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From Babes to Believers, spiritual maturity

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TD Smith

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Sermon Outline: “From Spiritual Babes to Disciples”

Text: Romans 5:1-5

Theme Statement: Receiving salvation is the beginning of our journey, not the end — God wants His children to grow into spiritual maturity through trials, patience, experience, and hope.

Big Idea: Spiritual maturity doesn’t happen overnight; it comes through faith in Christ, the testing of trials, and the shaping hand of God.

1. The Peace of Salvation (Romans 5:1)

  • Growth begins with peace with God through faith in Christ.

  • Profession of faith and baptism mark the start of the journey.

  • Salvation is not the end, but the beginning of walking with Christ.

  • Hebrews 6:1 — move forward toward maturity, not backward.

  • In Christianity you are either growing closer to God or drifting further away.
    Illustration: Like a baby’s first steps, salvation is the beginning — but no parent expects their child to stop there.

2. The Purpose of Tribulation (Romans 5:3)

  • Believers are told to glory in tribulations.

  • Trials have a purpose: shaping, refining, and removing rough edges.

  • Suffering makes us examine our faith more deeply than comfort ever could.

  • God knows what we need to become useful for His kingdom.
    Illustration: A diamond must be cut precisely to shine; trials are God’s tools to cut and polish us into His priceless treasure.

3. The Patience of Endurance (Romans 5:3)

  • Tribulations produce patience — the ability to endure faithfully.

  • True Christianity is continuing with Christ “through thick and thin.”

  • God didn’t promise skies always blue, but He promised His presence.

  • Endurance proves the reality of our faith.
    Illustration: Like a marathon runner, faith isn’t proven at the starting line but by endurance to the finish line.

4. The Profit of Experience (Romans 5:4)

  • Patience produces experience — wisdom gained through trials.

  • Experience teaches us how to avoid the same pitfalls.

  • Spiritual experience equips us to guide others.
    Illustration: A child may be told not to touch a hot stove, but the experience of being burned teaches more powerfully than words.

5. The Promise of Hope (Romans 5:4-5)

  • Experience produces hope — the confident expectation in God.

  • Hope grows as we learn that God is faithful in every trial.

  • For the Christian, even death is not an ending, but the beginning of glory.

  • There are no hopeless situations with God — only hopeless perspectives.
    Illustration: Hope is like an anchor — unseen beneath the surface, but holding steady in the storm.

6. The Product of Maturity (Romans 5:5)

  • Mature believers are unashamed of their faith.

  • They shine as lights in the world, confident in their walk with God.

  • Spiritual maturity takes time: salvation, tribulation, patience, experience, hope.

  • God desires His children to grow beyond spiritual infancy into Christlike maturity.
    Illustration: Just as a soldier is not made in a day but through training, trials, and testing, saints are formed through God’s refining process.

Conclusion / Invitation

  • Three reasons many never reach spiritual maturity:

    • Sin — trying to keep one foot in the world and one in the church.

    • Neglect — failing to read Scripture and pray consistently.

    • Pride — letting emotions and self rule instead of faith.

  • God calls us not to remain babes in Christ but to grow up in grace.

  • Will you let Him take you from immaturity to maturity today?

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