Spiritual MaturityPutting together the puzzle

Various PassagesPaul L. Davis –CBC Sunday August 31, 2008

You develop spiritually maturity by…

Building Christian character (Which is reflected in what I love)

Developing servant leadership(Which is reflected in what I do)

Christian Character is reflected in what I love.

People do what they love

"The church is close but the road is icy. The tavern is far, but I will walk carefully."

(Scuttlebutt Brewery, Seattle, WA)

Love God

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,

y

with all your soul, and with all your strength. Dt 6:5

Therefore take careful heed to yourselves, that you love the Lord your God. Jos 23:11

Love others

L

If someone says, “

I

I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen,

l

how can he love God

c

whom he has not seen?

And

A

this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. 1 Jn 4:20

Love truth and wisdom

Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom and in all your getting, get understanding. Pr 4:7

Therefore love truth and peace. Zech 8:19

Love spiritual transformationDo not be conformed to this world, but

D

be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may

t

prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Ro 12:2

Be renewed in the spirit of your mind,

and that you

t

put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Eph 4:23

Servant leadership is reflected in what I do.

Walk humbly The humble He guides in justice, and the

humble He teaches His way. Psalm 25:9

He has

H

shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but

w

to do justly, to love

j

mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8

Serve unpromptedWhat does the Lord your God require of you,

but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to

H

love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, Deut 10:12

For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only

o

do not use liberty as an

opportunity for the flesh, but

t

through love serve one another. Gal 5:13

Discover and use gifts

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is

g

given to us, let us use them: Ro 12:6

Now

N

concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: Co 12:1

Pursue love, and

P

desire spiritual gifts, 1Cor.14:39

1

Sanctifying influence

…Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another…distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Romans 12:9-13

Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which

w

one may

o

edify another. Ro 14:19

How are these eight pieces fitting together in your life?