August 2 – 8, 2008

GROWING INTO MATURITY - PART 3

BENEFITS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

In this lesson, you will learn that as you grow into maturity you will not only receive benefits, but there will also be responsibilities.

I. What it means to have maturity?

A. “Maturity” in the natural realm is to start at baby stage, then toddler, school age, teen years, and adulthood.

B. “Maturity” in the spiritual realm is to start out in the baby Christian stage, then begin to grow in your faith to become a mature Christian.

II. Benefits and responsibilities for those growing into maturity – Hebrews 5:5-14.

A. Verses 5-10 – Jesus is our example of growing into maturity. “Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered, and having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” vv. 8-9. (See also Luke 2:52.)

B. Verse 11 – Becoming dull of hearing is caused by thinking you know it all. It should be that the more you learn about spiritual things, the more you want to learn.

C. Verse 12 – “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.” This can happen if all you are focused on is being blessed but not taking your responsibilities.

D. Verses 13-14 – If you only partake of milk you stay a baby Christian but solid food belongs to those who are of full age (mature). “Those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” v. 14.

III. Take your responsibilities as a mature believer.

A. Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”  

1. In the natural body, every cell has a DNA code that has a job to do.

2. In the spiritual body, every believer is to mature to the place that they can do the job they are assigned to do.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• Share how you moved from being a baby Christian to a mature believer.
• Was there a time in your life where you became dull of hearing?
• What are some “good works” that you are walking in and taking your responsibility in as a mature Christian?

BE A DOER OF THE WORD

This week think about how a child is measured for growth in the natural and how you need to measure your spiritual progress on a regular basis.

SCRIPTURE MEMORY VERSE: Hebrews 5:14 – “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”