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Maturity: Growing Up and Going On in the Christian Life
What are the most important lessons the New Testament has to teach us about being a Christian?
Sinclair Ferguson shows that a deep-seated concern of the writers of the New Testament was to see Christians grow to spiritual maturity—and if that was the concern of the first believers, then it should be our concern too.
In clear and logical chapters that are rooted in the reality of the Christian life, the author, who has had long experience in pastoral ministry and seminary teaching, seeks to show what Christian maturity is, and how it is to be obtained.
It was the apostle Paul’s desire to present those to whom he ministered ‘mature in Christ’—for such a maturity would lead to stable, servant-hearted Christians, and healthy, fruit-bearing churches.
All those who desire to live useful, mature, and consistent Christian lives will gain much wisdom from reading and reflecting upon the contents of this book.
Sinclair Ferguson shows that a deep-seated concern of the writers of the New Testament was to see Christians grow to spiritual maturity—and if that was the concern of the first believers, then it should be our concern too.
In clear and logical chapters that are rooted in the reality of the Christian life, the author, who has had long experience in pastoral ministry and seminary teaching, seeks to show what Christian maturity is, and how it is to be obtained.
It was the apostle Paul’s desire to present those to whom he ministered ‘mature in Christ’—for such a maturity would lead to stable, servant-hearted Christians, and healthy, fruit-bearing churches.
All those who desire to live useful, mature, and consistent Christian lives will gain much wisdom from reading and reflecting upon the contents of this book.
248 pages, Paperback
Published February 19, 2019
80 people are currently reading
790 people want to read
About the author
Sinclair B. Ferguson
218 books559 followersSinclair B. Ferguson is Associate Preacher at St Peter's Free Church in Dundee and also Distinguished Visiting Professor of Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was Senior Minister of First Presbyterian Church of Columbia, South Carolina and prior to that, he was minister of St. George's-Tron Church in Glasgow.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
July 7, 2025
Excellent book on Christian growth in grace & union with Christ. This one actually had some ‘meat and potatoes’ - which is a rare thing these days in Christian life literature.
March 25, 2025
Third or fourth reading of this book. Still Fergalicious.
April 29, 2019
Over the past few years, I’ve made it a point to read new works by Sinclair Ferguson that come along. I’ve been blessed immensely and have greatly expanded my doctrinal understanding of many points. I don’t always agree with him, but he can’t be dismissed carelessly as he thinks deeply before pen ever touches paper. As it turns out, this work on maturity or growing up and going on in the Christian life is a revised volume of the work he wrote in his earlier days. It’s not as overtly doctrinal as other works of his that I’ve read, but the doctrinal underpinnings are obvious throughout. As the title suggests, it has a devotional flavor and is really geared to propel us forward in our Christian lives.
The book is simply set up. There are five subjects of growing up, standing firm, facing difficulties, pressing on, and maturity that gets anywhere from 1 to 4 chapters each. Some sections were more valuable to me than others, but that probably has more to do with needs in my life rather than a wavering quality of writing.
His first chapter throws down the gauntlet for why maturity is so critically important to Christians. A few paragraphs in and Ferguson refuses to allow us to think that there’s some magic formula to rush the process of maturity. As he says, it takes time and patient progress. There are several hindrances, which he outlines carefully, but the Bible also presents a process that will lead to maturity – a process that we should cooperate with. Later, he’ll talk about the key of abiding in Christ and what he calls full assurance. He tackles what guidance is as well.
In the next section, just as you would expect if you’re familiar with Ferguson’s writings, he outlines the problem of sin. From there he’s going to talk about handling temptation and fighting the enemy. In one of the best sections of the book, he talks about coping with suffering. In the section called “pressing on”, he explained serving faithfully and running patiently. He concludes with one chapter on maturity itself.
