2009-08-21T08:47:53-05:00 GCI info@gospel.com /feeds/topics/mature/ http://biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%204:11-13&version=NIV 2009-08-21T08:47:53-05:00 God has called some among the church to be teachers, to train and disciple their fellow believers. Their goal is to prepare the church for acts of service and evangelism. http://biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%205:13-14&version=NIV 2009-08-06T18:20:16-05:00 Christians differ in their levels of spiritual maturity, and not all activities are appropriate for all Christians. Part of discipling the church effectively is understanding the different levels of maturity represented in the body of Christ, and ministering to each accordingly. http://biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Phil.1.9-Phil.1.11&version=NIV 2009-07-23T08:49:53-05:00 The writer of this passages expresses his desire that our love would "abound more and more"--in other words, that it would grow as we mature in the faith. The Christian life is not a spiritually static experience; as we commit more deeply to Christ, we should see an increase in grace in our own life and behavior.