Kevin Bradford

Here at Overflow Church we focus heavily on discipleship and provoking believers to a level of maturity that allows them to function as a hearer and a doer of the word.

In the last few messages here at Overflow, I have used these examples on a couple of occasions. Reading a couple of different blogs today made me think, I should touch on these topics on my blog. I know I have brought them on Sunday morning, but not everyone reading attends our church.

Hebrews 5:12-14

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

This is such an interesting passage of scripture, because Paul uses natural example of maturation and growth to explain a spiritual condition.

When a child is a newborn we feed them they are nursed, or given formula through a bottle, and eventually take on whole or regular milk. During this time the mom or dad holds the child, holds the bottle and carefully feeds the child watching every meal with intensity.

In the next stage of life, a parent begins to introduce some solid foods. In the first few feedings the parent may feed the child and help them take bites, eventually leading up to the point where the child can feed themselves as long as a plate is placed in front of them. In this stage the parent still watches the child during every meal with a high level of interest and concern.

The final stage of the child’s ability to eat is when they come to the mom or dad and tell them they are hungry. The parent tells them there is food in the refrigerator, therefore the child runs to the fridge grabs something and beings to eat. The parent is aware of the child eating, but is not particularly focused on the child eat.

These are the same stages that Paul is discussing in Hebrews concerning a believer’s spiritual condition. You see many Christians ought to be teachers by now, at least ministering to people around them, yet they still don’t get the basics of following Christ.

In a believers journey to maturity they go through the same steps and stages as a newborn baby.

In the first stage the new believer needs milk and nourishment in the word. The pastor, life group leader, or friend walks them through simple messages of love, new beginnings, grace, mercy, and such. They are getting the milk. A taste of what God has for them and it is satisfying.

In the next stage, the believer is not satisfied with the milk any longer, and they want some more solid food to chew on and process. In this stage the believer is coming to church and the plate is being placed in front of them. On Sunday morning the pastor is helping those taking bites through the preaching of the Word. Then the believer can process the food or take some bites of their own by asking questions of their pastor, life group leader, etc… One thing to remember in this stage is just like the child that a parent is helping feed their first few solids, sometimes the new believer takes in the milk into their mouth and spits it out. Then the pastors (parents) have to clean up the mess and continue to feed them.

In the next stage, definitely not final stage of a believer’s life, the believer begins to enter into some maturity. The believer is able to grab his/her Bible, open the Word and feed themselves. Sometimes the hunger comes from a word preached on Sunday and they want more, or something they hear on the radio. It is just like when the mom or dad says there is food in the refrigerator.

It begs the question: If you honestly looked at your life, and were only disclosing this information to yourself, where are you in the stages of maturing as a believer?