Christian Maturity
Notes
Transcript
Handout
The qualification states that, and elder “must not be a recent convert.”
The Greek word for this paints a word picture if you will. For the word is the picture of a plant, not a developed plant, but one who has just been germinated; and you develop in your mind this small green speck, just sprouting from the ground, not able to endure harsh environments and not yet having strong roots in itself.
The reason I like the definition of Christian maturity is because with a plant, you expect it to grow. As a Christian, you expect them to grow.
The problem is, sometimes Christians don’t.
Some people have been Christians for 40 years, and the depth of their knowledge, and the amount of application they have, their ability to love is that of a baby Christian. A plant who is still vulnerable to the elements, still can only handle so much water, still needs a substantial amount of time invested in it.
When looking for leaders, we must look for leaders, not just who have warmed a pew for a substantial amount of time. But leaders who have grown in the Lord, they aren’t sprouting plants anymore.
No, we are looking for “plants” who’s roots are deep, and are bearing good fruit.
Sometimes when dealing with new Christians, our desire to put them into leadership can be great.
The have a zeal for the Lord!
They are reading their bibles allot and soaking in the knowledge of God.
But
No matter how spiritual, zealous, knowledgeable, or talented a new convert may be, he is not spiritually mature. Maturity requires time and experience.
1 Timothy 5:22
1 Timothy 5:22
Don’t be quick to appoint them to a position of authority.
Satan has inflated the pride of many this way; and in the end, destroyed not only the person in leadership, but the church in which they served.
We don’t want to look at this for elders alone, but you O Christian, how is your walk? How is Your growth?
While we walk through these points, we should be asking “in what ways must I grow?”
I have met Christians who though they have gone to church for years…they are still very immature in the faith.
I have also met Christians who are new to the faith, and have an appearance of maturity.
Genuineness of Faith
Genuineness of Faith
When someone first comes to faith, the question is, how genuine is it?
People new to the faith can be on fire, excited, studying, learning.
But they are still new plants that don’t yet have their roots.
The puritans were fond of the term, “Temporary Believers.”
Matthew 13:20-22
Receives with joy!
There may be some who hear the word of God and receive it with joy…even zeal!
But they have no roots yet.
They are still young plants.
When they begin to be quizzed with the difficult questions about Christianity.
When it’s Jesus or secular humanism.
That means it’s Jesus or abortion.
When they realize they could be abandoned by friends, or family for Jesus.
They prove that they don’t actually have faith in God. They had faith in a well articulated argument that a Christian had made. But when someone was able to rock the boat, their boat proved to be full of holes.
Love the World
One problem that we have cultivated within Christianity, is we have made grace cheap.
We promise people the world…and require nothing of them.
Though you bring nothing to the table when you come to know Jesus (it is all paid by Him), you come believing and confessing Jesus is Lord.
If He is Lord…You are not!
When we come to God, He renews our minds. As our minds are renewed, we are be transforming into the image of Christ.
The things we think about, what we understand is now more in line with scripture, and not with the world.
If you come to Christ, and see no problem with un-forgiveness, with anger, with gossip, with addictions.
If you come to Christ, and don’t believe these things in your life have to change. Then He isn’t Lord yet.
1 John 2:19
They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.
Those who leave, do it because they either have not been elected by God, or God is going to use this time to help them grow and bring them back…only time will tell.
But when you see people leave the church and live contrary to scripture. Don’t fool yourself into thinking that they accepted Jesus at Sunday school, and therefore they are okay.
No, if they don’t come to repentance, their punishment will be more severe.
They don’t know enough to teach
They don’t know enough to teach
Hebrews 5:11-14
As maturity comes, so does teaching.
Not just within church, but also to one another, to your kids.
But, maturing must be happening in order for you to teach.
You can’t teach what you don’t know.
The author of Hebrews is frustrated.
“Your like a plant that isn’t growing!”
You should be mature, but you aren’t!
We must strive to mature, strive to grow in Christ!
Only by maturing will we be able to discern what is evil!
This takes place when we are trained by practice.
The things we hear on the news, from friends. How often do you take the propaganda we hear, and run it through the filter of scripture to discern if it’s good or evil?
Discerning & teaching are things that elders must do, but it is for the mature.
They aren’t tempered
They aren’t tempered
Romans 8:28-29
All the pain, all the hardships. God uses those things to strengthen our faith in Him.
Through those times, we are conformed into the image of Christ.
If we haven’t gone through the trials, we haven’t been properly conformed.
We are like a chocolate gold coin. The outside might appear to be gold, but under, it is of no value…except for the sweet taste of chocolate.
This is a process that takes time, and it takes looking to God, seeing His hand, and understanding His goodness.
Some people go through the trial and are just is foolish out the other side.
They don’t know how to love
They don’t know how to love
1 Timothy 1:5
The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
Our telos, our goal in life, it is to love, from a pure heart, and a good conscience.
Romans 12:9
Don’t be a play actor, actually care about the person. This is needed in the church as we are to exemplify our savior who gave his life for us.
Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good
This comes with maturity.
In immaturity we might abhor what is evil…but we also might abhor all of it, and forget to look at the good of a person.
Or, we might love what is good…but then excuse the evil in their lives, and forget to abhor it, and encourage them to change.
This balance is something that comes with maturity. For wisdom brings us to hate evil. But being like Christ teaches us to love correctly. Maturity can mirror the image of Christ in both hating what is evil, and clinging to what is good.
1 Peter 4:8
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
We are going to step on one another’s toes, and hurt each others feelings.
Even sheep bite, being mature is being able to love a biting sheep.
Danger of becoming prideful
Danger of becoming prideful
Eldership carries with it honor, and authority.
The temptation to become prideful over this position is great.
Being an elder who believes you are worthy and deserving of this position can be a dangerous place.
Pride is a dangerous sin, it is the one by which Satan fell.
For he was one of the top angels, but his beauty made his prideful. He believed that he could defeat God.
His pride and ability to communicate his cause must have been great, for 1/3 of the angels followed him.
Becasue pride is a sin of the heart, it isn’t visible where everyone can see.
It is hidden, concealable.
Where someone can nurture it, cause it to grow.
Even mature Christians must keep an eye on themselves, and guard against such sins.
To the new believer or immature, the position of eldership will give rise to their pride, and will destroy them in the end.
When looking for church leaders, we must look for mature Christians.
All of us, must strive for maturity in our faith. So that we can properly exhort one another in the faith, and spur each other on towards the finish line.