Like so many things in life, we want the perks of growing up without actually going through the process of growing.
Here are five areas where we can see evidence of the growing up process. In other words, if we are growing up (which we should always be doing), then we will be doing these five things:
1.) You learn from your mistakes.
2.) You learn how to better take care of yourself avoiding danger and self-inflicted harm.
3.) You are making progress, moving forward. You don't need to be babied any more.
3.) You are making progress, moving forward. You don't need to be babied any more.
4.) You have goals and you are achieving them. You are becoming your own person and finding your purpose.
This is obviously not an exhaustive list, but for as much as it applies to our physical growth, it applies to our spiritual growth as well. Why all this talk about growing up? Well, God's Word tells us that we should constantly be growing as Christians and as the Church.
Paul writes to the church in Thessalonica, "We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing." (2 Thessalonians 1:3) What a great picture of growth in church! I want the same to be said about our church and our young adult ministry that we are growing abundantly in faith and love.
In Ephesians 2:19-21, Paul likens the body of the believers to the household of God with Jesus Christ as its cornerstone, "in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord." Growing is an action word; it conveys that action is happening. This should be the action of the church. I'm not talking about numerical growth here, but growth in numbers is a result of a church that is growing spiritually. Remember where there is no growth, there is death. A church that's not growing spiritually is a dead church (see Revelation 3:1-6).
The stern warning of Hebrews 5:11-14 reminds us of the call to grow up. We should not remain as children needing milk, but rather should be maturing as believers. Are you in the same place spiritually as you were a year ago, two years ago? Then it's time to start growing up!
Reading Ephesians 4:11-16, we see Paul mention different people (apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers) that are using their spiritual gifts to fulfill their purpose, to equip the saints and help the church grow in maturity. There's that call for us to grow in maturity again. We do not want to be like "children tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes." Instead, we want to grow up in our understanding of God's Word and our application of it to our lives.
I notice some insight on how we should grow up found in Ephesians 4:15-16.
1.) You must be willing to accept the truth. To hear it, live by it, and speak it.
"Rather, speaking the truth..."
2.) You must strive to do all things in love. Hate and bitterness are signs of immaturity in a Christian's life.
"...in love..."
3.) Growing up spiritually is a choice. If you are not willing to grow up in the other areas of your life, you will not be able to grow spiritually either.
"...we are to grow up in every way..."
4.) You are growing into Christ. He is our ultimate example.
"...into Him who is the head, into Christ..."
5.) It's not just about you. The church is supposed to grow together and build itself up.
"...from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds it self up in love."
The Bible is clear. It's time to grow up. Not just for your own sake, but for the sake of the whole body, the church. Let's join together. Grow together. And build each other up in love.
This is obviously not an exhaustive list, but for as much as it applies to our physical growth, it applies to our spiritual growth as well. Why all this talk about growing up? Well, God's Word tells us that we should constantly be growing as Christians and as the Church.
Paul writes to the church in Thessalonica, "We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing." (2 Thessalonians 1:3) What a great picture of growth in church! I want the same to be said about our church and our young adult ministry that we are growing abundantly in faith and love.
In Ephesians 2:19-21, Paul likens the body of the believers to the household of God with Jesus Christ as its cornerstone, "in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord." Growing is an action word; it conveys that action is happening. This should be the action of the church. I'm not talking about numerical growth here, but growth in numbers is a result of a church that is growing spiritually. Remember where there is no growth, there is death. A church that's not growing spiritually is a dead church (see Revelation 3:1-6).
The stern warning of Hebrews 5:11-14 reminds us of the call to grow up. We should not remain as children needing milk, but rather should be maturing as believers. Are you in the same place spiritually as you were a year ago, two years ago? Then it's time to start growing up!
Reading Ephesians 4:11-16, we see Paul mention different people (apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers) that are using their spiritual gifts to fulfill their purpose, to equip the saints and help the church grow in maturity. There's that call for us to grow in maturity again. We do not want to be like "children tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes." Instead, we want to grow up in our understanding of God's Word and our application of it to our lives.
I notice some insight on how we should grow up found in Ephesians 4:15-16.
1.) You must be willing to accept the truth. To hear it, live by it, and speak it.
"Rather, speaking the truth..."
2.) You must strive to do all things in love. Hate and bitterness are signs of immaturity in a Christian's life.
"...in love..."
3.) Growing up spiritually is a choice. If you are not willing to grow up in the other areas of your life, you will not be able to grow spiritually either.
"...we are to grow up in every way..."
4.) You are growing into Christ. He is our ultimate example.
"...into Him who is the head, into Christ..."
5.) It's not just about you. The church is supposed to grow together and build itself up.
"...from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds it self up in love."
The Bible is clear. It's time to grow up. Not just for your own sake, but for the sake of the whole body, the church. Let's join together. Grow together. And build each other up in love.
*all scripture references taken from the English Standard Version of the Bible with some emphasis added.
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