Since I was baptized almost ten years ago on December 13, 1998 at the young age of thirteen in the Wichita Church of Christ, God has taught me so much and has blessed me with the dream of being in the full-time ministry. I moved to Portland, Oregon to train for the ministry while pursuing a Bible degree in Theology/Ministry at Cascade College, a mainline Church of Christ school. After graduating, the Lord then took me to Phoenix, Arizona to be the campus minister at the nation’s largest university! Recalling back to my church of Christ college experience, I especially enjoyed learning from my professors in my Bible classes. I saw countless “Christians” on campus who claim to have gone “onto maturity” but in my opinion are dull … their zeal is lost in all their “deep” knowledge. (Let me say here, I do believe a growing knowledge of God’s Word is essential to becoming mature.) Sadly, I have seen this same attitude of “knowledge is maturity” seep into our former fellowship of churches in recent years. In the climate of our churches, more than ever people want to go on to “spiritual maturity,” myself as well. I have read so much literature and listened to brothers of various persuasions on the theme of maturity. All of this challenged me as a campus minister to study out what spiritual maturity is, according to the Bible.
The Pharisees knew more about God and the written Law than most did in the time of Jesus! Would Jesus have said they were “spiritually mature” or “mature in their knowledge of God?” Certainly not! Jesus said, “Wisdom is proved right by her actions.” (Matthew 11:19) Also, the Scripture says to “become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:13) Combining these two Scriptures, one becomes mature when we are like Christ in both our hearts and actions! From my Bible studies and observations, God has laid the conviction on my heart that true spiritual maturity is simply obeying, serving, building, discipling and producing. Let’s look at the Scriptures!
1. Obeying – Luke 8:14-15 Jesus addresses a lack of maturing in the parable of the sower. Those whose hearts are of the third soil are “choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.” Maturity is shown in verse 15, “But the seed in the good ground – these are the ones who, having heard the word with an honest and good heart, hold on to it and by enduring, bear fruit.” (HCSB) Maturity is holding on to the Word. If the Bible says it, obey it. Obedience to God’s Word is maturity.
2. Serving – Ephesians 4:12-16 This Scripture shows us not only how to attain maturity personally but also as a ministry. “It was He who gave … some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Our leaders are to prepare us to serve, so we can be unified and mature. Serving is what Jesus did, and this defines spiritual maturity. Jesus said, “I did not come to be served, but to serve.” (Mark 10:45)
3. Building – Ephesians 4:12-16 After you are obeying the Word of God and serving others, the next aspect of spiritual maturity is building your local congregation “so that the body of Christ may be built up.” What talents and gifts are you using to build the ministry — preaching, leadership, financial giving, teaching, encouraging or showing mercy? (Romans 12:3-8) Becoming a mature ministry is the only way we are going to “no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.” So many have been deceived by Satan and are tossed back and forth in what they believe. Biblical maturity will protect us from the false teachings out there, such as autonomy, dating non-christians, discipling is optional, baptism is not necessary for salvation, etc… Obeying, serving and building will help the ministry grow. (v. 16) Every part must do its work. (v. 16)
4. Discipling – Colossians 1:28 “We proclaim Him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.” (HSBC) Discipling is a command from God that is necessary to become mature! Who is discipling you to maturity in Christ? Not just giving you “Biblical knowledge” or “deep insights into the Scriptures” or their “opinions,” but someone who is challenging you to become Biblically mature, calling you to obey the Word of God. That means someone who is training you to become like Christ in every aspect of your character. Who trains you to obey the Scriptures, serve others, build the church, disciple others and produce a crop? Discipling is vital for each of us to be presented mature in Christ. Discipling relationships are friendships with Christians who “speak the truth in love,” “warning and teaching” us in every aspect of our lives. In our church, the leadership has called for every member to be in a discipling relationship to help us mature as a church and evangelize Phoenix.
5. Producing – Hebrews 5:11-14, 6:8 “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!” According to verse 12 we should be teachers. You may be asking, teachers of what? In 6:1, the writer shows that we should have left the “elementary teachings” (“first principles”- KJV) long ago. (“First principles” or “elementary teachings” are simply the teachings essential to one becoming a disciple.) In Hebrews 5-6, the Spirit is saying that every disciple should be a teacher of the “elementary teachings!” Can you bring someone to faith using the Bible? The writer is very direct, one must know the “first principles” of Christianity. (6:1-3) Next, one must persevere and not fall away. (v4-6) Remember Jesus called us to “bear fruit that will last.” (John 15:16) This is expressed in Hebrews 6:7-8, “Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.” The writer of Hebrews shows us what true spiritual maturity is. He says that it is producing a crop, just like Jesus said spiritual maturity was in Luke 8:14-15; it is bearing fruit of new disciples. This is why the Spirit says we must become teachers of the “elementary teachings,” so that we can bear fruit. The mature Christian has down the “first principles” of the Bible and is using them to make disciples!
Surprised? Spiritual maturity is simply obeying the Word, serving others, building the ministry, giving and receiving discipling, and producing fruit. Jesus was our perfect example and demonstrated all of this in His ministry. We like to think of spiritual maturity as wrestling in “gray areas” or being able to “discern things better so we have more freedom in Christ.” Some tend to think their churches are maturing since they are “studying” the Bible on a “deeper” level, when sin is being tolerated and the church is not growing! This is not maturity! In fact in Hebrews 5:14 it says, “But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”
In my life I have spent too much time in “gray areas.” Joining God’s new movement helped me to discern that while knowledge, insight and depth are essential, maturity is putting the Word into practice, walking with God, saving the lost and keeping the saved faithful. More than ever, I am growing in the fruits of the Spirit, “love, joy, peace, patience…” (Galatians 5:22-23) Being mature is knowing good from evil. There is NO in-between. Jesus in His teaching was black and white. You repent or perish; there is light or darkness, heaven or hell, narrow road or broad road, etc. The mature understand this and bear fruit. It has been amazing to be in Phoenix and to fellowship in a mature church, where good and evil are distinguished and the harvest is being brought forth. Let us all strive to be spiritually mature; then we will know right from wrong by simply obeying, serving, building, discipling and producing. And to God be glory and honor for all the fruit of new disciples!
Campus Minister,
Mike Patterson
