Elder Andy Wolverton reports on Maturity: Growing Up and Going On in the Christian Life
Tell us a bit about yourself…
My wife Cindy and I joined Trinity in 2018, and I became a ruling elder in 2019. When I was a teenager, my first PCA pastor gave me Andrew Bonar’s biography of Robert Murray M’Cheyne, a minister in the Church of Scotland whose short life (29 years) and ministry demonstrate for believers a Christ-filled life. Ever since then, and particularly during the last 20 years, good books on theology and biblical Christianity have been an important part of my life.
Book Basics
- Title: Maturity: Growing Up and Going On in the Christian Life
- Author: Sinclair B. Ferguson
- Genre: Christian Life, Spiritual Growth, Sanctification
- Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Two-Sentence Summary
Ferguson shares one of the apostle Paul’s primary ministry goals: to “present everyone mature in Christ” (Col. 1:28-29). This lifelong quest will take Christians on a journey of abiding in Christ with full assurance while facing the reality of indwelling sin, temptation, fighting the enemy, and suffering while also following a path of serving faithfully, patiently, and humbly, relying on God’s grace and mercy.
Why did you pick up this book?
Ferguson is a Reformed systematic theology scholar who has taught at Reformed seminaries and ministered in churches in the US and his native Scotland. He has also served as an editor with the Banner of Truth Trust, is currently a Teaching Fellow for Ligonier Ministries, and frequently speaks at conferences. In the South we would say, “You can’t swing a dead cat in Reformed circles without hitting Sinclair Ferguson.” (Apologies to cat lovers!) On a more personal level, I wanted to learn how to grow in maturity as a Christian.
Key Takeaway
Growing in Christian maturity requires constant feeding from God’s word. We depend on continued Bible study, God’s grace, the Spirit’s direction, and Christ’s crosswork and intercession as we live out our daily lives. God has called His people to “be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy” (Lev. 19:2). Maturity is not optional for Christians, but an a necessary part of following Christ, as Hebrews 6:1 states, “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…” No matter where you are in your Christian walk, Maturity will become a valuable resource.
Memorable Quote
God’s way provides for the long term. It protects us from the kind of immaturity that ruins relationships before there is time for our witness to have any effect. As brothers or sisters, husbands or wives, parents or children, employers and employees, and as friends, our ongoing witness is to be expressed in the way we live out the pattern of life God has given us in such passages as Ephesians 5:22-6:9, Colossians 3:18-25, and here in 1 Peter 3:1-7. Yes, there will be opportunities to speak, to answer the questions our changed lives prompt relatives, colleagues, and friends to ask. But until people who encounter us daily and know us well see this transformation, our words may seem little more to them than words without weight (p. 43).
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Showing the glory of Christ is the function of every (spiritual) gift. They all flow from him. In fact, they are all nurtured and directed by the ministry of the word. But the church’s unity and its upbuilding itself in love involves each member using his or her gift to make Christ known. We bear witness to him both by word of mouth and by style of life – in the way we count other Christians more significant than ourselves and serve them through our individual gifts (Phil. 2:3). When this happens our church family will almost inevitably begin to make an impact on the community in which we live. (p. 186)
How did this help your walk with Christ?
I often ask myself if I’m seeing fruit in my life as a Christian. Like a vinedresser, I need to ask what needs to be pruned or cut away. Where is sin keeping me from maturity? Am I growing in grace? What am I feeding on that distracts me from Christ? I’ve recommended Maturity to others and consider it a valuable resource I’ll come back to again and again. The chapter on overcoming temptation is worth the price of the book.
Who should read this?
Whether you’ve been a believer for only a short time or for decades, Maturity will show you what biblical Christian maturity is and how you can prayerfully seek it by the grace of God and work of the Holy Spirit. The book is grouped into five sections that address areas that affect us all: growing up, standing firm, facing difficulties, pressing on, and living maturely.
Any cautions or limitations?
My only caution would be to not put off reading this book, regardless of your age or years as a Christian. It will be helpful at any stage of life.
Final thoughts?
As you can see from the quotes I chose, maturity strengthens us not only in our personal relationship with God, but also in serving others and becoming lights shining in darkness as we seek to bring every thought captive to Christ and proclaim his gospel.
Awesome review Andy! Those are some powerful quotes!