The book is well written. He marshals much Scripture, disperses much doctrine, and gives practical, balanced help. There’s none of the cheesiness of so many current titles on the market today. If you want realistic help, a help that understands that sanctification is a lifelong affair as is the maturity that springs from it, then this is the book for you.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
The book is simply set up. There are five subjects of growing up, standing firm, facing difficulties, pressing on, and maturity that gets anywhere from 1 to 4 chapters each. Some sections were more valuable to me than others, but that probably has more to do with needs in my life rather than a wavering quality of writing.
His first chapter throws down the gauntlet for why maturity is so critically important to Christians. A few paragraphs in and Ferguson refuses to allow us to think that there’s some magic formula to rush the process of maturity. As he says, it takes time and patient progress. There are several hindrances, which he outlines carefully, but the Bible also presents a process that will lead to maturity – a process that we should cooperate with. Later, he’ll talk about the key of abiding in Christ and what he calls full assurance. He tackles what guidance is as well.
In the next section, just as you would expect if you’re familiar with Ferguson’s writings, he outlines the problem of sin. From there he’s going to talk about handling temptation and fighting the enemy. In one of the best sections of the book, he talks about coping with suffering. In the section called “pressing on”, he explained serving faithfully and running patiently. He concludes with one chapter on maturity itself.
The book is well written. He marshals much Scripture, disperses much doctrine, and gives practical, balanced help. There’s none of the cheesiness of so many current titles on the market today. If you want realistic help, a help that understands that sanctification is a lifelong affair as is the maturity that springs from it, then this is the book for you.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
December 19, 2024
Typical Ferguson: thoroughly biblical and pastoral. One of the best books on the Christian life I’ve ever read.
July 4, 2023
Maturity tackles the importance of growing as a Christian, having clarity on and assurance of one's faith, the trials and temptations that a growing Christian faces, servanthood and longevity in the faith. Personally, this proved to be a tough (but good) book in the sense that it felt very dense; if books are like albums with interludes and filler tracks, Maturity is a "Greatest Hits" album with no skips or breaks. Sinclair B. Ferguson tends not to bother with illustrations to explain scripture; rather, he lets the passages he selects speak for themselves. I will definitely be coming back to this, as I don't think I was able to fully grasp everything that Ferguson covered even after re-reading a number of sections - not a shot at his writing ability, as he is excellent at exposition of the Word, but as I said before the material does feel densely packed. I did feel as though the final couple of chapters were rushed: they were littered with a sea of scripture references in parentheses, whereas earlier on in the book Ferguson takes his time to thoughtfully unpack the passages and ideas he selects.
Quotes I liked:
"[In some churches today] a premium is placed on personal activism rather than on the knowledge of God and his word that comes from patient study and meditation. The result is that life-changing, character-building knowledge of God is sidelined. The effect is... that God becomes 'weightless' to us. We lose sight of the true knowledge of the Holy One who makes us feel endangered as sinners (Isa. 6:1-7). "
"If we are not patient here with the processes in which the Spirit uses the word to transform us... then our development will be stunted, our fruit sub-standard. The only plant in Scripture that grew up overnight was Jonah's castor-oil plant, and it withered the next day (Jon. 4:6-7)! "
Quotes I liked:
"[In some churches today] a premium is placed on personal activism rather than on the knowledge of God and his word that comes from patient study and meditation. The result is that life-changing, character-building knowledge of God is sidelined. The effect is... that God becomes 'weightless' to us. We lose sight of the true knowledge of the Holy One who makes us feel endangered as sinners (Isa. 6:1-7). "
"If we are not patient here with the processes in which the Spirit uses the word to transform us... then our development will be stunted, our fruit sub-standard. The only plant in Scripture that grew up overnight was Jonah's castor-oil plant, and it withered the next day (Jon. 4:6-7)! "
June 19, 2024
Fergy with a word. The section on pruning and commentary on Psalm 131 were especially encouraging.
“This then is maturity in action: to know, whatever ambitions we have, that we can only look at them if we can look at Christ simultaneously. If we have to take our eyes off him in order to see our own ambitions that is the moment we know our ambitions are misplaced. We are looking too high.”
