Move Beyond Milk: Training for Spiritual Maturity

The author of Hebrews grieves that believers who should be growing into teachers still need the elementary truths of God’s Word all over again. Milk has a purpose for infants, and new believers should not be discouraged for needing it. But milk was never meant to be the permanent diet. Solid food belongs to those who have trained themselves by constant use, who are pressing into the Word instead of merely staying near it.

The danger is not always open rebellion. The danger can be a quiet form of surrender, where a heart stops trying to understand. Pride says, “I’ve heard this before,” while discouragement says, “I’m not growing anyway.” Contentment in Christ does not mean complacency. Holy contentment says, “Christ is enough, and therefore I want more of Him.” The Word calls believers to humble themselves, come ready to learn, and refuse sluggishness.

The contrast between receiving and giving exposes a consumer mentality that stunts both personal growth and the growth of the church. Christ gave pastors and teachers as gifts to equip His people, not so that the church can sit back and wait for the next Sunday. The problem is not that there are pastors and teachers. The problem is that there are not more of them. The church needs believers who take what they hear, live it out through the week, teach their children, speak of God’s goodness at work, and become teachers who make teachers.

Solid food trains believers to distinguish good from evil in an age that blurs categories and calls the blur compassion. Cookie cutter answers and borrowed opinions cannot carry the weight of difficult questions. The Word must form a full theology, rooted in the image of God, the purposes of marriage, the value of life, and the whole counsel of Scripture.

Maturity requires consistency, quality, community, and obedience. The Word must be used constantly, received without distraction, lived out among God’s people, and obeyed before it is forgotten. Yet Hebrews does not turn spiritual growth into legalism. Believers are called to “be taken forward” into maturity because the Lord does the growing. Holy ambition cannot mature a soul if God withholds the increase.

The image of oaks of righteousness captures the aim. Christ plants His people for the display of His splendor, raising more than little sprouts. God calls the church to plant oaks, raise the next generation, and partake fully in the meal Christ is already serving.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Refuse the quiet surrender of dullness Dull hearing often begins long before someone walks away from faith. A heart can remain around church, Bible studies, and Christian language while no longer leaning in to understand. Humility reopens the heart by admitting that Christ still has more to show, correct, and strengthen. [48:40]
• 2. Contentment seeks more of Christ Complacency says that familiar truth no longer needs attention. Contentment says that Christ is enough in every circumstance, and because He is enough, His fullness becomes increasingly desirable. Spiritual maturity grows where dependence on Christ replaces the need to control circumstances. [49:19]
• 3. Teachers are gifts that make teachers Christ gives pastors, elders, and teachers to equip the body, not to create passive consumers. Mature disciples receive faithful instruction with gratitude and then carry that truth into homes, workplaces, friendships, and the next generation. The church grows strong when each part does its work. [61:23]
• 4. Train discernment through steady obedience Discernment is not a quick opinion pulled from a video or a vague memory of one verse. The Word trains believers through consistent study, quality attention, community exhortation, and prompt obedience. Truth becomes clearer as believers put it to constant use. [72:59]
• 5. God alone brings spiritual growth Believers participate in growth through discipline, repentance, and obedience, but they cannot manufacture maturity. Hebrews says to be taken forward, reminding the church that the Spirit leads and Christ supplies what faithful effort cannot create. The Lord grows oaks of righteousness for the display of His splendor.
  
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [38:12] - The Irony of Being Told to Grow Up
• [38:56] - Milk Cannot Sustain Maturity
• [41:27] - A Grieving Call to Spiritual Growth
• [42:24] - Hebrews 5:11 Through 6:3
• [46:16] - The Quiet Surrender of Stopped Listening
• [49:19] - Content, Not Complacent
• [54:24] - Hearing Versus Active Listening
• [57:02] - Moving From Receiving to Giving
• [61:02] - Teachers Equip the Body
• [67:36] - Training Discernment for Good and Evil
• [72:59] - Consistency, Quality, Community, Obedience
• [78:06] - Depend on God for Growth
• [80:43] - Oaks of Righteousness
• [83:28] - Partake Fully in Christ’s Meal

Bible Reading

Hebrews 5:11–6:3
“We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so.” [00:42:24]

Ephesians 4:11–13
“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” [01:01:02]

Philippians 4:11–13
“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” [00:49:19]

Isaiah 61:3
“and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.” [01:20:43]

Observation questions

1. In Hebrews 5:11–14, what words describe the believers’ condition, and what words describe the mature believer’s practice?
2. What contrast does Hebrews make between needing “the elementary truths” again and becoming people who can teach others? [00:57:02]
3. According to Ephesians 4:11–13, why did Christ give pastors and teachers to the church, and what outcome is He seeking for the whole body?
4. In Hebrews 6:1–3, what does the phrase “be taken forward to maturity” suggest about both human effort and God’s role in growth? [01:18:06]

Interpretation questions

1. Hebrews says the problem was that these believers “no longer try to understand.” What might that look like in a person who still attends church, hears Scripture, and uses Christian language?
2. How can pride (“I already know this”) and discouragement (“I am not growing anyway”) both lead to the same kind of dull hearing? [00:46:31]
3. Philippians 4 connects contentment with Christ’s strength. How is being content in Christ different from becoming spiritually complacent? [00:49:29]
4. Ephesians 4 presents teachers as gifts who equip others for service. What does this show about the difference between gratefully receiving teaching and depending on others to do all spiritual work? [01:03:16]

Application questions

1. Where is there a temptation in your own life to remain near God’s Word without really pressing into it? Is that more likely to happen through distraction, familiarity, discouragement, or pride? [00:48:33]
2. When you gather with God’s people or open the Bible during the week, what would it look like to come humbly expecting that Christ has something to show, correct, or strengthen in you? [00:51:28]
3. What is one truth from Scripture that you have received recently but have not yet put into practice? What would a clear, timely step of obedience look like this week? [01:15:58]
4. Consider the four parts of training: consistency, quality, community, and obedience. Which one is presently weakest for you, and what small change could help you grow in that area this week? [01:12:59]
5. Who around you could be strengthened by what God is teaching you—a child, spouse, friend, coworker, neighbor, or newer believer? What is one natural opportunity to speak about God’s goodness or share Scripture with that person? [01:06:47]
6. When difficult moral or cultural questions arise, where do you tend to look first for answers? How could you grow beyond borrowed opinions and let the whole counsel of God shape your discernment? [01:10:17]
7. God calls His people “oaks of righteousness,” planted for the display of His splendor. Who helped plant and nurture faith in you, and how might you help raise up the next generation of believers and teachers? [01:22:31]