Growing in Faith: Maturity Through Character, Contribution, and Culture
Summary
In our journey of faith, we often find ourselves at different stages of spiritual growth, each with its own challenges and opportunities. Today, I want to explore what it means to mature in our walk with Christ, drawing from Ephesians 4 and a concept known as stage theory. Our spiritual journey is not a sprint but a marathon, a process of transformation that unfolds over time. Paul, in Ephesians, emphasizes three key elements of maturity: character, contribution, and culture.
Character is foundational. Paul urges us to walk in a manner worthy of our calling, embodying humility, gentleness, patience, love, and peacemaking. These virtues are not instantly acquired but cultivated over time, often through life's challenges and our interactions with others. Our character is shaped as we align ourselves with the truth of who God is and who we are in Him.
Contribution is the next step. Each of us is gifted uniquely by God to serve and build up the body of Christ. Our contribution is not limited to church activities but extends to every aspect of our lives, whether in our professions, communities, or families. Discovering and honing our gifts is a journey in itself, requiring patience and perseverance.
Culture, the third element, involves navigating the pressures and influences of the world around us. Paul warns against being tossed by every wind of doctrine and instead calls us to grow in truth and love. This means grounding ourselves in the truth of God's Word and living it out in love, resisting the cultural currents that seek to sway us.
Stage theory offers a framework for understanding our spiritual growth. It begins with the recognition of God, moves through initial discipleship and learning, and progresses to contribution and service. However, many of us get stuck at various stages, often due to a consumer mindset or an over-identification with our roles. The journey inward, or deepening, is a critical stage where we confront our limitations and rely on God's grace to move forward.
Ultimately, the goal is to reach a place of freedom and acceptance, where our internal transformation empowers us to love and serve others more fully. This journey is not linear, and we may revisit stages as life circumstances change. Yet, through it all, we are beloved children of God, and our identity in Him remains secure.
Key Takeaways:
1. Character Development: Spiritual maturity begins with character, which is cultivated over time through humility, patience, and love. These virtues are counter-cultural and require intentional growth, often revealing our weaknesses and limitations. [25:42]
2. Discovering Contribution: Each believer is uniquely gifted to contribute to God's kingdom. This involves a journey of discovering and honing our gifts, which takes time and perseverance. Our contribution is not limited to church activities but extends to all areas of life. [33:37]
3. Navigating Cultural Pressures: Maturity involves grounding ourselves in truth and love, resisting cultural influences that seek to sway us. This requires a deep understanding of who God is and who we are in Him, allowing us to live authentically and purposefully. [46:05]
4. The Journey Inward: The inward journey is marked by a deep personal exploration and reliance on God's grace. It often involves confronting our limitations and letting go of control, leading to a profound transformation that empowers us to love and serve others more fully. [52:10]
5. Freedom and Acceptance: The ultimate goal of spiritual maturity is reaching a place of freedom and acceptance, where our internal transformation empowers us to make a significant impact in the world. This journey is ongoing, and our identity as beloved children of God remains secure throughout. [57:38]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:45] - Introduction to the Journey
- [03:15] - Character: The Foundation of Maturity
- [10:30] - Contribution: Discovering Our Gifts
- [18:00] - Culture: Navigating Pressures
- [25:42] - The Process of Maturation
- [33:37] - Stage Theory: Understanding Growth
- [39:32] - Getting Stuck: Challenges in Growth
- [46:05] - Identity and Contribution
- [52:10] - The Journey Inward: Deepening Faith
- [57:38] - The Wall: Surrender and Dependence
- [01:03:01] - Practices for Growth
- [01:07:04] - Community and Support
- [01:30:35] - Closing Blessing
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 4:1-16
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Observation Questions:
1. What are the character qualities Paul emphasizes in Ephesians 4:2, and how do they relate to spiritual maturity? [25:42]
2. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the metaphor of a "walk" in describing the Christian life? [25:42]
3. How does Paul describe the role of different gifts and roles within the church in Ephesians 4:11-12? [33:37]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the cultural pressures that can influence believers, as mentioned in Ephesians 4:14? [46:05]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon explain the process of character development in the life of a believer, and why is it considered foundational to spiritual maturity? [25:42]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that believers can discover and hone their unique contributions to God's kingdom? [33:37]
