1. While
in
2. People from all ages were seen.
3. The variety of people I saw and met reminds me what the Bible teaches about man.
A. There is in scripture what I would call “The Progression of life.”
B. Life begins with infancy and lasts until old age.
C. Tonight we want to examine this entire process.
4. The beginning of life for each person is a time of spiritual innocence.
5. The Bible teaches that young children are pleasing to God and without sin.
6. In
Mk.
A. Does
the
B. Does it belong to those who please God or those who anger God?
C. The
D. Since children are part of the kingdom, they are with the saved & they please God.
7. As children grow their relationship with God changes.
A. There comes a time when people violate God’s laws and God holds them accountable.
B. A period arises when people become responsible for their sins.
C. Because of sin the period of purity is lost.
D. Let’s say that people realize this and become a Christian before they reach the age of 20.
E. Let’s say that a person decides to become a Christian in their teenage years.
F. In our “progression of life,” what should be taking place in the lives of teenagers?
i). Teens should seek to be obedient and virtuous.
ii). In Eph. 6:1 Paul said, “Children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right.”
iii). Most will remember the time when Jesus was 12 years old, Lk. 2:42
iv). During this time in His life Jesus was “subject” to His parents, Lk. 2:51.
v). He obeyed His parents.
vi). He
also increased in “favor with God” (Lk.
vii). As a teenager Jesus was thinking about His spiritual responsibilities and living a pure life.
viii). At the present time a number of teens are trying to figure out how to live and what to do.
ix). The Bible gives them an answer.
x). Teens are to strive for obedience to parents and service to God.
xi). Solomon said in Eccl. 12:1, “Remember thy creator in the days of thy youth.”
8. In the progression of life people eventually move from birth to the teenage years.
9. After the teenage years comes the 20’s.
A. This period life has been called the “teachable twenties.”
B. The teenage years are gone. At this time in life people are definitely classified as adults.
C. Where should we be headed, spiritually speaking, if we are in our 20’s?
D. We should be people who are actively learning more and more about God.
E. Timothy was a young man. Most believe he was under 40.
F. Perhaps he was in his 30’s or even in his mid to late 20’s.
G. To this young man Paul gave some lasting words of wisdom.
H. The apostle Paul said in 2 Tim. 2:15, “Give diligence.”
I. “Present yourself to God as a workman. Work at understanding God’s word and will.”
J. “Handle the word of truth” and “handle it properly.”
K. Use God’s word and use it in a way that pleases God.
L. There is no better advice in the world for someone who is in their 20’s.
M. This is a period of life to study, learn, and ask questions so Christian growth can be spurred.
N. This is the time to grow in knowledge so people will be later grounded in the faith.
O. Creating a firm foundation at this time of life will eventually help people become elders and deacons.
P. Learning during the 20’s will help train people to become effective Bible class teachers.
i). This will allow ladies become godly wives and mothers.
Q. Peter
told his readers (1 Pet.
R. He told his brethren to be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the Christian hope.
S. An ideal time to do this is in our 20’s.
i). After the 20’s pass we enter into the 30’s.
ii). Though some might disagree, I am going to call this period the tireless 30’s.
iii). Life when people are in their 30’s can be very busy.
iv). At this time in life many know what they want to do and they are working on a career.
v). Some are trying to pursue additional education.
vi). This
is a time when many in
vii). During this time of life the Bible offers some helpful information.
a). Do we remember 1 Cor. 15:58?
b). Be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.
c). This passage is an excellent verse to describe life in the 30’s.
d). People can be pulled in so many directions that God and service to Him are set aside.
e). Some have said to me and others, “we are just too busy for church.”
f). The apostle said, “Be steadfast. Be unmovable.”
g). If something needs to be moved or abandoned, it must be something other than God.
h). Children watch their parents and they see their priorities.
i). They know where their parents rate God and eternity.
j). The 30’s are a time when we can turn our children to our from God.
10. After the 30’s comes the 40’s.
A. This is the time when the over the hill parties begin.
B. One description for this time of life is the “fighting 40’s.”
C. This is a time when Paul’s words in 1 Tim. 6:12 may be helpful –
D. Fight the good fight of the faith.
E. Also, 2 Cor. 10:4 – “for the weapons of our warfare are not flesh and blood.”
F. My favorite reference for those who are in the 40’s is Heb. 12:1.
i). Therefore
let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses,
lay aside
every weight, and the sin which
doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is
set before us.
