We cannot reach Christian maturity alone or in isolation from the body of Christ, the church. Some of you will be joining a new member class today to join the church. I cannot commend you more for doing that. We need each other. The reason for this is simple and clear.
Maturity always involves taking responsibility for others.
Anything that takes our focus off just ourselves seems to be the operating principle of growing up. The church is not a hospital for the hurting but a staging ground and boot camp for an army that is being sent to do battle against the powers of darkness for the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Every facet of our missional calling is an act of maturity. This is the reason I have stressed the missional nature of the church this year. Each of the three tasks we named this fall is a mark of maturity because each calls for action on our part.