Two types of people:
1) Unsaved (natural).
2) Saved (spiritual).
Two types of saved people:
1) Mature.
2) Immature - Paul calls these people "carnal," which means "fleshly."
When we get saved our spirit is reborn and it grows just like a person, because it is a Person!
Immature Christians concern themselves with what Jesus did “then.”
Mature Christians concern themselves with what Jesus does “now.”
Growth takes place in two ways:
1) Eating - you can tell a person's maturity by his diet.
An infant drinks milk, eats with plastic utensils, eats what he wants (taste), and is sloppy with it.
An adult eats meat, uses regular utensils, eats what he needs, eats in an orderly manner.
2) Exercising - you can tell a person's maturity by how he acts.
A child just does what he wants (fun) and will fight over anything that doesn't go his way - he's led by the flesh (carnal).
An adult does what he needs to do and will live at peace with everyone - he's led by love.
A mature believe uses his gift as a tool to build and a weapon to fight evil / An immature believer uses his gift as a toy to play with or trophy to boast about.
1 Corinthians 3:1-15 (8/20/15)
Maturity
August 20, 2015 • Benham Brothers
1 Corinthians 1:17 (8/22/19)
August 22, 2019 • Benham Brothers
* Baptism was a good thing, something God called some to do. * But Paul knew he was not one of them - he was called to evangelize. * Paul knew his primary thing, so it limited his options. * Often times our lives get out of balance with busyness because we’re not operating according to our calling. * This increases our options and weighs us down. * Are you operating out of guilt in doing some things that are outside your calling? * Too many of us operate out of a CAUSE rather than a CALL. * If we are cause-focused rather than call-focused we lose our ability to see Christ. * We are all called to do certain things - stand up for the defenseless, give to the poor, etc. * But when it comes to our vocation - the thing we spend our lives for - we operate according to a call, not a cause.
1 Corinthians 1:18-25 (8/17/17)
August 17, 2017 • Benham Brothers
* vs 18 - those without the spirit of God inside them believe the gospel is nonsense. * Testimony of Bill Maher. * vs 21 - it’s not foolish to those who “believe” - faith unlocks understanding. * vs 22-23 - it’s foolish to the Jews and nonsense to the Gentiles. * The same boiling water that hardens the egg softens the carrot. * We preach the gospel regardless of the response. * Why is the cross offensive? * 1) Because of what it says about us - we’re sinners in need of a Savior. * 2) Because of what it says about other religions - Jesus is the “only” way. * 3) Because of what it says about God - He is a God of love and justice - He punishes and He forgives. * 4) Because Jesus divides humanity - He separates the wheat from the chaff. * vs 24 - our faith leads us to the power and wisdom of God. * Wisdom is the marriage of knowledge with understanding - and our faith w/works unites the two. * Faith with works is our testimony - it shows how God worked through us and/or for us in a situation.
1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (8/17/17)
August 17, 2017 • Benham Brothers
* Warren Wiersbe shares these three points to keep in mind when we’re sharing the gospel: * 1) Our Approach (vs 1-2) - this has two facets: * * We shouldn’t try to focus on eloquence and being attractional - this will get people to focus on us and not God. * * We don’t need to shy away from speaking because of our lack of eloquence - we should speak regardless. * 2) Our Attitude (vs 3-4) - two facets: * * We should have reverence toward God. * * We should have humility toward others. * Our job is not to persuade - it’s to present the truth so the Holy Spirit can do the persuading. * 3) Our Aim (vs 5) - for others to experience God’s power in their lives. * The best way to do this is by sharing our own testimony.