“This then is maturity in action: to know, whatever ambitions we have, that we can only look at them if we can look at Christ simultaneously. If we have to take our eyes off him in order to see our own ambitions that is the moment we know our ambitions are misplaced. We are looking too high.”
May 17, 2019
If you have ever heard Sinclair Ferguson speak or have read any of his books, you immediately realize that there is some "depth" to this man and his ministry. He often reminds me of a current day "Puritan" writer in that he has a lot of substance in his material unlike much of the "fluff" of current Christendom writing these days.
The following quote taken from his introduction to this book sets the stage for what comes after it:
"The truth of Scripture needs to be understood within its proper context in Scripture so that it breathes the spirit of Scripture. For true understanding is more than possessing information in the form of propositions or isolated texts. It involves breathing in the atmosphere in which the truths of the gospel are presented and then breathing it out in our lives."
There are four main sections to the book and then a concluding short section. They are as follows:
Growing Up
Standing Firm
Facing Difficulties
Pressing On
Maturity (concluding short section)
In the section "Growing Up," Ferguson presents a chapter entitled "Symptoms of Decay." In the chapter, he gives four warning signs from the book of Hebrews of decay. It is a masterful chapter in which he takes the context of Hebrews and then extracts truths to apply to the subject at hand. In it, he shows us how to properly teach from Scripture (within context) and not just isolated texts.
The four signs are as follows:
1. Concentration Loss - Hebrews 2:1
2. Poor Appetite - Hebrews 5:12-13
3. Discernment Deficit - Hebrews 5:14
4. Worship Weakness - Hebrews 13:15
His chapter on "Abiding in Christ" in this section on growing up is profound. However, the section that resonated deepest with me was the section on "Facing Difficulties." In this section is where Ferguson really shines with subject matter that deals particularly with sin & temptation. It is these thoughts where I realize that Ferguson is similar to many of the Puritan writers I have read regarding sin.
His admonition regarding temptation and how it unfolds and how we fight it was extraordinary and spoke personally to my heart. He says this regarding the deception of temptation: "Believers need to learn to see everything through their ears - that is, to view things in terms of what God's Word says about them."
If you want to continue to mature, grow up, and go on in the Christian life, this book will do you nothing but good. However, be forewarned! It will challenge you in many ways in your Christian life. I encourage you to read it thoughtfully, meditatively, with a highlighter or pen in your hands. Learn the truths contained therein and start living them!
The following quote taken from his introduction to this book sets the stage for what comes after it:
"The truth of Scripture needs to be understood within its proper context in Scripture so that it breathes the spirit of Scripture. For true understanding is more than possessing information in the form of propositions or isolated texts. It involves breathing in the atmosphere in which the truths of the gospel are presented and then breathing it out in our lives."
There are four main sections to the book and then a concluding short section. They are as follows:
Growing Up
Standing Firm
Facing Difficulties
Pressing On
Maturity (concluding short section)
In the section "Growing Up," Ferguson presents a chapter entitled "Symptoms of Decay." In the chapter, he gives four warning signs from the book of Hebrews of decay. It is a masterful chapter in which he takes the context of Hebrews and then extracts truths to apply to the subject at hand. In it, he shows us how to properly teach from Scripture (within context) and not just isolated texts.
The four signs are as follows:
1. Concentration Loss - Hebrews 2:1
2. Poor Appetite - Hebrews 5:12-13
3. Discernment Deficit - Hebrews 5:14
4. Worship Weakness - Hebrews 13:15
His chapter on "Abiding in Christ" in this section on growing up is profound. However, the section that resonated deepest with me was the section on "Facing Difficulties." In this section is where Ferguson really shines with subject matter that deals particularly with sin & temptation. It is these thoughts where I realize that Ferguson is similar to many of the Puritan writers I have read regarding sin.
His admonition regarding temptation and how it unfolds and how we fight it was extraordinary and spoke personally to my heart. He says this regarding the deception of temptation: "Believers need to learn to see everything through their ears - that is, to view things in terms of what God's Word says about them."
