Object Lessons in

Growth & Maturity2Peter 3:18

“GROW”2Peter 3:18

But grow in grace, and in theknowledge of our Lord andSaviour Jesus Christ. Tohim be glory both now and forever. Amen.

Strange?

Should a MAN be

acting like a BABY?

Strange?

Should ADULTS

behave as BABIES??

Is this normal?

1Corinthians 13:11

When I was a child, I spake as achild, I understood as a child, Ithought as a child: but when Ibecame a man, I put awaychildish things.

Put away childish things!

Be a man!

1Corinthians 16:13

Watch ye, stand fast in thefaith, quit you like men, bestrong.

We sometimes see adults behaving like

children . . .

. . . BUT how about children acting as

adults?

Is this natural?

Is this right?

Should a child be driving a car?

Is this natural?

Should a child have a job?

We get into trouble when we try to grow

up TOO FAST . . .

. . . when we try to do things that we are NOT

yet READY to do.

*Development : growth, maturity, progress

Human Development (Physical)

GROWTH is a PROGRESSIONa PROCESS

1. Baby

a. Cannot help himself

b. Only eats and sleeps

c. Cares only for self and needs

d. Drinks milk

e. Cannot understandanything

f. Cries all the time

2. Toddlera. Still drinking milk but

can eat baby foodb. Not much help to

anybody but cutec. Cries when he doesn’t

get what he wantsd. Has to be watched

constantlye. Discovering his

surroundingsf. Extremely limited

understandingg. Doesn’t play well with

others

3. Child

a. Still needs to be fed

b. Loves to play

c. Does not understanddeep things

d. Easily distracted

e. Follows after noisesand sounds and sights

f. Fights with other children

4. Teena. Still dependent upon

parents but can help self

b. Can help others

c. Gets distracted by theworld

d. Can do work and makemoney

e. Understanding is limited

f. In the process ofdiscovering himself /herself

5. Adulta. Has a job

b. Can take care of self and others

c. Independent

d. Can understandmuch

e. Has life experience

6. Seniora. A lifetime growing

and developing

b. Decreased strength

c. Increased wisdom

d. Much to offerothers if they will listen

e. A lifetime of memories that can be used to guide others

Spiritually speaking, God’s plan of

development is very SIMILAR!

Just as there is a God-ordained process of

physical growth, there is also a process of spiritual growth.

A God-ordained PROCESS

Mark 4:28

For the earth bringeth forth fruitof herself; first the blade, thenthe ear, after that the full corn inthe ear.

It’s a process of maturity

It’s a NATURAL process that CANNOT be

rushed:

“To every thingthere is a season,and a time to everypurpose under theheaven”(Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Is this natural?

The process of SPIRITUAL

Growth & Maturity

The PROCESS of SPIRITUAL Growth & Maturity

1. New Life (by faith in Christ)

2. Growth (learning, discipleship,, and experiential discovery)

3. Maturity & bearing fruit

4. Perfection & more fruit

From inward to outward

NOT according to physical age

BUT according to, life, growth and maturity in

CHRIST

1. New Life in Christ

2Corinthians 5:17

Therefore if any man be inChrist, he is a new creature: oldthings are passed away; behold,all things are become new.

Our CONDITION

Psalm 51:5

Behold, I was shapen ininiquity; and in sin didmy mother conceive me.

GODOld Life

New Life

Our DEEDS

Romans 3:23

For all have sinned, andcome short of the gloryof God;

GOD

Our NEED

1Timothy 1:15

… Christ Jesus came into theworld to save sinners …

Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions

he was bruised for our iniquities

the chastisementof our peace was upon him

and with his stripes we are

healed.

Our REST

Romans 3:22

… the righteousness of Godwhich is by faith of Jesus Christ

2. Growth & Discipleship

(Spiritual Baby)a. Needs constant care

b. Can only handle milk

c. Cares only about himself and what hewants

d. CANNOT understand deeper spiritualtruths

e. Makes a scene when he doesn’t getwhat he wants

1 Peter 2:2

As newborn babes, desirethe sincere milk of theword, that ye may growthereby

1Corinthians 3:1

And I, brethren, could notspeak unto you as untospiritual, but as unto carnal,even as unto babes in Christ.

