IRON MAN 1 – A Call to Mentor Lesson Ten MAN UP BIBLE SERIES IRON MAN 1 – A Call to Mentor Lesson Ten

The Real World I have four kids and like all families we had the marks on the doorway that showed how tall every kid was. It was simply amazing to see the growth that took place in their bodies as they got older. They also all had their individual growth patterns. The girls grew fast until about age 12 then slowed down and stopped. My son grew a steady rate until he was about 16 then he stopped. That is the way it is for us as Christians. We all have our growth patterns. The only difference is we are never supposed to arrive. We are never at a place where we can just stop. Say we have arrived. It is simply not possible to be all that God has in store for us! This process of becoming like Christ is the work of a moment and a lifetime! Get started and keep going!

The Real Word Ephesians 4 New International Version (NIV) Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ 4 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it[a] says: “When he ascended on high,     he took many captives     and gave gifts to his people.”[b] 9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions[c]? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 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. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Real Talk When did you stop growing as a person? Can you start growing once you have stopped? Do you want to grow as a person?

Real Steps The Christian life is a process of growth: Luke 6:40 – Following Christ to become like him. Roman 8:29 – Conformed to the likeness of Christ. Eph. 4:13 – Full measure of Christ. Col. 1: 15,17 – Jesus is Lord of All! Minds, Body and Soul! Eph. 4: 12 -15 – No longer infants. Grow up! 2 Peter 3: 18 – Christian Life is about growing! John 2: 12 – 14 – Three Stages of Life. Child – Learning basic skills. Walking etc. Young Adult – Developing coping skills for life. Independence etc. Adult – Making sense of life. And Creating others like you. Which stage are you at in your spiritual development?

Time to Close So in this last word on this series “IRON MAN 1” I wanted to talk for a moment about personal responsibility. If you want to grow do the following: Find a Mentor. A Paul (Older) and Barnabas (Peer) Make Mentoring a Way of Life. (One hour a week) Find Mentors for your kids. (Youth Pastor, Coach) Mentor Someone else. Timothy (Younger) It does not take a lot to make a big difference in someone’s life. Think about that person who made the huge difference in your life. They were just living life and looking out to help along the way. Most often we can impact people intentionally by taking an hour a week to show we care. Time to MAN UP!