Growing Together: Maturity and Gifts in the Church

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.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Maturity in Christ is both internal and external. It’s not enough to grow in love and devotion privately; true maturity is seen when we reflect Jesus in our actions and relationships, impacting the world around us. The fullness of Christ is revealed as each part of the body does its work, showing both his character and his power. [07:10]
• 2. The local church is God’s chosen vessel for hope in the world. Jesus entrusted his works to all who believe, not just a select few. When ordinary believers use their gifts—whether hospitality, teaching, or encouragement—God’s love breaks into places and lives that might otherwise remain untouched. [14:29]
• 3. Every gift matters, no matter how ordinary it seems. When we withhold our gifts out of comparison or insecurity, the body suffers and the world misses out on an encounter with Jesus. God delights in using what we offer, even when it feels small or unimpressive, to accomplish extraordinary things. [20:31]
• 4. The church is healthiest when everyone participates. It’s easy to fall into a pattern where a few people do all the ministry, but God’s design is for every member to contribute. This can be messy and challenging, but it leads to a vibrant, living community where God’s presence is experienced through many different expressions. [24:32]
• 5. The call to use our gifts is simple and practical. Scripture encourages us not to overthink or compare, but to serve, encourage, give, and lead as God has enabled us. As we step out in faith, God multiplies our efforts, and through our obedience, others encounter the love and reality of Jesus. [36:35]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:49] - Opening Prayer and Introduction
• [01:50] - A Risky Joke and Its Point
• [02:24] - Why We Can’t Afford Ignorance About Spiritual Gifts
• [03:29] - Three Reasons Spiritual Gifts Matter
• [05:05] - What Does Maturity in Christ Look Like?
• [05:47] - Ephesians 4: The Picture of Maturity
• [07:10] - Maturity: Character and Action
• [08:51] - God’s Deliberate Plan for Our Growth
• [11:21] - The Local Church: Hope of the World
• [12:56] - John 14: Jesus Entrusts His Works to Us
• [14:29] - Stories of Ordinary Gifts, Extraordinary Impact
• [17:13] - The Power of Simple Obedience
• [20:31] - Why Your Gift Matters
• [24:32] - Moving from Spectators to Contributors
• [36:35] - Prayer and Closing

Bible Reading

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.

Observation Questions

1. According to Ephesians 4, what is the purpose of the different gifts given to the church?
2. In John 14, who does Jesus say will do the works he has been doing, and even greater works?
3. What are some of the specific gifts listed in Romans 12, and how are we told to use them?
4. The sermon gave examples of ordinary people using their gifts (like the Kingsleys and the young woman in Stellenbosch). What impact did their simple acts have on others? [[14:29]]

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says maturity is not just about our inner life but also about how we show up in the world. Why is it important that maturity includes both character and action? [[07:10]]
2. Jesus says “whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing.” What does this mean for how we view our own role in the church and in the world? [[12:56]]
3. The sermon warns against comparing our gifts to others or thinking our gifts are insignificant. What are some reasons people might hold back from using their gifts, and what does the Bible say about this? [[20:31]]
4. The idea that “the church is healthiest when everyone participates” can be messy and challenging. Why do you think God designed the church this way, instead of just using a few “superstars”? [[24:32]]

Application Questions

1. The sermon says, “When we withhold our gifts, there is a gap that only we can fill.” Is there a gift or ability you have been holding back from using in the church or community? What is one step you could take to offer it this week? [[20:31]]
2. Think about the examples of the Kingsleys’ hospitality or the young woman’s Bible study. What is one “ordinary” thing you could do this month that might have an extraordinary impact for someone else? [[14:29]]
3. The sermon challenges us not to overcomplicate things, but to “just do it”—serve, encourage, give, lead, show mercy. Which of these comes most naturally to you, and which one feels like a stretch? How could you step out in faith in the area that feels harder? [[36:35]]
4. Have you ever compared your gifts to someone else’s and felt like yours didn’t matter? How did that affect your willingness to serve? What truth from the Bible or the sermon can help you move past that comparison? [[20:31]]
5. The sermon says the local church is God’s plan for hope in the world. What is one way you can help our church reflect Jesus more clearly to our neighborhood or city? [[11:21]]
6. Romans 12 says to use your gift “cheerfully” or “generously.” What would it look like for you to use your gifts with joy, rather than out of obligation or comparison? [[36:35]]
7. The sermon mentions that maturity is seen in the effect we have on each other and our community. Who is one person you could encourage, serve, or pray for this week as a step toward maturity? [[07:10]]