Week One: 'Mature in Identity' with Pastor Andrew Owen

Week Two: 'Mature in Faith' with Pastor Mike McKeever

Week Three: 'Mature in Purpose' with Pastor Liam Smith

Spiritual Maturity Is Not:

• About age

Like the bumper sticker that says, “I might be getting older, but I will never grow up”, spiritual maturity takes time, energy, and effort. It is possible to be a fifty- or sixty-year-old spiritual baby, yet also likely to be a very young, mature person.

• About achievements

Paul makes this very clear: he was a high achiever, yet he counted it all as nothing in comparison to knowing Christ.

Those accomplishments were impressive, but they were not necessarily marks of a spiritually mature person. Remember, the Pharisees knew a lot of Scripture and had a trophy room full of achievements, yet lacked intimacy with God, godly maturity, and spiritual discernment. God was walking amongst them in the person of Jesus, and they didn’t even know it.

• About appearance

Some people may “look the part.” In football, this is called “passing the eye test.” Yet many who pass the eye test are not necessarily good football players. Similarly, there are Christians who “pass the eye test,” but this does not indicate spiritual maturity.

Here are some definitions of Christian maturity:

• It is an ongoing, intentional process of growth rather than a finished product, aiming toward Christlikeness and effective living in accordance with God’s will.

• Spiritual maturity is a state of advanced development in one’s spiritual life, characterised by a deep understanding and integration of spiritual values and principles.

• Spiritually mature people are fruitful. They focus on making a difference rather than merely gathering information.

• Spiritually mature people are always strongly connected to others, actively making disciples every day.

The Bible often speaks about maturity, with verses such as these:

"But solid food is for the mature—for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil” — Hebrews 5:14 (CSB)

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and on to the day of eternity. Amen.” — 2 Peter 3:18 (ESV)

“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.” — Ephesians 4:15 (NIV)

Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for being able to discern weather patterns but not the signs of the times. We read:

"He answered and said to them, 'When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.'” — Matthew 16:2-3 (NKJV)

Maturity always leads to good discernment; it helps us understand the urgency of the hour.

Maturity does not come accidentally but intentionally.

Over these next twenty-one days, we pray that we will all grow up into ALL that God has in mind for us.

We want to grow in:

IDENTITY - knowing who we are and who Jesus has made us to be.

FAITH - knowing how to appropriate all the benefits of the wonderful things Jesus has done for us.

PURPOSE - clearly recognising our part in the great plans and purposes for which He has called us and going on to bear much fruit for His glory.

Take time each day to read the daily Scriptures in this devotional, reflect on and answer the questions, write down your thoughts, and pray with us each day. Remember, you are not doing this alone; many others are journeying with you.

Get ready and enjoy the adventure!