CROWNING MINISTRY: Growth Demanded

Crowning Work: Growth Demanded

Hebrews 5:11–14 CSB

We have a great deal to say about this, and it is difficult to explain, since you have become too lazy to understand. Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the basic principles of God’s revelation again. You need milk, not solid food. Now everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature—for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil.

Main Idea: God desires for every Christian to grow into maturity.

Key Question: Are you growing in your faith?

1. God demands growth of the immature believers. (v. 11-13)

A. Laziness is a reason for the lack of growth. (v. 11)

Hebrews 5:11 CSB

We have a great deal to say about this, and it is difficult to explain, since you have become too lazy to understand.

Matthew 13:15 CSB

For this people’s heart has grown callous; their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn back— and I would heal them.

1 Corinthians 3:1–3 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?

Proverbs 20:4 CSB

The slacker does not plow during planting season; at harvest time he looks, and there is nothing.

Proverbs 6:6 CSB

Go to the ant, you slacker! Observe its ways and become wise.

Proverbs 26:15 CSB

The slacker buries his hand in the bowl; he is too weary to bring it to his mouth!

“Don’t walk on the wood” Downey

“You can’t bring the fire of revival, but you can stack the wood.” Gallaty

B. The inability to teach others is an indication of the lack of growth. (v. 12)

Hebrews 5:12 CSB

Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the basic principles of God’s revelation again. You need milk, not solid food.

Matthew 28:19–20 CSB

Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

2 Timothy 2:2 CSB

What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

C. Inexperience is an indication of the lack of growth. (v. 13)

Hebrews 5:13 CSB

Now everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant.

1 Peter 1:3–10 CSB

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials so that the proven character of your faith—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him; though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who prophesied about the grace that would come to you, searched and carefully investigated.

“You can’t teach what you don’t know.”

2. God demands growth of the mature. (v. 14)

Hebrews 5:14 CSB

But solid food is for the mature—for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil.

Hebrews 12:11 CSB

No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Ephesians 4:13–14 CSB

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.

Immature believers a hard time discerning the will of God.

Make A List:

Everything you do on any given day/week

Put approximate amount of time spent doing those activities

Mark everything on the list that helps you grow spiritually

What can you eliminate/replace?

Tell someone close to you what change your making and ask them to check on you in a week.