Sermon by Ps Melisssa Quah at the Faith Community Baptist Church dated 4 Oct 2025.
Background: Matthew 18:3 says that unless we change to become like little children, we will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Yet, there is a difference between being children and being childish. It is time to grow up regardless of age, status and gender
Scripture: 1 Cor 13:11 when I was a child, I spoke/thought/understood as a child. When I grow up, I put away (render powerless) all childish things.
When we grow up, we do not tolerate and remove them completely.
What does it mean to grow up in Christ?
A. Put away childish things
3 things to put away:
1. Childish speech
We speak out of ignorance reveals our limited knowledge. It may sound like a complaining tongue - we focus on what we lack. Or a prideful toungue - we push others away by boasting. Under stress, our tongue hurts others because we do not speak with grace.
Proverbs 18:21 says that the tongue has the power of life and death.
2. Childish Thinking
Childish thoughts is based on feelings, when we doubt God's faithfulness. Feelings can be deceptive. Mature thinking is based on the word of God, that trials are allowed when God is shaping us. It is about responding to what we feel in a way that honors God.
3. Childish Reasoning
Choices are made on impulse and short term gratification. Maturity is to be able to distinguish between good and evil. Childish reasoning is to be angry when needs are not met, while mature reasoning is to honor God even when things are tough. The best way to take responsibility for our family is to take care of ourselves.
B. Pursue Christlike maturity
God's ultimate goal for our lives is Christlike maturity - to live, act, think like Jesus. The evidence is love. The ultimate evidence of spiritual maturity is love.