“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.”

— Hebrews 5:12 (NKJV)

There’s a hunger in the church today—a deep, aching hunger. But it’s not for entertainment, programs, or even community. It’s for truth. For depth. For solid spiritual food.

Hebrews 5 reminds us that spiritual maturity isn’t optional—it’s expected. Yet many churches are still serving milk when the body of Christ is crying out for meat. God wants to do so much more through His church. Let’s rise together to the task of creating mature disciples of Christ.

In times past, the church was the intellectual center of the community. Consider John Wesley, who believed the local congregation deserved the highest scholarship the church could offer. Or Thomas Aquinas, who taught farmers before dawn in Italy, preaching through the Apostles’ Creed in preparation for Easter. These weren’t ivory tower lectures—they were accessible, but rich. Scholarly, but pastoral.

We need that again.

I believe the church must lead by example and by challenge, spurring believers on to great learning. Christianity is a uniquely cerebral faith. Romans 12:2 calls us to the renewing of our minds—not just our emotions or habits. The renewed mind is one that reflects the mind of God.

But Romans 1:28 warns us of the opposite: the reprobate mind. That word means “inconvenient”—a mind that no longer functions as it was designed to. A mind that can no longer apprehend truth or experience the Lord. That’s not just tragic—it’s terrifying.

We must be stewards of our minds. The church must teach believers to think biblically, reason theologically, and live wisely. This isn’t elitism—it’s discipleship.

So pastors, teachers, leaders: preach the Word. Teach doctrine. Challenge your people to grow. Let’s raise up a generation that doesn’t just feel their faith—but understands it, defends it, and lives it out with conviction.

Because the world is starving. And the church must serve solid food.