1. The Beauty of Infancy

3. Infancy in Christ is Beautiful! “I assure you,” He said, “unless you are converted and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3

4. 1 Peter 2:2 “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation...”

5. The Danger of Perpetual Infancy 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:13-14

6. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. The Dangers of Infancy

7. James 1:6-8 6 But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

8. James 1:6-8 6 But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 An indecisive man is unstable in all his ways.

9. 14... We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. - New Living Translation Real enemies of Christ exist who desire to kill and destroy us. Often by saying untruths that we desire to hear presented as truth The Danger of Infancy

10. Hebrews 13:7-9

11. 1 Corinthians 13:11 Maturing in Christ

12. ChristChrist-likeness From Infancy (Practices & Experiences) Towards Maturity (Lifestyle) What Maturity Looks Like

13. ChristChrist-likeness From Infancy (Practices & Experiences) Towards Maturity (Lifestyle) CharacterIntegrity What Maturity Looks Like

14. ChristChrist-likeness From Infancy (Practices & Experiences) Towards Maturity (Lifestyle) CharacterIntegrity Community *Intimate participation in Christ-honoring fellowship Koinonia* What Maturity Looks Like

15. ChristChrist-likeness From Infancy (Practices & Experiences) Towards Maturity (Lifestyle) CharacterIntegrity CommunityKoinonia* ServiceServanthood *Koinonia – Intimate participation in Christ-honoring fellowship What Maturity Looks Like

16. ChristChrist-likeness From Infancy (Practices & Experiences) Towards Maturity (Lifestyle) CharacterIntegrity Community ServiceServanthood Gratitude *Koinonia – Intimate participation in Christ-honoring fellowship Koinonia* What Maturity Looks Like Praise

17. ChristChrist-likeness From Infancy (Practices & Experiences) Towards Maturity (Lifestyle) CharacterIntegrity Community ServiceServanthood GratitudePraise WitnessFruitfulness *Koinonia – Intimate participation in Christ-honoring fellowship Koinonia* What Maturity Looks Like

18. The Means of Moving Towards Maturity Ephesians 4:15 In Ephesians 4:15, Paul points out the important role that truth and love play together in order for healthy growth in Christ to occur.

19. The Means of Moving Towards Maturity Truth is the stern hard thing, like the bare branches of winter: Love is the softener and beautifier, like the green leaves on a summer tree. Truth is hard if it is not softened by love; Love is soft it is not strengthened by truth.

20. “Truthing” in Love It is the Greek participle aletheuontes, which means “truthing”. This carries the idea of not only speaking the truth, but doing it. This is the medium through which growth is maximized. We cannot grow in “truthing” in love if we do not continually grow in our knowledge of the Source of Love.

21. What True Love Looks Like Jesus

22. The Means of Moving Towards Maturity

25. Examples of “Truthing in Love” Jesus & Peter Mark 8:33 Jethro & Moses Exodus 18

26. “Truthing” in Love is a matter of Perspective

27. Ephesians 4:16 The Importance of the Body & Each Member

28. YOUR UNIQUENESS IN CHRIST IS MADE POSSIBLE BY, AND ENHANCED THROUGH, BEING UNIFIED WITH OTHER BELIEVERS.

29. Currently, at times, we as Christians may lean towards individualism and this causes stress to be experienced in the body of Christ (i.e. the church). However, as we mature in love, our individuality ultimately serves to foster unity while celebrating uniqueness. The Importance of the Body & Each Member

30. In Christ, diversity is not divisive, but rather essential to true unity. The Importance of the Body & Each Member

31. Ephesians 4:16

32. The Importance of the Body & Each Member

33. 1)How have you seen Christ mature us as a church family? 2)How willing are you to live out the truth in love for others? How willing are you to receive it? 3)What is your part in the body of Christ and how are you fostering the body’s growth? Questions for Reflection