Sharon Reformed Presbyterian Church · Sermon study sheet

Don't be a baby

Bryan Schneider · January 22, 2022

Ephesians 4:13

sharonrpc.org/sermons/don-t-be-a-baby

Summary

Ephesians 4 describes the church as Christ's body, in which every member and every gift contributes to the growth of the whole.
The sermon title uses the contrast between infancy and maturity from the passage: spiritual rebirth is a beginning, and believers are called to grow toward the fullness of Christ.
The church must assemble in person because Christianity is not merely content to consume; believers need to worship, serve, encourage, correct, and bear with one another.
Unity is the Spirit's gift and must not be fractured by wealth, education, friendships, preferences, or self-centered individualism.
A mature church looks outward and upward, following Christ who came to serve rather than arranging worship around personal comfort and fulfillment.
God matures his people through Scripture's teaching, reproof, correction, and training, as well as through truthful and gracious conversations among believers.
Christian unity cannot be manufactured by minimizing doctrine; the church grows together through the shared faith and knowledge of the Son of God.
Christ himself is the measure of maturity, so believers study and imitate his compassion, forgiveness, humility, prayer, self-control, courage, gentleness, service, and balance of grace and truth.

What does the title's infancy metaphor mean in the context of Ephesians 4?
Why does every member matter to the health and balance of Christ's body?
What is missing when worship becomes content watched in isolation rather than the gathering of the church?
How can personal preferences and social groupings fracture the unity of the Spirit?
Do you approach church chiefly to consume or to worship God and serve neighbors?
How does Scripture use teaching, reproof, correction, and training to produce maturity?
Why are difficult but gracious conversations sometimes necessary for growth?
Why does reducing doctrine fail to produce the unity described in Ephesians 4?
Which characteristics of Jesus most expose areas of immaturity in your life?
What gift or ordinary act of service can you use to build up another member this week?

Spiritual infancy: The beginning stage of Christian life after new birth, from which believers are expected to grow rather than remain immature.
Spiritual maturity: Increasing conformity to Christ in doctrine, character, service, love, discernment, and stability.
Body of Christ: The church understood as one living body under Christ its Head, with every member contributing needed gifts.
Assembly: The gathered people of God whose shared worship and service are essential to the church's life.
Unity of the Spirit: The oneness God gives believers through one body, Spirit, hope, Lord, faith, baptism, and Father.
Individualism: The self-centered habit of judging church primarily by personal preference and comfort rather than Christ and neighbors.
Edification: Building up believers through truthful teaching, gracious speech, service, correction, and the exercise of gifts.
Truth in love: Honest, biblically faithful speech aimed at another person's grace-filled growth rather than avoidance or harshness.