1. It's Time to Grow Up! Luke 2:46-52

2. 46 Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. 48 So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously." 49 And He said to them, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?"

3. 50 But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them. 51 Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. Luke 2:46-52

4. Understanding Christian Life

5. Christian Life Begins with New Birth

6. Understanding Christian Life Christian Life Begins with New Birth Christian Life Does Not End at Birth

7. Understanding Christian Life Christian Life Begins with New Birth Christian Life Does Not End at Birth Christian Life is One of Growth

8. Understanding Christian Life Christian Life Begins with New Birth Christian Life Does Not End at Birth Christian Life is One of Growth Christian Life—Don't be Childish!

9. Understanding Christian Life Christian Life Begins with New Birth

10. Understanding Christian Life Christian Life Begins with New Birth New Birth is so Misunderstood

11. Understanding Christian Life Christian Life Begins with New Birth New Birth is so Misunderstood There is a Physical Birth

12. 1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." 3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." 4 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" 5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. John 3:1-5

13. Understanding Christian Life Christian Life Begins with New Birth New Birth is so Misunderstood There is a Physical Birth There is a Spiritual Birth

14. Understanding Christian Life Christian Life Begins with New Birth New Birth is so Misunderstood There is a Physical Birth There is a Spiritual Birth Absolutely Essential

15. Understanding Christian Life Christian Life Begins with New Birth New Birth is so Misunderstood There is a Physical Birth There is a Spiritual Birth Absolutely Essential Two Elements—water and Spirit

16. Understanding Christian Life Christian Life Begins with New Birth Christian Life Does Not End at Birth

17. 11 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 Cor. 13:11

18. Understanding Christian Life Christian Life Begins with New Birth Christian Life Does Not End at Birth Christian Life is One of Growth

19. 1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby. 1 Pet. 2:1-2

20. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Heb. 5:12-14

21. 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 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; 14 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, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ— Eph. 4:11-15

22. Understanding Christian Life Christian Life Begins with New Birth Christian Life Does Not End at Birth Christian Life is One of Growth Christian Life—Don't be Childish!

23. 1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 "Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." Matt. 18:1-4

24. 20 Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature. 1 Cor. 14:20

25. Don't be Childish, Immature

27. Gullible, believing everything

28. Don't be Childish, Immature Gullible, believing everything Flighty and unstable

29. Don't be Childish, Immature Gullible, believing everything Flighty and unstable Arrogant, they know everything

30. Don't be Childish, Immature Gullible, believing everything Flighty and unstable Arrogant, they know everything Self-centered

31. Don't be Childish, Immature Gullible, believing everything Flighty and unstable Arrogant, they know everything Self-centered Materialistic and greedy

32. Don't be Childish, Immature Gullible, believing everything Flighty and unstable Arrogant, they know everything Self-centered Materialistic and greedy Demand instant gratification

33. Don't be Childish, Immature Gullible, believing everything Flighty and unstable Arrogant, they know everything Self-centered Materialistic and greedy Demand instant gratification Boastful, proud, refuse instructions

34. From the New Birth to Heaven

35. Believe John 3:16

36. From the New Birth to Heaven Believe John 3:16 RepentLuke 13:3

37. From the New Birth to Heaven Believe John 3:16 RepentLuke 13:3 Confess FaithRom. 10:9

38. From the New Birth to Heaven Believe John 3:16 RepentLuke 13:3 Confess FaithRom. 10:9 Be BaptizedJohn 3:5

39. From the New Birth to Heaven Believe John 3:16 RepentLuke 13:3 Confess FaithRom. 10:9 Be BaptizedJohn 3:5 Added to His church, His body, His kingdom

40. From the New Birth to Heaven Believe John 3:16 RepentLuke 13:3 Confess FaithRom. 10:9 Be BaptizedJohn 3:5 Added to His church, His body, His kingdom Be FaithfulRev. 2:10

41. Important Religious Questions Just before his death, Sir Isaac Newton made this remark: “I do not know what I may appear to the world; but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the sea-shore, and diverting myself by now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, while the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me” - Brewster’s Life of Newton, pp. 300, 301. Ed. New York, 1832.