“That we may present every man perfect [mature] in Christ Jesus.” Col. 1:28

 This passage shows the importance of strengthening oneself in their relationship with Christ and to become mature in Him.  Then also, how ”Ministry” takes place when mature Christians lead and encourage younger Christians into a stronger relationship of constant communication with God!  Paul in this passage above shows that this is his ultimate goal in his life!

How do we bring Christians into maturity?

“In Spite of what some “success preachers” say, God’s goal for our lives in not money, but maturity, not happiness, but holiness, not getting, but giving.” Wiersbe

A Christian is born into the family of God, and then must be discipled to mature in Christ.  The maturing part will be the decisions the new Christian makes to tap into God’s power, based on how the mentoring Christian feeds them, by the way they live and what they say.  This will encourage the new believer to make decisions to read God’s Word, Pray, and live out God in their lives through the Holy Spirit.

“Ministry means that God uses us to create a spiritual atmosphere that encourages others to grow and become fruitful in the Lord.” Wiersbe

“Leadership is a serving relationship that has the effect of racilitating human development.  Dr. Ted Ward

Ministry is all about making a good invironment where new Christians can grow and be encouraged to seek after God!  Because they will grow only by their own Decisions that they make for God.  It will be their choices of their minds and their attitudes and their actions that will be what allows them to mature in their relationship with God.

I think that so many times in ministry, organizations try to lead new Christians to maturity without having them do anything.  They have so many programs and events for new Christians to come to that they really never have to choose to make a good decisions or make choices that help them grow in their relationship with God, even though that is what ministry is all about!  Ministry starts when an actual young Christian desires to make decisions to work at their relationship with God.  It is not going to a certain number of youth groups events, or enough church services, although this is excellent in creating a longing in them!  But real discipling ministry happens I believe when a Christian makes their own decisions every day to take a step towards God!  So, maybe the best ministry happens when a new Christian sees the life of a beliver in motion.   They see the attributes and actions demonstrated in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and selfcontrol displayed in the life of a mature Christians life.  Maybe the best way to do ministry is, the way Jesus did! Spending days, weeks, months, years, living and being with younger Christians and helping them to grow by showing them just how great it is to “be” a Christian! 

I think a lot of times church ministries can get so overloaded with events youth groups, choir practice, praise band practice, church services, fundraisers, etc.. that new Christians see a business, and sense of lack of trust in God to supply their needs!  This lack of trust then carries over to the new believers, and they have then been mentured to believe that they must do certain church service rituals instead of making decisions to constantly meditate on God’s Word, Pray, and love God and others!  I think that Christians could get a lot more Christ like maturity accomplished in the lives of new believers if they would do less!  Maybe less is more!  Maybe a Christian should simply share their own life more with new Christians.  Maybe Praying more, Worshiping God more in a Christians everyday life would be the best ministry that could ever happen, and disciple new believers in God’s love!

 I believe that Jesus wants Mature Christians to display His work in their lives by living among others so that they may see and hear about God, and long to know Him better!