Charles Day Grace Chapel

Transcription

1 Deeper Faith: Living Like You Mean It! Maturity 1 Corinthians 1:20-2:16 (Based on - The Radical Disciple by John Stott) March 10, 2013 Charles Day Grace Chapel

2 What is Maturity? Who is a Mature Person? Webster s dictionary: having completed natural growth and development having attained a final or desired state < wine> having achieved a low but stable growth rate <paper is a industry>

3 Some thoughts Calm, considerate, appreciative, knows how to take care of oneself, not naive, can clean up after himself, can cook for himself, can budget and manage his own finances, understands peer pressure, has developed good habits, understands consequences of one's actions, able to accept responsibility for one's actions

4 What does it mean to be a Mature Christian? Hebrews 5:11-14 NIV 11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. 12 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! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

5 What does it mean to be a Luke 8:11-18 NIV Mature Christian? 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

6 What does it mean to be a Mature Christian? Ephesians 4: So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 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. 14 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 people in their deceitful scheming. 15 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.

7 The Radical Disciple by John Stott Chapter 3 Maturity

8 growth without depth From a South Asian Leader: there is a huge problem with lack of godliness and integrity From an African Leader: this growth is largely numerical the church is without a strong biblical or theological foundation of her own China Christian Council President: Some say the church is doing well when there is growth in numbers But for the increase in numbers to in parallel with the confirmation of the faith of the church

9 What is Christian Maturity?

10 Stott s Notion of Christian Maturity in Christ is NOT inside Christ, but rather as branches are in the vine and our limbs are in the body, that is, united in Christ To be mature is to have a mature relationship with Christ in which we worship, trust, love and obey Him.

11 How do Christians become more mature?

12 Stott s Way of Getting to Maturity Not pygmy Christ: Jesus the capitalist, Jesus the socialist, Jesus the ascetic, Jesus the glutton, Jesus the clown of Godspell, Jesus Christ superstar But: Lord of Creation, Lord of the Church (reconciliation) Because: of who he is (God s image) and what he has done (creation and reconciliation)

13 Nothing is more important for mature Christian discipleship than a fresh, clear, true vision of the authentic Christ

14 To Whom is Maturity Directed at?

15 Stott s Response Colossians 1:28 We proclaim [Christ], admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ Paul s great longing is to go beyond evangelism to discipleship, and to present everybody mature in Christ

16 Read 1 Corinthians 1:20-2:16

17 Wisdom or Foolishness? Corinth is one of the chief cities of Greece when Paul wrote this circa AD 96 People were interested in Greek philosophy and high premium on wisdom Contained 12 temples for the various Greek gods, and the Jews had established a synogogue Paul attacking the philosophical discussions because they have the wrong concept of God

18 Luke 10:21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy spirit, said, I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure

19 How do the wise people of today scholars, philosophers, scientist try to get along without God?

20 What is boasting in the Lord? Paul s point is that unless the Spirit is with the listen s heart, no eloquence of a pastor is effective Thus, what you boast about is not your abilities, your intelligence, your experience You boast about your understanding of God instead

21 Jeremiah 9:23-24 This is what the Lord says: Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, But let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight

22 What is God s hidden wisdom?

23 Ephesians 3:4-6 In reading this, then you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, Which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God s holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel, the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus

24 How does this passage give you insight into Spiritual Maturity?

25 What are the stumbling blocks to spiritual maturity?

26 Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Harvard Medical School Questions? Charles S. Day, MD, MBA