{"id":176,"date":"2018-11-07T11:04:17","date_gmt":"2018-11-07T19:04:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/migrate.bettersermons.org\/?p=176"},"modified":"2020-06-01T11:40:42","modified_gmt":"2020-06-01T18:40:42","slug":"youve-got-to-grow-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/youve-got-to-grow-up\/","title":{"rendered":"You’ve Got to Grow Up"},"content":{"rendered":"
You’ve Got to Grow Up<\/span><\/div>\n

\".\"
\nJust as we want our children to grow and mature into adulthood, so our heavenly Father wants us to move beyond childish things and mature spiritually into adult disciples.<\/p>\n

Text:<\/strong>\u00a0Ephesians 4:1-16<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Introduction<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nThe birth of our children.\u00a0Our babies were special, but we wanted them to grow up.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n2.<\/td>\nEvery spiritual babe is special to the heavenly Father, but He wants them to grow up.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n3.<\/td>\nMessage of Ephesians 4:1-16 \u2013 You gotta grow up on three levels.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Growing in our Attitudes (2-6)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nDr. Victor Frankl \u2013 the only thing the Nazis could not take away from him was the power to choose his attitude.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n2.<\/td>\nFour attitudes particularly essential for spiritual growth:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nHumility<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1)<\/td>\nFiddler on the Roof\u2019s Tevye introduces us to the folks in town and the traditions that hold them together.\u00a0When he asks why they have these traditions, he answers, \u201cBecause they help us to know who we are and what God expects of us.\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n2)<\/td>\nA spirit of humility enables us to know who we are and what God expects of us.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n3)<\/td>\nWe are sinners in the process of growing up in Christ<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nb.<\/td>\nGentleness<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1)<\/td>\nGentle people are more than mere door mats.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n2)<\/td>\nThey are strong, well-balanced people.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nc.<\/td>\nPatience<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1)<\/td>\nPatience involves faithful endurance.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n2)<\/td>\nChristian growth takes time.\u00a0AA 560, 561<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n3)<\/td>\nChurchill speech: Never give up.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nd.<\/td>\nUnity<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n1)<\/td>\nWhen we accept Jesus, He puts us in a church.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n2)<\/td>\nThere is to be a unity in our diversity.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n3)<\/td>\nMelancthon:\u00a0In the essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty.\u00a0In all things, charity.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Growing in Our Service for Christ (9-13)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nWhen you think of all Jesus has done for you, sheer gratitude moves you to serve Him.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n2.<\/td>\nMilitary victories in Bible times where celebrated with a parade in which the conquering general threw the prizes of battle to the spectators.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n3.<\/td>\nThe ascension\/victory parade of Jesus and the spiritual gifts He gives us.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nEvery believer has at least one spiritual gift.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nb.<\/td>\nThe Holy Spirit is the source of spiritual gifts.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nc.<\/td>\nThere are many different spiritual gifts.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nd.<\/td>\nSpiritual gifts are exercised in the context of the church.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n4.<\/td>\nStory of two stroke victims in the nursing home. One had lost the use of her left hand and the other had lost the use of her right hand.\u00a0Together they made beautiful music on the piano.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n5.<\/td>\nFour spiritual gifts Paul mentions in this passage:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nThe gift of apostleship.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nb.<\/td>\nThe gift of\u00a0 prophecy.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nc.<\/td>\nThe gift of evangelist.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nd.<\/td>\nThe gift of pastor-teacher.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n6.<\/td>\nThe purpose of spiritual gifts:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nTo move us out of isolation into the full fellowship and ministry of the church.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nb.<\/td>\nTo help us grow in spiritual maturity in thriving congregations.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Growing in Spiritual Maturity (14-17)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nStory of man who looked forward to attending his 40th high school reunion, only to discover his friends had never changed. They had never grown up. So he asked a friend back home to give him a good swift kick in the seat of the pants if he ever became stagnant in his life.\u00a0Verses 14-16 give us such a kick.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n2.<\/td>\nTwo childish characteristics we need to outgrow:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nNaivet\u00e9 \u2013 being tossed back and forth by doctrinal waves that appear to be the teaching of Christ, but are nothing more than masterful deceptions. (See 1T 417, 418 for a list of characteristics that identify such movements)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nb.<\/td>\nFickleness \u2013 Always chasing after religious fads.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n3.<\/td>\nWe need to grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
\nThe nature of that growth is:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\na.<\/td>\nProgressive.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nb.<\/td>\nSubstantive.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nc.<\/td>\nRelational.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Appeal<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n1.<\/td>\nStory of boy who fell out of bed and told his mother that he had stayed too close to where he got in.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n2.<\/td>\nGod doesn\u2019t want us to stay too close to where we got in.\u00a0 He wants us to grow up.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n3.<\/td>\nAsk yourself, \u201cWhere am I in the journey?\u00a0 What is the next step I need to take?\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Submitted by Dan Martella. Better Sermons \u00a9 2005-2007. Click here for\u00a0usage guidelines<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

You’ve Got to Grow Up Just as we want our children to grow and mature into adulthood, so our heavenly Father wants us to move beyond childish things and mature …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=176"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":177,"href":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176\/revisions\/177"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=176"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=176"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bettersermons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=176"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}