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A YEAR TO GROW
Intro: Our text for this morning contains the only recorded story from our Lord’s youthful years. After the visit of the Magi given in the second chapter of Matthew, the bible is strangely silent about what many would call Christ’s most formative years. We wish we knew more about His childhood and adolescence, but for reasons unknown to us, God has chosen to remain almost silent on this subject. What little we do know is found in the latter half of the second chapter of Luke. Verse 21 tells us that eight days after His birth, Jesus was circumcised and formally named.
About 40 days later, He was brought to the temple and ‘presented’ to the Lord (along with a thanksgiving offering). While they were at the Temple, they were met by two of the more obscure personalities in the New Testament. Simeon and Anna, in v. 25-38, both proclaim the Child to be the long awaited Hope of Israel. Verse 39-40 of our text tells us all we know of the next 11 plus years of Jesus’ life. This verse tells us that when they had fulfilled the requirements of the Law, Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus returned to Nazareth and verse 40 says (Read)
Luke 2:40 The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
I want you to keep v. 40 in mind as we read the remaining verses of this chapter. (read v. 40-52)
We all understand the experience of seeing a child we have not seen for a long period of time. Our first response is to comment upon how much he /she has grown. But, really, we shouldn’t be surprised because it is natural for a child to do that very thing. Even Baby Jesus is said to have grown strong and increased in various areas of His life. We know that, in addition to being Savior, Lord, & Teacher, Jesus is always to be our supreme example for life. As He grew and increased, so too, are we to grow and increase.
As we think about the New Year, and the inevitable resolutions we make, I want you to ask yourself this question, “At the end of this year, will anybody be able to say of me, My how you’ve grown?”
I want to speak to you from Christ’s example, about four areas in which you and I should resolve to grow during this coming New Year.
I. We need to Grow Mentally: (v. 40b & v. 52a)
Luke 2:40 The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
Luke 2:52 And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
Twice it is said of Jesus that He increased in wisdom. ...
A. What this means to you and me is that in this coming year, We need to learn more!
1) We are to never stop being learners (Phil. 1:9)
Philippians 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,
(a) We should note that Paul stresses the need to acquire real knowledge...
(1) What does he mean by real knowledge?
2) That is knowledge that makes a difference in life....
(a ) knowledge that leads to wisdom.
(1) not all knowledge is wisdom but all wisdom begins with knowledge.
3) We need to learn more about other faiths so that we can witness with wisdom to those of
other faiths
(a) About God’s creation so that we can be wise stewards of God’s creation.
(1) more about our own faith so that we can wisely distinguish between right and wrong in
a world which increasingly says there is no difference between the two!
B. We need to remember more!
1) When Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness, He overcame that temptation by
quoting scripture.
(a) As we look to new year, I want you ask yourself two questions
(1) Do I know enough scripture to get myself out of trouble?
(1a) Do I know enough scripture to keep from getting in?
2) Paul said in 2 Tim 3:16... (read)
2 Tim 3: 16All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
(a) But that is only true if you remember it!
(1) We need to remember more scripture this new year
C. We need to understand more of what we learn and remember (Col. 1:9)
Col. 1:9 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
1) Simply stated, it will do us little good to learn and remember if we do not understand
what we have learned
(a) That’s why Sunday School is so important,
(1) preaching, bible study groups
(1a) grapple with it until you understand & don’t settle for less
II. We Need to ‘Grow’ Physically (Luke 2:40a)
Luke 2:40 The Child continued to grow and become strong,
A. He grew and became strong...
1) this speaks of Good health
(a) (illus. = sick guy who was misidentified as a preacher)
B. All of us need to be healthier because we are God’s temple.
1) That means we need to get proper rest
(a) Temptation is always more effective when we are tired.
2) We need to get more exercise
(a) I stand before you as a living testimony to this
3) We need to eat a proper diet
(a) I am another illustration of this (don’t eat much = eat wrong)
(1) Studies have shown that a healthy person is just naturally happier, more optimistic
(1a) This = leads to better outlook on life = better witness.
III. We need to Grow Socially (v. 52 = and men)
Luke 2:52 And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
A. What this tells us is that Jesus was a likeable person
1) He was not obnoxious but was pleasant to be around
(a) He harbored a love for all people that went beyond mere tolerance...
(1) even in His younger years
B. Christ’s example teaches us three areas in which we need to grow socially:
1) We need to be kinder to our friends (Eph 4:32)
Eph 4:32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
(a) Booker T. Washington shares why this is so important (illus. Booker T. Washington)
Wherever our life touches yours, we help or hinder ... wherever your life touches ours, you make us stronger or weaker. ... There is no escape--man drags man down, or man lifts man up.
(1) A good example of this happened to one of Baseball’s greatest players (OVER)
Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson was the first black to play major league baseball. While breaking baseball's "color barrier," he faced jeering crowds in every stadium. While playing one day in his home stadium in Brooklyn, he committed an error. His own fans began to ridicule him. He stood at second base, humiliated, while the fans jeered.
Then shortstop "Pee Wee" Reese came over and stood next to him. He put his arm around Jackie Robinson and faced the crowd. The fans grew quiet. Robinson later said that arm around his shoulder saved his career. -- Larry Wise,
(1a) Pay more attention to our friends, look for ways to ‘lift them up, etc.
2) We need to be ready to be a friend to more people
Remember that everyone you meet is afraid of something, loves something, and has lost something. -- From Life's Little Instruction Book,
(a) Friendship can be a bridge for bringing others to Christ
(1) Many times we try to influence people without first making them our friends... it
seldom works
3) We need to know how to treat our enemies (Luke 6:27-31)
Luke 6:27 "But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
29 "Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either.
30 "Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back.
31 "Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.
(a) Most of us are guilty of doing just the opposite...
(1) If we do pray for our enemies, it goes something like this, “God, he did me wrong,
God, take him out.... and make it hurt when You do!”
4) Why do we need to do better?... answer = v. 35
Luke 6:35 "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.
(a) Remember, Christ’s last miracle before the crucifixion was for an enemy (Slave’s ear
healed)...
(1) and His last prayer was for an enemy (“Father, Forgive...)
IV. We Need to Grow Spiritually (v. 52c ‘With God’ & 2 Pet. 3:18)
Luke 2:52 And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
2 Peter 3:18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
A. What that means to us is simply this... This year:
1) We will need to pray more
(a) (illus. John Bunyun)
Real prayer is a serious concern, for we are speaking to the sovereign Lord of all the universe, who is willing to move heaven and earth in answer to sincere and reasonable prayer. Prayer is not a mechanical duty, but a wonderful opportunity to develop a loving and caring relationship with the most important Person in our lives. John Bunyan in Pilgrim's Prayer Book,
2) We need to read the Bible more
(a) We need to give more of ourselves to Christ and to others
3) We will have to resist temptation more.
B. How do we do all this?... 2 Peter 1:5-7 tells us how. (read)
2 Peter 1: 5Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,
6and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness,
7and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.
8For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1) We begin with faith, but faith alone is not enough
(a) we must next add moral excellence
2) then we apply knowledge
(a) That knowledge is tempered with self-control
(1) This self-control is practiced with perseverance strengthened by a life of godliness
(1a) That godliness is exhibited by brotherly kindness founded in LOVE
Conclusion: Many parents make a mark on the wall to indicate how much a child grows from year to year. If our heavenly father did that for you and for me, what would the marks reveal about us? Would we be shorter instead of taller?... more immature instead of more mature? Only time will tell... Invitation