In what ways can you "reason like an adult" in faith practices? Growing Up in Christ: Paul’s Picture of Maturity • “When I was a child, I talked like a child… I reasoned like a child.” (1 Corinthians 13:11a) • “When I became a man, I set aside childish ways.” (1 Corinthians 13:11b) Paul moves from childish talk, thought, and reasoning to adult, Christ-shaped maturity. Spotting Childish Reasoning • Self-centered conclusions (“What benefits me most?”) • Quick agreement with popular voices without testing them (Ephesians 4:14) • Emotional swings that override truth (Proverbs 14:29) • Ignoring consequences of choices (Galatians 6:7) • Treating love as a feeling, not a commitment (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 summary) Core Marks of Adult Reasoning in Faith • Anchored in Scripture – “Your word is truth.” (John 17:17) • Discernment developed by practice – “Solid food is for the mature… trained to distinguish good from evil.” (Hebrews 5:14) • Renewed thinking, not conformed thinking – “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2) • Truth expressed in love – “Speaking the truth in love, we will grow.” (Ephesians 4:15) • Willing submission to Christ’s lordship in every area (Colossians 2:6-7) Daily Practices That Strengthen Adult Reasoning 1. Consistent, sequential Bible intake • Read, study, memorize, and meditate, letting Scripture set the agenda. 2. Prayer that listens as well as speaks • Bring decisions before the Lord; wait for His guidance through His Word. 3. Testing every teaching • Compare sermons, books, and cultural trends with Scripture (Acts 17:11). 4. Fellowship with mature believers • Seek counsel; invite loving correction (Proverbs 27:6, 17). 5. Obedience in the small things • Faithfulness in everyday choices trains the conscience. 6. Service motivated by love • Mature reasoning moves from “What do I get?” to “Whom can I bless?” (Mark 10:45). 7. Long-view perspective • Evaluate present actions by eternal outcomes (2 Corinthians 4:18). Indicators You Are Reasoning Like an Adult • Decisions increasingly shaped by Scripture rather than impulse. • Ability to spot half-truths and lovingly refute them. • Emotional responses tempered by facts and faith. • Stable commitment to church, family, and ministry roles. • Growth in sacrificial love that mirrors 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. • Persistent hope and patience under trial (James 1:2-4). The Goal: Love on Display Adult reasoning is never cold intellect; it produces the warm, enduring love described in 1 Corinthians 13. As childish ways fall away, Christ’s mature love flows through speech, choices, and relationships, building up His people and honoring His name. |
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