Discovering

My Spiritual Maturity
G R O W
Class 201: Discovering My Spiritual Maturity
Copyright © 2019 Rick Warren

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Table of Contents
WELCOME 5

Class Purpose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

H A B I T O N E : D a i l y T i m e i n G o d ’ s Wo r d 13

The Hand Illustration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Six Ways to Get a Grasp of the Bible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

H A B I T T W O : P r a y e r — Ta l k i n g w i t h G o d 31

How to Revitalize Your Prayer Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Use the Model Jesus Gave Us . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
A Daily Quiet Time with God through Prayer and Bible Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

HABIT THREE: Tithing—Giving Back to God 55

How My Giving Reveals My Spiritual Maturity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

What the Bible Teaches about Tithing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Giving with the Right Attitude . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

H A B I T F O U R : Fe l l o w s h i p — E n j o y i n g G o d ' s Fa m i l y 67

Why Is Fellowship So Important? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

How Can a Large Church Maintain Close Friendships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
What Is the Purpose of Our Small Groups? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

HOW TO: Start and Maintain Good Habits 75

Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
What Are My Next Steps? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

A N S W E R K E Y 81
CLASS 201
Welcome
Class 201:  Discovering My Spiritual Maturity is the second of Saddleback
Church’s four basic classes. Congratulations on making it to this base.

We’re glad you’re here. Since these classes build on each other, if you have
not attended Class 101:  Discovering Our Church Family, we highly recommend
that you attend it first.

In this class you will learn the following elements on how to develop your
own spiritual maturity.

•  Overview of Spiritual Maturity

•  Habit One:  Daily Time in God’s Word

•  Habit Two:  Prayer—Talking with God

•  Habit Three:  Tithing—Giving Back to God

•  Habit Four:  Fellowship—Enjoying God's Family

•  How to Start and Maintain Good Habits

CLASS 201
CLASS

WELCOME
PURPOSE

That you may become mature Christians, and may

fulfill God’s will for you.

DISCOVERING MY SPIRITUAL MATURITY

COLOSSIANS 4:12 (PHILLIPS)

We are not meant to remain as children . . . But we

are meant . . . to grow up in every way into Christ,
the head.
EPHESIANS 4:14–15 (PHILLIPS)

In Class 201, we will focus on the Four Basic Habits every Christian needs to
develop in order to grow to spiritual maturity. This class will:

•  Equip you with the skills you need to begin these habits.
•  Explain you the tools you need to maintain these habits.

YOU ARE HERE

 INTRODUCTION
CLASS 201

Overview of Spiritual Maturity

In the unity of the common faith and common
DISCOVERING MY SPIR ITUAL MATU RITY

knowledge of the Son of God, we arrive at real

maturity—that measure of development which is
meant by the “fullness of Christ.”
EPHESIANS 4:13 (PHILLIPS)

Spiritual maturity is ............................................................................. .

For from the very beginning God decided that those

who came to him . . . should become like his Son.
ROMANS 8:29 (TLB)

8
Facts about Spiritual Maturity

WELCOME
1. It’s not automatic.

You have been Christians a long time now, and you

ought to be teaching others, but instead . . . you

DISCOVERING MY SPIRITUAL MATURITY

need someone to teach you . . . When a person is
still living on milk it shows he isn’t very far along in
the Christian life . . . He is still a baby Christian!
HEBREWS 5:12–13 (TLB)

2. It’s a process.

Learn to be mature.
PROVERBS 8:5 (GNT)

Continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our

Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 PETER 3:18 (GNT)

There are no shortcuts to spiritual maturity.

9
3. It takes time.

Take time and trouble to keep yourself spiritually fit.

1 TIMOTHY 4:7 (PHILLIPS)

Our goal is to measure up to God’s plan for us.

2 CORINTHIANS 10:13 (TLB)

4. It takes discipline.

Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.

1 TIMOTHY 4:7 (NASB)
 Understanding Discipleship
CLASS 201

1. Mature believers are called ............................................................... .

2. I cannot be a disciple without being ............................................................... .

DISCOVERING MY SPIR ITUAL MATU RITY

3. The more disciplined I become, the more God can .................................... .

4. The mark of a disciple is ............................................................... .

“Whoever does not carry their cross and follow me

cannot be my disciple.”
LUKE 14:27 (NIV)

5. How often am I to do this? ...............................................................

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny

themselves and take up their cross daily and follow
me.”
LUKE 9:23 (NIV)

10
6. What is involved in “cross-bearing?” .........................................................................

to give Christ first place in my life!

Four Habits of a Disciple

How Can I Become a Disciple?

Develop ................................... .

Do not lie to one another, for you have put off the
old self with its habits and have put on the new
self. This is the new being which God, its Creator, is
constantly renewing in his own image, in order to
bring you to a full knowledge of himself.
COLOSSIANS 3:9–10 (GNT)