3. How does the sermon interpret the concept of "truthing in love" from Ephesians 4:15, and what does it mean for a believer's growth? [46:05]
4. What insights does the sermon provide about the "journey inward" and the role of God's grace in overcoming personal limitations? [52:10]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own spiritual journey. Which stage of spiritual growth do you feel you are currently in, and what steps can you take to move forward? [33:37]
2. Consider the character qualities mentioned in Ephesians 4:2. Which of these do you find most challenging to cultivate, and what practical steps can you take to develop them further? [25:42]
3. Identify a specific gift or talent you believe God has given you. How can you use this gift to contribute to your community or church in a meaningful way? [33:37]
4. Think about the cultural pressures you face in your daily life. How can you ground yourself more deeply in the truth of God's Word to resist these influences? [46:05]
5. The sermon discusses the importance of the "journey inward." What personal limitations or fears do you need to confront, and how can you rely on God's grace to overcome them? [52:10]
6. Reflect on a time when you felt stuck in your spiritual growth. What helped you move past that stage, and how can you apply those lessons to your current situation? [39:32]
7. How can you create a supportive community around you that encourages spiritual growth and accountability? What role can you play in fostering such a community? [01:07:04]
Devotional
Day 1: Cultivating Character Through Challenges
Character development is foundational to spiritual maturity. It involves embodying virtues such as humility, gentleness, patience, love, and peacemaking. These virtues are not acquired overnight but are cultivated over time, often through life's challenges and our interactions with others. As we align ourselves with the truth of who God is and who we are in Him, our character is shaped and refined. This process reveals our weaknesses and limitations, inviting us to rely on God's strength and grace. [25:42]
"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive." (Colossians 3:12-13, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a recent challenge you faced. How did it reveal areas where you need to grow in humility, patience, or love? What steps can you take today to cultivate these virtues in your life?
Day 2: Discovering and Honing Your Unique Gifts
Each believer is uniquely gifted to contribute to God's kingdom. This involves a journey of discovering and honing our gifts, which takes time and perseverance. Our contribution is not limited to church activities but extends to all areas of life, including our professions, communities, and families. As we explore and develop our gifts, we find ways to serve and build up the body of Christ, fulfilling our calling and purpose. [33:37]
"Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness." (Romans 12:6-8, ESV)
Reflection: What is one gift or talent you believe God has given you? How can you begin to use this gift more intentionally in your daily life to serve others and glorify God?
Day 3: Grounding Yourself in Truth and Love
Maturity involves grounding ourselves in truth and love, resisting cultural influences that seek to sway us. This requires a deep understanding of who God is and who we are in Him, allowing us to live authentically and purposefully. By anchoring ourselves in the truth of God's Word, we can navigate the pressures and influences of the world around us, growing in wisdom and discernment. [46:05]
"See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ." (Colossians 2:8, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a cultural pressure or influence that challenges your faith. How can you ground yourself in God's truth and love to resist this influence and live more authentically?
Day 4: Embracing the Inward Journey
The inward journey is marked by a deep personal exploration and reliance on God's grace. It often involves confronting our limitations and letting go of control, leading to a profound transformation that empowers us to love and serve others more fully. This journey requires vulnerability and openness to God's work in our lives, as we trust Him to guide us through the process of growth and change. [52:10]
"Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" (Psalm 139:23-24, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to let go of control? How can you invite God into this area and rely on His grace to transform you?
Day 5: Finding Freedom and Acceptance in Christ
The ultimate goal of spiritual maturity is reaching a place of freedom and acceptance, where our internal transformation empowers us to make a significant impact in the world. This journey is ongoing, and our identity as beloved children of God remains secure throughout. As we grow in our relationship with Christ, we experience the freedom to live out our calling with confidence and joy, knowing that we are fully accepted and loved by God. [57:38]
"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." (Galatians 5:1, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways do you seek acceptance from others rather than finding your identity in Christ? How can you embrace the freedom and acceptance that comes from knowing you are a beloved child of God?
