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The Beauty of Infancy

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

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The Beauty of Infancy

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  1. The Beauty of Infancy

  2. 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

  3. 1 Peter 2:2 “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation . . .”

  4. 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

  5. The Dangers of Infancy 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. The Danger of Infancy 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

  9. Hebrews 13:7-9

  10. Maturing in Christ 1 Corinthians 13:11

  11. What Maturity Looks Like Christ Christ-likeness From Infancy (Practices & Experiences) Towards Maturity (Lifestyle)

  12. What Maturity Looks Like Christ Christ-likeness From Infancy (Practices & Experiences) Towards Maturity (Lifestyle) Character Integrity

  13. What Maturity Looks Like Christ Christ-likeness From Infancy (Practices & Experiences) Towards Maturity (Lifestyle) Character Integrity Community Koinonia* *Intimate participation in Christ-honoring fellowship

  14. What Maturity Looks Like Christ Christ-likeness From Infancy (Practices & Experiences) Towards Maturity (Lifestyle) Character Integrity Community Koinonia* Service Servanthood *Koinonia – Intimate participation in Christ-honoring fellowship

  15. What Maturity Looks Like Christ Christ-likeness From Infancy (Practices & Experiences) Towards Maturity (Lifestyle) Character Integrity Community Koinonia* Service Servanthood Gratitude Praise *Koinonia – Intimate participation in Christ-honoring fellowship

  16. What Maturity Looks Like Christ Christ-likeness From Infancy (Practices & Experiences) Towards Maturity (Lifestyle) Character Integrity Community Koinonia* Service Servanthood Gratitude Praise Witness Fruitfulness *Koinonia – Intimate participation in Christ-honoring fellowship

  17. The Means of Moving Towards Maturity 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. Ephesians 4:15

  18. 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.

  19. “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 which growth is maximized. We cannot grow in “truthing” in love if we do not continually grow in our knowledge of the Source of Love.

  20. What True Love Looks Like Jesus

  21. The Means of Moving Towards Maturity

  22. The Means of Moving Towards Maturity

  23. The Means of Moving Towards Maturity

  24. Examples of “Truthing in Love” • Jesus & Peter • Mark 8:33 • Jethro & Moses • Exodus 18

  25. “Truthing” in Love is a matter of Perspective Perspective Widest LOVE Now This Life Eternity

  26. The Importance of the Body & Each Member Ephesians 4:16

  27. The Importance of the Body & Each Member your uniqueness in Christ is made possible by, and enhanced through, being unified with other believers.

  28. The Importance of the Body & Each Member Currently, at times, we as Christians may lean towards individualism and 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.

  29. The Importance of the Body & Each Member In Christ, diversity is not divisive, but rather essential to true unity.

  30. The Importance of the Body & Each Member Ephesians 4:16

  31. The Importance of the Body & Each Member

  32. Questions for Reflection How have you seen Christ mature us as a church family? How willing are you to live out the truth in love for others? How willing are you to receive it? What is your part in the body of Christ and how are you fostering the body’s growth?

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