Our church held an eldership training class a few years back. The pastor made a distinction among Christians in terms of maturity. This can be seen in churches all over. It’s not determined by age or wealth or intellect. It is determined by one’s walk with the Lord. It can be broken down to these five: baby, child, teenager, young adult, elder.

How do you grow from baby into maturity?  The teacher/pastor mentioned four things.  These four things aren’t the only things, but they are so essential that if you’re not doing all four consistently, you might just be a baby/child Christian.

1.  Fellowship – are you meeting with other believers?  Are you sharing what God is teaching you to others to edify the body?  Are you sharing in other’s struggles and sufferings?  Are you rejoicing with them when they rejoice?  Do you neglect meeting with other believers?  Are you able to confess sins and forgive one another?

2.  Prayer – are you praying more than grocery lists?  do you repeat the truths of God?  Are you consistent in praying for those entrusted to your care?  Are you interceding for God’s people?  Are you praying for leadership and missionaries and pastors?  Are you praying that the Gospel will go forth?  Are you praying more than “bless so-and-so?”  Are you truly seeking God? 

3.  Ministry/Tithe/Service – Are you serving the body?  Are you giving of yourself as Christ gave himself for the church?  Are you using your spiritual gifts to edify the body?  Have you found a place where you can serve regularly?  Do you give a regularly portion of your money to the work of the church?  Do you desire for people to come to know the Lord?  Do you desire to disciple?

4.  Reading Scripture – Are you consistently in the word?  Do you nourish yourself with God’s word?  Does God speak to you through his word?  Are you able to see Jesus in context of the law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms?  Do you preach and share the word with others?  Are you able to lead others into the word?

Well, these four things aren’t the only things, but they are basic.  If you’re not doing any of the following, it’s like a plant trying to grow without water or sunlight.  Christians will have a hard time growing without the word, prayer, ministry, or fellowship.  I encourage you if you are discipling anybody or seeking to grow yourself from child to adult… submit yourselves to God and discipline yourselves with the following disciplines. 

Let me know what you think.  Did I miss any?