Followers of Jesus were first called Christians in Antioch from outsiders. “Christian” is what we call ourselves today. The early followers of Jesus were called disciples. A disciple is a learner, student or pupil. I was discipled twice a week for the first year of my Christian life by our Youth Pastor and Life Group leader.
Who has discipled you and what did it look like? Discuss.
WHAT DOES THE NEW TESTAMENT SAY ABOUT MATURITY?
11 About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. (Hebrews 5:11-14)
According to Hebrews 5:11-14, what is the sign of maturity the writer is emphasising? Discuss.
Why were the Hebrew Christians not showing maturity in this way? If the writer of Hebrews wrote to your life group, what do you think he would say about your maturity? (no judgment – assess yourselves and discuss)
TWO MEMORIES
Neuroscientists and educational experts have discovered two types of memories – in two different parts of the brain.
1. The semantic memory is found in the pre-frontal cortex of the brain, and it stores things it hears or reads. If someone tells us how to use an AK-47 machine gun, that is stored in the semantic memory.
2. The autobiographical memory is in a different part of the brain, and it stores experiences. If someone shows us how to use an AK-47 machine gun and we experience using it ourselves, it is stored in this memory.
If ever we need to use the AK-47 machine gun in battle but we’ve only been told how to use it, we won’t be able to defend ourselves. But if we have learned how to use it and are experienced because we practiced it, in the heat of battle we will know what to do.
This is exactly what Jesus was teaching about putting his teaching into practice. Read Matthew 7:24-27 and discuss why one man could withstand the storm and the other could not?
Discuss how you put the teachings of Jesus into practice? What do you find easy to put into practice and what do you find difficult to put into practice? Discuss.
KNOWING THE TRUTH
Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32 ESV)
The Greeks used to believe that if you heard or read something you could know it. The Hebrews used to believe that you don’t know something unless you are living it. Jesus made it clear that in John 8:31-32 that if you abide (remain, stay, reside, hold, live by - put into practice) in his teaching, then by living in accordance with that teaching you will know the truth, and only by knowing the truth will you be set free.
The Greeks believed that if you heard something, you then knew it. The Hebrews believed that if you knew somethin,g you would live it; if you weren’t living it, then you didn’t know it, even if you had heard it. This is a further example of the difference between semantic memory and autobiographical memory – much like the difference between the man who built his house on rock by hearing Jesus’ teaching and putting it into practice and the man who heard Jesus’ teaching but didn’t put it into practice.
PARABLE OF THE SOWER.
Read LUKE 8:4-15 together
1. Path: The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.
2. Rock: And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away.
3. Among thorns: And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.
4. Good soil: As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience. (Note Matthew’s version: this is the one who hears the word & understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”)
How does fruitfulness happen? Growth to maturity – then natural multiplication. Everything that God created with life in it grows to maturity and then multiplies. It’s in life’s DNA: trees, plants, animals, humans, disciples.
Discuss the four paths and how important is it to help people understand the gospel? Why?
ANOTHER SIGN OF MATURITY - TOGETHER AS A CHURCH
Read EPHESIANS 4:11-16 together.
11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until (destination) we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:11-16)
• The word for mature is teleios. Even though some translations render this word “perfect” it’s meaning is “totality” as in stages of learning, beginning, advance, and maturity. It is that beyond which there is no further advance in excellence or quality in its kind or class. It doesn’t mean there’s no room for personal growth but refers to a completeness of maturity. In this sense teleios is not primarily ethical or maral but practical maturity referring to understanding, skill and the ability to do things.
• We could describe being mature as an experienced blacksmith who can do everything required of him: he can use all of his tools. Can make or repair horseshoes, weapons, armour, parts for carts and carriages, and farm equipment for his village. And he is able to train and apprentice who over time will also be able to do the same.
• A mature disciple of Jesus is not just like Jesus in character and heart but also has the ability to make disciples: share the gospel, lead people to faith, teach them how to pray, study God’s word, share their faith, walk according to the teachings of Jesus, etc., etc., etc. Maturity is being fruitful and being able to multiply yourself as a disciple.
• Maturity is not becoming the best and most mature version of ourselves; it is become the best version of Jesus in his fullness, in his completeness.
Discuss together these reflections of maturity from Ephesians 4.
1. How mature do you think one needs to be to do the things Jesus did – in making disciples?
2. Discuss what you need to still learn to do if the measure of maturity is being able to disciple someone else.
THE BIG IDEA
The pathway to maturity is about learning God’s Word and putting into practice: you will then know the Word, understand it, apply it & be fruitful – and then will be able to teach others.
Discuss the following - Hearing God’s Word and put it into practice
- When you hear a sermon – how do you put it into practice when you go home?
- When you do your daily Bible reading - how do you put it into practice?
Daily reading – study it, meditate on it, pray about it, obey it if it’s simply, ask someone about it if it’s difficult to apply
If it’s a command and it’s hard, don’t say it’s too hard and think you get a pass. Bring your life into alignment with God’s word. If something in God’s word is difficult to put into practice, ask your life group leader or a mature member of your life group.
