Growing Up | Herbert Cooper
Proverbs 18:22 He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord. (NIV)
1 Corinthians 13:11 It’s like this: when I was a child I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child does. But when I became a man my thoughts grew far beyond those of my childhood, and now I have put away the childish things. (TLB)
A. Put away childlike thinking
James 3:16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. (NIV)
Philippians 2:3–4 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (NIV)
B. Put away childlike speaking
Four Ways to Overcome Childish Communication
1. Don’t attack the person, attack the problem
Ephesians 4:29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. (NLT)
2. Listen to understand more than you talk to be understood
Proverbs 18:13 Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish. (NLT)
Proverbs 18:2 Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. (NIV)
3. Be honest and honorable
Ephesians 4:15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. (NIV)
4. Talk to resolve the problem and to maintain peace, not to win the battle
Proverbs 17:14 Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate, so stop before a dispute breaks out. (NLT)
Proverbs 20:3 It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel. (NIV)
C. Put away childlike reasoning
Proverbs 22:3 A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. (NLT)
Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. (NIV)
Proverbs 15:22 Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success. (NLT)
