Growing in Faith: Embracing Spiritual Maturity and Discernment

Devotional

Day 1: Active Engagement with God's Word

Spiritual maturity requires an intentional effort to engage deeply with God's word, moving beyond basic teachings. This growth is not automatic; it demands a desire to deepen one's understanding of spiritual truths. The writer of Hebrews challenges believers to progress in their faith, emphasizing that spiritual stagnation limits our capacity to receive from God. By actively engaging with Scripture, believers can mature over time, becoming skilled in the word of righteousness and discerning good from evil. This maturity is not about achieving sinless perfection but about growing in spiritual understanding and practice. [05:44]

Hebrews 6:1-2 (ESV): "Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment."

Reflection: What specific steps can you take this week to move beyond the elementary teachings of your faith and engage more deeply with God's word?

Day 2: Exercising Spiritual Senses

The spiritual senses, like physical senses, need to be exercised and developed. This involves discerning good from evil and being attuned to the spiritual realities around us. Such discernment is a mark of spiritual maturity. The writer of Hebrews warns that spiritual dullness hinders the ability to grasp deeper truths about Jesus' priesthood. By exercising spiritual senses, believers can become more attuned to God's voice and the spiritual realities that surround them, leading to a more mature and discerning faith. [12:05]

Hebrews 5:14 (ESV): "But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to exercise your spiritual senses more intentionally to discern good from evil?

Day 3: Holding Fast to the Unique Truths of Christianity

The temptation to retreat into a safe, common ground shared with culture or other belief systems can dilute the distinctiveness of the Christian faith. Holding fast to the unique truths of Christianity, particularly the cross, is essential. The writer of Hebrews emphasizes the superiority of Jesus over Moses and the Old Testament system, highlighting Jesus as our compassionate high priest. Believers are called to hold fast to the truths of Jesus' person and work, even if it means facing rejection or mockery from the world. [28:24]

1 Corinthians 1:18 (ESV): "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."

Reflection: How can you hold fast to the unique truths of Christianity in your daily interactions, even when faced with cultural pressures to conform?

Day 4: Balancing Shared Values with Distinctive Faith

True Christian maturity involves a balance of embracing shared values with the culture, like love and helping others, while maintaining the distinctives of the faith. This balance prevents the loss of Christian identity and mission. The writer of Hebrews draws a parallel between the overlap of Christian and Jewish doctrines and the overlap between modern culture and Christianity. Believers are encouraged to maintain their distinctiveness while engaging with the world in love and service. [31:00]

Romans 12:2 (ESV): "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

Reflection: What are some shared values with the culture that you can embrace, and how can you maintain your distinct Christian identity while doing so?

Day 5: Dependence on God for Spiritual Growth

Dependence on God is crucial for spiritual growth and perseverance. Recognizing our limitations and asking God to work in us is vital for overcoming discouragement and living a full and faithful Christian life. The writer of Hebrews encourages believers to persevere in their faith, emphasizing the importance of relying on God for strength and guidance. By acknowledging our need for God, we can grow spiritually and remain steadfast in our faith journey. [33:31]

2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to depend more on God for spiritual growth and perseverance? How can you invite Him into those areas today?

Sermon Summary

In Hebrews chapter 5, we are reminded of the profound spiritual truths that the writer of Hebrews sought to convey to discouraged Christians. These believers were on the brink of giving up, and the letter was written to encourage them to persevere in their faith. The writer emphasizes the superiority of Jesus over Moses and the Old Testament system, highlighting Jesus as our compassionate high priest seated at the right hand of God. However, the writer pauses to address a critical issue: the readers had become dull of hearing. This spiritual dullness hindered their ability to grasp deeper truths about Jesus' priesthood, particularly the comparison between the priesthoods of Aaron and Melchizedek.

The writer warns that spiritual stagnation limits our capacity to receive from God. He challenges the readers to progress in their faith, moving beyond the elementary principles of Christianity. The expectation is that believers should mature over time, becoming skilled in the word of righteousness and discerning good from evil. This maturity is not about achieving sinless perfection but about growing in spiritual understanding and practice.

The sermon also draws a parallel between the overlap of Christian and Jewish doctrines and the overlap between modern culture and Christianity. The temptation to retreat into a safe, inoffensive common ground is strong, but it comes at the cost of losing the distinctiveness of the Christian faith, particularly the centrality of the cross. The call is to hold fast to the truths of Jesus' person and work, even if it means facing rejection or mockery from the world.

Key Takeaways

1. Spiritual maturity requires active engagement with God's word and a willingness to move beyond basic teachings. This growth is not automatic; it requires intentional effort and a desire to deepen one's understanding of spiritual truths. [05:44]
2. The spiritual senses, like physical senses, need to be exercised and developed. This involves discerning good from evil and being attuned to the spiritual realities around us. Such discernment is a mark of spiritual maturity. [12:05]
3. The temptation to retreat into a safe, common ground shared with culture or other belief systems can dilute the distinctiveness of the Christian faith. Holding fast to the unique truths of Christianity, particularly the cross, is essential. [28:24]
4. True Christian maturity involves a balance of embracing shared values with the culture, like love and helping others, while maintaining the distinctives of the faith. This balance prevents the loss of Christian identity and mission. [31:00]
5. Dependence on God is crucial for spiritual growth and perseverance. Recognizing our limitations and asking God to work in us is vital for overcoming discouragement and living a full and faithful Christian life. [33:31]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:13] - Introduction to Hebrews
[00:46] - Prayer for Understanding
[01:19] - Context of Hebrews
[02:10] - Jesus as High Priest
[03:17] - Dullness of Hearing
[05:32] - Need for Spiritual Growth
[07:14] - Continual Progress in Faith
[10:38] - Spiritual Maturity and Discernment
[12:22] - Spiritual Realities
[14:49] - Developing Spiritual Senses
[18:30] - Discernment of Good and Evil
[19:12] - Moving Beyond Elementary Principles
[26:21] - Christianity and Judaism Overlap
[28:39] - Modern Culture and Christianity
[31:41] - Temptations in Modern Christianity
[33:12] - Dependence on God for Growth
[35:39] - Worship as Expression of Faith

