Cultural, personal, or circumstantial obstacles are bound to stand in the way of anyone who wants to become mature in Christ. Yet, without maturity we cannot become all that God wants us to be. Neither can we know all that the Lord wants us to understand. Furthermore, we cannot do all that our heavenly Father wants us to accomplish without ascending the ladders of Biblical maturity. Once certain people attain a level of proficiency in areas like teaching, relationship building, or preaching they assume that they qualify for being a mature Christian. However, the Bible commands us to grow up into ALL aspects into Christ. This holistic approach to maturity is a challenge for everyone who is serious about realizing their maximum potential. The following steps to maturity are filled with promised blessings and power. Every person's journey will be unique, but it will involve the following ten levels. Your experiences may differ according to your own background or set of assumptions. Yet, maturity in Christ is the pre-requisite to accomplishing the whole will of God and experiencing His maximum power!
TEN STEPS TO CHRISTIAN MATURITY
1. Exposure - When the truth of the scriptures is revealed to people through teaching, preaching, films, examples, good works, conversations, healing, answers to prayers, or any means of communication, people are able to see the benefits of a mature relationship with Christ. Difficulties often occur when one is unable to present the truth in a credible, relevant, or need meeting way. We need to be open to expose ourselves to all aspects of truth because all truth is God's truth. A closed mind impedes our ability to see the entire will of God and the full depth, breadth, height and length of God's love. Teach people the advantages of exposing themselves to all facets of truth.
2. Awareness - When people gain a conscious knowledge of the aspects involved with maturity in Christ they are able to express it in their own words. However, it often takes a crisis, a problem, or some kind of adversity to make people aware of their deepest spiritual needs. Maturity is often catalyzed when people become aware of their needs for growth through a felt, perceived or experiential need. Teach people the benefit of gaining a keen awareness of the many dimensions of truth.
Receptivity - When someone consents to receive something they are exhibiting an acceptance based upon its perceived worth. Belief presupposes an appreciation for the ideals of Jesus Christ and His word. Openness or receptivity to change assumes a willingness to improve in one's relationships and ministries. Give people examples of others who benefited from change through
a receptive attitude.
Involvement - People seek ministry involvement when they want to experience something first hand. Involvement implies the fact that one is willing to invest time, talents, resources, and energies into something outside of their own sphere of familiarity. Sharing experiences with Godly people may be the first step to great involvement with Christ, His body, and Christian service. Prove to people from your own life the advantages of being involved in the following aspects of Christian maturity.
Growth - People begin to mature when they want to experience the bene Growth implies change that may not always be pleasant, but is understood to be worthwhile. A growing Christian is one who is willing to seek to produce fruit.
Give people examples of the rewards for growth in the following twenty areas of
Christian maturity.
Developing - Christians who are learning to utilize their gifts and abilities can be said to have reached this stage. Sadly, many believers are yet to identify their gifts and talents. Failure to risk various types of service often means that people lack discernment in determining their strengths.
Give people an opportunity to utilize their gifts and discover and develop what unique gifts God has given them.
Discipling - Maturing believers actively take opportunities to lead, feed, and enable developers to become disciples. Despite the hardships involved these disciple-makers are willing to work together on ministry projects. Through an apprenticeship program disciple-makers nurture their disciples toward maturity. Guide people through the processes of disciple- making
in your church and community.
Leading - A leader causes others to follow their example in words, deeds, and ideals. When one helps to organize others in Bible studies, prayer groups, and house fellowships they are shepherding a flock toward maturity.
Give people chances to exercise their leadership skills by supervising them in assigned group responsibilities.
Multiplying - It is one thing to lead, but it is even better to produce mature believers in quantity and quality. The Lord wants to help us multiply our converts, disciples, and churches. God is keenly interested in multiplying His love, righteousness, and truth throughout all people groups of the world. Multiply your leaders by sending them to various churches and fields where they can start new churches, schools, or house fellowships.
Christlikeness - The highest level of maturity is experienced when one becomes like Jesus in attitudes, perspectives, and actions. Most of the problems of life could be solved if people became more like the Master. From Christ comes all goodness, power, and truth. It is not what is on the outside of a person that defiles one, but what comes from within. We are able to do everything that God asks us to do through Christ who gives us the strength and power! Help people see how Christ is producing fruit through your life in your teaching, preaching, and disciple-making ministries.
