Grow Up (050524)

If you placed a poster (or simply attempted to), please text the church and let us know 1) the businesses you visited and 2) the businesses where you were actually able to place a poster.

Gospel Concert in the Park, Saturday, June 1.

There are tickets, in the lobby, that you can use to invite individuals/families.

As I often tell our students, “We will get out of this what we put into this!”

Scripture Reading: Acts 15:40-16:3.

Title: Grow Up!

Message: Grow Up!

As we saw last week, when Paul determined to take a second missionary journey, he decided to take Silas instead of John Mark which became a point of contention between he and Barnabas, which led to their separation.

With Silas, Paul begins his second missionary journey.

Paul’s Second Missionary Journey

When Paul and Silas arrive in Derbe and Lystra, they are introduced to Timothy, a young man who was a believer, whose mother, a Jew, was also a believer but whose father was a Greek.

Vs. 2 tells us…

Acts 16:2 KJV 1900

Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.

Timothy had a good reputation.

Proverbs 22:1 KJV 1900

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, And loving favour rather than silver and gold.

As a Christian, do you have a good reputation? Amongst your family? Amongst your friends? Amongst your co-workers?

You have a reputation. The question is whether or not you have a good reputation and have a reputation that is glorifying to God!

1 Corinthians 10:31 KJV 1900

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Matthew 5:16 KJV 1900

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Acts chapter 16:3 then tells us…

Acts 16:3 (KJV 1900)

Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.

So Paul wanted Timothy to leave his family and to begin traveling with Him on this missionary journey.

Ok. Nothing wrong with that. However, it begs the question: Why Timothy? Why not John Mark?

One Bible teacher stated this:

Exploring Acts: An Expository Commentary ((2) The Fine Commendation of Timothy (16:2))

What a perfect replacement for Mark.

The missionary team needed a young man to give a hand with the mundane aspects of itinerant evangelism.

Besides, what a disciple Timothy would make.

Paul loved to pour himself into the lives of young men.

He had a gift for attracting people to himself and attaching them to Christ.

Nor was Paul averse to picking up potential missionary material where he could find it.

I wonder how that made John Mark feel? Paul wasn’t willing to give John Mark a second chance. Paul apparently - at that time - willing to “pour himself into” John Mark’s life.

It agains begs the question: Why? What was different between Timothy and John Mark that would cause Paul to “reject” John Mark and “choose” Timothy.

Illustration: Do you remember what it was like, on the elementary playground to be the last one chosen?!?!? It’s not a fun feeling!

Both Timothy and John Mark were young men.

Both had a great potential.

Both - as we now know - made great contributions to Christianity:

John Mark was used of God to give us the second book of the New Testament - the Gospel according to Mark. Not only that, but Paul, in writing to Timothy (2 Timothy 4:11) states that Mark is profitable for the ministry! and

Timothy was used as the pastor/leader of the church in Ephesus, a church that Paul established during his second missionary journey.

So, what made the difference, at this time, here in Acts chapters 15 and 16 in Paul’s choice?

I think the difference is seen in one word:

Maturity

I believe that Paul saw John Mark’s failure on their first missionary journey somewhat as being a result of a lack of maturity.

Now, as Paul is introduced once again to young Timothy, Paul sees a young man that has greatly matured in the Lord in a relatively short time.

2 Timothy 1:5 KJV 1900

When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

(I touched on this last week when I noted that Paul chose Silas to accompany him on this journey likely because Silas was a mature believer and was already accustomed to the ministry.)

Maturity should be the goal of ever Bible-believing Christian.

1 Corinthians 13:11 KJV 1900

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

Ephesians 4:14–15 KJV 1900

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

2 Peter 3:18 KJV 1900

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Hebrews 5:12–6:1 KJV 1900

For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

Maturity is natural. Everything that is living is growing/maturing. If there is no growth - no maturity - taking place

Maturity should be expected. We should not want to stay immature. It should be our desire to grow up in the Lord.

