This is the fourth post of a series looking at the health of our churches. Read the first post if you haven’t already.

Once living things are born, they begin growing until they reach maturity. Oak trees begin as a sprout from an acorn, then it is a sapling in the shadow of larger trees, finally it reaches above the forest canopy. Chickens, cattle, horses, and all other living things begin their lives in an immature state but then grow until they are mature.

We know something is wrong if a five-year-old child cannot dress himself or if a teenager is still playing with toy tractors or dolls. These things are expected at a certain age, but we also expect that every child will mature and move onto other things. As Paul said, “but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” (1 Cor 13:11b)

Paul spoke to the Corinthian church about their lack of maturity. “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;” (1 Cor 3:1-2) Instead of growing in their faith to become mature believers, they were still childlike in their understanding of the Gospel and were behaving like children with envy, strife, and divisions (1 Cor 3:3).

For a church to grow and mature, its members must be maturing in their understanding and walk with Christ. If they are content to remain in a childlike state of selfishness, pride, and petty conflicts, a church will never be able to grow into the mature body that Christ desires for His Bride.

Complacency is deadly to spiritual growth. When you are complacent, you don’t see any need for growth in your walk with God. A corn seed can sprout and quickly grow to a few feet, but it must reach maturity and bear fruit to grow to its full potential.

We must continually examine ourselves to see if there is any area in our lives that need improvement. Maybe you are impatient or struggle with discontent and those things are dragging you down. Once they are conquered, look to the next area in your life that requires help. The Christian life is a continual process of personal examination and change to grow closer and closer to the example of Christ.

A healthy church will have members who grow and mature in their faith.