Some people never grow up!

1. Some people never grow up! • In both the physical and spiritual realm we must grow or die.

2. Some people never grow up! • In both the physical and spiritual realm we must grow or die. • In the spiritual realm we must put off old characteristics and put on new.

3. Some people never grow up! • In both the physical and spiritual realm we must grow or die. • In the spiritual realm we must put off old characteristics and put on new. • This is why Christians must posses a great humility so that God can mold and lead us in His ways. (Eph 4:14-15).

4. Some people never grow up! • (Ephesians 4:14-15 NKJV) that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, {15} but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head; Christ;

5. Some people never grow up! • While immaturity will exist for a while in life, there must come a time when we put those things away. (1 Cor 13:11)

6. Some people never grow up! • (1 Corinthians 13:11 NKJV) When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

7. Some people never grow up! • This change does not come by accident and it does not come without effort.

8. Some people never grow up! • This change does not come by accident and it does not come without effort. • Our lack of maturity will limit what we can learn. (Heb 5:11-14; 1 Cor 2:6)

9. Some people never grow up! • (1 Corinthians 2:6 NKJV) However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.

10. Some people never grow up! • (Hebrews 5:11-14 NKJV) of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. {12} For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

11. Some people never grow up! • {13} For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. {14} But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

12. Some people never grow up! • The path to maturity however will involve time, effort and suffering. (Jas 1:2-4)

13. Some people never grow up! • (James 1:2-4 NKJV) My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, {3} knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. {4} But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

14. Some people never grow up! • The impatient quitter will never mature.

15. Childish Traits We Should Retain (Mt 18:2-5) • (Matthew 18:2-5 NKJV) Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, {3} and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. {4} “Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

16. Childish Traits We Should Retain (Mt 18:2-5) • {5} “Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.

17. Childish Traits We Should Retain (Mt 18:2-5) • Simple Faith and Trust

18. Childish Traits We Should Retain (Mt 18:2-5) • Simple Faith and Trust • Children will believe what they are told and will trust their parents to the fullest. (Ex. Hard times come, no worry: “Dad will take care of me.”)

19. Childish Traits We Should Retain (Mt 18:2-5) • Simple Faith and Trust • Children will believe what they are told and will trust their parents to the fullest. (Ex. Hard times come, no worry: “Dad will take care of me.”) • What worries will disappear when we have a mature faith in God? (Isa 12:2; Prov 3:5-6; 1 Pet 3:12-14)

20. Childish Traits We Should Retain (Mt 18:2-5) • (Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV) Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; {6} In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

21. Childish Traits We Should Retain (Mt 18:2-5) • (Isaiah 12:2 NKJV) Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’”

22. Childish Traits We Should Retain (Mt 18:2-5) • (1 Peter 3:12-14 NKJV) For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.” {13} And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? {14} But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be

23. Childish Traits We Should Retain (Mt 18:2-5) • A Tender Heart towards others

24. Childish Traits We Should Retain (Mt 18:2-5) • A Tender Heart towards others • Children are very compassionate, tenderhearted and quick to display sympathy.

25. Childish Traits We Should Retain (Mt 18:2-5) • A Tender Heart towards others • Children are very compassionate, tenderhearted and quick to display sympathy. • We must never loose this willingness to share the hurts of others. (Rom 12:15; Eph 4:32)

26. Childish Traits We Should Retain (Mt 18:2-5) • (Romans 12:15 NKJV) Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

27. Childish Traits We Should Retain (Mt 18:2-5) • (Ephesians 4:32 NKJV) And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.

28. Childish Traits We Should Retain (Mt 18:2-5) • Adults can be very cruel when the heart becomes hard.

29. Childish Traits We Should Retain (Mt 18:2-5) • Maturity is unselfishness ‑‑ responding to the needs of others, often at the expense of one's own desires or wishes.

30. Childish Traits We Should Retain (Mt 18:2-5) • A Willingness to Quickly Forgive

31. Childish Traits We Should Retain (Mt 18:2-5) • A Willingness to Quickly Forgive • Children will often fuss, fight and threat and then 30 minutes later play as if nothing happened!

32. Childish Traits We Should Retain (Mt 18:2-5) • A Willingness to Quickly Forgive • Children will often fuss, fight and threat and then 30 minutes later play as if nothing happened! • Forgiveness is basic to genuine Christianity. (Col 3:13; Matt 6:12)

33. Childish Traits We Should Retain (Mt 18:2-5) • (Matthew 6:12 NKJV) And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.

34. Childish Traits We Should Retain (Mt 18:2-5) • (Colossians 3:13 NKJV) bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

35. Childish Traits We Should Retain (Mt 18:2-5) • Some hard hearted adults play the game of the Pharisee, they say they “forgive” while harboring grudges and bitterness all the while.

36. Childish Things to Put Away • Tattling and Gossip.

37. Childish Things to Put Away • Tattling and Gossip. • Children are quick to want justice. Sometimes however stories are told to get them into “good standing” with others.

38. Childish Things to Put Away • Tattling and Gossip. • Children are quick to want justice. Sometimes however stories are told to get them into “good standing” with others. • Adults often try to hurt another in the background by whispers to selected people. (Psa 41:5-7; Prov 16:27-28; Lam 3:59-64)

39. Childish Things to Put Away • (Psalms 41:5-7 NKJV) My enemies speak evil of me: “When will he die, and his name perish?” {6} And if he comes to see me, he speaks lies; His heart gathers iniquity to itself; When he goes out, he tells it. {7} All who hate me whisper together against me; Against me they devise my hurt.

40. Childish Things to Put Away • (Proverbs 16:27-28 NKJV) An ungodly man digs up evil, And it is on his lips like a burning fire. {28} A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best of friends.

41. Childish Things to Put Away • (Lamentations 3:59-64 NKJV) O LORD, You have seen how I am wronged; Judge my case. {60} You have seen all their vengeance, All their schemes against me. {61} You have heard their reproach, O LORD, All their schemes against me, {62} The lips of my enemies And their whispering against me all the day.

42. Childish Things to Put Away • {63} Look at their sitting down and their rising up; I am their taunting song. {64} Repay them, O LORD, According to the work of their hands.

43. Childish Things to Put Away • A mature faith will teach us the harm of gossip. (1 Tim 5:13)

44. Childish Things to Put Away • (1 Timothy 5:13 NKJV) And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.

45. Childish Things to Put Away • A mature faith will teach us how to end gossip. We must have an openness to correct an problems. Rather than “roasting” our brethren around the kitchen table, we will move quickly to end any bitterness.

46. Childish Things to Put Away • A Desire to be the Center of Attention - Pride.

47. Childish Things to Put Away • A Desire to be the Center of Attention - Pride. • While children need a certain degree of attention, when they expect to be the focus of all it can create a “brat”. If attention is not achieved by bragging and cutting-up, then he may try to start a fight.

48. Childish Things to Put Away • When adults demand attention they are falling into one of the most serious sins --- pride. (Gal 6:3-4; Rom 12:3)

49. Childish Things to Put Away • (Romans 12:3 NKJV) For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

50. Childish Things to Put Away • (Galatians 6:3-4 NKJV) For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. {4} But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.