C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL FOR JUNE 5, 2022 UNIT THREE, LESSON TEN : TOPIC – FROM BABES TO FULL GROWN CHRISTIAN

No matter how a baby is cute, it be comes a matter of concern when it doesn’t mature to childhood and adulthood at the appropriate time. No parent can be comfortable with a boy of 10 still depending on the feeding bottle for survival. The same goes with our spiritual lives. God isn’t comfortable with being babyish in the our walk with Him. After being born unto His family, we must mature, and do this fast, according to His schedule and expectations.

A. THE SORRY STATE OF IMMATURITY (5:11-14)

For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is babe (v.13).

i. v. 11: The immature are dull of hearing. They are difficult to explain the things of God to, because of their spiritual dullness. How do you explain the principle of calculus in Mathematics to a 6-year-old?

ii. v. 12: It is a sorry and shameful situation for one who has been in the church, for years, expected to have been mature enough to handle some tasks, to be actually incapable of such tasks. Maturity is a function of responsibility, thinking capacity, discretion, and sound decision-making.

iii. v. 12b: Milk is for babies while solid food is for adults (cf. v. 14). Imagine a 12-year-old still on breast milk and feeding bottle! Something is wrong. Babies don’t take solid food, neither can they be left with sensitive tasks, lest they mess such up. If you are being constantly excuses from sensitive tasks, it is can be a sign that you are immature!

iv. Imagine king Saul feeling compelled by his followers to act against God’s ordinance (1 Sam. 13:8ff), and to partially obey God’s directive, passing the bulk to the followers (1 Sam. 15:1ff)! The immature seldom make sound decisions under pressure, and are insecurity (cf. Eccl. 10:16).

v. v.13: The immature are unskilled in the word of righteousness, because they only depend on milk. They take offence at the hard truth of the Word of righteousness (1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Tim. 4:3,4), and void opportunities for service, because they are mentally and physically lazy.

vi. v. 14: Solid tasks are for the mature and responsible, the tested and trusted, who discern good from evil. Can God and your leaders boast of your competence? God gives the toughest and most sensitive matters to his toughest and most sensitive children.

vii. The disproportionately growing child is a thorn in the parents’ flesh. So is the Christian who is not properly maturing. He/She causes God and those around him/her in the Christian race, pain.

B. THE NEED TO QUIT IMMATURITY (6:1-8)

Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith towards God (v.1).

i. vv. 1-2: It is high time we quitted babyhood! The new-born feeds on milk, but is soon weaned and graduated to semi-liquid, demi-semi solid, semi-solid, and then to real solid foods.

ii. On every learning platform, the elementary stage is for beginners alone, who are however not allowed to remain there for too long. They should keep growing until they become independent. Maturity is imperative!

iii. Paul stresses that we should outward the stage of being spiritually spoon-fed, to become mature in the Kingdom matters. Growth is the key! And the willingness must be there (v. 3). Constantly answering every altar call for repentance is a sign that you are not growing spiritually.

iv. vv. 4-6: Deliberately apostatising after having walked with Christ unto maturity sounds impossible; but where it happens, it is suicidal! Such apostasy is regarded as a deliberate action, more grievous than being a total unbeliever. It is like a restored blind man who still pretends not see. What a shame! No more sacrifice for wilful sins (Heb. 10:26).

v. vv. 7,8: God’s investment in man is for his growth; not stagnancy or dormancy. God is happy with the growing, and blesses them for increased productivity (Jn. 15:1-2). Not growing/maturity to bear godly fruits attracts God’s wrath (Mat. 7:19; 3:10; Mk. 11:12-14,20-21; Jn. 15:6).

vi. Immaturity is a spiritual disease that causes spiritual deficiency on its own. Immature Christians are difficult to deal with, they do not understand beyond the peripherals (elementary) parts, misinterpret deep doctrines, cause rancour and disparity among brethren. Hope you are not one of them?

LESSONS DERIVED

1. An immature Christian is regarded as unproductive. Sensitive spiritual matters cannot be put in his/her care, else he/she messes them up.

2. Immature Christians stand the risk of being cursed and destroyed by God (Rev. 3:16).

QUESTIONS

1. Maturity is not a function of age, but of genuine growth, responsibility, discernment and discretion. Discuss.

2. Differentiate between milk and solid food according to this lesson. How can we identify Christians of both categories, respectively?

SUGGESTED ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

ANSWER TO QUESTION 1:

i. Age is just a number when it comes to maturity and responsibility.

ii. Maturity is more about the state of the mind, rather than the body structure or physical appearance.

iii. God found the little boy, David, mature enough to be made king over His people, rejecting his well-built and giant-looking elder brothers.

iv. It is more of what a person can handle per time, his/her actions and reactions under pressure, sound decision-making skills, and not so much of the age.

v. Maturity is an accumulation of daily and regular growth over time, not an accident event. One’s maturity is not made known by any form of self-announcement, but noticed and observed by others through one’s actions and reactions.

ANSWER TO QUESTION 2

i. Luke 7:16; By actions, reactions, attitude and character, each person will prove the category he/she belongs to.

ii. Character is like flame, it cannot be hidden or covered for too long. It does not take too long before a person shows who he/she really is.

iii. Just as a child who is well fed appears more radiant and balanced than the meal-nourished one, so is how the different will be clear between a solid-food-Christian and a milk-Christian.

LIFE APPLICATION

Growth is natural and normal, but every Christian towards spiritual growth must make deliberate efforts. Growth breeds maturity. It is the accumulation of daily and regular steps, such as daily Bible reading/personal study, praying, seeking to do God’s will rather than one’s own will, cooperate fellowship with other Brethren, etc. When growth is not in place, groaning takes place, and full maturity becomes unattainable.

CONCLUSION

Every reasonable parent is proud and happy to see his/her children become prominent, responsible and full-grown, but there was a time when all the parent expected of such child was to eat, drink, sleep, play and be cuddled. The natural events such as time, coupled with deliberate effort of tangible investments of the parents on such child shift the expectation to growth and maturity. God, our Father, expects His children to grow and keep growing until perfect maturity is attained someday. Take note of this; anyone who refuses to take charge remain in chains; and when growth does not take place, groaning is inevitable. Selah!

DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READINGS FOR WEEK TWO

Mon. 6: Samuel Is Born (1 Sam. 1:20)

Tue. 7: Samuel Is Weaned (1 Sam. 1:24)

Wed. 8: Samuel Is Handed Over To God (1 Sam. 1:25-28)

Thur. 9: Samuel Grows In The Lord (1 Sam. 2:26)

Fri. 10: Samuel Begins To Hear God’s Voice (1 Sam. 3:4-13)

Sat. 11: Samuel Becomes God’s Authority (1 Sam. 3:19-21; 4:1)