November 24, 2012
DEVELOPING MATURITY IN CHRIST
Keith Tay
Hebrews 5:13-14
James 1:4 (NIV) Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not
lacking anything.
Hebrews 6:1 (NLT) - So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us
go on instead and become mature in our understanding.
“Some Christians are content to merely exist until they die. They don't want to risk anything, to believe
god, to grow or mature. They refuse to believe his word, and have become hardened in their unbelief.
Now they're living just to die!” - David Wilkerson (Senior Pastor of Time Square Church NY)
What Maturity is NOT:
1) Maturity is not age.
2) Maturity is not appearance.
3) Maturity has nothing to do with achievement, what you accomplish.
4) Maturity has nothing to do with academics, how many degrees you've gotten, how much education
you've gotten.
"Character is what you are in the dark." - D. L. Moody
5 marks of maturity
1. A Mature Person is Positive Under Pressure
James 1:2-4
James 1:12
To be mature you need to learn to handle pressure positively.
2. A Mature Person is Sensitive to Others
James 2:8
Matthew 25:31
Immature love says: 'I love you because I need you.' Mature love says: 'I need you because I love you.'
Erich Fromm
3. A Mature Person Guards His Mouth
James 3:2
Ephesians 4:29
Proverbs 18:21
James 1:26
4. A Mature Person is Able to Let Go and Move On
Romans 3:23
5. A Mature Person is Patient and Prayerful
James 5:7-8