A Case Study in Christian Immaturity

Hebrews 5:11-6:3 (ESV)

About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.  [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.  [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.

Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,  [2] and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.  [3] And this we will do if God permits.

I remember when I would preach in Bible College and seminary around at various churches.  Whenever the sermon topic would be directly evangelistic, after it was finished, I would be assured that the sermon topic was well picked and exactly what the church needed to hear.  I want to share with you today that the Gospel should make an appearance in every sermon in some form or other.  However, if all the church hears is the basics of the Gospel and it never hears any more than that, the church will be at best filled with baby Christians.  Immaturity will be the mark of the church.  Consequently, whenever I would preach on a doctrine from the Bible I would often get blank stares. Continue Reading