Growing in Spiritual Maturity: A Lifelong Journey
Summary
### Summary
Today, we delved into the concept of spiritual maturity and its significance in our lives and the life of the church. We began by reflecting on a personal story about a conflict over scheduling that highlighted the importance of handling disagreements with spiritual maturity. This led us to the core message: the closer we grow to God, the more we realize our own shortcomings and the vastness of His holiness. Spiritual maturity is not about reaching a point of perfection but about continually recognizing our need for growth and deeper understanding of God.
We explored Ephesians 4, where Paul addresses the church in Ephesus, urging them to grow in unity and maturity. He emphasizes that spiritual maturity involves recognizing and using our gifts to serve the church, thereby fostering unity and preventing division. Paul warns against being spiritually immature, likening it to being tossed by the wind, easily swayed by false teachings. Instead, he calls for speaking the truth in love, a balance of holding firm to biblical principles while extending grace and love to others.
We also discussed the practical steps towards spiritual maturity, which include committing to a plan for personal discipleship. This plan should be customized to fit our unique lives and circumstances, ensuring that it integrates seamlessly into our daily routines. Over the next five weeks, we will be developing this plan together, focusing on building everyday rhythms that promote spiritual growth.
Finally, we acknowledged that spiritual maturity is a lifelong journey. It requires intentionality and commitment, but the rewards are profound. As we grow, we become more like Christ, better equipped to serve our church and community, and more resilient against the challenges and false teachings of the world.
### Key Takeaways
1. Spiritual Maturity and Self-Awareness: The closer we grow to God, the more we realize our own shortcomings and the vastness of His holiness. This awareness is a hallmark of spiritual maturity, as it drives us to continually seek deeper understanding and growth. True spiritual maturity involves recognizing that we always have more to learn and areas to improve. [30:01]
2. Unity in the Church: Paul’s letter to the Ephesians emphasizes the importance of unity within the church. Spiritual maturity involves recognizing and using our gifts to serve the church, thereby fostering unity and preventing division. When we are all actively engaged in serving, we move from being mere consumers to being integral parts of the church family. [33:48]
3. Speaking the Truth in Love: A key aspect of spiritual maturity is the ability to speak the truth in love. This means holding firm to biblical principles while extending grace and love to others. It’s a delicate balance that requires us to be both just and compassionate, reflecting the nature of God who is both 100% just and 100% grace. [44:20]
4. Customized Discipleship Plans: Spiritual growth requires intentionality and a plan that fits our unique lives. Over the next five weeks, we will be developing personalized discipleship plans that integrate into our daily routines. This approach ensures that our spiritual growth is sustainable and tailored to our specific needs and circumstances. [52:48]
5. Lifelong Journey of Growth: Spiritual maturity is not a quick fix but a lifelong journey. It involves continually growing in every aspect of our lives to become more like Christ. This journey requires patience, commitment, and the understanding that true growth often happens slowly, much like the healthy growth of a tree. [01:00:56]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[11:16] - Introduction to Spiritual Maturity
[12:15] - Personal Story of Conflict
[21:03] - Importance of Handling Disagreements
[21:56] - Realizing Our Shortcomings
[22:53] - Ephesians 4 Overview
[23:46] - Unity in the Church
[24:35] - Using Our Gifts to Serve
[25:31] - Spiritual Immaturity and False Teachings
[26:31] - Speaking the Truth in Love
[27:33] - Practical Steps for Spiritual Growth
[28:36] - Developing a Customized Discipleship Plan
[30:01] - Lifelong Journey of Spiritual Maturity
[31:21] - Commitment to the Next Five Weeks
[32:33] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Ephesians 4:14-15 (NIV) - "Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Paul warn against in Ephesians 4:14, and how does he describe spiritual immaturity? [35:02]
2. According to Ephesians 4:15, what are the two key components of spiritual maturity? [44:20]
3. In the sermon, what personal story did the pastor share to illustrate the importance of handling disagreements with spiritual maturity? [27:33]
4. What practical steps towards spiritual maturity were discussed in the sermon? [52:48]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Paul emphasize the need to speak the truth in love as a mark of spiritual maturity? How does this balance reflect the nature of God? [44:20]
