Christian Maturity | Ephesians 4:1-6, 11-16 & E. Stanley Jones

Christian Maturity Ephesians 4:1-6, 11-16

Christian Maturity E. Stanley Jones If I were called upon to put my finger on the most pressing need of our age, I would unhesitatingly say one thing maturity. We are very immature people attempting to handle very mature problems. Our problems are outrunning our capacity to handle them. (p. v) If we don t become mature we block the thing for which we are made. (p. vi) God is pressing us toward grown-upness. (p. vi)

Christian Maturity (Jones contd) The Christian faith steps amidst all this confusion and moral collapse and has something definite and something very important to say. For it specializes in maturity its central aim is to produce mature character. (p. viii) We have a viewpoint and a starting point Christ! In His light we will see the meaning and life of maturity. (p. ix)

Christian Maturity (Jones contd) Maturity is not a matter of age but of attitude . You become mature to the degree that you relate yourself to God, respond to His grace, and work it out in life. Receptivity to grace is the secret of maturity. (p. xi)

Ephesians 4:1-3 1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4:4-6 4There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Ephesians 4:11-13 11So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until 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.

Ephesians 4:14 14Then 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.

Ephesians 4:15-16 15Instead, 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. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Living a Life Worthy the Calling Colossians 1:10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God. Colossians 2:6-7 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

A Life Worthy the Calling Philippians 1:27a Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

I Want to Be Like Jesus I have one deep, supreme desire that I may be like Jesus. To this I fervently aspire that I may be like Jesus. I want my heart His throne to be, so that a watching world may see His likeness shining forth in me. I want to be like Jesus.

Less Like Me A little more like mercy, a little more like grace A little more like kindness, goodness, love, and faith A little more like patience, a little more like peace A little more like Jesus, oh, a little less like me A little more of living everything I preach A little more like Jesus, a little less like me Oh, a little less like me

Keys to Christian Maturity Verse 14 BEWARE! Verse 15 BE CHRISTLIKE! Verse 16 BE CONNECTED WITH EACH OTHER!