Maturity is not just about internal growth or personal devotion, but about the church as a body looking like Jesus—both in who we are and in what we do. True maturity is seen when each member of the body of Christ uses their unique gifts to serve others, building up the whole church in love. This maturity is not static; God has a deliberate plan for each person to grow, so that together we become a living reflection of Christ to the world. As we grow, we move beyond spiritual infancy, no longer tossed about by every new idea, but rooted in unity, truth, and love, each part doing its work. [07:40]
Ephesians 4:7-16 (ESV)
"But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, 'When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.' (In saying, 'He ascended,' what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 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, 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, 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. 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: In what practical way can you use your gifts this week to help someone else experience the love and character of Jesus through you?
God’s plan to reach and heal the world is not just through extraordinary individuals, but through the ordinary, Spirit-empowered acts of His people—the church. Jesus, who was sent out of love for the world, now sends His church to continue His work, promising that whoever believes in Him will do the works He did, and even greater. This means that every believer, not just a select few, is called and empowered to bring hope, healing, and the love of God into their communities. The church is God’s “Plan A” for the world, and there is no “Plan B.” [14:29]
John 14:11-14 (ESV)
"Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it."
Reflection: Where do you see a need in your community that you could meet with the gifts or resources God has given you, even if it seems ordinary or small?
The body of Christ is made up of many different parts, each with a unique function, and every member is needed for the church to be whole and effective. It’s easy to feel insignificant or to compare your gifts to others, but God’s design is that every person contributes—no matter how visible or hidden their role may seem. When you withhold your gift, the whole body suffers; when you bring it, even in simple ways, God uses it to reveal His love and power. The church flourishes when everyone participates, not just a few. [24:32]
1 Corinthians 12:14-20 (ESV)
"For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, 'Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,' that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, 'Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,' that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body."
Reflection: What is one gift or ability you have been hesitant to offer in the church, and what is one step you can take this week to begin using it?
God gives different gifts to each person, and the call is simple: use what you have, generously and cheerfully, without comparing yourself to others. Whether your gift is serving, encouraging, giving, leading, or showing mercy, God works through your willingness to offer it. The impact of your gift is not measured by how impressive it seems, but by your faithfulness in giving it. As you serve, God will use even what feels small or ordinary to touch lives and reveal Jesus to others. [36:35]
Romans 12:3-8 (ESV)
"For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 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."
Reflection: What is one way you can intentionally use your gift today, without worrying about how significant it seems or how others might perceive it?
At the heart of all spiritual gifts and acts of service is love—God’s love for us and through us. The gifts are not about status or self-importance, but about building up others and making God’s love tangible in the world. When you give your gift, no matter how ordinary it feels, you become a vessel for God’s love to reach people in unexpected ways. Maturity is not just about personal growth, but about the effect your love and service have on others, as you connect to Jesus and serve the body. [20:31]
1 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV)
"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."
Reflection: Who is one person you can intentionally show God’s love to this week through a simple act of service or encouragement?
God’s desire is for each of us to grow into maturity, not just in our inner life but in how we show up in the world. Maturity in Christ is not simply about personal devotion—prayer, Bible reading, or worship—though these are vital. True maturity is when the church, as a body, reflects Jesus both in character and in action. Each of us has been given unique gifts by God, and these gifts are not just for our own benefit but for the building up of the whole body. When every part does its work, the church grows up into the fullness of Christ, and the world gets a glimpse of what God is like through us.
The local church is God’s plan for hope in the world. While it may sound bold to say the church is the hope of the world, Jesus himself entrusted his works to “whoever believes.” This means that the extraordinary things Jesus did—acts of love, healing, hospitality, and teaching—are now meant to be carried out by ordinary believers. The stories of the Kingsleys and the young woman in Stellenbosch show that when we offer our gifts, no matter how ordinary they seem, God uses them to bring transformation and reveal his love in unexpected places.
It’s easy to underestimate the significance of our gifts or to compare ourselves to others, thinking we don’t have much to offer. But Scripture is clear: every part of the body is needed, and when we withhold our gifts, there is a gap that only we can fill. The church is not meant to be a place where a few people perform and everyone else spectates. Instead, it’s a living body where each member contributes, and through this, God’s love and power are made visible.
Sometimes, we overcomplicate things, waiting for the perfect moment or structure to use our gifts. But the call is simple: just do it. Serve, encourage, give, lead, show mercy—whatever God has placed in your hands, offer it. As we do, God takes our ordinary acts and makes them extraordinary, touching lives in ways we may never fully see. Maturity is not just about what happens inside us, but about the effect we have on each other and our community as we love and serve in Jesus’ name.
Ephesians 4:7-16 (ESV) — But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says,
“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
and he gave gifts to men.”
(In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)
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, 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, 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. 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.
John 14:11-14 (ESV) — Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
Romans 12:3-8 (ESV) — For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 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.
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