Disappointments New Christians Face

Lesson #574

TEXT:  2 John 4;  3 John 3-4

INTRODUCTION:

A.      THERE IS GREAT JOY IN SEEING NEW CHRISTIANS GROW.

B.      SOMETIMES THEY DON'T GROW AS THEY SHOULD.

C.      OLDER CHRISTIANS SHOULD BE CONCERNED( Gal. 6:1-2 ).

D.      THIS LESSON IS DESIGNED TO HELP US UNDERSTAND AND DEAL

          WITH SOME PROBLEMS NEW CHRISTIANS FACE.

I.     MANY ARE DISAPPOINTED IN THEMSELVES.

A.      SAME WEAKNESSES AS BEFORE.

          1.       Many become Christians with joyful anticipation( Acts 8:39 ).

          2.       Discovering temptation to be strong as ever they fall( Luke 8:13 ).

C.      HOW CAN WE HELP?

          1.       Teach transformation as an on-going process( Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Pet. 2:2 ).

          2.       Teach the power of repentance and prayer( 1 John 1:6-9;  Acts 8:22 ).

          3.       Remind that God provides strength to overcome( 1 Cor. 10:13;  Phil. 4:13 ).

II.    MANY ARE DISAPPOINTED BY THEIR BRETHREN.

A.      THEY WITNESS INCONSISTENCY IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS.

          1.       We are to set examples for our brethren( Titus 2:7 ).

          2.       It really hurts when seen in those they had looked up to( Matt. 18:6-7 ).

B.      THEY SUFFER ILL TREATMENT BY OTHER CHRISTIANS.

          1.       Warnings of Paul( Gal. 5:15;  1 Cor. 11:17-22;  1 Cor. 1:11-13 ).

          2.       Harsh words can be devastating to those new in the faith.

C.      WHAT CAN WE DO?

          1.       First, set better examples!( 1 Tim. 4:12 ).

          2.       Be consistent in our judgments( Matt. 7:1-5 ).

          3.       Be gentle in our rebukes( Gal. 6:1-2 ).

          4.       Allow love to rule( Eph. 4:1-3;  1 Cor. 13:4-7 ).

III.   BY TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS IN THE WORLD.

A.      WORLDLY PLEASURES & RESPONSIBILITIES ENTANGLE( Luke 8:14 ).

B.      UNBELIEVER FRIENDS COMPETE WITH GOD( 1 Cor. 15:33;  1 Pet. 4:3-4 ).

C.      WHAT CAN WE DO?

          1.       Demonstrate what it means to "seek first the kingdom of God"( Matt. 6:33 ).

          2.       Make it clear by our example who it is we love the most( 1 John 2:15-17 ).

          3.       Develop close friendships with new Christians( Rom. 12:10-11 ).

IV.   BY TEMPORAL FAILURE.

A.      SOME THINK THAT NOW ALL PROBLEMS WILL GO AWAY.

          1.       Some have temporal motivations( Acts 3:1-6;  1 Tim. 6:5 ).

          2.       Idea propagated by the "gospel of health and wealth" teachers, seed faith.

          3.       Our hope is not of the flesh( Phil. 3:3;  Luke 9:57-62 ).

B.      WE NEED TO PREPARE NEW CHRISTIANS FOR POSSIBLE ADVERSITY.

          1.       Even as Paul did ( Acts 14:21-22 ).

          2.       Job 14:1-2.

C.      WHERE IS THE NEW CHRISTIAN'S HOPE?( Acts 24:15;  Matt. 6:19-20 ).

V.    BY THEIR TEACHERS.

A.      NOT ENOUGH SCRIPTURE.

          1.       We are a people of faith( Gal. 6:10;  1 Cor. 16:13 ).

          2.       Faith comes from the Scripture( Rom. 10:17 ).

          3.       So does strength and instruction in daily life( 2 Tim. 3:16-17 ).

B.      NEGLECT OF THE TRUTH.

          1.       Not all of it( Acts 20:20,  26-27 ).

          2.       False teaching( Acts 20:29-30;  Matt. 15:13-14 ).

C.      OVERBEARING AND HATEFUL( 2 Tim. 2:24-26;  4:2 ).

D.      COMPROMISING AND UNCERTAIN.

          1.       Some are men-pleasers( 2 Tim. 4:3-4;  Gal. 1:10 ).

          2.       Some are fearful or money grubbers( Matt. 11:7-8 ).

          3.       No place for a compromiser in the pulpit( Prov. 23:23;  1 Cor 14:8 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      SOMETIMES NEW CHRISTIANS ARE DISILLUSIONED.

B.      HOPEFULLY WE CAN ALL REACH A STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT WHERE

          GROWTH IS STEADY AND PROGRESSIVE( Prov. 4:18 ).

C.      TO REACH THAT STAGE WE NEED TO

          1.       We need to have realistic expectations of problems to come.

          2.       We must be converted to Christ, not the church, teacher, or friend.

D.      HAVE YOU BEEN CONVERTED TO CHRIST?