How do I grow in maturity? 1 Corinthians 3:1-4

1 But I, brothers, could not address you 1 Cor 3:1-4 1 But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, 3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy & strife among you, are you not of the flesh & behaving only in a human way? 4 For when one says, "I follow Paul," & another, "I follow Apollos," are you not being merely human?

but infants = immaturity Introduction Infants = eagerness; but infants = immaturity c.f. 1 Pet 2:2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation 1 Cor 3:1 But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.

1. We grow in the way we think & desire (v.1) 1 Cor 3:1-4 1 But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, 3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy & strife among you, are you not of the flesh & behaving only in a human way? 4 For when one says, "I follow Paul," & another, "I follow Apollos," are you not being merely human?

1. We grow in the way we think & desire (v.1) 1 Cor 3:1-4 1 But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, 3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy & strife among you, are you not of the flesh & behaving only in a human way? 4 For when one says, "I follow Paul," & another, "I follow Apollos," are you not being merely human?

1. We grow in the way we think & desire (v.1) To be fleshly/carnal/worldly = to think, desire & live like most people according to their natural/ instinctive thinking & desires c.f. 2 Cor 1:12 For our boast is this: the testimony of our conscience that we behaved in the world with simplicity & godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, & supremely so toward you. c.f. 1 Pe 2:11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners & exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

1. We grow in the way we think & desire (v.1) To be fleshly/carnal/worldly = to think, desire & live like most people according to their natural/ instinctive thinking & desires (They were drawn to prominent people & thought lesser of lowly servants & humble service)

1. We grow in the way we think & desire (v.1) To be spiritual = to subject our thinking & desires under the rule of the Spirit & word of God  To be spiritual c.f. Rom 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual c.f. 1 Cor 2:14-15 14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, & he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.

2. We grow in the way we relate with others (v.3) 1 Cor 3:1-4 1 But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, 3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy & strife among you, are you not of the flesh & behaving only in a human way? 4 For when one says, "I follow Paul," & another, "I follow Apollos," are you not being merely human?

2. We grow in the way we relate with others (v.3) c.f. Rom 13:13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies & drunkenness…not in quarreling & jealousy. c.f. 2 Cor 12:20 For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, & that you may find me not as you wish - that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy… c.f. Gal 5:19-21 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy…21…that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

2. We grow in the way we relate with others (v.3) Another word for jealousy is ‘zeal’; while another word for strife is ‘fight’; Jealousy = the compelling desires Strife = the competitive actions What are we zealous about? What do we fight for/about?

3. We grow in the way we apply God’s word (v.2) 1 Cor 3:2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, Common understanding: (Milk) Basics vs (Meat) Doctrines

3. We grow in the way we apply God’s word (v.2) Actually, God’s Word is milk when… - we are unable to connect God’s principles & apply them to righteous character & conduct c.f. Heb 5:12-14 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.

3. We grow in the way we apply God’s word (v.2) To move from milk to meat… a. Time alone is not the answer b. Constant use of the word of righteousness c.f. Heb 5:12-14 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food…14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

How do I grow in maturity? 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 1. We grow in the way we think & desire (…of the spirit, not of the flesh) 2. We grow in the way we relate with others (…not in envy & strive) 3. We grow in the way we apply God’s word (…as meat, not milk) How can I not just “naturally” respond to others? How can I learn to appreciate others despite their differences, strengths & weaknesses? How can I constantly integrate God’s word in my life?