Sermon - 19 May 2013 by Bruce McCallum

1. The Marks of a Mature Person

2. Philippians 3:11 (NIV)
15 All of us who are mature ….

4. Hebrews 6:1 (NIV)
1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings
about Christ and go on to maturity,
Hebrews 6:1 (MSG)
1 So come on, let's leave the preschool fingerpainting
exercises on Christ and get on with the grand work of
art. Grow up in Christ.

5. 1 Corinthians 3:1-2 (MSG)
1 But for right now, friends, I'm completely frustrated
by your unspiritual dealings with each other and with
God. You're acting like infants in relation to Christ, 2
capable of nothing much more than nursing at the
breast. Well, then, I'll nurse you since you don't seem
capable of anything more.

6. 1 Corinthians 13:11 (MSG)
11 When I was an infant at my mother's breast, I
gurgled and cooed like any infant. When I grew up, I
left those infant ways for good.

7. Hebrews 5:12 (MSG)
12 By this time you ought to be teachers yourselves,
yet here I find you need someone to sit down with
you and go over the basics on God again, starting from
square one—baby's milk, when you should have been
on solid food long ago!

8. 1 Corinthians 14:20 (MSG)
20 To be perfectly frank, I'm getting exasperated with
your infantile thinking. How long before you grow up
and use your head—your adult head?

9. Ephesians 4:11-16 (MSG)
13 until we're all moving rhythmically and easily with
each other, efficient and graceful in response to God's
Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and
without, fully alive like Christ. 14 No prolonged
infancies among us, please. We'll not tolerate babes in
the woods, small children who are an easy mark for
impostors. 15 God wants us to grow up, to know the
whole truth and tell it in love—

10. Maturity is NOT:
Maturity is not age.
Maturity is not appearance.
Maturity has nothing to do with achievement or
what you accomplish.
Maturity has nothing to do with how bright you are.

11. 1. A MATURE PERSON KEEPS THEIR
JOY – EVEN UNDER PRESSURE
James 1:2-4
"Consider it pure joy, whenever you face trials of
many kinds, because you know the testing of your
faith develops perseverance and perseverance must
finish its work so that you may be mature and
complete not lacking anything."

12. “Christianity is a life. It's not a religion,
it's a life. Jesus said, "I've come that you
might have life." Life means problems,
and part of life means … facing problems
with the right attitude.’

13. James says,
"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial,
because when he has stood the test, he will receive
the crown of life that God has promised to those who
love Him."

14. 2. A MATURE PERSON HAS CONTROL
OVER HIS MOUTH
James 3:2
"We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at
fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep
his whole body in check."

15. Ephesians 4:29
"Do not let any negative talk come out of your mouth
but only what is helpful for building up others
according to their needs..."

16. James 1:26
"If anyone considers himself religious and yet does
not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives
himself and his religion is worthless."

17. 3. A MATURE PERSON IS A
PEACEMAKER NOT A TROUBLEMAKER
James 4:1
"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't
they come from your desires that battle within you?"

18. James 4:3
"When you ask you do not receive. But you ask with
the wrong motives that you may spend what you get
on your pleasures."
Proverbs 13:10 (NIV)
10 Pride only breeds quarrels,

19. James 4:11-12
"Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who
speaks against his brother or judges him speaks
against the law and judges it... There is only one
lawgiver and judge, one who is able to save and
destroy. But you, who are you to judge your
neighbour?"

20. 4. A MATURE PERSON IS PATIENT AND
PRAYERFUL
James 5:7 (NIV)
7 Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming.
See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its
valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn
and spring rains.

21. 5. A MATURE PERSON REACHES OUT
TO OTHER PEOPLE
James 2:8 (NIV)
"If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture,
`Love your neighbour as yourself' you are doing right."

22. 1 John 2:12-14 (NIV)
12 I write to you, dear children, because your sins have
been forgiven on account of his name. 13 I write to
you, fathers, because you have known him who is
from the beginning. I write to you, young men,
because you have overcome the evil one. I write to
you, dear children, because you have known the
Father. 14 I write to you, fathers, because you have
known him who is from the beginning. I write to you,
young men, because you are strong, and the word of
God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

23. James 2:1-6
Don't show favouritism, don't be a snob, don't look
down on people, don't judge by appearance, don't
insult people, don't exploit people.

24. Philippians 3:11-17 (NIV)
15 All of us who are mature ….

25. What are the marks of a mature person?
1. How do you handle problems? Do you keep joy & stay
positive?
2. Can you manage your mouth?
3. Are you a troublemaker or a peacemaker?
4. How long can you wait for an answer to prayer without
giving up?
5.Are you reaching out beyond yourself?