Luke 14:25-35 25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and
turning to them he said: 26 "If anyone comes to me and does not
hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and
sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple. 27 And
anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my
disciple. 28 "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he
not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough
money to complete it? 29 For if he lays the foundation and is not
able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, 30 saying,
'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' 31 “Or
suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t
he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten
thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty
thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the
other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the
same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have
cannot be my disciples. 34 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness,
how can it be made salty again? 35 It is fit neither for the soil nor
for the manure pile; it is thrown out. “Whoever has ears to hear,
let them hear.” NIV
I. Growing people understand that spiritual maturity is not
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Hebrews 5:12-13 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. NIV
A. Spiritual maturity begins with accepting God as my only source
for guidance in life.
B. Spiritual maturity comes from knowing that I don’t have all the
answers.
C. Spiritual maturity continues through learning from spiritually
mature people.
Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I
am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your
souls. NIV
II. Growing people understand that spiritual maturity is a
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Proverbs 8:5 Are you immature? Learn to be mature. Are you
foolish? Learn to have sense. GNT
A. It takes work to become mature.
B. It takes time to become mature.
C. It takes a willing heart to become mature.
2 Peter 2:18 18 But continue to grow in the grace and knowledge
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory, now and
forever! Amen. GNT
III. Growing people understand that spiritual maturity takes
________________________.
1 Timothy 4:7 7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old
wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. NIV
A. Training is the most important part of a discipline.
B. The more we become disciplined the more God can use us.
C. The mark of the Disciple is continued growth.
Luke 14:27 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow
me cannot be my disciple. NIV
Conclusion:
Ephesians 4:11-13 11 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. NIV