LET US MOVE BEYOND ELEMENTARY TEACHINGS (MATURE)! (4 OF 12)
Scripture: Hebrew 5:11, Hebrew6:12
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Let Us Move Beyond Elementary Teachings (Mature)! (4 of 12)
Series: Let Us
Dennis Marquardt
Hebrew 5:11-6:12
INTRO: There has been a dramatic shift in our society over the past generation. We have gone from a sense of duty and responsibility to a demand for services and entertainment. The society around us has put great emphasis on ''how do you feel?'' as being more important that ''what should we do?'' Our society has turned inward rather than outward, a reflection of self-absorption and immaturity.
It is tragic, but the church can reflect society all too much. Probably the weakness of churches today is that they fail to challenge those Christians in the congregation to move on to maturity. If we are not careful we will strive to make people HAPPY rather than make them HOLY, that we will make them FEEL GOOD rather than make them FAITHFUL and GODLY. We must be careful not to encourage just EXCITEMENT and avoid EDUCATION spiritually.
ILLUS: The story is told about an old American Indian who attended a church service one Sunday morning. The preacher's message lacked real spiritual food, so he did a lot of shouting and pulpit pounding to cover up his lack of preparation. In fact, as it is sometimes said, he ''preached up quite a storm.'' After the service, someone asked the Indian, who was a Christian, what he thought of the minister's message. Thinking for a moment, he summed up his opinion in six words: ''High wind. Big thunder. No rain.'' Yes, when the Scriptures are neglected, there is ''no rain.'' Only when preaching is based on God's Word and His people are challenged to respond and be responsible to that Word are they blessed and refreshed.
Excitement, feeling good, even entertainment can certainly be a part of our experience as a Christian, but it must not be a substitute for spiritual maturity.
While there is an appropriate time to be immature as a Christian, we must not stay in such a state. If we had our children never physically mature ...
Series: Let Us
Dennis Marquardt
Hebrew 5:11-6:12
INTRO: There has been a dramatic shift in our society over the past generation. We have gone from a sense of duty and responsibility to a demand for services and entertainment. The society around us has put great emphasis on ''how do you feel?'' as being more important that ''what should we do?'' Our society has turned inward rather than outward, a reflection of self-absorption and immaturity.
It is tragic, but the church can reflect society all too much. Probably the weakness of churches today is that they fail to challenge those Christians in the congregation to move on to maturity. If we are not careful we will strive to make people HAPPY rather than make them HOLY, that we will make them FEEL GOOD rather than make them FAITHFUL and GODLY. We must be careful not to encourage just EXCITEMENT and avoid EDUCATION spiritually.
ILLUS: The story is told about an old American Indian who attended a church service one Sunday morning. The preacher's message lacked real spiritual food, so he did a lot of shouting and pulpit pounding to cover up his lack of preparation. In fact, as it is sometimes said, he ''preached up quite a storm.'' After the service, someone asked the Indian, who was a Christian, what he thought of the minister's message. Thinking for a moment, he summed up his opinion in six words: ''High wind. Big thunder. No rain.'' Yes, when the Scriptures are neglected, there is ''no rain.'' Only when preaching is based on God's Word and His people are challenged to respond and be responsible to that Word are they blessed and refreshed.
Excitement, feeling good, even entertainment can certainly be a part of our experience as a Christian, but it must not be a substitute for spiritual maturity.
While there is an appropriate time to be immature as a Christian, we must not stay in such a state. If we had our children never physically mature ...
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