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The church is not meant to be a place where we simply gather for comfort and encouragement, but a training ground where we are equipped for the real work of ministry. Our time together is like a “half-time” in a game—meant for rest, strategy, and encouragement—but the true action happens outside the church walls. God calls us to take what we receive in community and use it to serve, love, and build up others in our everyday lives.
If we focus only on making church comfortable, we risk missing the brokenness and need that exists all around us. Maturity means moving beyond comfort and stepping into the world with the tools God has given us. The work of ministry is not reserved for a few, but for every believer, wherever God has placed them.
“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-13, ESV)
Reflection: Where is God calling you to step out of comfort and use what you’ve learned to serve someone outside the church this week?
Christian maturity is rooted in a growing, personal knowledge of Jesus Christ. Unlike other paths that ask us to empty our minds or simply follow rules, Christianity invites us to fill our minds and hearts with the truth of who Jesus is. The most important question you can answer is, “Who do you say Jesus is?”
As you draw closer to Jesus—learning about His character, His teachings, and His love—you are transformed from the inside out. The more you know Him, the more you realize He is the foundation of your faith and the center of everything. Growth in the Christian life is not about checking off boxes, but about deepening your relationship with the living Christ.
“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:6, ESV)
Reflection: What is one new thing you can learn about Jesus this week—through Scripture, prayer, or conversation—that could deepen your relationship with Him?
Spiritual maturity doesn’t mean having all the answers or never struggling with doubt. In fact, true stability comes from honestly wrestling with hard questions and seasons of uncertainty. God is not threatened by your doubts; He invites you to bring them to Him, trusting that He will provide enough light for the next step.
It’s in the wrestling that your faith grows stronger and more resilient. Rather than avoiding difficult questions or pretending everything is fine, allow God to meet you in the mystery. Over time, you’ll find that your faith becomes unshakable—not because you know everything, but because you trust the One who does.
“Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face. This will be my salvation, that the godless shall not come before him.” (Job 13:15-16, ESV)
Reflection: What is one question or doubt you’ve been avoiding? How can you bring it honestly to God in prayer or conversation with a trusted friend this week?
A healthy, mature church is one where every person is both deeply connected and actively contributing. Serving without real relationships leads to burnout and loneliness, while connection without serving leads to spiritual stagnation and consumerism. God designed the church as a body, where each part is needed and valued.
True belonging comes from lingering with others, showing genuine interest, and seeking out those who are different from you. It also means finding your unique role and participating in the life of the church. When everyone is both connected and contributing, the whole body grows and flourishes together.
“From whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” (Ephesians 4:16, ESV)
Reflection: Is there someone in your church you could reach out to this week—either to encourage, serve alongside, or simply get to know better? What step can you take to deepen both your connection and your contribution?
The world tells us to look out for ourselves and ask, “What’s in it for me?” But self-centeredness only leads to emptiness and disconnection. Jesus shows us a better way: true joy and maturity are found in giving ourselves away for others.
Whether in marriage, parenting, friendships, or church life, fulfillment comes not from consuming but from serving. As you pour yourself out for others, you become more like Jesus and experience the abundant life He promises. The path to joy is not in making yourself the center, but in following Christ’s example of sacrificial love.
“And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, ‘If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.’ And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, ‘Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.’” (Mark 9:35-37, ESV)
Reflection: Who is one person you can serve this week—without expecting anything in return? How might God use this act of service to grow your joy and shape your heart?
DATE: July 6th 2025
SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 4:12-16
SPEAKER: Matt Heaverly
SUNDAY
7:20AM + 9:00AM + 11:00AM
WEDNESDAYS
Dinner – 5:30PM
Service – 6:20PM
Location:
101 Assembly Circle
Grants Pass, OR 97526
Phone:
(541) 474-7172
Office Hours:
Tues – Fri 8:30AM– 3PM
After Office Hours Emergency Pastoral Contact:
(541) 862-1416
