Post by _Tope_24 on Jun 24, 2007 9:31:30 GMT -5
Key Passage: Hebrews 5:11-14
Topic: Christian Living
"But solid food is for the mature, for
those who have their powers of
discernment trained by constant
practice to distinguish good from
evil." (Hebrews 5:14, ESV)
I remember my last days of high school,
as we all eagerly exchanged our
yearbooks. When I got mine back, many
familiar slogans were written on the
inside covers: "Don't ever
change!" "Party on!" "Don't let the
world change you!"
I also remember going to my 10-year
high school reunion. And there was one
guy who evidently took that advice
literally. Honestly, it was kind of
sad. To be in your late 20's, still
partying on the weekends, no family, no
real job...no future.
We all need to change. We all need to
grow up. We all need to mature. And if
it's sad to see an immature adult, it's
just as sad to see someone spiritually
immature. He or she has been a
Christian a long time but has never
really grown or changed.
The author of Hebrews writes with some
frustration about these people. "For
though by this time you ought to be
teachers, you need someone to teach you
again the basic principles of the
oracles [words] of God. You need milk,
not solid food, for everyone who lives
on milk is unskilled in the word of
righteousness, since he is a child"
(Hebrews 5:12-13, ESV).
These people were like adults in
diapers. If you asked them a question
about right and wrong, they'd only
shrug their shoulders. If you looked at
their lives hoping to see how a
Christian should live, you'd be
disappointed. They'd been Christians
for years but they looked and acted
like spiritual newborns.
The Book of Hebrews goes on to describe
what a spiritually mature person looks
like. "But solid food is for the
mature, for those who have their powers
of discernment trained by constant
practice to distinguish good from evil"
(Hebrews 5:14, ESV).
Have you ever wondered if it's possible
to know the difference between good and
evil? Have you ever thought it
impossible to live a godly life in a
sinful world?
Hebrews tells us it's possible, but it
takes some work. It takes time in the
Bible, reading what God has in His Word
for us. It takes practice. And it takes
a desire to become more than just a
spiritual infant. In the next section
we'll look a little more into what it
takes to grow up spiritually.
Consider It
As you read through Hebrews 5:12-14,
think about the following questions.
What are some ways a person can "teach"
about God other than actually teaching
a class?
Do you know anyone who, spiritually,
hasn't matured in spite of being a
believer for years? How could you
encourage them?
In what ways is the Bible important to
this process?
What would you tell someone who
says, "I can be spiritually mature
without the Bible"?
Apply It
How familiar are you with the Bible? If
someone asked you what the Bible says
about something like premarital sex or
honesty or salvation, would you know
where to look?
Write down a list of questions you'd
like to ask God. If you haven't
already, begin a schedule of reading
the Bible, and as you read, look for
answer's to the questions you wrote
down.
Express It
Sometimes becoming spiritually mature
doesn't feel like it's worth the
effort. When you pray, ask God to help
you remain disciplined. Pray that He
would show you more and more of Himself
whenever you spend time with Him. Ask
God for wisdom in approaching friends
who may need to spiritually "grow up."
from www.notreligion.com
Topic: Christian Living
"But solid food is for the mature, for
those who have their powers of
discernment trained by constant
practice to distinguish good from
evil." (Hebrews 5:14, ESV)
I remember my last days of high school,
as we all eagerly exchanged our
yearbooks. When I got mine back, many
familiar slogans were written on the
inside covers: "Don't ever
change!" "Party on!" "Don't let the
world change you!"
I also remember going to my 10-year
high school reunion. And there was one
guy who evidently took that advice
literally. Honestly, it was kind of
sad. To be in your late 20's, still
partying on the weekends, no family, no
real job...no future.
We all need to change. We all need to
grow up. We all need to mature. And if
it's sad to see an immature adult, it's
just as sad to see someone spiritually
immature. He or she has been a
Christian a long time but has never
really grown or changed.
The author of Hebrews writes with some
frustration about these people. "For
though by this time you ought to be
teachers, you need someone to teach you
again the basic principles of the
oracles [words] of God. You need milk,
not solid food, for everyone who lives
on milk is unskilled in the word of
righteousness, since he is a child"
(Hebrews 5:12-13, ESV).
These people were like adults in
diapers. If you asked them a question
about right and wrong, they'd only
shrug their shoulders. If you looked at
their lives hoping to see how a
Christian should live, you'd be
disappointed. They'd been Christians
for years but they looked and acted
like spiritual newborns.
The Book of Hebrews goes on to describe
what a spiritually mature person looks
like. "But solid food is for the
mature, for those who have their powers
of discernment trained by constant
practice to distinguish good from evil"
(Hebrews 5:14, ESV).
Have you ever wondered if it's possible
to know the difference between good and
evil? Have you ever thought it
impossible to live a godly life in a
sinful world?
Hebrews tells us it's possible, but it
takes some work. It takes time in the
Bible, reading what God has in His Word
for us. It takes practice. And it takes
a desire to become more than just a
spiritual infant. In the next section
we'll look a little more into what it
takes to grow up spiritually.
Consider It
As you read through Hebrews 5:12-14,
think about the following questions.
What are some ways a person can "teach"
about God other than actually teaching
a class?
Do you know anyone who, spiritually,
hasn't matured in spite of being a
believer for years? How could you
encourage them?
In what ways is the Bible important to
this process?
What would you tell someone who
says, "I can be spiritually mature
without the Bible"?
Apply It
How familiar are you with the Bible? If
someone asked you what the Bible says
about something like premarital sex or
honesty or salvation, would you know
where to look?
Write down a list of questions you'd
like to ask God. If you haven't
already, begin a schedule of reading
the Bible, and as you read, look for
answer's to the questions you wrote
down.
Express It
Sometimes becoming spiritually mature
doesn't feel like it's worth the
effort. When you pray, ask God to help
you remain disciplined. Pray that He
would show you more and more of Himself
whenever you spend time with Him. Ask
God for wisdom in approaching friends
who may need to spiritually "grow up."
from www.notreligion.com