If you want to continue to mature, grow up, and go on in the Christian life, this book will do you nothing but good. However, be forewarned! It will challenge you in many ways in your Christian life. I encourage you to read it thoughtfully, meditatively, with a highlighter or pen in your hands. Learn the truths contained therein and start living them!
June 19, 2022
Sinclair Ferguson seems to be an author worth reading more of. Not many modern Christian authors have the ability to boil complexities down like Sinclair. His writing shows his astuteness in dissecting the word of God and he possesses an uncanny ability to teach his points with vivid detail.
Like all great reads, this was not one that you could mindlessly parse through. While Sinclair does simplify what Maturity looks like in all stages (our initial standing in the faith, overcoming the trials of life, and persevering in Christ), he does not leave an 'easy' read. The topics he brings to the table require intellectual rigor to process (and of course the great Helper) but leave believers edified.
Side note: The book crescendos into its main point at the end the book; something that a majority of authors don't do. Many authors begin with their thesis on page 10 and explain it throughout the rest of the book. Think of it as a carpenter showing his client a picture of the house he is going to build and then building it in front of them. Sinclair took the opposite approach. Throughout the book, he built brick by brick a case for biblical maturity, leading you to see the final picture before it comes.
I highly recommend picking up this thoroughly investigated, deeply edifying, spiritual gem for your next read.
Like all great reads, this was not one that you could mindlessly parse through. While Sinclair does simplify what Maturity looks like in all stages (our initial standing in the faith, overcoming the trials of life, and persevering in Christ), he does not leave an 'easy' read. The topics he brings to the table require intellectual rigor to process (and of course the great Helper) but leave believers edified.
Side note: The book crescendos into its main point at the end the book; something that a majority of authors don't do. Many authors begin with their thesis on page 10 and explain it throughout the rest of the book. Think of it as a carpenter showing his client a picture of the house he is going to build and then building it in front of them. Sinclair took the opposite approach. Throughout the book, he built brick by brick a case for biblical maturity, leading you to see the final picture before it comes.
I highly recommend picking up this thoroughly investigated, deeply edifying, spiritual gem for your next read.
September 5, 2020
When I pick up a Sinclair Ferguson book, I've come to expect a superb blending of theological depth, devotional warmth, practical application, and readable writing. This one measures up.
April 10, 2025
The expected solid Ferguson weaving Scriptural nuggets and pastoral insights toward the end of painting a picture of the mature Christian. There were a few places where he lost my attention (but that might say more about me than his writing). On the whole, this is a helpful book to place in the hand of a newer Christian who wants to grow and needs to mature.
July 10, 2024
“We need to learn a similar lesson about spiritual weaning: that all things come to us from the hand of a Father who knows what we need, that his provision is always wise, and his will is always best for us. We need to learn what someone has called ‘the lost art of stooping’ and, yielding unreservedly to the Lord say, ‘I will rest content in your provision.’”
First HFG book in da books. This guy’s writing is a little too all over the place for me but I got lots of good out of it
First HFG book in da books. This guy’s writing is a little too all over the place for me but I got lots of good out of it
January 14, 2024
Wonderful book. Convicting, challenging, and encouraging.
June 13, 2019
Sinclair Ferguson is probably my favorite living theologian. His latest book, one of the best I’ve read this year, is a significantly revised edition of his first book, published in the UK in 1980 as Add to Your Faith, and in the U.S. as Taking the Christian Life Seriously in the U.S. in 1981. The book would be appropriate for believers in any stage of their Christian walk.
The author tells us that the writers of the New Testament had a deep concern to see Christians grow to spiritual maturity. Mature Christians possess the qualities which only Jesus Christ can produce, because he alone has exhibited them perfectly. We must go on to maturity, because Jesus went on to maturity.
