Sermon Central
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When I Was A Child
Contributed by Anthony Mancina on Nov 18, 2002 (message contributor)
Summary: There is an old saying the only difference between a man and a boy is the price of their toys. When I became a man I put away chidish things.
FATHER’S DAY
When I Was a Child
There is an old saying that the only difference between a man and a boy is the price of their toys.
Child – nepios – Infant not speaking, minor
Figuratively – childish, immature, a
simple-minded person
Man – aner – distinct from boy or infant
Put away – katargeo- abolish, cease, do away with
Paul talks about when we were children we did things as children but when we became men we put away childish things.
ASK - How does a child act?
Impressionable Gullible Manipulative
Controlling Selfish Self Centered
Self Indulgent Cruel Mischievous
I. Spoke like a child
1. Speak selfishly
2. Repeat without any sense of ownership or conviction
3. Speak out of their feelings
4. They will talk tenderly one moment then very cruel at other times (James 3: 10&11)
Proverbs 15:2 – The tongue of the wise useth knowledge
a right: but the mouth of the foolish poureth out foolishness
A man will speak before he talks
A child will just spew it out
Proverbs 15:4 – A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
Perverseness – deceit, distortion
Breach – crushes, destroys
A man will speak with healing in his words and it becomes a tree of life to those who hear them.
A child will just speak his mind without considering how his words will fall. He is not discreet or considerate how he talks.
II. Understood as a child
To exercise the mind
To adopt an opinion
To think
How does a child’s mind work?
How does he think?
How does he formulate opinions?
1. Masters of manipulation
2. Selfishly
3. Simple deductions
4. Impressionable an mimic the opinions of those they look up to and admire and thusly can sway to and fro and vacillate
5. They have to be taught deductive reasoning and how to critically think
James 1:5-8 – Double-minded man is unstable in all his ways
A man will be focused and sure and firm footed in what he does and strong in his convictions
A child will be carried to and fro with every wind and doctrine and will compromise his convictions when convenient.
James 4:8 – Tells the double-minded to purify their hearts
Proverbs 23: 6-7 – A man thinks in is heart so is he
Col. 3:9-10 – Put on the new man renewed in knowledge
Ephes. 1:18-20 – Eyes of our understanding are being
Enlightened
I Chron. 12:32 – Children of Issachar they had understanding of
the times they lived in and knew what to do.
III. Thought as a Child
To logically think
To reason
To conclude
To take inventory
1. Children live for the moment
2. They want what they want without thinking through the consequences
3. Reason impulsively and have very little or simple rational
4. They have a small or simple concept of time, money distance etc.
Romans 8:6-10 - To be carnally minded is death
A man will resist to live after the appetites of the flesh
A child will live for the appetites of the moment and gratify his flesh
I Corinth. 2:16 – Tells us we have the mind of Christ
Joshua 24: 15 – Tells us to choose you this day who you will
Serve
Philip. 4:7-9 – Tells us the things to think on
The choices we make are seated in our belief system which in turn is governed by our philosophy of life which is established by how we think, understand, comprehend, reason and deduct.
Conclusion
I Corinth 16:13
New American Standard Version – Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong
1. Harness or tongue
2. Single minded in our thinking – renewed mind
with the Word
3. Think Spiritually – put on Christ at all times