11. Those who are in the 40’s have probably been in the Christian race for at least a little while.
A. Now is the time when they may start thinking twice about what they have done.
B. The spiritual life may be reexamined or reevaluated.
C. One man in his 40’s recently said, (and he is not from here),
D. “I contributed a lot of money to this church for the last 15 years.”
E. This brother has been having some second thoughts about things.
F. People in their 40’s sometimes find themselves evaluating things.
G. The Hebrew writer says, “Look at the witnesses. Look at the evidence.
i). You are on the right course.” “Stick with the program and run patiently. Keep going.”
H. This is a summary for those in their 40’s.
12. Let’s say that people keep going until their 50’s.
A. The 50’s can be a time of fervency and increased godliness.
B. Rom. 12:11 speaks of being fervent in spirit and serving the Lord.
C. 1 Pet. 1:22 describes a fervent love for God’s people. READ.
D. Perhaps the best way to illustrate this time of life is to appeal to Hillary Clinton.
E. Mrs. Clinton is in her 50’s.
F. She has reached a time in life when she is part of the U.S. Senate.
G. That job requires so fervency and pep.
H. This is a time of life when people can render some type of fervent service.
I. Some pursue political office or something else.
J. For the Christian this service can be directed to God.
K. Think of this period as the fervent 50’s.
13. From the 50’s we naturally move to the 60’s.
A. If the 50’s are a time for increased godliness this increase is more pronounced in the 60’s.
B. In Rom. 8:6 Paul presented the two types of life that people can choose.
C. People can life after the flesh or after the Spirit.
D. Living and thinking after the flesh leads to death.
E. Living and thinking according to the Spirit results in life and peace.
F. Those who are in their 60’s have lived for more than half a century.
G. By this time people have had the chance to develop a well-established pattern of life.
H. Enough years have passed to clearly demonstrate the qualities in Gal. 5:22-23.
I. In Gal. 5 Paul described the fruit of the Spirit.
J. The list includes love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, & self control.
K. Another passage that comes to mind is Heb. 13:1 – let brotherly love continue.
L. We can look at many Christians in their 60’s and find characters like the Bible describes.
M. Godliness and spirituality characterizes many faithful church members who are in this age bracket.
N. If we are several years shy of being in the 60’s this should be our goal.
O. When we reach our 60’s our goal is to have a life that closely matches God’s word.
P. We can attain this goal if we follow the steps for the ages already given.
14. When the 70’s arrive, life takes a new turn.
A. Passages like Gal. 6:9 become especially meaningful. Paul said, quote.
B. Paul spoke of continuing to serve because there would be a time for “reaping.”
C. Also, 1 Cor. 16:13 – Paul said “watch.”
D. The time of death is getting closer and closer.
E. The brevity of life is becoming more and more apparent. Thus, we need to watch; be ready.
F. Paul also said, “Cleave to that which is good” (Rom. 12:9).
G. I remember a man who helped on a campaign in New Zealand.
H. He turned 70 during the crusade.
I. He understood that a time of reckoning was coming, and his lifespan was growing shorter & shorter.
J. He wanted to cleave to that which was good and he did.
K. I remember another man was in his 70’s when I first met him.
L. He literally lived as Paul described. He patiently worked with the church and he watched.
M. Though he was severely handicapped he watched and waited for the Lord to take him home.
N. This man was a great encouragement to fellow Christians.
O. Some who cleave are allowed to live until they reach the 80’s.
15. At this point, even with modern technology, life becomes noticeably fragile.
A. Passages like Rev. 2:10 come to mind – be faithful no matter what the cost.
B. In Tit. 2:2 Paul spoke of men who are old.
C. He didn’t say how old old is, but let’s say that people in their 80’s qualify.
D. To those who are old God’s word says,
E. “Be temperate, grave, sober-minded, sound in faith, in love, in patience.”
F. For many this time of life is very close to the end.
G. When that end comes it is a time of victory and joy for those who lived as a Christian.
H. In the 80’s and certainly after this time it is a time to cling to God and His promises.
I. It is a time for faith and hope to grow even stronger.
16. The Bible gives us information about life.
17. From birth till death God tells us how to live and what to emphasize.
18. This evening where are we in the progression of life?
A. Have we reached the age of accountability but we have not become a Christian?
B. Are we a teenager who is failing to do what the Bible says?
C. What about those in their 20’s—are you searching for the knowledge you will need later in life?
D. Are those in their 30’s staying faithful to God in the midst of busy lives?
E. To those in their 40’s, are you staying on the road and not looking back?
F. What about those in their 50’s and up?
19. God has a plan for us no matter where we are in life.
20. If you need help finding or following that plan we would like to assist you.