There are some things in this life you will never be able to do; they’re literally impossible. And yet there are so many other things you could do. The only question is, “Will you do them?” But if you think that a possible thing is actually impossible, then you’ll never even attempt it because you know that it’s out of your reach. Here’s something I want to say to each of you:

There is way more possible for your life than what you currently believe.

I have a life mantra that I’ve made into a template:

Do whatever ________________ demands.

Do whatever a thriving marriage demands.

Do what strong leadership demands.

Do what good parenting demands.

Do what discipleship to Jesus demands.

As we wrap up this series we’ve been calling The Maturity Project, here’s the big idea I want to give you to live out for the rest of your lives:

Do whatever maturity demands.

But first you must believe that it’s possible. But it isn’t just possible - this is the goal of your life with Jesus. Paul wrote it this way to the Colossians:

Colossians 1:28-29 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.

Fully mature in Christ. Not for a few. Not for the lucky ones. Present EVERYONE FULLY MATURE. At Epic, this is our ultimate goal for every person in this community – Fully Mature in Christ. To get there, we will want to give ourselves to whatever that kind of maturity demands.

1 Timothy 4:1-16 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things. Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

There’s so much in this text, so I want to group some of these points together. Let’s start with this big idea for today:

Whether you become spiritually mature will come down to this:

Who do you follow?

What is your source for truth?

Are you halfhearted or wholehearted in your devotion and commitment?

How long will you do this for?

We are all spirit-led people. The only question is this: Which spirit are you being led by?

Holy Spirit. Deceiving spirits. Here’s what can happen. We can be led astray while thinking we’re still very much on God’s path. 1 John 4 tells us to “test the spirits to see whether they are from God.” Things taught by demons.

What truths are you allowing to nourish your life? What is the fruit of the truth you are following?

If you find people telling you to live your truth, run from them.

Your truth is often a lie.

It is quite common for people to choose to live “their” truth and claim that it’s God’s truth for them. These are the people who scare me the most; spiritually immature people who mask it with spiritual maturity. I’m scared for them and I’m scared for everyone in their orbit.

(v.6) “If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus.”

Can I tell you something that is prevalent in the church today that’s keeping us from maturing in our faith? The world has convinced us that we should let each other live however we want to live. But that is the opposite of what Jesus encourages us to do IF we are children of God. Because if we are children of God, then we are brothers and sisters in Christ. We’ve been formed into thinking that it is unloving to point out what someone else is doing wrong. What if it’s actually unloving to not point out where people are believing wrongly or living opposite of how Jesus is calling them to live?

Do you love other Christians enough to point out where they are out of alignment with the ways of Jesus?

We think, “Why would I do that? That’s their business.” If it’s a brother or sister in Christ, then it’s Family Business. Now, how we do it matters. We should correct with gentleness, speaking the truth in love, and keep their spiritual maturity as our goal in the conversation.

Do you care enough about your spiritual formation that you have given permission for others to speak into your life?

“Train yourself to be godly.” We have a training plan for everything. Every gym in this city is willing to give you a personalized plan for your physical health. Teachers create lesson plans for their students. Your company probably has a playbook or development plan for you.

What is your current training plan to become godly?

Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales. Godliness has value for everything.

(Whether or not you become spiritually mature will be determined by what you step into and what you walk away from. What is present in your life that is slowing down the spiritual formation in your life? What is absent in your life that is slowing down the spiritual formation in your life?

In verse 12, Paul tells Timothy “don’t let anyone look down on your because you are young.” We tend to think Timothy must have been a teenager at this point. But he’s probably 30-35 years old when Paul tells him this.

Are you becoming someone others should follow?

Speech (words of Jesus). Conduct (actions like Jesus). Love (others above yourself). Faith (Belief/Trust in God). Purity (Integrity).

Spiritual maturity is never determined merely by your age.

The negative of this – drop the assumption that as a person ages they become more mature.

The positive of this – there are some teenagers and young adults who are more spiritually mature than a number of 40 and 50 and 60 years olds in our church.

What is your current commitment to Scripture engagement? Are you devoted to reading it, meditating on it, and memorizing it? What is your commitment to sitting under the preaching and teaching of Scripture?

Halfhearted devotion will never create fully mature disciples.

Be diligent in these matters. Give yourself WHOLLY to them, so that everyone may see your PROGRESS. Watch your life and doctrine closely.

“Complacency is a deadly foe of all spiritual growth.” -A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God

Will your current level of devotion to Jesus lead to you being fully mature in Christ? And remember so many people started well, but did not finish well. “Persevere in them.” If someone asks me my secret plan for something that’s going well in my life, here’s how I respond – it’s the power of compound interest.

Invest in the right things daily and do it for a really long time. My life with Jesus. My marriage to Shauna. Parenting our kids. Leading Epic. It’s not just that I’ve been a Christian for 40 years or that I’ve been married for 25 years next month. Or that I’ve been a dad for 22 years. Or that I’ve been leading Epic for 15 years. It’s about what I have or haven’t done. What truths I’ve followed. Whether I’ve been halfhearted or wholehearted. What training plan I’ve followed.

Who are you really following? The Jesus Scripture reveals or the one you’ve made up

Whose truth – yours or His?

Do you have a current training plan to become spiritually mature?

What do you need to step into?

What do you need to walk away from?

Get back re-engaged in your faith?