Introduction

Good morning, beloved family of God. It's a joy to gather together once more in this sacred space, where we can feel the warmth of God's love enveloping us, where we can sense His presence in every breath we take, and where we are reminded of His unchanging faithfulness. We're not here by accident, but by divine appointment, called together to learn, to grow, to be transformed.

Today, we're going to turn our hearts and minds to the inspiring words of the Apostle Paul in Philippians 3:15-19.

This passage brims with wisdom, with challenges, with the Apostle's heartfelt plea for us to imitate maturity through Christ, to manifest the message of the cross, and to motivate others towards righteousness.

But how do we do this? How do we live out these lofty ideals in our day-to-day lives? How do we align our actions with our beliefs, our hearts with our words?

Charles Spurgeon, the great preacher and theologian, once said, "A good character when established is not easily overthrown." This is the essence of our pursuit - a character established in Christ, unshakeable, unwavering, rooted in the firm foundation of God's truth and love.

Let's open our hearts and minds to God as we pray. Heavenly Father, we come before You today with open hearts, ready to receive Your wisdom. As we ponder on Your Word, we ask for Your Spirit to guide us, to illuminate the path before us, and to help us apply these truths in our lives. We want to be more like You, Lord, to reflect Your love, Your grace, Your mercy to the world around us. Help us in this journey, Lord. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Transition. So, let's turn our hearts to the Word of God and see what He has to say to us today.

Mimicking Maturity through Christ

In the passage we've read, Paul urges us to think as mature believers. But what does it mean to be mature in Christ? It's not about age or experience. It's about a deep, intimate relationship with Jesus, a relationship that transforms us from the inside out. It's about allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us, shaping us into the image of Christ. It's about growing in wisdom, in understanding, in love.

When we look at Jesus, we see the perfect example of maturity. He was fully God, yet He chose to become fully human, to live among us, to experience our struggles, our pains, our joys. He showed us what it means to love unconditionally, to forgive without limit, to serve without expecting anything in return.

Paul calls us to imitate this kind of maturity. He's not asking us to put on a show, to pretend to be something we're not. He's asking us to genuinely strive to be like Christ, to let His character become our character, His values become our values, His priorities become our priorities.

This requires effort, discipline, and perseverance. It requires us to constantly examine our hearts, our motives, our actions. But the reward is worth it. As we grow in maturity, we experience a deeper, richer relationship with God. We experience a greater sense of peace, joy, fulfillment.

But how do we imitate Christ's maturity? How do we grow in our relationship with Him?

First, we need to spend time with Him. Just as we can't become close friends with someone without spending time with them, we can't become mature believers without spending time with Jesus. We need to read His Word, to pray, to worship, to meditate on His truths. We need to listen to His voice, to seek His face, to bask in His presence.

Second, we need to obey His commands. Jesus said, "If you love me, keep my commands." Obedience is not a burden, but a joy. It's not a duty, but a privilege. It's not a way to earn God's love, but a response to His love. As we obey Jesus, we show our love for Him. We show our trust in Him. We show our desire to please Him.

Third, we need to serve others. Jesus came not to be served, but to serve. He washed His disciples' feet, a task reserved for the lowest servant. He fed the hungry, healed the sick, comforted the brokenhearted. He loved the unlovable, forgave the unforgivable, welcomed the unwelcome. As we serve others, we follow Jesus' example. We show His love, His compassion, His grace.

Fourth, we need to share the gospel. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. He spent His life proclaiming the good news of God's kingdom, calling people to repentance, offering forgiveness, promising eternal life. He commissioned His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations. As we share the gospel, we fulfill Jesus' commission. We extend His invitation. We bring hope to the hopeless, light to the darkness, life to the dead.

Transition. Mimicking maturity through Christ is not about perfection. It's about progress. It's about moving forward, step by step, day by day. It's about growing, changing, transforming. It's about becoming more and more like Jesus, until one day, we see Him face to face, and we become like Him, perfectly mature, perfectly whole, perfectly His.

Manifesting the Message of the Cross

In the words of Paul, we are called to "keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO