Based on Chapter 1 of the book entitled “March to Maturity: Grounded and Built” by Dr. Wendy Sproul, this lesson introduces the student to God’s directive or mandate for all believers to grow up in Christ. It describes some of the main types of the maturing process presented in the Old and New Testaments as it defines what the Scriptures mean by “maturing”. It outlines the rationale for the maturity process and points to the final destiny of the mature Church.

Objectives

At the end of this lesson the student will:

• Be able to identify what a mature believer looks like.
• Be able to explain how God transmits his mandate for us to grow up and mature through direct and indirect means.
• Learn about some of the roles which the Church will play as she begins to carry out her ultimate mature destiny
• Be able to describe 5 major types of the Christian maturing process presented in the Old and New Testament
• Be able to explain some of the common features and characteristics of the maturing process.

Duration: 50 Minutes

Exercise: What do you want to be when you grow up?

Ask students to talk about what they wanted to be when they were children. Have they achieved their dreams? Use this to Segway into describing God’s expectations and plans for us as maturing believers. Use scripture references:
1 Tim 4:12,
Titus 2:7-8,
Titus 2:2-5,
2 Tim 2:19 -22.

 

Mandated to mature – 1-3
Explain how God uses both Scripture and changes from our social, cultural and political environments to urge us to grow up as believers in order to respond to current challenges.
We are to carry the same age old gospel in the context of this new fast moving information and technology driven age.

The mature Destiny of the Church – 4- 6
Provide students with the list of the roles which the Church and Believers will play. Let them find and read Scriptures aloud.

So what is Maturity? – 6-7

Ask for 2 or3 persons to provide a definition of the concept of maturity

Types or Models of Maturity
Discuss 5 of the major types or models of the maturing process presented in Scripture. Highlight each model’s significance as a metaphor for the process of growing up or advancement in our Christian walk.

Migration – 7- 11
Growing up from baby to Manhood 11 – 13
Building Structures – 13 – 15
Transformation from Carnal to Spiritual – 15-17
From untrained sportsman to skilled athlete – 18 – 20
Where we are going – 20 – 25

Explain how common elements of the maturing process such as participation, transformation, Choice, Strategic Action and overcoming are present in the models or types of the maturity process already described.

Brief Synopsis of the Lesson
Provide students with a quick summary of the issues covered in the lesson. Allow students to ask questions and comment on what they have learned so far.

Ask for a volunteer to pray

Sproul, Wendy. 2017.
March to Maturity: Grounded and Built.
CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
North Charleston, South Carolina.