Luke 2:42, 46 (NKJV) And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast….Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.
What Jesus did by showing interest in spiritual matters is very typical for any 12-year-old Jewish boy. A Jewish boy celebrates his Bar Mitzvah at age 13. He is then required to follow the commandments of the Torah and is considered an adult under Jewish law, becoming responsible for his actions in terms of religious observance. Therefore, turning 12 is a significant milestone for a Jewish boy, as it marks the start of his preparation for the Bar Mitzvah and indicates a deeper engagement with his faith and responsibilities as he nears adulthood. It is a crucial time for spiritual and intellectual growth. He would be studying Hebrew, the Torah, and learning how to incorporate all the observances into his life.
Jesus spent three days listening to the teachings and asking questions in the temple. How about us? Are we prioritising our children’s time for spiritual growth, or are we only ensuring they succeed academically, musically, and in sports? Children today mature at a much younger age, similar to Jewish children in Jesus’ time. They learn from whatever they watch on their mobile devices, which may differ substantially from what the Bible teaches.
We should also reflect on whether we are growing spiritually as individuals and as a family. Spiritual maturity involves more than just accumulating Bible knowledge, but also applying the truth in our daily lives. Our goal is to become more like Christ. One way to do this is to hunger for the Word of God in our hearts and to set aside time to study the Bible. We are called to live out our transformed lives from the inside out.
Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
God never intends for us to stagnate in our spiritual growth—He doesn’t want adults to be overgrown babies still drinking milk and wearing diapers! God has made us free moral agents, allowing us to make choices in our lives. However, our decisions are not always wise and often motivated by self-interest. There is always a struggle in our hearts regarding what God desires for us versus what we want to do. We are either influenced by the world or shaped by God and His Word. Although Jesus is omniscient and a master of the Torah, he consistently chose to follow the right teachings. As Christians, we need to take responsibility for our spiritual growth, striving to grow yearly.
Sermon Series: Christmas 2025
以属灵成熟为目标
路加福音2:42、46 当他十二岁的时候，他们按着节期的规矩上去… 过了三天，就遇见他在殿里，坐在教师中间，一面听一面问。
耶稣在属灵事上的专注与渴慕，对任何一位十二岁的犹太男孩来说都是十分典型的。犹太男孩在十三岁时举行成人礼（Bar Mitzvah），从那时起，他就必须遵守律法（Torah）的诫命，并在犹太律法下被视为成年人，需要为自己的宗教生活与行为负责。因此，十二岁对犹太男孩而言是一个极其重要的阶段，标志着他开始为成人礼作预备，也意味着他在信仰与责任上进入更深层的投入。这是属灵与思想成长的关键时期。他们会学习希伯来文、研读律法（Torah），并学习如何将各种宗教规条实践在日常生活中。
耶稣在圣殿里花了三天的时间，聆听教导并提出问题。那我们呢？我们是否也在为孩子预留成长属灵生命的时间，还是只关注他们在学业、音乐和体育方面的成就？当今的孩子在心理与认知上成熟得更早，正如耶稣时代的犹太儿童一样。他们从手机与电子设备中学习的内容，往往与圣经所教导的价值观有很大差距。
我们也需要反思，作为个人和家庭，我们是否正在属灵上持续成长。属灵成熟不仅仅是累积圣经知识，更在于将真理活出来，落实在日常生活中。我们的目标是越来越像基督。实现这一目标的其中一个途径，就是在内心渴慕神的话语，并刻意分别时间来研读圣经。我们蒙召，是要活出从内而外被更新、被改变的生命。
罗马书12:1–2 所以弟兄们，我以神的慈悲劝你们，将身体献上，当做活祭，是圣洁的，是神所喜悦的，你们如此侍奉乃是理所当然的。不要效法这个世界，只要心意更新而变化，叫你们察验何为神的善良、纯全、可喜悦的旨意。
神从未计划让我们在属灵生命中停滞不前——祂不希望成年人仍然像长不大的婴孩，只能吃奶、还穿着尿布！神赐给我们自由意志，使我们能够为人生作出选择；然而，我们的决定并不总是明智的，也常常受到私欲的驱使。在我们的内心，总存在着神对我们的心意与我们个人意愿之间的拉扯。我们不是被这个世界所塑造，就是被神和祂的话语所更新。虽然耶稣本身全知，又完全明白律法（Torah），祂仍然持续选择顺服正确的教导。
作为基督徒，我们需要为自己的属灵成长承担责任，立志在每一年中不断成长、不断成熟。
讲章系列：2025 年圣诞节