When Are You Really An Adult?
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Today’s Topic: Growing Up
Brother Mark Vasquez: Can you think of someone in your life that could use some growing up? As parents, we’re busy with the task of helping our children mature as they get older. But what if the first person that comes to your mind that needs to grow up is already an adult by age, but probably not an adult in the way that they act or live?
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Brother Mark Vasquez
Minister of the gospel
Brother Mark Vasquez: If you have someone in your life that needs to grow up, or maybe we’re the ones that have some growing up to do, that may very well be a challenge. Fortunately, the Bible gives us the solution.
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The Light
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The Solution
Man 1: I have prepared a meal for myself for the very first time in my life. #adulting.
Man 2: Today, I have wiped off the surfaces of my living area, and now the place around me is cleaner. #adulting
Brother Mark Vasquez: Hashtag #adulting has been trending on social media. “Adulting” is a new term that some tag their posts with to indicate growing up, maturing, or sometimes even indicating that they are not growing up themselves. This new adulting hashtag has become viral and causes many to laugh, find relief, and sometimes even feel a hint of accomplishment. I’ll read to you what some people post with the adulting hashtag:
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@6aelien420 said “I bought my car for $20,000 and I’m down to only $8,000 left on payments. So proud. #adulting”
@CallMeRoseyy said “When you’re missing out on all the holiday sales because you have other things to pay for … #adulting”
@makayla_tubb says “I bought a microwave today #adulting”
@jeremiahcapz said “spent the morning googling personal budget plans, how to apply for a credit card and how to set up an emergency savings fund. #adulting”
@lanixbang said, “Everyone around me is either married or having kids and I’m just standing in the store like do I buy an Xbox One or PS4? #adulting”
Brother Mark Vasquez: You may have noticed that a majority of the “adulting” references are used in the context of finances. Is money though the only way that people show that they’re mature or that they’ve grown up? Different people have various standards of what being mature is. We said at the beginning of our program. There may even be some people that we know that we believe need to grow up as well. But what is the standard of maturity? How does the Bible show that others have matured or have grown up? What is the quality of one who hasn’t matured or grown up according to the Bible? Let’s read here in I Corinthians, we’ll read I Corinthians 13 and the verse is 11.
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I had the understanding of a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
[I Corinthians 13:11 New International Reader’s Version]
Brother Mark Vasquez: What quality is seen in those who have matured and grown up? The Apostle Paul stated, “When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.” There are some qualities and characteristics that are acceptable for a child. But not all those characteristics are fitting for an adult. As a man or an adult, we put childish ways behind us. And how do we put childish ways behind us? We need to develop the skills of maturity. What’s the characteristic of children that should not be seen in us for us to be considered mature? Let’s read in Ephesians, we’ll read chapter 4, verse 14, it says
Then we shall no longer be children, carried by the waves and blown about by every shifting wind of the teaching of deceitful people, who lead others into error by the tricks they invent.
[Ephesians 4:14 Good News Translation]
Brother Mark Vasquez: Did you notice in the passage, what determining factor is for our maturity? The teachings we believe in and follow are a determining factor of our maturity. The Bible explained that we should not be children that are easily deceived. What is the childish characteristic that shouldn’t be seen in us? It’s childish to be carried away by the teaching of deceitful people or false beliefs.
How does the Bible describe someone who knows nothing about right teaching? Let’s continue reading the Bible. This time we’ll read Hebrews, we’ll read chapter 5 verse 13.
Any person who lives on milk is still a baby. That person knows nothing about right teaching.
[Hebrews 5:13 Easy-To-Read Version]
Brother Mark Vasquez: How does the Bible describe someone who knows nothing about right teaching? It likens that person to someone who is still living on milk. Who are the ones who live on milk because they’re not yet mature? Babies. And so those who do not know and follow the right teachings may be physically mature, but still spiritually immature.
How then does the Bible describe one who is mature? Let’s continue reading in Hebrews chapter 5. This time, we’ll read verse 12.
You have had enough time that by now, you should be teachers. But you need some person to teach you again, the first lessons of God’s teaching, you still need the teaching that is like milk. You are not ready for solid food.
[Hebrews 5:12 Easy-To-Read Version]
Brother Mark Vasquez: How did the Bible illustrate one who is mature? Or that person is like one who can already eat solid food, they no longer need to be taught again, the basic teachings. For those who are spiritually immature, there are some teachings that are difficult to digest or accept. How can we identify the ones who are still spiritually immature, and need to grow up? Let’s read that together in I Corinthians, we’ll read chapter 3, 2 until verse 4.
I had to feed you milk, not solid food, because you were not ready for it. And even now, you are not ready for it, because you still live as the people of this world live. When there’s jealousy among you and you quarrel with one another, doesn’t this prove that you belong to this world, living by its standards? When one of you says, “I follow Paul,” and another “I follow Apollos”— aren’t you acting like worldly people?
[I Corinthians 3:2-4 Good News Translation]
Brother Mark Vasquez: How can we identify the ones who are still spiritually immature and need to grow up? We can identify them by the way they live—they live like people of this world. At the beginning of our discussion, we may have considered maturity to be defined by our attitude and how we react in certain situations. For example, a child has a tantrum when he or she does not get what he wants. But an adult would be practical and patient. Yes, it’s true that attitude can be an indicator of one kind of maturity. But that’s not the only maturity that needs to be seen in us. The growing up that needs to be seen in all of us is spiritual. What needs to be seen in us is a spiritual maturity. And who is someone that is spiritually mature? One who accepts and follows all the teachings of God and does not live like people of the world, who do not accept and follow God’s teachings.