Quotes
Paul begins with character verse 1 therefore a prisoner for the Lord I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you've been called with all humility gentleness patience bearing with one another in love eager to maintain the unity of the spirit and the bond of peace now Paul just sort of baking is baking into these verses the assumption that there is a worthy way to walk right there is an actual destination a goal and by speaking of the Christian life as a walk he envisions maturation this process of transformation as a journey right with each day each step is an opportunity right to grow so while there's a goal there's also a process or a journey right by framing the spiritual life as a walk Paul invites the Ephesians to consider what does it look like to journey with God to God [00:19:24]
The process unfolds, Paul says, until we attain mature manhood. Now, this language is super, like, it bumps. If you're a woman, you're like, what? You know, if you're a man, you're like, I don't even know what that means. This is not like a manosphere reference or a machismo sort of shout -out. And it doesn't exclude women. In Greek, it's just a way of pointing out that Jesus was a man, and we are all men and women trying to become like him. Now, normally we read the ESV. So there's different translations, right? So Ephesians is written as Greek. Over the last 2 ,000 years of church history, there have been a lot of different translations from the Greek into different languages. We tend to use ESV, but I think ESV totally ruins it here. It just bumps all of us out. I think the NIV is actually way better. The NIV just translates, which I think is actually more accurate, mature manhood as become mature. [00:24:39]
And the first item I think we need to pay attention to is character, but it's not the only thing. Which brings me to number two, contribution. Right, verse 11. And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds, and teachers to equip the saints for ministry, for building up the body of Christ. Now, Paul, what he's doing here is underlining specific gifts and roles within the church, right? The goal is not just to be a holy person sitting on a rock out at Point Pinot and people take pictures of you while they, you know, take pictures of whales. Like, that is not the goal of the spiritual life, right? The point Paul is trying to underscore here is that we are meant to also be equipped by the grace of God to make a contribution in the world. [00:25:57]
It's also worth highlighting here, because I think we get really funky notions of this, that Paul does not make, like, a pastor -congregation distinction or full -time ministry, secular work distinction, right? Ministry is not designed for some people and not others, right? And this is connected to Paul's vision for maturity. There's a character element. There's a contribution element. And it's not simply, oh, I serve on Sunday morning for 30 minutes, right? That is not your life contribution in the kingdom. It's way bigger than that. God gives each believer gifts and talents and skills, and part of our maturation is figuring out what those gifts are for, right? Using them within the scope of influence God has given us, right? We talked about this last week, about stewarding grace. [00:26:52]
maturity has a character element and a contribution element he also frames this process in light of cultural pressures verse 14 right so that we may no longer be children tossed to and fro by the waves carried about by every wind of doctrine by human cutting by craftiness in deceitful schemes rather speaking the truth in love we grow up in every way into him who is the head into christ right what paul's doing is create a contrast between what happens when you're mature and when you're immature when you're immature what happens the wind comes up those waves get going and you are just like flipped all over the place influenced by the pressures around you anyone here ever been out on a boat in monterey bay when it like wasn't pristine and like flat [00:28:40]
wow there are forces at work that move you around and make you sick if you're like me right such such like in the world right there's all these forces at play that affect us right paul is saying hey when you're mature what you get is more deeply grounded so all those forces aren't just sort of swaying you around like a ship in the open sea and likely paul sees this happening in the ephesian church and he wants to help so he tries to offer some like a road map or some advice amidst the cultural pressure he says this hey i know you might be tempted by this group or that perspective i get it how about you focus on growing in truth and love the esv again back to this translation i know i'm being hard on the esv today but whatever i like it the esv reads this it says speaking the truth in love right we grow up into every way to jesus who is the head but if you actually read the greek speaking isn't there like that word doesn't exist in the greek literally it means truthing in love and the idea is that we grow in our ability to live in alignment with the truth of who god is and who we are and as we grow into greater alignment with who we are and who god is right we become more like jesus over time right a more literal translation would be by truthing in love we grow right into what into jesus's likeness right into him who is the head right rather than taking our cue from the culture around us right we lean into who god who are you who who am i how do i live out of that centered grounded place one scholar writes this maturity is the result of a commitment to jesus and all that he is knowing the son means living out the truth in love and reflecting the way of life that mirrors his character the truth that paul is going to emphasize is a live truth right not just ideas right for paul maturity isn't just being bible answer man or woman right not being like a wicked good preacher or whatever it's more like ground who you are and who jesus is and his kingdom and you'll get a better sense of who you are live out of that place that's [00:29:39]
