Milestones - Spiritual Maturity [Sermon]

Chiang Mai, Thailand

October 2025

1.0 What is Spiritual Maturity

Spiritual maturity is when a person becomes like Jesus Christ.

Spiritual growth is a movement from spiritual infancy to spiritual maturity.

Philippians 3:12–14

12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

2.0 Prerequisites to Spiritual Maturity

2.1 ________

2 Peter 1:3

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence ESV

2 Peter 1:5–8 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2.2 Filling of the Spirit

Galatians 5:16:

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ESV

3.0 Characteristics of Spiritual Maturity

3.1 Christlike Character and the Fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22–23

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control…

3.2 ________

James 1:2–4

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. ESV

1 Peter 2:23

When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. ESV

3.3 ________

Hebrews 5:14

But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. ESV

3.4 Humility and Meekness

Colossians 3:10-12

and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

12 Put on then… compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, ESV

3.5 Increasing Love and Service

Love for God

Mark 12:30:

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ ESV

Love for Others

Ephesians 3:16-17

Paul prays, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love… ESV

4.0 Tools for Spiritual Maturity

4.1 Bible Reading and Meditation

2 Timothy 3:16–17

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

4.2 Prayer and Worship

Acts 2:42 (ESV)

"And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

4.3 Active Fellowship

Acts 2:42 (ESV)

"And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV)

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

4.4 Stewardship and Service

Ephesians 4:13–16 (ESV):

13 until 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, …15 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.

4.5 Abstinence

5.0 Evaluation of Progress