Maturity doesn’t happen at the same rate for everyone. I think that should be evident as we consider both John Mark and Timothy. Did they both mature? Yes. Did they do it at the same rate? No.

Because of this fact we must be considerate of others and their growth in the Lord and we should seek to be as helpful to others as we possibly can be as they grow in the Lord.

Spiritual maturity is possible!

Psalm 23:1 KJV 1900

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

So what does God use in order to help us mature?

God uses His Word to mature believers.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 KJV 1900

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

God uses mature believers to mature younger believers.

Ephesians 4:11–13 KJV 1900

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

God used Barnabas to help mature Paul.

God used Barnabas to help mature John Mark.

God used Paul to help mature Timothy and Titus.

Who is God using you to help mature?

Titus 2:1–7 KJV 1900

But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,

Are you willing to invest your life in others so that they might mature in Christ?

Master Clubs

South Charlotte Baptist Academy

Children’s Bible Hour

Children’s Church (Yes, I know that we don’t currently have a Children’s Church but the Lord has made it clear to me that we need to establish that ministry once again to, on a weekly basis, reach the young people in our community.)

The maturity of believers is one of the purposes of the local church.

Hebrews 10:24–25 KJV 1900

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Are you willing to listen to the encouragement and counsel of others, who are more mature, so that you can grow up in the Lord?

2 Timothy 2:1–3 KJV 1900

Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

Here in 2 Timothy, Paul is challenging Timothy to 1) be a grown up Christian and 2) to help others become grown up Christians.

God uses trials to help mature believers.

James 1:2–4 KJV 1900

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Job 23:10 KJV 1900

But he knoweth the way that I take: When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

No one likes trials and tribulations but they do, in God’s economy, serve a very definite purpose and therefore we should be thankful for them.

What is the goal of maturity? What is the purpose of maturity? Is it just to be able to say that we are grown up?

Maturity’s Goal

Ultimately, the goal of maturity is to make us like Christ.

Romans 8:28–29 (KJV 1900)

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

1 John 3:2 KJV 1900

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

This goal will not be realized until the day that we enter glory! I would think that that fact would give us the desire to say, as John wrote in the last chapter of Revelation, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

In this life, the goal of maturity is two-fold:

Christ-likeness

Remember that 2 Peter 3:8 commands us to grow in grace?

Titus 2:11–12 KJV 1900

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

One of the most difficult things for an immature individual to do is to deny themselves of anything. Immature individuals want what they want and they want it now.

What is more Christ-like than to live a life that is characterized by self-control (soberly), by righteousness, and by godliness?

As Peter asks, in 2 Peter 3:11

2 Peter 3:11 KJV 1900

Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

What manner of persons ought we to be? Mature!

So, in this life, the goal of maturity is #1: Christ-likeness! Then…

Usefulness

Remember what Paul said of John Mark in 2 Timothy chapter 4?

2 Timothy 4:11 KJV 1900

Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.

He is profitable…literally, he is useful for the ministry?

Back in Ephesians chapter 4…

Ephesians 4:11–12 KJV 1900

For the perfecting (maturing) of the saints so that they might do the work of the ministry.

Closing

Are you maturing? Are you growing up? What is most needed in your life right now to provoke you to maturity?

Read your Bible. Pray every day (repeat 3 times). Read your Bible. Pray every day. And you’ll grow, grow, grow (repeat 3 times). Read your Bible. Pray every day. And you’ll grow, grow, grow.

Neglect your Bible. Forget to pray (repeat 3 times). Neglect your Bible. Forget to pray. And you’ll shrink, shrink, shrink (repeat 3 times). Neglect your Bible. Forget to pray. And you’ll shrink, shrink, shrink.

Are you helping others to mature?

The most helpful thing to any local church is a mature Christian.

As exciting as it is to see a nursery full of babies, if a local church has more babies in the nursery than they do in the auditorium, it’s going to be difficult going for that local church.

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