the beauty of infancy. infancy in christ is beautiful! “i assure you,” he said, “unless you...
TRANSCRIPT
The Beauty of Infancy
Infancy in Christ is Beautiful!
“I assure you,” He said,“unless you are converted and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18:3
1 Peter 2:2
“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation . . .”
The Danger of Perpetual Infancy
13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.
14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
Hebrews 5:13-14
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.
The Dangers of Infancy
James 1:6-8
6 But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind.
7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
James 1:6-8
6 But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind.
7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
8 An indecisive man is unstable in all his ways.
14 . . . We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. - New Living Translation
Real enemies of Christ exist who desire to kill and destroy us.
Often by saying untruths that we desire to hear presented as truth
The Danger of Infancy
Hebrews 13:7-9
1 Corinthians 13:11
Maturing in Christ
Christ Christ-likenessFrom Infancy
(Practices & Experiences)Towards Maturity
(Lifestyle)
What Maturity Looks Like
Christ Christ-likenessFrom Infancy
(Practices & Experiences)Towards Maturity
(Lifestyle)
Character Integrity
What Maturity Looks Like
Christ Christ-likenessFrom Infancy
(Practices & Experiences)Towards Maturity
(Lifestyle)
Character Integrity
Community
*Intimate participation in Christ-honoring fellowship
Koinonia*
What Maturity Looks Like
Christ Christ-likenessFrom Infancy
(Practices & Experiences)Towards Maturity
(Lifestyle)
Character Integrity
Community Koinonia*
Service Servanthood
*Koinonia – Intimate participation in Christ-honoring fellowship
What Maturity Looks Like
Christ Christ-likenessFrom Infancy
(Practices & Experiences)Towards Maturity
(Lifestyle)
Character Integrity
Community
Service Servanthood
Gratitude
*Koinonia – Intimate participation in Christ-honoring fellowship
Koinonia*
What Maturity Looks Like
Praise
Christ Christ-likenessFrom Infancy
(Practices & Experiences)Towards Maturity
(Lifestyle)
Character Integrity
Community
Service Servanthood
Gratitude Praise
Witness Fruitfulness
*Koinonia – Intimate participation in Christ-honoring fellowship
Koinonia*
What Maturity Looks Like
The Means of Moving Towards Maturity
Ephesians 4:15
In Ephesians 4:15, Paul points out the important role that truth and love play together in order for healthy growth in Christ to occur.
The Means of Moving Towards Maturity
Truth is the stern hard thing, like the bare branches of winter:
Love is the softener and beautifier, like the green leaves on a summer tree.
Truth is hard if it is not softened by love;
Love is soft it is not strengthened by truth.
“Truthing” in Love
It is the Greek participle aletheuontes, which means “truthing”. This carries the idea of not only speaking the truth, but doing it.
This is the medium through whichgrowth is maximized.
We cannot grow in “truthing” in loveif we do not continually grow in our knowledge of the Source of Love.
What True Love Looks Like
Jesus
The Means of Moving Towards Maturity
The Means of Moving Towards Maturity
The Means of Moving Towards Maturity
Examples of “Truthing in Love”
Jesus & PeterMark 8:33
Jethro & Moses Exodus 18
“Truthing” in Love is a matter of Perspective
This Life
Now
PerspectiveWidest
LOVE
Eternity
Ephesians 4:16
The Importance of the Body & Each Member
The Importance of the Body & Each Member
YOUR UNIQUENESS IN CHRIST IS MADE POSSIBLE BY,
AND ENHANCED THROUGH,BEING UNIFIED WITH OTHER BELIEVERS.
Currently, at times, we as Christians may lean towards individualismand this causes stress to be experienced in the body of Christ (i.e. the church).
However, as we mature in love, our individuality ultimately serves to foster unity while celebrating uniqueness.
The Importance of the Body & Each Member
In Christ, diversity is not divisive, but rather essential to true unity.
The Importance of the Body & Each Member
The Importance of the Body & Each Member
Ephesians 4:16
The Importance of the Body & Each Member
1) How have you seen Christ mature us as a church family?
2) How willing are you to live out the truth in love for others? How willing are you to receive it?
3) What is your part in the body of Christ and how are you fostering the body’s growth?
Questions for Reflection