1. GOD GAVE US GIFTS HOW LONG WILL THEY LAST? HOW CAN WE USE THEM IN OUR LIVES?

2.  Website of “stupid” gifts – stupid.com  What do you do with bacon flavored dental floss? Windows 95 handbook? 3 pack of pocket protectors?  I got you a tree planted in Afghanistan. You are to water it in July.  What about all the “ugly” gifts? Tie? Scarf? T-Shirt? Get any useless ones?  What about the gifts from God?

3.  Have ever given a gift that did not last? The kids abandon the toy and play with the box.  God has given us some gifts – sermon this morning  Two issues:  How long will these gifts last?  How can I make them useful on my life?

4.  till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;  Until there is unity  Unity is the basis of our faith  Unity in our knowledge of Jesus  We will never agree on every fine point  We will not agree on matters of opinion

5.  till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;  Until we are the perfect man  Perfect – Not – without flaw or sin  Perfect – Is – mature, complete, grown up  God expects us to grow up, stop being children, become mature

6.  till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;  How do you measure your spiritual growth?  Are you using the right yardstick?  I don’t have to measure up to you, elders, deacons, teachers.  I must measure up to Christ

7.  that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,  In attitude – I want my way, crybaby, whine, pout, throw a temper tantrum

8.  that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,  In speech – Learn to speak as God speaks  If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. 1 Peter 4:11a

9.  that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,  In thought – Reason and think like an adult  When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 1 Corinthians 13:11

10.  that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,  God wants us to have a firm grasp on doctrine  We should not be “carried about” like a kite  There are men who will try to use trickery and cunning craftiness. They are deceitful.

11.  but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ  We must teach without compromise  But it must be done in a loving way  Some are so “loving” they compromise truth  Others speak the truth so harshly that the lost are driven away

12.  but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ  Did you notice this theme?  Perfect = mature  Not be children = grow up  NOW – GROW UP!  When will we get the message?  Are you growing?  Growing UP or down?

13.  from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.  Until the whole body is working  Until the whole body is working together

14.  What yardstick have you been 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? In love?  Are you growing up in all things?