2. How does recognizing and using our gifts to serve the church contribute to unity and prevent division, according to Ephesians 4 and the sermon? [33:48]
3. The pastor mentioned that spiritual maturity involves realizing our own shortcomings and the vastness of God's holiness. How does this awareness impact our daily walk with God? [30:01]
4. What does the pastor mean by saying that spiritual maturity is a lifelong journey, and how does this perspective influence our approach to personal discipleship? [59:48]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a recent conflict or disagreement you had. How could you have handled it with more spiritual maturity, as discussed in the sermon? [27:33]
2. In what ways can you actively use your gifts to serve your church community and foster unity? Identify one specific area where you can contribute. [33:48]
3. How can you practice speaking the truth in love in your daily interactions? Think of a specific situation where you can apply this principle this week. [44:20]
4. The sermon emphasized the importance of a customized discipleship plan. What are some daily routines you can integrate into your life to promote spiritual growth? [52:48]
5. Consider the idea that spiritual maturity is a lifelong journey. What steps can you take to remain committed and intentional about your spiritual growth over the long term? [59:48]
6. How can you balance holding firm to biblical principles while extending grace and love to others, especially in challenging situations? [44:20]
7. Identify one area in your life where you feel spiritually immature. What practical steps can you take to grow in that area, and who can you ask for accountability and support? [30:01]
Devotional
Day 1: Recognizing Our Shortcomings
Description: Spiritual maturity begins with self-awareness. The closer we grow to God, the more we realize our own shortcomings and the vastness of His holiness. This awareness is a hallmark of spiritual maturity, as it drives us to continually seek deeper understanding and growth. True spiritual maturity involves recognizing that we always have more to learn and areas to improve. This realization is not meant to discourage us but to inspire us to draw nearer to God, knowing that His grace is sufficient for our weaknesses. [30:01]
Isaiah 6:5 (ESV): "And I said: 'Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!'"
Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you felt inadequate or aware of your shortcomings. How can you invite God into that space to help you grow and rely on His strength?
Day 2: Unity in the Church
Description: Paul’s letter to the Ephesians emphasizes the importance of unity within the church. Spiritual maturity involves recognizing and using our gifts to serve the church, thereby fostering unity and preventing division. When we are all actively engaged in serving, we move from being mere consumers to being integral parts of the church family. This unity is crucial for the health and growth of the church, as it allows us to work together towards common goals and support one another in our spiritual journeys. [33:48]
Ephesians 4:3-4 (ESV): "Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call."
Reflection: Identify a gift or talent you have that you can use to serve your church community. How can you take a step this week to actively engage in using that gift to foster unity and support others?
Day 3: Speaking the Truth in Love
Description: A key aspect of spiritual maturity is the ability to speak the truth in love. This means holding firm to biblical principles while extending grace and love to others. It’s a delicate balance that requires us to be both just and compassionate, reflecting the nature of God who is both 100% just and 100% grace. This practice helps us build stronger, more honest relationships within our church and community, as we learn to address issues with kindness and integrity. [44:20]
Proverbs 27:5-6 (ESV): "Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy."
Reflection: Think of a relationship where you need to speak the truth in love. What steps can you take to ensure that your words are both truthful and filled with grace?
Day 4: Customized Discipleship Plans
Description: Spiritual growth requires intentionality and a plan that fits our unique lives. Over the next five weeks, we will be developing personalized discipleship plans that integrate into our daily routines. This approach ensures that our spiritual growth is sustainable and tailored to our specific needs and circumstances. By committing to a customized plan, we can create everyday rhythms that promote spiritual growth and help us stay connected to God in our daily lives. [52:48]
Psalm 119:105 (ESV): "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
Reflection: What are some specific daily habits you can incorporate into your life to foster spiritual growth? How can you create a plan that fits your unique schedule and needs?