1Corinthians 3:3

For ye are yet carnal: forwhereas there is among youenvying, and strife, anddivisions, are ye not carnal, andwalk as men?

Milk vs. Meat

1Corinthians 3:2

I have fed you with milk, andnot with meat: for hithertoye were not able to bear it,neither yet now are ye able.

Milk or Meat?• Basic truths

– the Gospel

– the Bible

– people of the Bible

– events in the Bible

• Emotions over biblical truths

• Feelings over biblical truths

Milk or Meat?Deeper truths:

– Attributes of God

– Doctrine

– Christ’s image

– The depth of God’s love

– The riches of God’s grace

– Walking in love

– Death to self

Isaiah 28:9

Whom shall he teach knowledge?and whom shall he make tounderstand doctrine? them thatare weaned from themilk, and drawn from the breasts.

GOD and His Son Jesus Christ become more and more personally meaningful

3. Development & Experience

(Spiritually Children)a. Still needs to be fed

b. NOT doctrinally sound

c. Selfish

d. Easily distracted by the world

e. Follows after noises and sounds andsights that make him feel good

f. Offended easily

Spiritually Children

1Corinthians 14:20

Brethren, be not children inunderstanding: howbeit inmalice be ye children, but inunderstanding be men.

Ephesians 4:14

That we henceforth be no morechildren, tossed to and fro, andcarried about with every wind ofdoctrine, by the sleight of men,and cunning craftiness, wherebythey lie in wait to deceive;

Hebrews 6:1-2

Therefore leaving theprinciples of the doctrineof Christ, let us go onunto perfection …

4. Maturity & Fruit-bearinga. Actively using gifts to minister to other

believers (in the church)

b. Has gained understanding from theWord of God and experience

c. Is learning and practicing wisdom andpatience

d. Does NOT rely on feelings or emotionsbut on the Word of God (truth)

Philippians 3:15

Let us therefore, as many as beperfect, be thus minded[pressing toward Christ]: and if inany thing ye be otherwiseminded, God shall reveal eventhis unto you.

Hebrews 5:14

But strong meat belongeth tothem that are of full age, eventhose who by reason of usehave their senses exercised todiscern both good and evil.

5. PERFECTION & more fruita. Has spent a lifetime growing and

maturing

b. Protects weaker brethren from baddoctrine

c. ABLE to teach others

d. Has learned patience in sufferingthrough experience and trials

e. Naturally has wisdom

Ephesians 4:13

Till we all come in the unity of thefaith, and of the knowledge of theSon of God, unto a perfect man,unto the measure of the stature ofthe fulness of Christ:

*Perfect – mature

Acts 20:28

Take heed therefore untoyourselves, and to all the flock,over the which the Holy Ghosthath made you overseers [elders],to feed the church of God, whichhe hath purchased with his ownblood.

1Peter 5:1-3

1 The elders which are among you I exhort, whoam also an elder, and a witness of the sufferingsof Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shallbe revealed:

2 Feed the flock of God which is among you,taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint,but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a readymind;

3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, butbeing ensamples to the flock.

Sometimes, those who have been saved for a

long time still behave as children.

Hebrews 5:12

For when for the time ye oughtto be teachers, ye have needthat one teach you again whichbe the first principles of theoracles of God; and are becomesuch as have need of milk, andnot of strong meat.

Sometimes, Christians go through the motions

even though they are NOT yet ready.

LITTLE knowledge, LITTLE experience, LITTLE growth,

LITTLE maturity

Newly Saved

NEWLY SAVED but IMMEDIATELYgiven a MINISTRY

A NOVICE

Temptation to be filled with pride due to LACK of spiritual maturity

Maturity (GROWTH) is needed for spiritual leadership

1Timothy 3:4-6

4 One that ruleth well his own house, having hischildren in subjection with all gravity;

5 (For if a man know not how to rule his ownhouse, how shall he take care of the church ofGod?)

6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pridehe fall into the condemnation of the devil.