The author spends a lot of time in Hebrews, which he calls “the letter about maturity”. In that book, Jesus’ experience is seen as the foundation for our going on to maturity. In addition to the teaching of Hebrews, the author tells us that we should not be surprised that there are frequent references to the importance of spiritual maturity in Paul’s letters. The author tells us that If maturity was the great goal of the apostles’ ministry, then it ought to be a goal in our own lives too, and the deep desire of our hearts. He also looks at Psalm 119, which he refers to as “the psalm of maturity”, Psalm 131 and also Ephesians 6.
Subjects that the author touches on are hindrances to maturity, indwelling sin, spiritual discernment, the Father’s pruning, abiding in Christ and living in union with Him, God’s guidance, assurance of salvation, suffering, tests, trials and temptations, opposition and perseverance.
Throughout the book the author refers to many heroes of the faith such as John Bunyan, J.C. Ryle, Anselm, Augustine, Calvin, Luther, John Owen, Robert Murray M‘Cheyne, and many more.
The author tells us that there is no easy way to maturity, no shortcuts. The path to maturity is: Lay aside your own ambitions. Lay aside your own wisdom. Lay aside your own self-assurance. Make the Lord your ambition. Make the Lord himself your hope and your only wisdom.
I highlighted a number of passages in this excellent book. Here are 20 of my favorite quotes:
1. Ability to focus our gaze, fill our minds, and devote our hearts to Jesus Christ is a basic element in real Christian growth. Inability to do so is a sign of immaturity.
2. Secret failure cannot remain hidden. If we do not deal with our indwelling sin, it will eventually catch up with us.
3. Grace, not man-made rules and regulations, produces spiritual maturity.
4. Growing in spiritual discernment is an essential element in spiritual maturity.
5. The Father’s pruning includes his providences and interventions in our lives, which are designed to produce in us mature and well-rounded Christian character.
6. In a sense our Lord bore more fruit through his dying than through his teaching, and through going to the cross than through his coming to the manger.
7. Abiding in Christ, living in union with him, drawing all our spiritual resources from him, involves allowing his word to ‘abide’ in us, that is to fill our minds and affections and dominate our lives.
8. Feeding our minds with the word of Christ is essential if our hearts are to be filled with the joy of Christ.
9. Applying the precepts and principles of Scripture with the Spirit’s help leads to a life of obedience and ultimately to Christlikeness.
10. God has made it possible for his children to enjoy assurance. More than that, as a loving Father he wants us to be sure of his love for us.
11. Faith alone justifies, through Christ alone. It is Christ alone who saves through faith. Assurance is our enjoyment of that justification and salvation.
12. If God has given his Son for our salvation, we can be sure he will withhold nothing from us that is for our good.
13. For rather than destroy the purposes of God, afflictions in our lives form an important part of those purposes. Ultimately, they serve to build rather than demolish the believer’s assurance of salvation.
14. Assurance of salvation is assurance of Jesus. He becomes everything to us.
15. Knowing that the Lord will lead and guide us is one of the great stabilizing blessings of the Christian life.
16. Wanting God’s guidance means seeking his will and not my own.
17. God’s guidance in our lives today is related to his long-term ongoing work of transforming us. It is shaped to our growth in grace. His goal in the specific guidance we seek is secondary to the life-transformation he is determined to pursue.
18. The way God’s sovereign will unfolds for us is through our knowledge of, and submission to, his revealed will.
19. Sin is the internal enemy of spiritual growth.
20. For the more we see our sin the more wonderful the grace of Christ will seem to be.
The author tells us that the writers of the New Testament had a deep concern to see Christians grow to spiritual maturity. Mature Christians possess the qualities which only Jesus Christ can produce, because he alone has exhibited them perfectly. We must go on to maturity, because Jesus went on to maturity.
The author spends a lot of time in Hebrews, which he calls “the letter about maturity”. In that book, Jesus’ experience is seen as the foundation for our going on to maturity. In addition to the teaching of Hebrews, the author tells us that we should not be surprised that there are frequent references to the importance of spiritual maturity in Paul’s letters. The author tells us that If maturity was the great goal of the apostles’ ministry, then it ought to be a goal in our own lives too, and the deep desire of our hearts. He also looks at Psalm 119, which he refers to as “the psalm of maturity”, Psalm 131 and also Ephesians 6.
