THE PLACE OF FAITH IN SPIRITUAL MATURITY AND IT’S IMPACT ON CHURCH GROWTH

Abstract

This study was on the Place of Faith in Spiritual Maturity and it’s impact on Church Growth. Using Mountain of Fire as a case study.  Four objectives were raised which included: To ascertain the factors that hinder continual spiritual growth, to find out the role of relationships in the church that contributes to spiritual growth, to find out the place of faith in spiritual maturity and to find out the important of spiritual maturity in church growth. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made up of pastors, elders, deacons and members were used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies. This study recommended that given that Christian education is education in its own right with spiritual transformation as the learning outcome, mechanisms for assessing spiritual transformation need to be implemented

Chapter one

Introduction

1.1Background of the study

We are called to spiritual growth-that is, the formation of the investment of faith Christ gives us that we give back to Him in dividends. This is a deep conviction of our faith, a practiced submission that shows our obedience, and a life of personal and relational maturity. We have to listen to God; if not, we will not learn and then we will not grow and then we will not have a life of transformation and growth. Instead, we experience a storm-tossed sea of life, wayward in every perspective because our eyes and ears are not upon our Lord (Hebrews chap 1-6; James 1)

Faith is generally the persuasion of the mind that a specific statement is true (Philippians 1:27; 2 Thessalonians 2:13). Its primary idea is trust. A thing is true and, therefore, worthy of trust. It admits of many degrees up to full assurance of faith, following the evidence on which it rests.

Faith is the result of teaching (Romans 10:14-17). Knowledge is an essential element in all faith and is sometimes spoken of as an equivalent to faith (John 10:38; 1 John 2:3). Yet the two are distinguished in this respect that faith includes in its assent, which is an act of the will in addition to the act of the understanding. Assent to the truth is the essence of faith, and the ultimate ground on which our assent to any revealed truth rests is the veracity of God.

Spiritual maturity is a process that begins when a person accepts Jesus Christ as Savior. He or she is born again of the Holy Spirit and then chooses to live “in Christ.” The Apostle Paul said that spiritual growth is an ongoing process. “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12-14). Even the Apostle Paul had not arrived, yet he continually pressed toward the prize.

When thinking about the Christian life, the Bible speaks of spiritual maturity in a similar way. For example, Paul describes the church in Corinth as “infants in Christ,” who could not be given “solid food” because “[they were] not able to receive it.” In his book Stages of Faith: The Psychology of Human Development and the Quest for Meaning, James Fowler notes that “we all begin the pilgrimage of faith as infants.” However, we are not intended to remain “infants in Christ” or even children for that matter. In the letter to the Ephesians, Paul writes, “As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ.” Clearly, Paul’s desire is for the Church to have a grown up or mature faith.

When speaking of spiritual maturity, Paul often uses the word teleios (which can be translated as “mature,” “perfect,” or “complete”). In Ephesians 4:13, Paul longs for, “all [to] attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature person, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.” However, in the letter to the Ephesians, spiritual maturity is not just an individual goal but the goal for the entire body of Christ. Stephen Rankin, in his book Aiming at Maturity: The Goal of the Christian Life, defines “a spiritually mature Christian [as] one whose whole character dispositions, words, and actions emulates the character of Jesus Christ himself.” In Ephesians 5:1-2, Paul calls on the church in Ephesus to “be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved [us] and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.” Spiritual maturity is a goal that all Christians should be striving after as they seek to imitate God and live out Christ’s love.

Statement of the problem

Jesus spent years with a motley crew of guys who later became known as the twelve. Many others began to follow Jesus, and upon His resurrection and return to His disciples, Jesus announces the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20: “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Jesus commissions His followers to go and make disciples who will obey the teachings of Christ. To make disciples is to help others grow spiritually. The key action of Jesus’ commission is the action of going. There is a unique relationship between growing and going. In order for one to go, they must grow. Without continual spiritual growth, the church is unable to continue the mission of Jesus to go, therefore slowly distancing itself from its identity and purpose.

For believers to go, they must grow, but also to grow we must go. In a culture that prioritizes secular academy, collegiate, vocational, and academic education, how can the church create and foster an interest in spiritual growth and ongoing discipleship? What are the factors of continual spiritual growth in the life of the believer and the role of the local church in that process? What are the factors that hinder continual spiritual growth? What are the factors that contribute to continual spiritual growth? What is the role of relationships in the church that contribute to spiritual growth? What is the role of spiritual disciplines that contribute to continual spiritual growth? What personal practices of faith contribute to the continual growing and going of individuals in the local church? Those who have had an invigorating relationship with Christ over a long period set an example of continual spiritual growth and discipleship worth following. What were the factors and practices of those people’s lives that encouraged them to continue reading their bible, praying consistently and faithfully, trusting God, and sharing the faith with others? Ignorance, apathy, and complacency can plague the life of the believer and the local church. Paul warns Timothy that many will have a form of godliness, but deny its power (2 Timothy 3:5). What are the factors that lead to apathy, complacency, and plateaued growth in one’s relationship with Christ? What are the factors that lead to a “form of godliness,” rather a continual and renewing relationship with Christ?

Objective of the study

The objectives of the study are;

1. To ascertain the factors that hinder continual spiritual growth
2. To find out the role of relationships in the church that contributes to spiritual growth
3. To find out the place of faith in spiritual maturity
4. To find out the important of spiritual maturity in church growth

Research Question

The following research questions are formulated

1. What are the factors that hinder continual spiritual growth?
2. What is the role of relationships in the church that contributes to spiritual growth?
3. What is the place of faith in spiritual maturity?
4. What is the important of spiritual maturity in church growth?

Significance of the study

The study will be beneficial to students, churches and Christians. The study will give a clear insight on the place of faith in spiritual maturity and its impact on Church Growth. The study wills education Christians on the factors that act as a barrier to spiritual growth and what to be done to grow spiritually. The study will also serve as a reference to other researcher that will embark on the related topic

Scope of the study

The scope of the study covers the Place of Faith in Spiritual Maturity and its impact on Church Growth. The study will be limited Mountain of Fire Ministry in Lagos

Limitation of the study

Limitations/constraints are inevitable in carrying out a research work of this nature. However, in the course of this research, the following constraints were encountered thus:

1. Non-availability of enough resources (finance): A work of this nature is very tasking financially, money had to be spent at various stages of the research such resources which may aid proper carrying out of the study were not adequately available.

Time factor: The time used in carrying out the research work is relatively not enough to bring the best information out of it. However, I hope that the little that is contained in this study will go a long way in solving many greater problems.

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