Signs of an Immature Christian (Linton Hall)

You might be spiritually immature if…

You lack appreciation for spiritual leaders

2 Corinthians 12:11 CSB – I have been a fool; you forced it on me. You ought to have commended me, since I am not in any way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.

2 Corinthians 12:12 CSB – The signs of an apostle were performed with unfailing endurance among you, including signs and wonders and miracles.

Acts 19:11-12 CSB – God was performing extraordinary miracles by Paul’s hands, ¹² so that even facecloths or aprons that had touched his skin were brought to the sick, and the diseases left them, and the evil spirits came out of them.

2 Corinthians 12:13 CSB – So in what way are you worse off than the other churches, except that I personally did not burden you? Forgive me for this wrong!

2 Corinthians 12:14 CSB – Look, I am ready to come to you this third time. I will not burden you, since I am not seeking what is yours, but you. For children ought not save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

2 Corinthians 12:15 CSB – I will most gladly spend and be spent for you. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?

You might be spiritually immature if…

You instinctively assume the worst in others

2 Corinthians 12:16-18 CSB – Now granted, I did not burden you; yet sly as I am, I took you in by deceit! Did I take advantage of you by any of those I sent you? ¹⁸ I urged Titus to go,…. Titus didn’t take advantage of you, did he? Didn’t we walk in the same spirit and in the same footsteps?

1 John 4:18 CSB – There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear,

1 Corinthians 13:7 CSB – [Love] believes all things, hopes all things…

Titus 1:15 CSB – To the pure, everything is pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; in fact, both their mind and conscience are defiled.

You might be spiritually immature if…

You are a negative person

2 Corinthians 12:19 CSB – Have you been thinking all along that we were defending ourselves to you? No, in the sight of God we are speaking in Christ, and everything, dear friends, is for building you up.

2 Corinthians 12:20 CSB – For I fear that perhaps when I come I will not find you to be what I want, and you may not find me to be what you want. Perhaps there will be quarreling, jealousy, angry outbursts, selfish ambitions, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.

• Negative Attitudes that Devastate Relationships 

2 Corinthians 12:20b CSB – …quarreling, jealousy, angry outbursts, selfish ambitions, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.

James 3:16 CSB – For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and every evil practice.

Romans 12:15 CSB – Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.

James 4:1-2 CSB – What is the source of wars and fights among you? Don’t they come from your passions that wage war within you? ² You desire and do not have.

Proverbs 16:32 CSB – Patience is better than power,
and controlling one’s emotions, than capturing a city.

Ephesians 4:3-6 CSB – …making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope at your calling— ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.

Philippians 2:3b CSB – In humility, consider others as better than yourself

James 4:10 CSB – Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Romans 13:2 CSB – the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves.

Galatians 5:22 CSB – the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control.

You might be spiritually immature if…

You persistently participate in the sensual sins

2 Corinthians 12:21 CSB – I fear that when I come my God will again humiliate me in your presence, and I will grieve for many who sinned before and have not repented of the moral impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality they practiced.

1 Corinthians 6:9b-11 CSB – Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or males who have sex with males, ¹⁰ no thieves, greedy people, drunkards, verbally abusive people, or swindlers will inherit God’s kingdom. ¹¹ And some of you used to be like this. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Romans 8:1 CSB – Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus