1 Corinthians 3:1-4 (NKJV) And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?
As Christians, we should take responsibility for our spiritual growth and strive to grow in Christlikeness. What does spiritual growth look like after receiving the teaching of the Word?
As single adults who are spiritually mature, we should keep the marriage bed pure and avoid fornication, choose not to cohabit, or be unequally yoked with unbelievers. If you are in a dating relationship, you can reconcile after an argument. Take time to discuss Bible-based teachings on topics such as the definition of marriage, roles, responsibilities, and expectations, because if you are spiritually mature, you will want a Christ-centred marriage.
As married couples, we understand that marriage is a covenant, and not a contract between two people. Therefore, we will extend grace to each other because we are one flesh; lay down our rights, privileges, conditions, and escape clauses and work through our differences with the love of God. Instead of devouring or hurting each other by word or by action, we forgive just as Christ has forgiven us. A spiritually mature couple will draw closer to each other as they both draw closer to God and gain a better understanding of His Word.
Parents cannot expect their children to be godly and obedient if they don’t advocate the importance of worship and God’s Word in their lives. Our children and we are bombarded daily with the world’s values and principles. The world wants us to conform to its standards, but God wants us to be consecrated and live transformed lives. Therefore, it is necessary to have the correct teaching to renew the mind, and to have the Word in our lives, because as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. We are primarily products of our thought lives. If our minds are renewed that we are new creations, have the nature of God and are empowered by the Holy Spirit, we will walk in the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. We need to be examples to our children, just like Paul said to follow him, and he followed Christ. If Jesus, who is our model, was interested in spiritual matters at age 12 (Luke 2:41-46), we should take this seriously and raise our children in the ways of the Lord by prioritising their spiritual growth!
Applying the Word of God in our lives enables us to grow spiritually, but we must also rein in the flesh to live a transformed life. Therefore, choose to walk in love despite differences in opinions and perspectives. Spiritual maturity is measured by how well we control the flesh that seeks to live apart from God and instead walk in the Spirit, which involves yielding to the Lordship of Christ.
Sermon Series: Christmas 2025
属灵成熟的样式
哥林多前书3:1–4 弟兄们，我从前对你们说话，不能把你们当做属灵的，只得把你们当做属肉体、在基督里为婴孩的。 我是用奶喂你们，没有用饭喂你们。那时你们不能吃，就是如今还是不能。 你们仍是属肉体的，因为在你们中间有嫉妒、纷争，这岂不是属乎肉体、照着世人的样子行吗？有说“我是属保罗的”，有说“我是属亚波罗的”，这岂不是你们和世人一样吗？
作为基督徒，我们应当为自己的属灵成长承担责任，努力在生命中越来越像基督。那么，当我们领受神话语的教导之后，属灵成长应当呈现出怎样的样貌呢？
对单身的成年人说，属灵成熟意味着在情感与关系上敬畏神：持守婚床的纯洁，远离淫乱，不选择同居，也不与不信的人成为不配的轭。如果你正处在恋爱关系中，属灵成熟会帮助你在争执后愿意和好，也愿意花时间一起探讨合乎圣经的教导——包括婚姻的定义、角色、责任与期待。因为一个属灵成熟的人，必然渴望建立一个以基督为中心的婚姻。
对已婚夫妇而言，属灵成熟使我们明白婚姻是盟约，而不是合同。因此，我们愿意彼此施恩，因为我们已经成为一体；愿意放下自己的权利、特权、条件与退路，用神的爱来面对差异。我们不再用言语或行为彼此伤害，而是像基督饶恕我们一样彼此饶恕。一个属灵成熟的夫妻，会在彼此亲近神的过程中，也更加亲近对方，并在神的话语中不断得着更新的理解。
父母若不在生活中积极倡导敬拜与神话语的重要性，就不能期待孩子活出敬虔与顺服的生命。我们和孩子每天都不断受到世界价值观与原则的冲击；世界要我们效法它的模式，但神却呼召我们分别为圣，活出更新改变的生命。因此，我们必须有正确的教导来更新我们的心思意念，让神的话语充满我们的生命，因为“人心怎样思量，他为人就是怎样”。从某种意义上说，我们都是自己思想生命的产物。当我们的心思被更新，认识到自己在基督里是新造的人，拥有神的性情，并被圣灵的大能所扶持，我们就能行在基督耶稣里赐生命之灵的律中。我们需要成为孩子的榜样，正如保罗所说：“你们要效法我，像我效法基督一样。”既然耶稣——我们生命的榜样——在十二岁时就已经关心属灵的事（路加福音 2:41–46），我们更当认真看待这一点，优先培育孩子在主里的属灵成长，按着主的道养育他们。
生命的应用与更新将神的话语应用在生活中，使我们不断成长；但同时，我们也需要制伏肉体，才能活出更新的生命。因此，无论观点或立场如何不同，都要选择行在爱中。属灵成熟的真正衡量，不在于我们知道多少，而在于我们是否能管束那想要脱离神而活的肉体，并选择顺服基督的主权，行在圣灵里。
讲章系列：2025 圣诞节