Continued from yesterday.
Saddleback's strategy is based on the truths listed against each myth (see yesterday's blog, italics). Spiritual growth begins with commitment, is a gradual process, involves developing habits, is measured by five factors, is stimulated by relationships and requires participation in all five purposes of the church.
Raise the level of commitment.
Ideally every church should be known for the commitment of its members. A good way to assess whether your church is maturing is to ask whether standards of leadership get tougher as time passes. Each time you raise the standards for leadership you bring everyone else along a little bit. Focus on raising the commitment of the leadership, and others will follow.
Ask people for commitment. If you don't ask for it, you won't get it. And if you don't ask for it, other groups will. One of the most helpful things a church can do for people is assisting them in clarifying what commitments to make and what to decline.
Ask confidently for a big commitment. Jesus always asked clearly and confidently. He demanded that people drop everything and follow Him - and they did! People want to be committed to something that gives significance to their lives (Luke 14:33). People do not resent being asked for a great commitment if there is a great purpose behind it. They respond to passionate vision better than need.
Be specific in asking for commitment. Tell people exactly what is expected of them.
Explain the benefits of commitment. God attaches His promises to obedience. Explain epersonal benefits, family benefits, church benefits and eternal benefits.
Build on commitment rather than to commitment. It is important to start with whatever commitment people are able to give, even if it seems weak at first. Also break commitments into steps. Celebrate each time someone commits to moving forward.
Help people develop spiritual growth habits.
There are many habits that will be heplful. Four basics are time with God's word, prayer, tithing and fellowship. Sign a commitment in writing, and renew annually.
Build a balanced Christian education program.
It should contain:
Knowledge of the Word of God. Regularly offer "new believer" studies. 5 core books for these: Genesis, John, Romans, Ephesians, James.
Perspective. Understanding the word from a larger frame of reference; understanding how things fit together.
Conviction. Help people discover reasons for doing things that are as important as life itself. (The church MUST teach biblical convictions in order to counter the secular values to which believers are constantly exposed).
Skills. Help people learn how to do the above!
Character. The ultimate goal for the program (Eph 4:13). It is the only thing we take into eternity!
Showing posts with label Spiritual maturity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spiritual maturity. Show all posts
29 February 2012
28 February 2012
Purpose Driven Church Ch18a - Developing mature members
Tonight's chapter is long, very long. Over 30 pages long. So this will have to be a multi-part entry. I'm mainly concentrating on providing a concise version rather than commenting on it, unless there's something I just can't leave alone!
God's will for every believer is spiritual maturity. The ultimate goal of spiritual growth is to become like Jesus. How does this happen? How do we become mature?
Myths about Spiritual maturity
1) Spiritual growth is automatic once you are born again.
Many churches have no plan and leave it all to chance, assuming that Christians will automatically grow to maturity if they attend church services. This isn't true. Churches are filled with people who have attended services for their entire lives yet are still spiritual babies. Hebrews 5:12 laments about people who need elementary truths when they should be teaching.
Spiritual growth is intentional. It requires commitment and effort. Phil 2:12-13 says that we need to work out Salvation (not work on! There is nothing we can add to what Christ did). Growth that leads to maturity begins with the commitment described in Rom 6:13.
2) Spiritual growth is mystical, and maturity is attainable only by a select few.
Spirituality is linked in our minds to cult members in robes and monastic people such as monks or nuns. Many Christians feel that maturity is out of reach. This is partly due to biographies which gloss over the humanity of godly people and imply that you have to pray 10 hours a day, move to a jungle and plan to die as a martyr!
Spiritual growth is very practical. Any believer can grow to maturity if he or she will develop habits needed for spiritual growth. 1 Tim 4:7 - Spiritual fitness. Anyone can become physically fit if they exercise and practise good health habits. Spiritual fitness is about learning spiritual exercises and being disciplined to do them until they become habits.
3) Spiritual maturity can occur instantly if you find the right "key".
Many sincere Christians spend their entire lives seeking for the an experience, conference, revival or book that will instantly transform them into mature believers. This is futile.
Spiritual growth is a process that takes time. Eph 4:13 says we arrive at maturity, implying that maturity is the destination in a journey. If you lead people to commit to growing spiritually, teach them some basic habits and give them guidance on the way, you can expect to see them grow.
4) Spiritual maturity is measured by what you know.
Maturity is often confused with knowledge of and/or ability to debate doctrine. While knowledge of the Bible is foundational to spiritual maturity, it isn't the total measurement of it.
