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

PerspectiveWidestLOVE

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