Sermon Synopsis
This sermon calls believers to move intentionally from spiritual mediocrity to maturity by recognizing where they are and committing to growth. Drawing from Hebrews, Ephesians, and Philippians, it highlights the danger of prolonged immaturity and the necessity of advancing toward Christlikeness. Maturity is presented not as perfectionism, but as a lifelong process of growth, holiness, and stability in Christ. The message urges believers to keep moving forward, confident that God is faithfully completing His work in them.
Please note: This transcript is provided as close to verbatim record of the sermon.
From Mediocrity to Maturity
“Let Us Go On to Perfection” (Hebrews 6:1)
Introduction: Knowing Where We Are Before Moving Forward
Good morning everyone.
I wonder if you have ever been to a new shopping mall or a new place where you know exactly where you want to get to, but you do not know where to start. So you look for the map or the floor plan, and there is that red dot telling you, “You are here.” Once you orientate yourself, you can then begin making your way to where you want to go.
Last Sunday we started with mediocrity. We need to know where we are before we can begin to get to where we should be, which is maturity. Mediocrity is about getting up. Remember the subtitle from Numbers 13: “Let us go up and possess.”
Today is about maturity, which is going on. Our subtitle comes from Hebrews 6:1: “Let us go on to perfection.”
Sometimes we linger too long in a place of familiarity. If we wallow in the mudflats of mediocrity, we will never enjoy the mountains of maturity. We have to make our way there step by step.
As I mentioned last Sunday, it is not so much a matter of being older as a Christian as it is a matter of advancing in your faith. I recently celebrated my 70th birthday—70 years since my natural birth. But something more significant is the 50 years since my new birth. I did not celebrate that partly because I do not know the exact day I committed my life to the Lord. But the point is this: it is not about growing old; it is about advancing in the faith.
When we speak about spiritual maturity, we are not talking about becoming spiritual giants. Rather, it is becoming what God intends for us at different seasons and phases of life. Even a little child can be perfect or mature for his or her own age, even though there are many things still undeveloped.
Today we will look at four big things:
Our text in Hebrews 6:1 says:
“Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection.”
Please have your Scriptures open to Hebrews chapter 6. We will work our way backwards before coming fully to this verse.
By the way, this is a very good example of a poorly placed chapter division. Chapter divisions are not inspired; they were inserted later by translators. The English Bible divisions first appeared in the Wycliffe Bible in the 13th century. So whenever you come across a verse beginning with “therefore,” always ask, “Why is it therefore?”
This verse is the concluding statement of the preceding passage, which really begins in Hebrews chapter 5, especially from verse 12 onwards. There the writer addresses the issue of spiritual immaturity.
Hebrews 5:12–14
“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.”
The “oracles” here mean the Word of God—the divine revelation.
Does this mean that every believer is called to be a teacher? Not in the sense of a formal calling or gifting, but in the sense of imparting life, values, and principles. Just as every parent must teach his or her child, every mature believer should mentor or teach younger believers in the faith.
This principle is well captured in the phrase “Each one, teach one.” That was the name of a literacy program developed by Dr. Frank Laubach, an American missionary to the Muslim Moros in the Mindanao Islands of the Philippines. That program has taught millions to read in their own language. I mention it simply to apply the idea to spiritual literacy in the home and in the church. The same principle applies: each one teach one. The fastest way to learn is to begin teaching others.
Share what you have received—not only material goods, but spiritual knowledge as well. I often use the picture of a sponge. If you are dry, you need to be soaked and saturated with the Word of God. But if you are already dripping with the Word, the thing to do is to share it, so that you are squeezed and not just soaked all the time.
There are three stages of feeding, both natural and spiritual:
Recognize where you are in these stages.
Continuing in Hebrews 5:
“For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
There is nothing wrong with being a baby—we all were once. Everyone loves babies. But something is wrong if you are a big baby. It is disconcerting to find overgrown spiritual babies among those who have been Christians for years. They were saved long ago, but there is little to add to their testimony. When asked how they are doing spiritually, the answer is still, “Same, same.” That is mediocrity.
Beloved, the business of the church is not daycare; it is discipleship.
Being “unskilled in the Word” means needing to be upskilled in biblical literacy. We must take responsibility for our spiritual learning journey. Some have stagnated at the beginner level for years—not for lack of opportunity, but for lack of willingness.
If biblical literacy remains rudimentary, it severely limits our ability to live victoriously and to share our faith effectively. We can rise no higher spiritually than the depth to which the Word of God is rooted in our lives.
Milk is good and necessary, but to grow beyond infancy we need solid food. By reason of use—consistent practice—we develop discernment, not only between good and evil, but between what is helpful and harmful, especially when it comes to errant teaching.
Only then do we come to Hebrews 6:1.
Growth is the goal of all life. If there is no growth, there is no life. As in the natural, so in the spiritual.
Our key passage here is Ephesians 4:13–15:
“Till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ… but speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ.”
This passage gives us four truths about spiritual growth.
(1) The Goal: Likeness to Christ
The goal is to grow up in all things into Christ—to grow in Christlikeness. As Frank Laubach said, “We shall not become like Christ until we give Him more time.”
Values are more often caught than taught. Sitting at the feet of Jesus means fellowship—unhurried time with Him. Fellowship comes before service. George Müller wrote, “The primary business I must attend to every day is to have my soul happy in the Lord.”
(2) The Measure: The Fullness of Christ
The measure is “the stature of the fullness of Christ.” Jesus is the perfect man, the model of maturity. Though we cannot fathom His fullness, Scripture tells us we are complete in Him. You are not inadequate or incomplete. In His fullness, you find fulfillment.
(3) The Means: The Knowledge of Christ
Growth comes through the unity of the faith (outward, corporate growth) and the knowledge of the Son (inward, personal intimacy). This is not just head knowledge, but relational knowledge—knowing Christ more deeply.
(4) The Result: Stability in Christ
Maturity produces stability. We are no longer tossed about by every wind of doctrine. Like maturity in natural life, spiritual maturity brings calmness, composure, and resilience.
There are two aspects here: position and practice.
Position: “Be Perfect”
Jesus said in Matthew 5:48, “Be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” In Scripture, perfection means completeness or maturity. Salvation is instant; sanctification is lifelong. The emphasis is not on a point of perfection, but on a process of perfecting.
God never tires of reshaping us into His likeness. We are works in progress.
Practice: Perfecting Holiness
2 Corinthians 7:1 says:
“Having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
Holiness is the hallmark of Christian maturity. Sanctification is God’s work by the Spirit and the Word, but we have a part to play. This cleansing is preventive, not corrective—keeping ourselves from defilement.
Perfecting holiness happens in the fear of God. Reverence for God is essential for spiritual maturity, yet it is something largely lost today. A right fear of God is the condition most conducive to holiness.
Philippians 3:12–16 captures this mindset. Paul says, “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected,” yet later he says, “As many as are mature, have this mind.”
Maturity recognizes that we are being perfected but are not perfect yet. The mature mindset is not contentment with stagnation, but commitment to advancement.
Entire consecration is a fresh start, but it is also an ongoing state. There is no turning back, but there is always pressing forward. Mediocrity is not our destiny—maturity is.
Conclusion and Prayer
Let us keep moving on.
Our Father, we thank You for Your Word which tells us that the path of the just is like the shining sun that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. Grant that we may shine brighter and brighter unto that day. We are confident that He who has begun a good work in us will perfect and complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
May we love You more dearly, see You more clearly, and follow You more nearly.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
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