Grow Up * Stop Crying * Start Caring

     “I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”          Philippians 1:6  NLT

      Why did Paul have to remind the Corinthian church of their spiritual carnality? They allowed the natural things of life to creep into their spiritual lives. It compromised their testimony to the point of ineffectiveness.

Read:  1 Corinthians 3:1-23 

I.  It Begins With Spiritual Birth

            John 3:3-7  a supernatural rebirth

            John 5:24  salvation is a present tense

*  spiritual eternity begins at the moment of salvation

            Ephesians 2:1-10 we are spiritually made alive- “quickened”

*  however, there are two natures to contend with every day

*  these two natures are different from one another and are at war

            Galatians 5:16,17  one is always fighting the other for our time

II.  What To Do With The Sinful Flesh 

            Colossians 3:5-10  prepare it for burial

            Ephesians 4:22-32  allow for spiritual renewal

            Romans 6:7-13  pronounce it dead- buried

III.  Nurture Spiritual Growth

*  winning this flesh / spirit battle is what causes us to mature in Christ

*  growing up spiritually is hard, but NOT impossible to do

*  we must allow the Holy Spirit to mold us and make us like Christ

* how ?  vs. 3,4  stop acting like babies

*  babies must begin with milk, but then grow into eating solid food

            Hebrews 5:12-14

*  begin with spiritual baby food-  not hard theology

            Matthew 4:3,4  feed on God’s Bread

*  vs. 5-9  don't worship leaders (people)  instead of God

*  vs. 10-15  stop focusing your eternal values on the wrong things

*  be cautious about what you build your spiritual life upon-

*  built upon anything other than Jesus Christ will soon fall down !

*  vs. 16  always keep in mind who you are and what price was paid