Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday evening, November 30, 2003, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia. For more outlines, including zipped files of my sermon outlines of recent years, click on the link at the bottom of this note, and go to our website:
CHILD, GROW UP! or LET’S PUT AWAY CHILDISH THINGS
by Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany. Georgia
Scripture Reading: 1 Cor. 13:8-13
Text: 1 Cor. 13:11
1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
Introduction: When a sinner trusts Christ as his Savior, he is BORN supernaturally into the family of God and is a child, or a son of God:
John 3:5-7 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Galatians 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
As a child, the believer should GROW in spiritual truths, understanding, strength, and holiness:
1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Sadly, many Christians are retarded. That is, they are not making the spiritual progress they should be making for the length of time they have known the Lord. There are certain things that are characteristic of BABY Christians that should not be expected in the lives of MATURE Christians. Let’s put away childish things! Child, GROW UP!
I. LET’S PUT AWAY THE TALK OF A CHILD
1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
Matthew 11:16-17 But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, 17 And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.
Child talk is based around:
A. Food – a child’s first cries are for food
B. Fun – games (sports, vacations … listen to the conversation of Christians before and after church; this is usually what they talk about)
C. Friends
D. Family
E. Flesh – “look at me!”
F. Falsehoods
II. LET’S PUT AWAY THE TEACHING OF A CHILD
1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
“I understood as a child …”
Hebrews 5:11-14 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
1 Corinthians 14:20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
A. There should be a good foundation – Heb. 6:1-2
B. There should be a going forward – Heb. 6:1, from milk to meat
C. There should be a grown child eventually – Heb. 5:14
III. LET’S PUT AWAY THE THOUGHTS OF A CHILD
1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
“… I thought as a child …”
The thoughts of a child:
A. Are dreams – dreaming without DOING, like a sluggard
B. Are desires – coveting
C. Are drifting – back and forth, short attention span, Christians who can’t last at a church or a church job for more than a couple of years at a time …
IV. LET’S PUT AWAY THE TOYS OF A CHILD
Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Children have
A. An attraction for toys
1. Sights – looking at them in the crib … later houses, cars, clothes, televisions, tools, jewelry, etc.
2. Sounds – music, loud stereos
B. An affection for toys – very possessive
C. Arguments over toys – possession, sharing, breaking, etc.
V. LET’S PUT AWAY THE TASTES OF A CHILD
1 Corinthians 3:1-2 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
A child’s foods are usually
A. Sweet – God’s word is sweet, but can also cause bitterness (Ezekiel)
B. Soft – can’t stand hard preaching
C. Served – baby Christians won’t dig into the word on their own
VI. LET’S PUT AWAY THE TANTRUMS OF A CHILD
1 Corinthians 1:11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
A. About rules (standards, preaching against sin)
B. About rights (what is FAIR, instead of what is SCRIPTURAL)
C. About roles (kids – you’re ALWAYS Batman! Christians resenting those in authority in church, home, work, or government)
VII. LET’S PUT AWAY THE TASKS OF A CHILD
2 Timothy 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
You can’t give MAN tasks to a CHILD. Likewise, Christians should grow in their ability to handle responsibility in God’s work.
A child’s tasks are
A. Simple
B. Short-term
C. Slight – not heavy