Childish Things Week 1: I Don’t Want to Grow Up
Connect
What is your most interesting New Year’s resolution story? Do you have a resolution from a past year that actually brought a change in your life? Or, do you have one that didn’t make it past the first week of the year?
Engage
Read 1 Corinthians 3:1-3. Paul (the author of Corinthians), calls people worldly or fleshly if they are immature in Christ. What are the signs of immaturity, according to Paul?
Read 1 Corinthians 13:11. It speaks of purposeful maturity. What is the context for this verse? Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-10 and talk about how this chapter is all about Christian maturity.
Apply
Scott said “Getting old just happens, but growing up is a choice.” Do you think that today’s culture encourages immaturity?
Can you give examples from contemporary music, TV, movies or ads where childishness is made to look attractive? Why should the Christian look forward to leaving childishness behind?
Since maturity is not required for salvation, what is the motivation to grow up?
The development of any skill requires practice. What biblical practices help us develop into adult Christians?
Challenge
Review the challenge issued by the writer of Hebrews in the first century:
In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity… Hebrews 5:12-6:1
What would “constant use” mean in your life?
Pray Together
Father, we want to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, who came to us as a baby, but grew in wisdom and stature just as we also should. He grew in favor with God and men, and became our example of One who could teach, and when action was required, He gave himself completely. He is the author and perfecter of our faith, and we pray for endurance as we live our lives for fruitfulness, increasing in the knowledge of Him. Please give us eyes to see the opportunities for service around us, and ears to hear the truth that matures and encourages us.