Day 5: Lifelong Journey of Growth
Description: Spiritual maturity is not a quick fix but a lifelong journey. It involves continually growing in every aspect of our lives to become more like Christ. This journey requires patience, commitment, and the understanding that true growth often happens slowly, much like the healthy growth of a tree. As we grow, we become more resilient against the challenges and false teachings of the world, better equipped to serve our church and community, and more like Christ in our character and actions. [01:00:56]
Colossians 1:10 (ESV): "So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."
Reflection: Reflect on your spiritual journey so far. What are some areas where you have seen growth, and what are some areas where you still need to grow? How can you commit to this lifelong journey with patience and intentionality?
Quotes
1. "Spiritually mature people. Now hear me when I say this, the more spiritually mature you are, the more you realize the distance between you and God. Let me explain what I mean by that. The closer you are to God, the more spiritually mature, the more you realize how distant you are, because as you get to know God better, as you begin to grow spiritually, what you realize is the depths of God's holiness." [30:01] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The more spiritually mature you are, the more you realize how much more spiritual maturity you need. But the person who says, oh, I'm spiritual. I know God. I'm very spiritually mature is usually the person who isn't. Because the more you know God, the more you realize you don't. You realize he's mysterious. He's bigger than us. We can't define everything about him. And we're in this ongoing pursuit to know him better." [30:01] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "You have to know truth. You've got to know God. And the way that you stop being blown back and forth by the wind and believe in whatever is out there is by spiritual maturity. Now, listen, we don't, that may not be some of you go, well, I don't think that's happening today. It is. It may not be from the stage, but, but we've bought lies about things like money." [40:09] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "We bought the lie that if I just elect this person, then my team's going to be okay. It didn't happen when Democrats were in office. Now it didn't happen when Democrats were in office. Now it didn't happen when Democrats were in office. It didn't happen when Republicans were in office before. We have problems because people have problems. And the solution to people problems is Jesus." [41:31] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The spiritually mature person is the one who is trying to, because I'm not even sure we'll ever get there, hold the tension of speaking truth and love, of being both just and being both graceful because God is just 100% just by his nature and character. But guess what else he is? 100% grace by his nature. As an infinite being, he's both 100% of each. As a finite being, I struggle. I struggle to figure that out." [45:35] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Growing in every way, physically, spiritually, emotionally, intellectually, growing in every way, more and more like Christ. Growing in every part of my life to be more like Jesus, spiritual maturity. Because Jesus is the head of his body. He's been talking about that in Ephesians 4. We all have parts of the body. He's the head of the church. That's why spiritual maturity is good for you. That's obvious. That's also good for the church. The church needs spiritually mature people." [47:00] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "So listen, we're not trying to speed your discipleship along. This is a lifelong journey with Jesus. But we're gonna start taking some intentionality about spiritual maturity. But you gotta own it. It's Monday through Saturday. I can't come home with you. I'm working on my spiritual maturity. I'm working on discipling my kids and leading in my home with my wife. That's a full-time job right there. And you gotta do your full-time job." [01:01:35] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "And 15 years from now, you look back and you go, man, what a crazy spiritual baby I was then. And now I see where I've come. That's where we're headed. In the next five weeks, I'm excited about you being on the journey. Bring a pen, show up, invite somebody and commit to making this plan for you because you're gonna be working on it all through your life here at City." [01:02:05] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "Lord, let's pray that as a church, we would be a spiritually mature church. Lord, as a church who wants to be open to messy people, to be a messy church for messy people, Lord, we know that we're a mess. We also know you don't wanna leave us in a mess. And Lord, we know that as we grow spiritually, we'll grow in truth. But if we're growing spiritually, we're also gonna grow in grace. And we'll continue to be a messy church for messy people as we pursue you." [01:05:26] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "You guys love kids. And you love teenagers. And you love college students. You love young adults. This past Wednesday night, we kicked off our student ministry. And BIG has been so graciously willing to let us host Wednesday night in here because we outgrew our last place. And so I just want you to know kind of as a celebration, our student ministry team is killing it. They had 83 teenagers in this room on Wednesday night. It was amazing. And four of those kids, four of those students made decisions for Jesus." [01:12:16] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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