maturity right when character is formed contribution is clarified within a cultural moment now i could have out of 4c but i'm trying to keep this sermon under an hour and a half and i would have added community because the truth is all character formation takes place within community right contribution takes place within a communal context and culture is ultimately about the shared values and assumptions that a group of people agree on [00:32:36]
You, if you follow Jesus, before we even get into this, your identity is a beloved child of God outside of anything you do for Jesus. Whether you are at stage two or five does not change God's affection, his compassion for you. But there's gonna be a part of you that's gonna wanna leapfrog to the next thing because in this room, you're going to want to like walk around and strut around and be like, yeah, I'm far along. I say this because I know the feeling, okay? All right, stage one. In The Critical Journey, they talk about this idea of recognition of God or discovery. This is sort of just the beginning of the spiritual life. And we can experience it as children. Maybe you grew up in a Christian home or an adult and you have more of a conversion experience. [00:34:56]
But really, this is about recognizing who God is. Right, like I went to mass as a little boy occasionally, but it wasn't really until I had this experience of the presence of God in college that I would say I recognized God. I sang songs before, but it wasn't until that moment that I worshiped Him. I would say there's a clear distinction here, particularly, it's a little easier if you were an adult convert, but if you grew up in the church, it can be a little, maybe the distinction is going from, I do this because my parents do it, to I do this because I want to be here. I want to know God. Right, stage one. But the thing is, you actually pretty quickly go from stage one to stage two because once you recognize God, then it shifts. And this is initial discipleship. We can call it learning. [00:36:24]
So the question is, then, how do you get unstuck? How do you go from stage two to three? Well, it all comes down to contributing and serving, right? If you want to move along towards maturation, you do have to move from this posture of just being the recipient of knowledge to someone who contributes in God's kingdom. This doesn't mean you stop learning. No, no, no. You keep learning, and your learning expands to include, how has God made me to contribute in His kingdom? And this is what Paul is getting at, growing character. I love it. Learn about the kingdom, all these things. And, hey guys, we are meant to be equipped for ministry. It's a journey. It's a process, right? You don't take a spiritual gift test online in like 15 minutes, and like, boom, I'm done. Got it. You know, solved the contribution conundrum. Just doesn't happen. [00:40:52]
And I'll just say, like, from my end, like, I love my role at Wellspring now. I love being a counselor in the community. Awesome. It has taken me 25 years to get to that level of satisfaction with my roles and contribution in the world. My first few jobs, like, I worked at a group home for a number of years, and I was really pretty terrible at, like, direct service with the teenagers. And I'll just say, like, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, what, Thank you. gang kids, but you know what I was good at? Really helping the staff to love those kids. But it took me four years to realize, huh, I don't think I was made to do this. All right, then I go to seminary. I'm like, yes, I've arrived. I'm gonna get this pastor job, awesome. But the truth is, I didn't tell them at the time, but there were multiple roles I had as a pastor that I was like, man, I don't like this. [00:41:55]
I don't think I'm built to do this. My wife will tell you, like, I went through a season of like really questioning. I wonder if there's a better job or fit for me in the world where I like, more of me is on the table. And it was tough, right? 25 years of trying to sort out, like, how do I get there? A lot of work. And I just wanna say just explicitly, 99 % of you are not gonna go into full -time ministry. And like, don't think that's not getting to contribution, right? Paul is not saying here equipping for ministry is becoming a pastor, no. Like, think about it, maybe you're a teacher. God has called you to be a teacher or an accountant or a construction worker. What does it look like for you to steward the grace God has given you in that way of contributing in the world? We're gonna do a series on work in a few months. And like, we're gonna get at, often we have this secular Christian distinction, like I have to become a monk to fulfill contribution. No. [00:42:55]
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