Click the "Sermons" button for access to hundreds more messages and
PowerPoint Presentations!
Use the controls, below, just like you would a VCR. Click the "Play"
arrow to begin. This page must remain open to continue listening. To browse the internet while you listen, open a new browser window by clicking on "File", then "New", then "Window".
Click here to vote for this sermon. [A new window will open.
Scroll to the bottom of the new page to enter your
vote. Then close the page to return to this page.]
If you appreciate this sermon ministry
then help spread the Word and recommend it to others by casting your vote.
And the child grew, and waxed strong in
spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
There is a statement about His body,
soul, and Spirit.
Luke 2:52
And Jesus increased in wisdom and
stature, and in favour with God and man.
This verse breaks the boy Jesus’ life
into 4 subgroups [He grew in 4 ways]:
Wisdom =
Mentally
Stature =
Physically
Favour with God =
Spiritually
Favour with Man = Socially
The 4th area is added because God
came to save man. And He leaves us here to continue that work, so we should
grow in these 4 ways as well.
Jesus is the perfect example of what God
wants a child to be like. Obviously, no human child can be perfect like
Jesus was…but His example is a goal to fix our eyes upon.
Like a proud parent, God shares with us a
snapshot of His Son, and we get a glimpse here of what Jesus was like as a
child.
Lessons from this scene of His childhood:
[from the text]
Remember that Jesus was a true and not
abnormal Child---no infant prodigy. He had emptied Himself to be in all
things man in all the stages of development. He had laid aside His glory.
He had not laid aside His deity…just the privileges of His deity. His life
at this time was the simple, unaffected life of a boy.
He did not attempt to instruct the doctors,
but, as a child should, He listened, and then asked questions. Jewish
children were encouraged to do this (Exod. 12. 26; 13. 8, 14 ; Deut. 6.20 ;
Joshua 4. 6). Then He replied to the questions put to Him. This is the
child’s correct attitude. “Seen and not heard,” my dad put it. Speak when
spoken to.
He had respect and courtesy to Elders…in His
attitude to the doctors and to His parents.
He obeyed his parents, and
was “subject” to them. He submitted, knowing they
were the boss for His own good.
Other lessons implied by His perfect growth:
[and by other scriptures]
Children should do their best to follow in
Jesus’ steps…to be like Jesus!
·Physically
Eating habits-Trying new things-Balanced
diet-No drugs, alcohol-Limit junk food-Have a reasonable bed time [in
general, God gave darkness for sleep, and daylight for work, but many “love
darkness, rather than light”…and we know why!]
Kids and adults should be healthy and
balanced…because that’s what Jesus did!
·Socially
Caring more for others than ourselves-Not
interrupting-Yes, sir/ma’am-Bro. Roger and Mrs. Joleen-Obeying
parents, teachers, and other grown ups in authority-Being respectful: Not
“what?” “huh?” or rude talk-Not yelling or being loud-Not cursing-Not
getting mad-Not pouting-Not lying-Not stealing-Not hitting-Not back
talking-Not complaining-Not being jealous-Not bragging-and not giving in to
peer pressure-Not trying to look like/dress like/act like the world.
Rather, using good manners at the
table-sitting still-saying please and thank you-saying I’m sorry when you
are bad, to the person and to God-being kind in how we talk to
people-listening when talked to-sharing with others-obeying as soon as we
are told-helping do chores at home-clean our room-not making big messes
unless we clean it up-doing our homework-always telling the truth-trying to
look nice, but be modest-be clean, comb hair, brush teeth-Wear clothes you
think Jesus would want you to, that make people respect you, not be
impressed with you.
·Mentally
To be happy and know how blessed we are-To be
a learner-To be humble-To have a good attitude-To not think about bad
things, not watch/listen to bad things.
·Spiritually
Jesus sat in the temple and listened, just
like we should listen at church, in s.s., in Word of Life Clubs or
youth night-To pray and read our Bibles and do our “Quiet Time”-To love
Jesus most of all and do our best to be like Him-To get saved, get baptized,
and tell others how they can be saved.
Jesus was a perfect kid, but we are all
sinners. So, we need to be saved and forgiven. Then, God can help us to do
better…to eat and sleep like Jesus, to love others and be nice, and behave,
to dress right, help out, and always do our best, to listen and learn and be
happy, and to come to church, and to think about God all the time we’re not
in church…to love Jesus and do our best to be more like Him every day!
Help keep this service free by
recommending it using:
