Sermon Tone Analysis

The Chicago spire - to be 2,000 feet, started in 2007, stopped in 2009.

Instead there is just a 32’ hole in the ground.

The Problem of Immaturity (5:11-6:3)

They have grown tired of listening to God’s Word

They have become stunted in their spiritual growth.

They should be teaching others, but instead are like babes in Christ.

Go on to maturity.

Verse 1 does not mean that the foundation is unimportant, rather, it means that you need to build upon the firm foundation and grow.

The Peril of Immaturity (4-8)

The danger of spiritual immaturity is “falling away” (i.e.

continual disobedience to the Lord).

Those who have given evidence of genuine salvation:

Enlightened - Eph 1:18 “having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,”

Tasted of the heavenly gift (salvation) - John 4:10 “10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.””

The Bread from Heaven

Partakers of the Holy Spirit - Hebrews 3:14 “For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.”

Tasted of the good word of God and the powers of the age to come.

If they fall away, but refusing to go on to maturity in Christ, they face the discipline of God and the loss of eternal reward (not the loss of eternal life).

1 Corinthians 3:12-15 “12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.

14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.

15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.”

The Pleasure of a Maturing Christian (9-12)

Things that accompany salvation:

The blessing of fruitfulness in God’s kingdom.

John 15:7-8 “7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”

The blessing of assurance and hope.

The blessing of a promised inheritance.