TWENTY AREAS OF MATURITY FOR PERSONAL AND MINISTRY DEVELOPMENT
1. SPIRITUAL LIFE
a. Developing an intimate relationship with the Lord through Bible study, prayer, and worship.
b. Experiences the power of prayer and personal discipline.
c. Knows Biblical ethical principles
d. Studies the Bible systematically & devotionally
e. Demonstrates the fruit of the Spirit
f. Shows an attitude of service
h. Facilitates the adoption of an Biblical and culturally relevant ethic
i. Respects established laws and regulations
j. Understands and uses ones spiritual gifts
2. PRACTICAL ABILITIES
a. Knows how to take advantage of a situation
b. Knows how to grow, develop, and repair
c. Knows how to perform household duties
d. Knows how to operate ministry equipment
e. Has knowledge of first-aid medicine and hygiene
f. Has knowledge of preventive safety measures
g. Encourages the use of indigenous music in ministry
3. TEACHING
a. Knows how to prepare and use teaching aids
b. Can prepare culturally relevant lesson plans
c. Sets and accomplishes teaching aims
d. Knows various teaching methods
e. Demonstrates creativity
f. Can analyze students and their learning needs
g. Can direct students in applying the truth
h. Can evaluate teaching effectiveness
i. Has literacy teaching skills
4. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
a. Can assess and prioritize community needs
b. Knows the Biblical basis for community development
c. Knows how to mobilize for community development
d. Knows means of raising resources
e. Recognizes the importance of appropriate technology
f. Knows how to identify and utilize local leadership
g. Knows how to plan for maintenance projects
5. SPIRITUAL WARFARE
a. Understands the Biblical teaching about demons and Satan
b. Can recognize the evidences of demonic operations
c. Understands the believer's position of authority
d. Experiences victory over demonic operations
e. Has experience in Christian deliverance ministries
f. Knows the power of prayer, fasting, and the scriptures
g. Knows how to relate spiritual warfare to evangelism and missions
h. Can teach others about spiritual warfare
6. EMOTIONAL HEALTH
a. Is found fit emotionally and psychologically for ministry
b. Is open to receiving counseling
c. Demonstrates a healthy self-image
d. Maintains emotional balance
e. Is consistent in motivation toward what one begins
f. Knows how to manage failure
g. Is approved physically and emotionally in overcoming difficulties
h. Balances work with leisure time
i. Takes weekly and annual breaks
j. Enjoys healthy friendships with spiritual people
7. EVANGELISM AND MISSIONS
a. Knows the gospel and how to express it to others in relevant, appropriate and need meeting ways
b. Demonstrates a passion for souls and the unreached peoples of the world
c. Knows how to communicate with others adequately
d. Practices personal evangelism
e. Knows how to prepare evangelistic presentations
f. Knows effective and culturally sensitive methods of evangelism
g. Knows how to identify with those with whom one is sharing the truth
h. Knows how to respond to problems and objections along with criticisms
i. Shows evidence of a definite call to ministry
j. Knows the history and science of missions
8. DISCIPLESHIP MINISTRY
a. Has been discipled
b. Makes disciples
c. Shows sensitivity to new converts
d. Is a model disciple and is worthy of being imitated
e. Transmits life as well as knowledge to others
f. Has knowledge of Pastoral counseling and shepherding
g. Shows love for one's own disciples
h. Knows strategies and methods of discipleship
i. Makes disciples who in turn make more disciples
9 LEADERSHIP
a. Recognizes and is sensitive to the voice of God
b. Knows how to work with a team both as a leader and as a follower
c. Knows how to delegate authority
d. Plans and establishes objectives
e. Encourages, motivates, and transmits vision
f. Knows ones own limitations
g. Has experience as a leader
h. Knows how to develop and use the spiritual gifts of others
i. Serves with selflessness
j. Shows flexibility
10. THEOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE
a. Knows the triune God, (The Father of Law, The Son of Love, and the Holy
Spirit of Liberty) His person, and work
b. Understands God's eternal purposes for creation
c. Knows the main doctrines of scripture
d. Knows the nature and mission of the church
e. Knows church growth principles
f. Knows how to defend the reliability of the Bible
g. Knows relevant theological issues
h. Has knowledge of different religions
i. Knows contemporary religions
11. BIBLICAL KNOWLEDGE
a. Is convinced that the Bible is the inerrant word of God
b. Knows and loves the Bible
c. Knows how to apply sound principles of Bible study methods and interpretation
d. Knows basic Bible background information
e. Understands that the Bible contains solutions to human problems
f. Applies Biblical messages to one's life and ministry
g. Knows the Biblical basis for missions
h. Has a habit of meditating on scripture while integrating it into every area of life
12. LINGUISTIC ORIENTATION
a. Is disciplined and persistent
b. Knows language and acquisition techniques
c. Is willing to learn
d. Is humble and uninhibited
e. Can laugh at errors
f. Can recognize idiomatic gestures and terms
g. Has experience with language learning
h. Demonstrates proficiency with the language used in ministry
13. CULTURAL COMMUNICATIONS
a. Demonstrates a desire to know the host culture
b. Is willing to identify with a host culture
c. Knows what is effective communication
d. Knows how to manage culture shock
e. Overcomes racial prejudice
f. Solves communication problems
g. Interprets verbal and non-verbal messages
h. Distinguishes what is cultural and what is Biblical
i. Can detect cross-cultural bridges for evangelism
14. INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS
a. Applies Biblical principles to relationships
b. Knows how to manage interpersonal conflicts
c. Maintains good family relationships
d. Looks for relationships with others unlike self
e. Has a basic understanding of psychology
f. Knows how to listen to others and responds appropriately
g. Lives well with others in a group setting
h. Has the ability to confide with others and to keep confidences
i. Knows how to share material resources with others
j. Maintains a good attitude when criticized
15. CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
a. Is able to analyze his own culture
b. Is conscious of his own ethnocentricity
c. Is informed on ethnic groups within one's country
d. Respects other cultures
d. Respects other cultures, promotes, Christian transformation of culture, and can adapt to other cultures
e. Knows Biblical anthropology, is able to do research of another culture, and has short term cross-cultural experience
16. CHURCH RELATIONS
a. Is a committed member of a church, maintains a good testimony, and subjects oneself to the authorities
b. Knows how to inform the church of one's ministry tasks, understands the purposes of the church, and has the support of a local church or one's denomination
c. Exercises an approved ministry for the church, maintains good communications, and know how to relate to other church bodies and para-church organizations
17. COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
a. Knowledge - The ability to recall, restate, and identify information
b. Understanding - The ability to express in one's own words a comprehension of truth
c. Application - The ability to put into knowledge to work in practical and measurable ways
d. Analysis - The ability to understand the reasons why things work or they do not succeed
e. Synthesis - The ability to put pieces of truth together to form creative solutions to problems
f. Evaluation - The ability to assess the worth, value or suitability of something using reliable criteria
18. AFFECTIVE DEVELOPMENT
a. Receiving - The acceptance of ideas and motivations
b. Responding - The willingness to comply with an idea
c. Valuing - The attaching of a belief in something because of its worth, usefulness or credibility
d. Organization - The ability to bring to bear several values into a set of priorities
e. Characterization - To gain a reputation by identifying closely with the specified values
19. BEHAVIORAL DEVELOPMENT
a. Perception - To apprehend the skill by closely observing an example of the desired proficiency
b. Set - The ability to set one's mind, will, and body ready to act skillfully
c. Guided Response - The ability to act under supervision
d. Habit - The ability to perform consistently with competence
e. Complex Overt Response - The ability to perform complicated task under difficult circumstances
SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT- (2 Pet 1:5-9)
a. Faith - The confident persuasion that God will do what He says and acting on that conviction
b. Goodness - Virtue, excellence, and kindness
c. Knowledge - Acquire Biblical and Theological truth
d. Self-control - The ability to discipline oneself
e. Perseverance - The ability to continue steadfastly
f. Godliness - Reflecting the attributes of God
g. Brotherly Kindness - Being gentle & benevolent
h. Love - An unselfish concern that accepts others and seeks their good
