To continue yesterday’s theme that growth and maturity are expected, look at what Jesus said just before the parable of the growing seed:

Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. (Mark 4.23 – 25, ESV)

Pay attention to what you hear. It’s not enough for us to go to church and listen to sermons. We actually have to pay attention and put what we hear into practice.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. (James 1.22 – 25, NIV)

“Blessed in what they do,” not “Blessed in what they hear.”