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Hebrews 5:11-14
Hebrews 6:1-3
Psalm 34:8

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Observation Questions:

What does the writer of Hebrews mean when he says the readers have "become dull of hearing"? How does this affect their spiritual growth? [03:17]
According to Hebrews 5:12, what should the readers have been capable of by this time in their spiritual journey, and what does this imply about their current state? [05:44]
How does the writer of Hebrews describe the difference between spiritual "milk" and "solid food"? What does this metaphor suggest about spiritual maturity? [10:38]
What are the six foundational principles mentioned in Hebrews 6:1-2, and how do they relate to both Christianity and Judaism? [22:37]

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Interpretation Questions:

Why does the writer of Hebrews emphasize the need to move beyond the "elementary principles" of Christianity? What might be the consequences of not doing so? [19:12]
How does the analogy of spiritual senses relate to the concept of discernment in the Christian life? Why is this discernment important for spiritual maturity? [12:05]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that modern culture overlaps with Christian values, and why is it important to maintain the distinctiveness of the Christian faith? [28:24]
How does the sermon describe the role of dependence on God in achieving spiritual growth and perseverance? What does this imply about the nature of spiritual maturity? [33:31]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on your own spiritual journey. Are there areas where you feel you have become "dull of hearing"? What steps can you take to sharpen your spiritual senses? [03:17]
The sermon challenges believers to move beyond basic teachings. Identify one area of your faith where you feel stagnant. What specific action can you take this week to grow in that area? [05:44]
Consider the temptation to retreat into a safe, common ground with culture. Are there aspects of your faith that you have compromised to avoid conflict or rejection? How can you reclaim those distinctives? [28:24]
The sermon emphasizes the importance of discernment. Think of a recent decision you made. How did you discern between good and evil in that situation, and what role did your spiritual senses play? [12:05]
Dependence on God is crucial for spiritual growth. Identify a current challenge in your life. How can you actively depend on God to help you overcome it? [33:31]
The sermon mentions the importance of balancing shared cultural values with maintaining Christian distinctives. How can you practice this balance in your interactions with non-believers this week? [31:00]
Reflect on the idea of spiritual maturity as completeness. What does a "complete" Christian life look like to you, and what steps can you take to move towards that vision? [20:13]

Sermon Clips

"Spiritual maturity requires active engagement with God's word and a willingness to move beyond basic teachings. This growth is not automatic; it requires intentional effort and a desire to deepen one's understanding of spiritual truths." [00:05:44]

"The spiritual senses, like physical senses, need to be exercised and developed. This involves discerning good from evil and being attuned to the spiritual realities around us. Such discernment is a mark of spiritual maturity." [00:12:05]

"The temptation to retreat into a safe, common ground shared with culture or other belief systems can dilute the distinctiveness of the Christian faith. Holding fast to the unique truths of Christianity, particularly the cross, is essential." [00:28:24]

"True Christian maturity involves a balance of embracing shared values with the culture, like love and helping others, while maintaining the distinctives of the faith. This balance prevents the loss of Christian identity and mission." [00:31:00]

"Dependence on God is crucial for spiritual growth and perseverance. Recognizing our limitations and asking God to work in us is vital for overcoming discouragement and living a full and faithful Christian life." [00:33:31]

"By this time you ought to be teachers, but you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe." [00:05:32]

"Solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. In other words, to become a babe for someone to be like a little baby over and over again in their Christian life, it's just wrong." [00:10:38]

"There's a spiritual world out there that we are in contact with all the time, that there is a spiritual environment in this very room or in your home or all around you, and you connect, you interact. That spiritual environment has an effect on you, and you in some measure have an effect on it." [00:12:22]

"God gives us senses by which we can interact with the spiritual world. You have physical senses by which you interact with the material world, don't you? You have sight, you have hearing, you have taste, you have all these other things." [00:14:49]

"There's a spiritual sense of taste. The Bible says this: 'Taste and see that the Lord is good.' He didn't mean for you to lick your Bible, but there's a sense in which we can taste. Now again, you understand it's speaking sort of with a metaphor, but the idea is the same." [00:18:30]

"There's a spiritual sense of hearing. He says in the Bible of Jesus did to the churches in Revelation, 'He who has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.' He's appealing to the spiritual ear, which again is analogous to our physical or material ear." [00:19:12]

"There's a spiritual sense of sight. The psalmist said, 'Open my eyes that I may see wondrous things from your law.' Again, he's not referring so much to his physical eyes to where he could read the scroll, but something beyond that." [00:26:21]

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