Stepping into Maturity
Acts: An Introduction into Maturity
Curt Dodd
Acts 1:1-9; 28:30-31
John Maxwell has identified four levels of maturity for Christians. They are given in progressive order with the least mature viewpoint listed first:
1. I'm going to do what I want, regardless of any thought for God.
2. If God gives me what I want, then I will give him what he wants.
3. I will give God what he wants, with faith that he will give me what I want.
4. I will give God what he wants, regardless of any thought for myself.
Many Christians spend the balance of their life at level two or three, but the greatest joy is found at level four.
Rick Warren notes the mark of spiritual maturity occurs when a believer ''takes off the bib and puts on an apron.'' Immature children wear bibs and expect others to meet their needs. Those who don aprons have learned the joy of serving others. Which attire are you wearing?
In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: ''Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'' So when they met together, they asked him, ''Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?'' He said to them: ''It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' After he ...
Acts: An Introduction into Maturity
Curt Dodd
Acts 1:1-9; 28:30-31
John Maxwell has identified four levels of maturity for Christians. They are given in progressive order with the least mature viewpoint listed first:
1. I'm going to do what I want, regardless of any thought for God.
2. If God gives me what I want, then I will give him what he wants.
3. I will give God what he wants, with faith that he will give me what I want.
4. I will give God what he wants, regardless of any thought for myself.
Many Christians spend the balance of their life at level two or three, but the greatest joy is found at level four.
Rick Warren notes the mark of spiritual maturity occurs when a believer ''takes off the bib and puts on an apron.'' Immature children wear bibs and expect others to meet their needs. Those who don aprons have learned the joy of serving others. Which attire are you wearing?
In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: ''Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'' So when they met together, they asked him, ''Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?'' He said to them: ''It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' After he ...
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