The teachings of God should change us, so we don’t live like the people around us. Let’s talk about a specific detail that we can develop in all of us to become spiritually mature. Did you notice the characteristics that are found in those who are childish? In the passage that we just read it said that when there is jealousy among you, and you quarrel with one another, doesn’t this prove that you belong to this world, living by its standards? Jealousy and quarreling is a sign that someone has some growing up to do. Let’s be mature adults, when there’s potential for a quarrel to arise in our communication with others.
What would be the mature thing to do if a quarrel has potential to arise? Let’s take a moment and think about the words we should use and how we should react. Ask ourselves, “How would someone mature react in this situation?” Then make a decision. Will we react like a child? Or like someone who is mature? Let’s be mature Christians and stay away from quarrels or discord that could arise in our friendships and communication with others. Why is it important to avoid quarreling and any conflict with each other? How does the Bible regard this? Let’s read in the book of James, we’ll read chapter 3, verses 16, 14 and 15. It says this.
Wherever there is jealousy and ambition, you will also find discord and all that is evil. But if your heart is full of bitter jealousy and ambition, do not try to show off; that would be covering up the truth: this kind of wisdom does not come from above but from the world and it is earthly and devilish.
[James 3:16 & 14-15 Christian Community Bible]
Brother Mark Vasquez: How does the Bible regard discord and quarreling? The Bible says it’s evil, it doesn’t come from God. Instead, the Bible says that it is devilish. If there are differences or misunderstandings that come up between us with others, let’s not attack each other, physically, verbally or any other way. Instead of attacking a person, we need to attack the problem, then solve any differences with each other. Not only to be considered mature, but so that we can make the Lord God happy.
Let’s go back to the main topic of our program for today. We’re talking about growing up, becoming mature. It’s possible that at the start of our program today, the first thing that you thought about growing up is how others talk and carry themselves in social situations. Yes, it’s true that those situations reflect a certain kind of maturity. But the maturity that we’re focusing on in our discussion is spiritual. We need to be spiritually mature. And what do we need to do so that we will be considered an adult and spiritually mature? Let’s read in the book of Hebrews chapter 5 verse 14, it says this.
Solid food is for adults who have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
[Hebrews 5:14 Christian Community Bible]
Brother Mark Vasquez: How do we become spiritually mature? We need to train ourselves to distinguish good from evil. The one who is spiritually mature, knows what is good and lives it.
Did you notice the specific term used by the Bible? For us to distinguish good from evil? The term used was trained, not just teach or instruct, there is a training that needs to happen in our lives to become mature. And what kind of training do we need to become spiritually mature? Let’s read that together in I Timothy, we’ll read I Timothy chapter 4, verse 8.
For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
[I Timothy 4:8 New International Version]
Brother Mark Vasquez: What kind of training do we need to become spiritually mature? The Bible said, physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things. What does godliness mean? Let’s read that same passage, this time, in another version of the Bible. This is what it says.
Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is valuable in every way, because it promises life both for the present and for the future.
[I Timothy 4:8 Good News Translation]
Brother Mark Vasquez: What does godliness mean? Spiritual exercise. We need to exercise or train ourselves in God’s words. How do we start? How can we have our spiritual exercise and be trained in godliness? It begins with being taught the words of God. If you’re not yet a member of the Church Of Christ, we’re inviting you to join us in our worship services, and listen to God’s words that will train us spiritually and transform us to become more mature.
Worship services in the Church Of Christ are not simply social gatherings, where our primary intention is to see each other as friends and fellow worshipers. That doesn’t mean that we don’t look forward to seeing each other. We do enjoy each other’s company in the Church, and even have activities in which we can appreciate each other as brothers and sisters in the faith. The worship service, though, is a very special time, when we can all gather together to worship God and listen to His words.
What do we need to do next, to make our spiritual training complete? Let’s read together in Leviticus, we’ll read Leviticus chapter 20, 7 until verse 8.
Take the way of holiness so that you be holy for I am the Lord, your God. You shall keep my laws and practice them. I, the LORD, your God, and the one who makes you holy.
[Leviticus 20 7:8 Chinese Contemporary Bible]
Brother Mark Vasquez: What do we need to do next to make our spiritual training complete? God commanded us, “you shall keep my laws and practice them.”When we hear God’s words in the Bible, let’s practice them and see his commandments in our actions. God’s words are not only a part of the worship services, the words of God should be a part of our everyday life.
When God’s words are put into practice in our life, we will notice how spiritually mature we can become. Not only when we interact with other people, maturity should be seen in us, even when no one is watching. With the internet ready at our fingertips, it could be easy to get carried away with the world around us and believe the things that we see and read.
Searching the Internet is not a bad thing. Chances are, you’re joining us on this program, because you were doing your own research on the web. However, we need to be spiritually mature when we surf the internet. How can we be spiritually mature when we surf the web? Let’s remember what we read in the Bible earlier. We should no longer be children, carried by the waves and blown about by every shifting wind of the teaching of deceitful people who lead others into error by their tricks.
A spiritually mature Christian is not easily deceived or scammed and recognizes what is good. The ones who are spiritually mature, won’t fall prey to the many deceitful people or their tricks. Don’t believe everything you read, or see that goes against God’s teachings. Hold on to the teachings of God and let’s put them into practice. God’s words should change us. Not the words of someone you don’t know or someone who is trying to get you to go against God’s teachings. Remember, a spiritually mature Christian is able to handle solid food, able to distinguish good from evil.
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Brother Mark Vasquez: Every day, we’re all growing physically older. That is mandatory and absolutely unavoidable, but growing up and maturing is our choice. We encourage all of you to train in godliness, so that we can grow spiritually together.
It is our prayer that all of you, joining us on this program, will hold on to God’s words and together grow in spiritual maturity and reap the many blessings that come from choosing a holy life guided by His teachings found in the Bible.
Thank you for joining us on this episode of The Solution. We’ll see you next time.
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