““Putting away Putting away childish things” childish things”

By MiXueBy MiXue

1 Cor. 13:111 Cor. 13:11

““When I was a child, When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, I used to speak like a child,

think like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; reason like a child;

when I became a man, when I became a man, I put away childish things.I put away childish things.””

What are childish ways?What are childish ways?

1. Defying 1. Defying authorityauthority

2. Unhealthy 2. Unhealthy eatingeating habits habits

3. Insisting on 3. Insisting on present desirespresent desires

4. Seeking own 4. Seeking own aspirations aspirations

1. Defying authority1. Defying authority

Childish Defiance of AuthorityChildish Defiance of Authority

““It’s all about me.”It’s all about me.”

““No one tells me what to do.”No one tells me what to do.”

““I am the boss of me.”I am the boss of me.”

WhoWho is in charge? is in charge?

LORDSHIP:LORDSHIP:

Who is the Who is the MasterMaster??

Who is the Who is the slaveslave??

1 Cor. 6:19-201 Cor. 6:19-20

““Or do you not know that your Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have who is in you, whom you have from God, from God, and that you are not and that you are not your own? For you have been your own? For you have been bought with a pricebought with a price: therefore : therefore glorify God in your body.”glorify God in your body.”

I am the I am the servantservant He is the He is the MasterMaster

““Do you not know that when you present yourselves Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone to someone asas slaves for obedienceslaves for obedience, , you are you are slaves of the one whom you obeyslaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin , either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?righteousness?

But thanks be to God that though you were But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of slaves of sinsin, you became obedient from the heart to that , you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been having been freed from sinfreed from sin, you became , you became slaves of slaves of righteousnessrighteousness.” .”

Rom 6:16-18Rom 6:16-18

What does God’s servant do?What does God’s servant do?

"If anyone serves Me, "If anyone serves Me, he must he must followfollow Me; Me; and and where I amwhere I am, , there My servant will be also; there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.” the Father will honor him.”

John 12:26John 12:26

How do I become God’s servant?How do I become God’s servant?

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and diesfalls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; , it remains alone;

but if it dies, it but if it dies, it bears much fruitbears much fruit..

He who He who lovesloves his life his life loses itloses it, and he who , and he who hates hates his life in this worldhis life in this world will will keep it to life eternalkeep it to life eternal.” .”

John 12:24-25John 12:24-25

NEED:NEED: Die to my agenda, sin & will Die to my agenda, sin & will to live for Him & His will to live for Him & His will

The Role of a Servant:The Role of a Servant:

““To You I lift up my eyes, O You who are To You I lift up my eyes, O You who are enthroned in the heavens!enthroned in the heavens!

Behold, Behold, as the eyes of servants as the eyes of servants looklook to the to the hand of their master, As the eyes of a hand of their master, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistressmaid to the hand of her mistress, So our , So our eyes eyes looklook to the LORD our God, to the LORD our God,

until He is gracious to us.” until He is gracious to us.” Ps 123:1-2Ps 123:1-2

The Lordship The Lordship

of Christof Christ

OPENS OPENS

the doorthe door

to growthto growth

Put away childish defiancePut away childish defiance

God does God does not existnot exist forfor me. me.

I I exist forexist for God. God.

2. Unhealthy Eating Habits2. Unhealthy Eating Habits

Childish Eating Habits:Childish Eating Habits:

““Don’t tell me what I can or cannot eat!”Don’t tell me what I can or cannot eat!”

““I will eat whatever I please.”I will eat whatever I please.”

““I will eat whenever I please.”I will eat whenever I please.”

What is good food?What is good food?

But Jesus answered and said, But Jesus answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on on breadbread alone, but on every alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the word that proceeds out of the mouth of Godmouth of God.’”.’”

Matt 4:4Matt 4:4

How does it benefit me?How does it benefit me?

““All Scripture is inspired by God and All Scripture is inspired by God and

profitableprofitable for teaching, for reproof, for for teaching, for reproof, for

correction, for training in righteousness;correction, for training in righteousness;

so that the man of God may be so that the man of God may be

adequate, equipped for every good workadequate, equipped for every good work..””

