Maturity Analysis

This diagnostic is for Christian maturity, laying out a few concepts for you to consider. As you care for others, you can use this guide to help them assess if they have the proper companions in their lives, aiding them in maturing into Christ’s likeness. Surrounding ourselves with a body ministry that spurs one another on to love and good deeds is crucial.

Think about all the “one another” commands in the New Testament. It’s clear that there are no siloed Christians; we do not isolate from the body of Christ. We need each other. One of these good companions is biblical counseling, which is a seasonal construct developed to address specific problems. However, other aspects of our good companion body are not seasonal at all.

Being part of a local church, having an active and engaging prayer life, and studying the Bible in various ways are absolutely essential. If a person is not part of a local church and does not have an active prayer life—active meaning not just sitting and soaking before the Lord, but actively petitioning and engaging God in prayer—they are missing out. Bible study can take many forms, including reading four chapters a day, reading it in a month, memorizing Scripture, doing exegetical or topical studies, reading commentaries, and studying systematic theology.

Singing unto the Lord is also essential, even for those who don’t sing well; making a melody in our hearts should be a natural outflow of being a Christian. Serving others is crucial as we seek to have the mind of Christ. Emulating the gospel means giving our lives as Jesus did, always going and giving ourselves to others. We do not want to be Dead Sea Christians. Having friends who speak truth into our lives is vital, even if you only have one such friend. Other social acquaintances and living in community are important too.

Discipleship is key, whether it’s helping others grow in their faith or being discipled yourself. Evangelism is part of this process, as we go and make disciples, obeying the Great Commission. This involves telling those around us about Christ. If they already know Christ, we should engage in discipleship, doing life over coffee with them.

This diagnostic of Christian maturity includes these indicators to help individuals assess how well they are doing. Their actions, as they relate to these elements, will be proportional to their Christian maturity. While counseling is seasonal, everything else should be standard for all Christians. There might be additional items you could add to this list as well.