Subjects that the author touches on are hindrances to maturity, indwelling sin, spiritual discernment, the Father’s pruning, abiding in Christ and living in union with Him, God’s guidance, assurance of salvation, suffering, tests, trials and temptations, opposition and perseverance.
Throughout the book the author refers to many heroes of the faith such as John Bunyan, J.C. Ryle, Anselm, Augustine, Calvin, Luther, John Owen, Robert Murray M‘Cheyne, and many more.
The author tells us that there is no easy way to maturity, no shortcuts. The path to maturity is: Lay aside your own ambitions. Lay aside your own wisdom. Lay aside your own self-assurance. Make the Lord your ambition. Make the Lord himself your hope and your only wisdom.
I highlighted a number of passages in this excellent book. Here are 20 of my favorite quotes:
1. Ability to focus our gaze, fill our minds, and devote our hearts to Jesus Christ is a basic element in real Christian growth. Inability to do so is a sign of immaturity.
2. Secret failure cannot remain hidden. If we do not deal with our indwelling sin, it will eventually catch up with us.
3. Grace, not man-made rules and regulations, produces spiritual maturity.
4. Growing in spiritual discernment is an essential element in spiritual maturity.
5. The Father’s pruning includes his providences and interventions in our lives, which are designed to produce in us mature and well-rounded Christian character.
6. In a sense our Lord bore more fruit through his dying than through his teaching, and through going to the cross than through his coming to the manger.
7. Abiding in Christ, living in union with him, drawing all our spiritual resources from him, involves allowing his word to ‘abide’ in us, that is to fill our minds and affections and dominate our lives.
8. Feeding our minds with the word of Christ is essential if our hearts are to be filled with the joy of Christ.
9. Applying the precepts and principles of Scripture with the Spirit’s help leads to a life of obedience and ultimately to Christlikeness.
10. God has made it possible for his children to enjoy assurance. More than that, as a loving Father he wants us to be sure of his love for us.
11. Faith alone justifies, through Christ alone. It is Christ alone who saves through faith. Assurance is our enjoyment of that justification and salvation.
12. If God has given his Son for our salvation, we can be sure he will withhold nothing from us that is for our good.
13. For rather than destroy the purposes of God, afflictions in our lives form an important part of those purposes. Ultimately, they serve to build rather than demolish the believer’s assurance of salvation.
14. Assurance of salvation is assurance of Jesus. He becomes everything to us.
15. Knowing that the Lord will lead and guide us is one of the great stabilizing blessings of the Christian life.
16. Wanting God’s guidance means seeking his will and not my own.
17. God’s guidance in our lives today is related to his long-term ongoing work of transforming us. It is shaped to our growth in grace. His goal in the specific guidance we seek is secondary to the life-transformation he is determined to pursue.
18. The way God’s sovereign will unfolds for us is through our knowledge of, and submission to, his revealed will.
19. Sin is the internal enemy of spiritual growth.
20. For the more we see our sin the more wonderful the grace of Christ will seem to be.
November 14, 2019
Well thought-out and presented treatise on growing in maturity in the Christian walk.
March 22, 2019
Another gift to the church from Sinclair.
March 18, 2020
My first reading of anything from Sinclair Ferguson. We read this for our church men's group over a period of many months. While I liked it, my hopes may have been set too high from how others I respect have spoken glowingly of Ferguson's teaching.
I recognize my own immaturity as a Christian, so I hoped this book would help spur me on toward growing maturity. Time will tell how much of this book will seep into my spiritual life, but I never really found myself galvanized in my Christian life through the influence of this book. I readily acknowledge this could easily tie back into my own sin and weaknesses -- especially as I note the overwhelmingly positive reviews of this book here on Goodreads.
I recognize my own immaturity as a Christian, so I hoped this book would help spur me on toward growing maturity. Time will tell how much of this book will seep into my spiritual life, but I never really found myself galvanized in my Christian life through the influence of this book. I readily acknowledge this could easily tie back into my own sin and weaknesses -- especially as I note the overwhelmingly positive reviews of this book here on Goodreads.