2 Tim 3:16-172 Tim 3:16-17

1 Pt 2:21 Pt 2:2

““like newborn babies, like newborn babies,

longlong for the pure milk of the word, for the pure milk of the word,

so that by it you may so that by it you may

growgrow in respect to salvation” in respect to salvation”

““Long for the pure milk of the Long for the pure milk of the WordWord””

Nourished by WordNourished by Word

Intake:Intake:Quiet TimeQuiet Time

Bible StudyBible Study

Meditation Meditation

MemorizationMemorization

In-depth StudyIn-depth Study

TeachTeach

But don’t stay on an infant’s dietBut don’t stay on an infant’s diet

RX for healthy diet:RX for healthy diet:

For though by this time you ought to be For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the to teach you the elementary principleselementary principles of the of the oracles of God, and you have come to oracles of God, and you have come to need need milk and not solid foodmilk and not solid food..

For everyone who partakes For everyone who partakes onlyonly of milk is of milk is not not accustomed to the word of righteousnessaccustomed to the word of righteousness, ,

for he is for he is an infantan infant.. Heb 5:12-13Heb 5:12-13

NEED:NEED: Eat solid food Eat solid food

What is Solid Food?What is Solid Food?

““But But solid foodsolid food is for the is for the maturemature, who , who because of because of practice practice have their senseshave their senses trained to discern good and eviltrained to discern good and evil.. “ “

Heb 5:14Heb 5:14

““Practice” = Practice” = ObedienceObedience

ObedienceObedience ≠ Agreement ≠ Agreement

Practice: Practice: HearHear & & ActAct"Therefore everyone who "Therefore everyone who hearshears these words of Mine and these words of Mine and actsacts

on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.house on the rock.

"And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and "And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and slammed against that house; and yetyet it did not fall, for it had it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.been founded on the rock.

"Everyone who "Everyone who hearshears these words of Mine and these words of Mine and does not actdoes not act on on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.sand.

"The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and "The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell--and great was its slammed against that house; and it fell--and great was its fall.“ Matt 7:24-27fall.“ Matt 7:24-27

The Law of IncreaseThe Law of Increase

"So take care "So take care how you listenhow you listen; ; for whoever for whoever hashas, ,

to him to him moremore shall be given; shall be given; and whoever and whoever does not havedoes not have, , even what he thinks he has even what he thinks he has

shall be shall be taken awaytaken away from him." from him." Luke 8:18Luke 8:18

It takes It takes FAITHFAITH to eat. to eat.

"If anyone is willing to "If anyone is willing to do His willdo His will, ,

he will he will knowknow of the teaching, of the teaching,

whether it is of God whether it is of God

or or whetherwhether I speak from Myself.” I speak from Myself.” John 7:17John 7:17

Fleshing out Faith Fleshing out Faith

““for for it isit is not the not the

hearershearers of the of the

Law Law whowho are are

just just

before God,before God,

but the but the doers doers

of the Law of the Law

will be will be

justified.”justified.”

Rom 3:13Rom 3:13

Obedience makes yourObedience makes your

FAITHFAITHRobustRobust

Put away childish dietPut away childish diet

Eat nutritious food: Eat nutritious food: WordWord

Exercise: Exercise: Obey WordObey Word

3. Insisting on present desires 3. Insisting on present desires

““I won’t take I won’t take

‘‘No’No’

for an answer!”for an answer!”

““I want it I want it

or or

else!”else!”

Childish inability to delay Childish inability to delay gratification:gratification:

Self-centered focus:Self-centered focus: Focused on Focused on immediate temporal desiresimmediate temporal desires Trust in own Trust in own self to know bestself to know best

No future perspectiveNo future perspective:: No No future goals or visionfuture goals or vision (eternal) (eternal) No trust in other No trust in other greater than selfgreater than self (God) (God)

Need for Greater PerspectiveNeed for Greater Perspective

Eternal PerspectiveEternal Perspective

““Therefore, since we have so Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of great a cloud of witnesses surrounding uswitnesses surrounding us, let us also , let us also lay asidelay aside every encumbranceevery encumbrance and the sin which so easily and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us entangles us, and let us runrun with endurance with endurance the the race that is set before us,race that is set before us,

fixing our eyes on Jesusfixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of , the author and perfecter of faith, who faith, who for the joy set before Himfor the joy set before Him enduredendured the the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” the right hand of the throne of God.”

Heb 12:1-2Heb 12:1-2

Trusting God when He seems Trusting God when He seems indifferent or absentindifferent or absent

“ “The LORD'S The LORD'S eyes beholdeyes behold, ,

His His eyelidseyelids test the sons of men.” test the sons of men.” Ps 11:4Ps 11:4

““a weaned child”a weaned child”

““O LORD, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes O LORD, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty; Nor do I involve myself in great haughty; Nor do I involve myself in great matters, Or in things too difficult for me.matters, Or in things too difficult for me.