Spiritual maturity is demonstrated more by behaviour than beliefs. Deeds must be consistent with creeds (James 2:18). By their fruit you will recognise them (Matt 7:16)! As well as knowledge, we can measure maturity through perspective, conviction, skills and character. Knowledge increases responsibility (James 4:17).
5) Spiritual growth is a personal and private matter.
Most spiritual growth teaching is self-centred and self-focused. This is unbiblical.
Christians need relationships to grow. Growth does not occur in isolation (Hebrews 10:24 - 25).
Relationships play an important role in moving people to maturity; Fellowship is not optional for the Christian, it is mandatory. The litmus test for a Christian is whether they love other believers (1 John 3:14).
6) All you need is Bible study to grow.
Many churches are built on this myth. They stress the teaching of Bible content and doctrine, but give little emphasis to emotional, experiential and relational development.
It takes a variety of spiritual experiences with God to produce spiritual maturity. Genuine maturity includes having a worshiping heart, building and enjoying loving relationships, using talents in service to others and sharing your faith with the lost. A strategy to bring people to maturity must include all of these. Christians do more than study the Christian life, they experience it.
Because some groups glorify experience, evangelical churches tend to overreact by de-emphasising it. Deut 11:2 says we remember what we have learned of the Lord through our experiences with Him.
Continued tomorrow night . . .
God's will for every believer is spiritual maturity. The ultimate goal of spiritual growth is to become like Jesus. How does this happen? How do we become mature?
Myths about Spiritual maturity
1) Spiritual growth is automatic once you are born again.
Many churches have no plan and leave it all to chance, assuming that Christians will automatically grow to maturity if they attend church services. This isn't true. Churches are filled with people who have attended services for their entire lives yet are still spiritual babies. Hebrews 5:12 laments about people who need elementary truths when they should be teaching.
Spiritual growth is intentional. It requires commitment and effort. Phil 2:12-13 says that we need to work out Salvation (not work on! There is nothing we can add to what Christ did). Growth that leads to maturity begins with the commitment described in Rom 6:13.
2) Spiritual growth is mystical, and maturity is attainable only by a select few.
Spirituality is linked in our minds to cult members in robes and monastic people such as monks or nuns. Many Christians feel that maturity is out of reach. This is partly due to biographies which gloss over the humanity of godly people and imply that you have to pray 10 hours a day, move to a jungle and plan to die as a martyr!
Spiritual growth is very practical. Any believer can grow to maturity if he or she will develop habits needed for spiritual growth. 1 Tim 4:7 - Spiritual fitness. Anyone can become physically fit if they exercise and practise good health habits. Spiritual fitness is about learning spiritual exercises and being disciplined to do them until they become habits.
3) Spiritual maturity can occur instantly if you find the right "key".
Many sincere Christians spend their entire lives seeking for the an experience, conference, revival or book that will instantly transform them into mature believers. This is futile.
Spiritual growth is a process that takes time. Eph 4:13 says we arrive at maturity, implying that maturity is the destination in a journey. If you lead people to commit to growing spiritually, teach them some basic habits and give them guidance on the way, you can expect to see them grow.
4) Spiritual maturity is measured by what you know.
Maturity is often confused with knowledge of and/or ability to debate doctrine. While knowledge of the Bible is foundational to spiritual maturity, it isn't the total measurement of it.
Spiritual maturity is demonstrated more by behaviour than beliefs. Deeds must be consistent with creeds (James 2:18). By their fruit you will recognise them (Matt 7:16)! As well as knowledge, we can measure maturity through perspective, conviction, skills and character. Knowledge increases responsibility (James 4:17).
5) Spiritual growth is a personal and private matter.
Most spiritual growth teaching is self-centred and self-focused. This is unbiblical.
Christians need relationships to grow. Growth does not occur in isolation (Hebrews 10:24 - 25).
Relationships play an important role in moving people to maturity; Fellowship is not optional for the Christian, it is mandatory. The litmus test for a Christian is whether they love other believers (1 John 3:14).
6) All you need is Bible study to grow.
Many churches are built on this myth. They stress the teaching of Bible content and doctrine, but give little emphasis to emotional, experiential and relational development.
It takes a variety of spiritual experiences with God to produce spiritual maturity. Genuine maturity includes having a worshiping heart, building and enjoying loving relationships, using talents in service to others and sharing your faith with the lost. A strategy to bring people to maturity must include all of these. Christians do more than study the Christian life, they experience it.
Because some groups glorify experience, evangelical churches tend to overreact by de-emphasising it. Deut 11:2 says we remember what we have learned of the Lord through our experiences with Him.
Continued tomorrow night . . .
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