Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Determine to Mature

This week’s lesson, “Determine to Mature” speaks personally to all of us since God’s will for us is to grow in maturity (cf. Eph 4:11-16). We need maturity to properly deal with the focal verses in chapter 6.

Step 2 of the lesson starts with Hebrews 5:11-14. I’m amazed at the relationship between the writer of Hebrews and his immature Christian Hebrew readers. Mind you they were adults, but he had the freedom to speak very bluntly to them as children: “you have become slow to understand.” (see also v12).

Can you imagine saying that to adults today? Feeling insulted, most would up and leave after an insinuation let alone such a direct statement. He said the Hebrew Christians “have become slow” implying they are regressing. That it, these Christians were once quick learners and grew fast, but now they are going backwards.

To illustrate this regression, J. Dwight Pentecost in his book “A Faith That Endures” likens the Hebrew Christians to adults that have put on children clothes. Maybe we could show a photo of an adult dressed as a child and ask what’s wrong with this picture?

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

to introduce the lesson i am trying come up with a way of using a restaurants kids menu. something to the effect of: "after class you are all invited to 'texas roadhouse' (steakhouse). we are going to order ahead so that we won't have to wait. please circle what you would like and pass the menu's forward".

when the complaining begins i will assert the fact that they cannot digest steak. they will have to choose hamburger, mac cheese, mashed potatoes etc.

an adult (age wise) would be offended to eat from a childrens menu but dont find it offensive to eat spiritually from a kids menu.

servingHim said...

Pat, I love your idea of using a kid's menu! Outstanding!

Below is the Kids Menu from Berryhill's, one of our favorite places:

$3.99
served with French fries, jello and a soft drink

Chicken Fingers
Cheese Quesadillas
Tempura Fish
Cheese Enchilada

servingHim said...

Hi Dillon,

From what I’ve read, the authorship of Hebrews has been debated for centuries. For example, the church traditionally believed Paul was the author when Martin Luther suggested Apollos wrote Hebrews (see LifeWay Explore the Bible Commentary on Hebrews, p.6).

I remember as a young adult being taught that Paul probably wrote Hebrews since there are many good arguments for his authorship.

To answer your question, I assume the alternatives are better discussed today, or at lest they are more accessible, and hence, younger people believe as you suggest.

Perhaps there is a seminary educated reader who would like to respond to Dillon?