Surely I have Surely I have composed and quieted my soulcomposed and quieted my soul; Like ; Like a weaned child a weaned child restsrests against his mother against his mother, My soul , My soul is like a weaned child within me.” is like a weaned child within me.”

Psa 131:1-3Psa 131:1-3

““eating solid food”eating solid food”

Delayed gratification makes Delayed gratification makes

HOPEHOPEgrowgrow

HOPE reveals treasure HOPE reveals treasure

TrialsTrials

FAITHFAITH PerseverancePerseverance

Perseverance Perseverance Proven character Proven character

Proven character Proven character HOPEHOPE

Rom 5:3-5Rom 5:3-5

NEED:NEED: Eye the goal Eye the goal

““Well done, Well done, good and good and faithful faithful servant.”servant.”

““I have fought the good fight, I have I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the finished the course, I have kept the faith;faith;

in the in the futurefuture there is laid up for me the there is laid up for me the crown of righteousnesscrown of righteousness, which the , which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will Lord, the righteous Judge, will award award to meto me on that day; and not only to me, on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have but also to all who have loved His loved His appearingappearing.”.”

2 Tim 4:7-82 Tim 4:7-8

Why is having Why is having

an Eternal Perspective an Eternal Perspective

ESSENTIAL ESSENTIAL

for Christian growth?for Christian growth?

Invest in Eternal TreasureInvest in Eternal Treasure

""Do not store upDo not store up for yourselves for yourselves treasures on treasures on earthearth, where moth and rust destroy, and , where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.where thieves break in and steal.

"But "But store upstore up for yourselves for yourselves treasures in treasures in heavenheaven, where neither moth nor rust , where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.there your heart will be also.

Matt 6:19-21Matt 6:19-21

Sacrifice:Sacrifice:

Giving up something you loveGiving up something you love

for something you love for something you love

MOREMORE

Jim Elliot, 1927-1956Jim Elliot, 1927-1956

“ “He is no fool who gives what he cannot He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”

"And they overcame him because "And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their because of the word of their

testimony, testimony,

and they and they did not love their life did not love their life even when faced with deatheven when faced with death.”.”

Rev 12:11Rev 12:11

Put away childish fixation on the Put away childish fixation on the presentpresent

Develop Develop Eternal HOPE:Eternal HOPE:

ExchangeExchange Temporal Treasures for Temporal Treasures for

Eternal TreasuresEternal Treasures

SeekSeek Eternal Rewards Eternal Rewards

4. Seeking own aspirations4. Seeking own aspirations

Childish aspirationsChildish aspirations

Seeking Seeking significancesignificance in temporalin temporal::

PossessionsPossessions

People’s approval People’s approval

Power Power

Proficiency Proficiency

PerformancePerformance

PurposePurpose

What is my purpose?What is my purpose?

To give my life for To give my life for whatwhat

the Son of Godthe Son of God gave His life for.gave His life for.

““Just as the Son of Man Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, did not come to be served,

but but to serveto serve, , and and to give His lifeto give His life

a ransom for manya ransom for many.” .”

Matt 20:28Matt 20:28

Jesus’ last command:Jesus’ last command:

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.in heaven and on earth.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; commanded you;

and lo, I am with you always, even to the end and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."of the age."

Matt 28:18-20Matt 28:18-20

““GoGo and and Make disciplesMake disciples””

Baptizing them: Baptizing them: EvangelismEvangelism

Teaching them: Teaching them: DiscipleshipDiscipleship

Evangelism: Evangelism: Introducing others Introducing others to the Savior to the Savior

Evangelism is a BridgeEvangelism is a Bridge

to God’sto God’s

LOVELOVE

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” Jn 3:16not perish, but have eternal life.” Jn 3:16

How can I present the Gospel?How can I present the Gospel?

The IllustrationThe Illustration

In the beginning God created In the beginning God created man to have fellowship with Himman to have fellowship with Him

Man Man GODGOD

But man’s disobedience breaks But man’s disobedience breaks that relationship with Godthat relationship with God

Man Man GODGOD

Sin separates us from God and Sin separates us from God and brings death and judgmentbrings death and judgment

Man Man SINSIN GODGOD

DeathDeath

JudgmentJudgment

None of man’s own efforts can None of man’s own efforts can reconnect him to Godreconnect him to God

money ------money ------ morality ---------morality ---------Philosophies ----Philosophies ----

good behavior ----good behavior ----

good works -----good works -----

Man Man SINSIN GODGOD DeathDeath

JudgmentJudgment

Man Man GODGOD

JESUS

I N

Death Judgment

Man Man GODGOD

JESUS

Resurrection

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life,

and and does not come into judgmentdoes not come into judgment, ,

but has but has passed out of deathpassed out of death into into lifelife.”.”

