Spiritual Maturity (Corinthians)

Introduction:

What are some things you know about the Corinthian Church?

What are some key verses you know from 1 or 2 Corinthians?

Share with group

The Corinthian Church was a messed up church…

Does anyone know any of the problems we see in this letter?

Claims of spiritual superiority over one another

Suing one another in public courts

Abusing the communal meal

Abusing Spiritual Gifts

Sexual misbehavior

Misunderstanding of Christian Doctrine

So Paul writes to this church to address some of these problems

Today I just want to hit on the main problem that I believe underlies all of these problems: Spiritual Immaturity

The Main Problem in Corinthian Church? - Immaturity

We are familiar with the phrase ‘born again’ but what does it actually mean to be ‘born again’?

Simple Question: How would you describe someone that was just physically born?

Whines and cries

Does not understand much

Dependent on others

Cannot walk by themselves - stumbling

Cannot feed themselves

Draws attention to themself

And there is nothing wrong with a baby acting like a baby — that is expected and normal

The problem arises when a fully grown adult acts like a baby

Imagine that

As someone grows up we begin to have expectations

We expect people to grow and mature

Well the same is true spiritually

We are born again but we need the help of others to support us

Whether that is a parent, a mentor, a pastor

We constantly need other people pointing us to Jesus

We need to be spoon-fed and cared for

But as we mature Spiritually we begin to grow

We can begin to walk without stumbling and falling

We can feed ourselves

We don’t need to draw attention to ourselves

And I’m not saying a Spiritually mature person is independent and doesn’t need others

But what I am saying is that their faith is becoming their own

They no longer believe Jesus because he has worked and spoken through other people

They begin to see and recognize Jesus working and speaking in their own lives

They are not someone that needs community like a leech, taking from others

But they need community as they both receive and give care and love for others

They can be a part of a community without everything being about themselves

This is a major theme throughout the NT

Ephesians 4:11–16 (CSB)

And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness. Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ. From him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building itself up in love by the proper working of each individual part.

1 Corinthians 14:20 (CSB)

Brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your thinking, but be infants in regard to evil and adult in your thinking.

James 1:2–4 (CSB)

Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

In the third chapter of 1 Cor, Paul calls out the Corinthians for their lack of spiritual maturity

1 Corinthians 3:1–4 (CSB)

For my part, brothers and sisters, I was not able to speak to you as spiritual people but as people of the flesh, as babies in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, since you were not yet ready for it. In fact, you are still not ready, because you are still worldly. For since there is envy and strife among you, are you not worldly and behaving like mere humans? For whenever someone says, “I belong to Paul,” and another, “I belong to Apollos,” are you not acting like mere humans?

The Corinthian Church has a great calling to be the body of Christ in a corrupt city, pointing others to Jesus

But they are behaving like any other human

They might believe in Jesus, but their lives remain unchanged

They are called to love their enemies

But they are bringing them to court

They are called to live holy (set apart) lives

But the are engaged in all sorts of sexual immorality

They are called to adopt the humble servant mentality of Jesus

Instead they are making factions and arguing that they are better than others

They are called to use Spiritual gifts to build up each other in love

Instead they are using spiritual gifts to draw attention to themselves

Underneath all of the problems at this church, is an immature faith and spirituality

They have not grown up

Guys, this is still vital today!!!

So many people say they are Christian, yet their lives are not distinguishable from those who are not followers of Jesus

The problems of the Corinthian Church did not fade away, lost in time

They are the same problems we see today

Christians claiming superiority over others

Christians bringing other Christians to court instead of resolving disputes in love

Christians engaged in sexually immoral behaviors

Christians using spiritual gifts to draw attention to themselves

Christians following the wisdom of this world

In Paul’s eyes, all of these problems find their root in an immature spiritual life

And guys, I’ve been around Calvary long enough to know that this is a problem here

And I don’t mean this to everyone

There are some people here that have no intention or desire in following Jesus

If that is you, that is not what I’m talking about

I’m talking to those of you who have decided to follow Jesus

Who say they are a disciple of Jesus

Who are indistinguishable from everyone else around them

But I’ll read again Paul’s words to the Corinthians:

1 Corinthians 3:1-4 NLT

Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ. 2 I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready, 3 for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world? 4 When one of you says, “I am a follower of Paul,” and another says, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you acting just like people of the world?

And so with the time I have left, I want to answer two questions:

What does it look like to be a mature Christian?

How do we get there?

What is a Mature Christian?

What are some markers of a mature Christian you can think of?

Share time

First off, maturity isn’t binary - You are or are not mature

It is something we work towards but never check the box and arrive at

Even Paul’s words to the Philippians:

Philippians 3:12–15 (CSB)

Not that I have already reached the goal or am already perfect, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus. Therefore, let all of us who are mature think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal this also to you.

Markers of Maturity

Peace

struggle -victory

fails - doesn’t stay down

growth

bearing fruit

How do we become a Mature Christian?

Not something that happens over time automatically

surrender

Not by the wisdom of the world

Maturity doesn’t come from independence, wealth, and success

Our daily actions and habits

What we do, does something to us

Sailboat

Using our gifts to serve others (love)

Focusing on Resurrection

Suffering Well (2 Cor)

The Work of the Spirit

Conclusion

The Letter to the Corinthians is primarily calling them to grow up

There are a lot of different ways in which this plays out

So as you continue through these two letters keep this in mind

Try not to distance yourself from the problems that the Church in Corinth was facing

Try and see where God is calling you to greater maturity and growth

Gym/Musician takes time and practice

failure and growth

Pray

Questions?