inviting you to lean into more deeply this week, and what is one practical step you can take today?
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Aug 11, 2025. Do you have any questions about it?