GODGODJESUS

Man

Evangelism: Evangelism: MidwiferyMidwifery

LiveLive the Life the Life

Be ready to give a Be ready to give a defensedefense

to all who askto all who ask

Build Build bridgesbridges to unsaved to unsaved

Evangelism is being a BridgeEvangelism is being a Bridge

Discipleship: Discipleship: Teaching othersTeaching others

to observe Jesus’ commandmentsto observe Jesus’ commandments

LOVELOVEGod and neighborGod and neighbor

How can I love How can I love GodGod??

"He who "He who hashas My commandments My commandments and and keepskeeps them is the one who them is the one who

loves Meloves Me; ;

and he who loves Me will be loved and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him."and will disclose Myself to him."

John 14:21 John 14:21

How can I love How can I love othersothers??

"Greater love has no one than this, "Greater love has no one than this,

that one that one lay down his lifelay down his life

for his friends.for his friends.

John 15:13John 15:13

Discipleship: Discipleship: Nurturing othersNurturing others““But we proved to be gentle among But we proved to be gentle among

you, as you, as a nursing a nursing mothermother tenderly cares tenderly caresfor her own children.for her own children.

Having Having so fond an affection for youso fond an affection for you, , we were well-pleased to we were well-pleased to impartimpart to you to younot only the not only the gospelgospel of God but also of God but also

our own livesour own lives, because you had become , because you had become very very deardear to us.” to us.”

1 Th 2:7-81 Th 2:7-8

'Those whom I 'Those whom I lovelove, I reprove and discipline; , I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.therefore be zealous and repent. Rev. 3:19Rev. 3:19

and you have forgotten the exhortation and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, "MY which is addressed to you as sons, "MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM;WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM;

FOR FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVESTHOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES."EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES."

MentoringMentoring

““The things which you have heardThe things which you have heard

from mefrom me in the presence of many in the presence of many

witnesses, witnesses,

entrust these entrust these to faithful mento faithful men

who will be able who will be able

to teach others alsoto teach others also.” .”

2 Tim 2:222 Tim 2:22

What is the Ministry?What is the Ministry?

NEED:NEED: Enter the Family Business Enter the Family Business

Investing in others for eternityInvesting in others for eternity

"And I say to you, "And I say to you, make friendsmake friends for for yourselves by means of the wealth ofyourselves by means of the wealth ofunrighteousness, so that when it fails,unrighteousness, so that when it fails,

they will receive you they will receive you into the eternal dwellingsinto the eternal dwellings.”.”

Luke 16:9Luke 16:9

Adding weightAdding weight

"The harvest is plentiful, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.”but the workers are few.”

““weak woman”weak woman”

““For among them are those who For among them are those who enter into households and enter into households and captivate weak women weighed captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various down with sins, led on by various impulses, impulses, always learning and always learning and never able to come to the never able to come to the knowledge of the truthknowledge of the truth.”.”

2 Tim 3:6-72 Tim 3:6-7

Being grown up means:Being grown up means:

Joining the Family Business (“Bidness”)Joining the Family Business (“Bidness”)

Exchanging temporal for eternal treasuresExchanging temporal for eternal treasures

Learning Word and Practicing ObedienceLearning Word and Practicing Obedience

Respecting and cooperating with AuthorityRespecting and cooperating with Authority

““When I was a child, I used to speak When I was a child, I used to speak

like a child, think like a child, reason like a child, think like a child, reason

like a child; when like a child; when

I became a man, I became a man,

I put away with I put away with

childish things.childish things.

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know to face; now I know in part, but then I will know

fully just as I also have been fully known.fully just as I also have been fully known.

But now But now FAITHFAITH, , HOPEHOPE, , LOVELOVE, ,

abide these three; abide these three;

but the greatest of these but the greatest of these

is LOVE.”is LOVE.”

1 Cor 13:11-131 Cor 13:11-13

The Roots of FAITH The Roots of FAITH

The shoots of HOPE The shoots of HOPE

The fruits of LOVE The fruits of LOVE

Put away Put away

childishchildish

thingsthings

Grow like a Grow like a tree firmly tree firmly planted by planted by streams of streams of water, yielding water, yielding its fruit in its fruit in season, and its season, and its leaf does not leaf does not wither. In what-wither. In what-ever she does, ever she does, she prospers.she prospers.

““Putting away Putting away childish things” childish things”

By MiXueBy MiXue