August 18, 2020
A pastoral book that aims to encourage the new Christian to pursue spiritual growth, presenting this teaching in the bible, and applying this theme to practical aspects of the Christian life (such as suffering, temptation, service).
The genuine concern for the reader is clear from the tone of the writing but also the urgency of the message: a Christian must grow to maturity. I give this 4 rather than 5 stars because I felt the wording and arguments being made were sometimes difficult to follow (some chapters are easier to read than others, but the book is generally not an "easy read"), and there were a handful of typos.
But this is overall a high quality book that offers meaty, lasting and realistic guidance for the Christian journey ahead.
The genuine concern for the reader is clear from the tone of the writing but also the urgency of the message: a Christian must grow to maturity. I give this 4 rather than 5 stars because I felt the wording and arguments being made were sometimes difficult to follow (some chapters are easier to read than others, but the book is generally not an "easy read"), and there were a handful of typos.
But this is overall a high quality book that offers meaty, lasting and realistic guidance for the Christian journey ahead.
April 23, 2024
Sinclair Ferguson has this gift to exhort and cut you deeply in the most gentle, fatherly way. This book is saturated in scripture and wisdom and practical application. I love his use of Psalms, hymns, and poetry throughout. I will return to this book again. What a treasure.
May 1, 2025
Using Hebrews as a Biblical guide, Maturity offers a clear, understandable call to pursue growth in the ups and downs of life. I would strongly recommend this for any believer.
"This then is maturity in action: to know, whatever ambitions we have, that we can only look at them if we can look at Christ simultaneously." pg. 222
"This then is maturity in action: to know, whatever ambitions we have, that we can only look at them if we can look at Christ simultaneously." pg. 222
August 8, 2024
Excellent. Very much worth the read (and lifetime rereads).
March 4, 2025
A solid biblical treatment of what growing as a Christian entails.
September 2, 2025
Solid gospel application applied to Christian maturity. Really enjoyed this book.
March 21, 2025
The Apostle Paul had a desire "to present every man mature in Christ." In this book, Sinclair Ferguson discusses what Christian maturity is and gives instructions on how believers can strive for it.
This is an excellent book, but avoid rushing through it! There is so much to meditate on.
This is an excellent book, but avoid rushing through it! There is so much to meditate on.
July 3, 2022
Excellent treatise on sanctification in the life of the believer. In each chapter, Ferguson walks through passages of scripture and expounds them in a clear and helpful way as they relate to growth in the Christian life.
November 13, 2024
Read this with my discipling group and it’s just a very, very good book. It is both challenging and encouraging - a hard balance to strike.
May 29, 2019
This book is sensible and substantial. There are a lot of trivial and erroneous views and approaches to the Christian life. This is not one of them. It is a positive statement of what maturity ought to look like.
Sensible - in that it is plainly written, its arguments are well made and not too intricate, and the difference between good interpretation of common passages as opposed to what characterizes many prevailing errors is made clearly, firmly, and without turning the book into a polemical work. It sensibly affirms what Scripture teaches about Christian living.
Substantial - in that it draws deeply on Scripture and widely from Christian history and literature, it penetrates far enough into the matter without being exhaustive (which is also sensible), and it demands what it ought from the reader--enough without being too much. It will hold the attention of serious readers for a good while.
It seems to me that the quality of the Christianity you practice is determined by your view of the Christian life. To the degree that your view is inadequate, the quality of the Christianity you practice will be also. This book is a reliable guide to thinking clearly and correctly about the Christian life.
As such, it is also a reliable guide toward a better quality of Christianity. It is useful, therefore, (1) for helping Christians to determine the quality of the church in which they find themselves, (2) evaluating the notions they use to guide their Christian lives, and (3) for helping them to identify and locate the kinds of churches that align with what Scripture teaches.
