Let’s Grow Up!

SERMON OUTLINE:

(1). These Christians were dull and deaf (vs 11).

(2). These Christians were slow to learn (vs 12).

(3). These Christians were not fully formed (vs 13-14).

(4). These Christians were given important choices (6:1-3)

SERMON BODY:

Ill:

• According to the Associated Press, food fights aren’t that unusual.

• They then go on to tell the story of Lee Thoss and a William Hocker,

• Who got into a fight over Lee’s picking through the lettuce at a salad bar.

• A full fledged food fight soon resulted.

• There was name calling, pushing and shoving; punching and someone even got bit!

• The sad part of the story was this was not at a school or college?

• No, it happened at a Florida retirement home,

• In case you are wondering;

• Lee Thoss is 62 and William Hocker is 85.

• No criminal changes were filed, but Lee Thoss was asked to leave.

• This story shows that immaturity can happen at any age.

• TRANSITION: You and I know from experience;

• That it is not just in America these things happen,

• And sadly one place immaturity reveals itself far too often,

• Is in the local Church.

Ill:

• I would guess everyone in this room has said it at sometime or to someone;

• Those immortal words; “Grow up!”

• Or a similar phrase; “Why don’t you act your age?”

Growth is important to all of us:

• ill: From the moment you were born you were weighed and measured.

• ill: As children how many of you had a growth chart or marks on the wall/door frame?

• Growth is the sign of a healthy child;

• And if a child is stunted in their growth it usually it means that something is seriously wrong

Note:

• What is true in a physical sense has a spiritual parallel.

• You come into God’s family the same way you entered your physical family;

• By being born into it - i.e. ‘Born again’ – i.e. as a spiritual baby.

Now in the physical realm;

• As humans we grow at different rates at different stages in their lives.

• Growth is very rapid in the womb and in the first two years of life.

• Puberty is another stage when growth and development is rapid.

• But each person born should grow from baby to child to teenager to adult.

• It is an automatic process that happens without us really noticing.

Ill:

• Our own kids every so often their clothes on and they don’t fit,

• The trousers legs or the arms on the shirt are a few inches short;

• And they have obviously had a growth spurt since they last worn those clothes.

Now in the spiritual realm the experience can be very different;

• The number of years you have been a Christian does not mean you are growing!

• True you are growing older numericly;

• But that does not mean you are growing up spiritually!

Ill:

• A man, after 25 years with one company,

• Was still doing the same old job and drawing the same salary.

• Finally he went to his boss and told him he felt he had been neglected.

• “After all,” he said, “I’ve had 25 of experience.”

• His boss sighed and said:

• “You haven’t had 25 of experience, you’ve had one experience for 25 years.”

• TRANSITION: This passage in the book of Hebrews;

• Helps us to recognise if we are maturing or stagnant in our spiritual growth.

• These verses are really tragic;

• Because the picture they present to us is more like a nursery school than a Church.

I want to split the passage under a number of headings:

(1). These Christians were dull and deaf (vs 11).

N.I.V:

“We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn”.

N.A.S.B:

“Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain,

since you have become dull of hearing”.

Ill:

• An elderly man stopped at a hearing aid centre and asked about prices.

• The salesman said “We have them from £25,000 down to £1.50,”

• The elderly man asked; “What’s the £25,000 one like?”

• The salesman said “It’s as a clear as can be and it also translates in 12 languages.”

• He then asked; “And what about the one for £1.50?”

• “It’s this button attached to a string,” said the salesman, pushing it across the counter.

• “How does it work?” asked the man.

• “It doesn’t” replied the salesman said;

• “But if you put the button in your ear and the string in your pocket,