This sermon addresses the modern difficulty of simply trusting and following established paths of faith. Through an exploration of the early church and the life of Abraham, we discover that true maturity often requires setting aside our need to uniquely innovate and instead committing to faithful imitation of proven models.

Scripture References

Hebrews 5:11-14
Hebrews 6:9-20
Romans 4:20
Genesis 11:31
Acts 7:2-4

Key Points

The Calling of the Church: The church is called to imitate the examples of maturity and faithfulness that came before it, not to constantly reinvent the wheel.
The Struggle to Follow: The author of Hebrews expresses frustration with the early church because they have become "spiritually dull and indifferent." They are still relying on basic teachings when they should be mature enough to teach others.
The "But We Need Our Spin On It" Mindset: A major obstacle to maturity is the modern tendency to accept a proven truth or model but insist on customizing it or adding a personal "spin." This often weakens the effectiveness of the original truth.
The Example of Abraham: Abraham is considered the father of faith, not because he was perfect, but because his faith grew stronger over time. Romans 4:20 says, "Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God."
The Delay in Haran: The story of Abraham's journey to Canaan reveals a crucial point about obedience. He received the call to go to Canaan, but stopped in Haran and stayed there until his father died. His father, Terah, became a form of baggage that delayed his obedience. God often waits for us to leave our baggage behind before moving us forward.

Conclusion

True spiritual maturity involves a willingness to follow without needing to be the innovator. It requires leaving behind the "baggage" of our own preferences and cultural conditioning. Like Abraham, our faith is proven not in instant perfection, but in a lifelong journey of growing trust and increasingly radical obedience to God's calling.

Calls to Action

Examine your life for areas where you are insisting on your own "spin" rather than simply obeying God's word.
Identify the "baggage" or comfortable stopping points (like Haran) that might be delaying your obedience to God's calling.
Commit to imitating the faithful examples of mature believers in your community.

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