Singing without understanding

1 Corinthians 14:15

What is it then? I will pray with the spirit,and I will pray with the understanding also:I will sing with the spirit, and I will singwith the understanding also.

Psalms 47:7

For God is the King of all the earth: sing yepraises with understanding.

“God is good all the time!”

• Are we just saying it or do we reallymean it?

• Are we trying to sound like everyoneelse or are we sincere?

• Are we just saying the right words butNO experience (experientialknowledge)?

• Ask a person who is suffering if theycan say that.

• Ask yourself if you could say that atany given time.

• It’s EASY to say it when things aregoing good BUT how about whentrials come?

Speak from experience

John 3:11

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak thatwe do know, and testify that we have seen…

Acts 1:8

But ye shall receive power, after that theHoly Ghost is come upon you: and ye shallbe witnesses …

Maturity is a process

Romans 5:3-4

And not only so, but we glory intribulations also: knowing thattribulation worketh patience;And patience, experience; andexperience, hope:

This is why the CHURCH is a FAMILY – to follow God’s ordained plan of growth &

development (maturity) as well

Older and Younger Brethren

1 Timothy 5:1

Rebuke not an elder, butintreat him as a father; andthe younger men asbrethren;

Older and Younger Brethren

1 Timothy 5:2

The elder women as mothers; theyounger as sisters, with all purity.

Titus 2:4

That they [older women] may teachthe young women to be sober, to lovetheir husbands, to love their children,

Older and Younger Brethren

1 Peter 5:5

Likewise, ye younger, submityourselves unto the elder.Yea, all of you be subject oneto another, and be clothedwith humility: for Godresisteth the proud, and givethgrace to the humble.

God’s ordained plan of maturity

a. Some ELDERS who teach and lead the younger

b. Some MATURE to do the work of the ministry

c. Some YOUNGER who need to be discipled

d. Some BABES who need to be fed

Church Family

Sister

Mother

Father

Brethren

MotherFather

Elder Man Older Woman

Christ wants to change us from within through the process of

GROWTH and MATURITY

New life in Him

Transformation in Him

Changing into His image

Sanctification

Transformation in Christ

Romans 12:2

And be not conformed to this world:but be ye transformed by therenewing of your mind, that ye mayprove what is that good, andacceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Into the image of Christ

Romans 8:29

For whom he did foreknow, he alsodid predestinate to be conformedto the image of his Son, that hemight be the firstborn among manybrethren.

Sanctification in Christ

2Timothy 2:21

If a man therefore purge himselffrom these, he shall be a vesselunto honour, sanctified, and meetfor the master's use, and preparedunto every good work.

These things do NOT happen overnight.

They take time.

They follow a natural process of growth and maturity.

Do NOT try to RUSH them.

Do NOT NEGLECT them.

1Peter 3:18GROWTH in GRACE and KNOWLEDGE

“GROW”2Peter 3:18

But grow in grace, and in theknowledge of our Lord andSaviour Jesus Christ. Tohim be glory both now and forever. Amen.

2Peter 3:18

• Grow in GRACE

–Experientially

• KNOWLEDGE (of what?)

–Of our LORD and SAVIOR JesusChrist

Colossians 1:10

... increasing in the knowledge of God.

Psalm 1:1-31 Blessed is the man … 2 … his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Colossians 2:7

Rooted and builtup in him, andstablished in thefaith, as ye havebeen taught,aboundingtherein withthanksgiving.

Growth – Maturity - Fruit

2Peter 1:5-8

“And beside this, giving all diligence, add to yourfaith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; (6) And toknowledge temperance; and to temperancepatience; and to patience godliness; (7) And togodliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherlykindness charity. (8) For if these things be in you,and abound, they make you that ye shall neitherbe barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of ourLord Jesus Christ.”

The Bible says, “Examine yourselves”

Easily offended?

Handle meat?

Walking close with the Lord?

Baby or mature in the faith?

SUBMIT to it, and FOLLOW God’s plan –NOT your plan (it’s okay to “grow”)

It’s okay to GROW!

It’s okay to yield to the natural process of spiritual maturity

It’s GOD’S DESIGN!By GOD’s GRACE!

1Peter 3:18GROW into MATURITY