Sensible - in that it is plainly written, its arguments are well made and not too intricate, and the difference between good interpretation of common passages as opposed to what characterizes many prevailing errors is made clearly, firmly, and without turning the book into a polemical work. It sensibly affirms what Scripture teaches about Christian living.
Substantial - in that it draws deeply on Scripture and widely from Christian history and literature, it penetrates far enough into the matter without being exhaustive (which is also sensible), and it demands what it ought from the reader--enough without being too much. It will hold the attention of serious readers for a good while.
It seems to me that the quality of the Christianity you practice is determined by your view of the Christian life. To the degree that your view is inadequate, the quality of the Christianity you practice will be also. This book is a reliable guide to thinking clearly and correctly about the Christian life.
As such, it is also a reliable guide toward a better quality of Christianity. It is useful, therefore, (1) for helping Christians to determine the quality of the church in which they find themselves, (2) evaluating the notions they use to guide their Christian lives, and (3) for helping them to identify and locate the kinds of churches that align with what Scripture teaches.
March 24, 2025
Excellent book!
June 5, 2019
Concise, meaty, worthwhile... On my shortlist if go-to books for one-on-one discipleship or class curriculum.
August 5, 2019
While this is not Ferguson’s best book, it is good, and in places, even great. There are some amazing insights into scripture, spiritual growth, and the nature of the Christian life.
July 17, 2019
This is a fantastic book covering helpful topics like abiding in Christ, salvation assurance, discernment, overcoming temptation, coping with suffering and many more! Built upon Ephesians 4:13, “Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,” Ferguson thoroughly explains how maturity depends on making progress.
One of my favorite sections was chapter 6, The Problem of Sin. Ferguson unpacks Psalm 119 as a powerful testimony of someone whose chief treasure and influence is God’s word allowing him to be kept from sin and enabled to discover the joy of the power of God changing him from the inside out.
Something that stood out to me throughout the book is Ferguson’s explanation that maturity is not attained easily by a few how-to steps being observed. He continually contrasts the endurance of faithful obedience in the Christian life with our worlds quick-fix instant-gratification mindset.
He writes: “Our lives are shaped in part by our ability to persevere in the important but unspectacular exercises that build Christian character—the ministry and study of the word, worship and fellowship, prayer and serving the Lord day by day in all the ordinariness of life. This is what forms Christian character. So if we want to become mature Christians we must set our hearts on long term goals and devote ourselves privately and steadfastly to their accomplishment.” (p. 27) Each chapter helps the reader see the need for this and offers many practical steps but, what I appreciated most, is rather than being from the author’s own manufacturing, each is derived and proven well from Scripture! I highly recommend this book for any Christian, especially for one-on-one discipleship, but also a small group would benefit from reading together. At my church we have a 10-chapter discipleship program, this book Maturity would be a great follow up to go through afterwards.
One of my favorite sections was chapter 6, The Problem of Sin. Ferguson unpacks Psalm 119 as a powerful testimony of someone whose chief treasure and influence is God’s word allowing him to be kept from sin and enabled to discover the joy of the power of God changing him from the inside out.
Something that stood out to me throughout the book is Ferguson’s explanation that maturity is not attained easily by a few how-to steps being observed. He continually contrasts the endurance of faithful obedience in the Christian life with our worlds quick-fix instant-gratification mindset.
He writes: “Our lives are shaped in part by our ability to persevere in the important but unspectacular exercises that build Christian character—the ministry and study of the word, worship and fellowship, prayer and serving the Lord day by day in all the ordinariness of life. This is what forms Christian character. So if we want to become mature Christians we must set our hearts on long term goals and devote ourselves privately and steadfastly to their accomplishment.” (p. 27) Each chapter helps the reader see the need for this and offers many practical steps but, what I appreciated most, is rather than being from the author’s own manufacturing, each is derived and proven well from Scripture! I highly recommend this book for any Christian, especially for one-on-one discipleship, but also a small group would benefit from reading together. At my church we have a 10-chapter discipleship program, this book Maturity would be a great follow up to go through afterwards.
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