Ephesians 4:15 “that we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ”
The greatest desire of our Father in heaven is that we mature into Christ.
Vision
If we don’t see maturity as the goal we will not allow ourselves to be constrained to the path that brings maturity
Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained. But blessed is he, the one keeping the law.
Mechanisms & Measures of Maturity
Ephesians 4:11-14 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, 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 in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will 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.
Mechanisms of Maturity
- Gifts of Christ
- Preaching/Teaching
- Works of Service
Measures of Maturity
- Church is Built Up
- Unity in the Church
- Discernment of Destructive Teaching
2 Peter 2:1 But false prophets were also among the people, as also false teachers will be among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies
Acts 20:30 … and out of you yourselves will rise up men speaking perverted things, in order to draw away the disciples after themselves.