TITLE:
Gifts from God (Part 2)
TEXT:
Ephesians 4:13 -16
PROPOSITION:
God
gives the best gifts – IF we know how to use them.
QUESTION:
Why?
KEY
WORD:
Gifts
INTRODUCTION:
-
Have you ever
given an expensive gift and it is soon broken or lost?
-
God has given
some gifts that will last until they are not needed.
-
Matthew 7:11 –
We know what our children need – God knows His children
How
long will these gifts last? (13-16)
-
UNTIL there is
unity of the faith and knowledge
-
Unity in the
basis and principles of our faith
-
Unity in our
knowledge and understanding of Jesus
-
We will never
agree on every detail (fine point)
-
We will never
agree on every matter (clothes, money, cars, politics)
-
UNTIL we are
the perfect man
-
MEANS –
mature, complete, the end of a process
-
NOT –
perfection, without any sin or flaw
-
UNTIL we
measure up to Christ
-
Take a minute
to take some stock of your life. De you measure up?
-
What
yardstick are you using?
-
UNTIL we
stop being children –
-
In attitude –
“crybaby”, “I want my way, or else.”
-
In speech –
Learn to speak as the oracles of God (1 Peter 4:11)
-
In thought –
1 Corinthians 13:11 – put away childish things
-
UNTIL we are
no longer tossed about by every wind of doctrine
-
There are
many false teachings, ideas, and doctrines out there.
-
I am not
asking if you can answer all of them.
-
God does
demand that you recognize the false from the true.
-
UNTIL we
speak the truth in love
-
We must
teach, without compromise the truth.
-
But, it must
be done in a loving way.
-
Some are so
“loving” they compromise the truth.
-
Others speak
the truth so harshly that the lost are driven away.
-
UNTIL we
grow up (mature) in all things.
-
Read the
short book (see bottom of outline).
-
This is the
second time this one is mentioned.
-
Are you
growing? Are you growing UP or down?
-
UNTIL the whole
body is joined together, every part working
-
Remember, the
church is a body – many members – working together
-
Without
cooperation – the body will weaken and die.
Focus on these questions
-
How do you
measure up to the standing of Christ?
-
What yardstick
are you using?
-
In what ways
are you “childish” in your attitudes and actions?
-
Are you being
affected (blown about) by the world around you?
-
Is your speech
the truth? Is it spoken in love and compassion?
-
Are you growing
up in all things?
-
NOTE:
These questions are personal. Answer honestly before God.
A
SHORT BOOK
How
a person matures:
An autobiography of a person maturing, in five chapters.
Chapter 1
I
walk down the street and there’s a deep hole in the sidewalk. I fall in. I am
lost. I am helpless. I am angry. It isn’t my fault. It takes me forever to find
my way out.
Chapter 2
I
walk down the same street and there’s a deep hole in the sidewalk. I pretend I
don’t see it. I fall in again. I can’t believe that I’m in the same place again.
But, it isn’t my fault. It takes me a long time to get out.
Chapter 3
I
walk down the same street and there’s a deep hole in the sidewalk. I see that it
is there. I still fall in. It’s a habit. My eyes are open. I know it is my
fault. I get out immediately.
Chapter 4
I
walk down the same street and there’s a deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around
it.
Chapter 5
I walk down another street.
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