Grow Up! By David Wood

May 04, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Holding Heads and Hearts High

A newborn lifts her head for the first time, muscles trembling under the weight of new life. Relatives cheer at the milestone, celebrating growth in real time. Paul watched spiritual infants take first steps too—repentance, baptism, sharing faith. Each victory matters, but stunted growth alarms shepherds. A four-year-old still crawling would break a father’s heart. [02:12]

God designed believers to mature, not plateau. Just as toddlers progress from rolling to walking, disciples must move from milk to meat. Jesus calls us upward—deeper obedience, broader service, richer love. Infancy delights heaven, but adulthood glorifies Him.

Where have you celebrated growth only to stall? Identify one area you’ve remained “stuck” despite years passing—prayer habits, bitterness, or financial surrender. What step will you take this week to strain toward what’s next?

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
(Philippians 1:6, ESV)

Prayer: Ask God to reveal one underdeveloped area of your faith, then claim His promise to finish what He started.
Challenge: Text a mature believer today to share one spiritual milestone you’ve reached this year.

Day 2: Eyes Only for the Bridegroom

Eve listened to the serpent’s hiss, her gaze shifting from Eden’s beauty to forbidden fruit. Centuries later, Corinthian believers wavered—entranced by flashy speakers charging admission while Paul preached freely. Distraction breeds disaster. Paul warned: “I promised you to one husband—Christ!” [09:25]

Pure devotion means singular focus. Jesus demands first place, not competing altars. Money, reputation, or pleasure often dethrone Him subtly. Like a bride saving her “yes” for the wedding day, we guard our hearts against counterfeit loves.

What rival “voice” competes for your attention? Social media scrolls? Financial security? Secret indulgences? Name the serpent’s whisper most likely to divert you this week. How will you reaffirm your first love?

“I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.”
(2 Corinthians 11:2, NIV)

Prayer: Confess any divided loyalties, then sing one worship song aloud to refocus on Christ’s worthiness.
Challenge: Delete one app or unsubscribe from one service that distracts you from wholehearted devotion.

Day 3: Robbing Banks to Feed Family

Paul shocked Corinthians by refusing payment for preaching. “I ‘robbed’ other churches to serve you!” He exposed their warped view—valuing paid orators over free grace. Only 41% of households gave last month, mirroring Corinth’s reluctance. Stinginess stunts growth. [18:32]

God owns every resource. Hoarding reveals distrust; giving proves mastery over money. Mature believers tithe firstfruits, not leftovers. Like toddlers releasing grasped toys, we open hands to bless others.

Does your budget reflect God’s ownership or your control? Track last month’s spending—what percentage honored eternal priorities? What one adjustment would declare, “Jesus owns this”?

“Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge?”
(2 Corinthians 11:7, NIV)

Prayer: Thank God for three specific provisions this week, then commit to giving your next income first.
Challenge: Review your last bank statement. Circle every “want” purchase, then redirect that amount to giving.

Day 4: Snapping Turtles in Sermon’s Clothing

False apostles infiltrated Corinth, masquerading as light. Paul unmasked them: Satan’s agents peddling prosperity, legalism, or universalism. Like snapping turtles luring fish with worm-like tongues, heresy dresses deadly lies in familiar bait. [22:28]

Truth matters. Cheap grace (“God doesn’t care about sin”) and toxic rigor (“Salvation requires works”) both distort the cross. Mature believers test teachings against Scripture’s plumb line.

What teaching have you consumed lately without vetting? A podcast, book, or viral post? How does it align with 1 Corinthians 15:3-4’s core gospel?

“For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.”
(2 Corinthians 11:13-14, NIV)

Prayer: Ask God for discernment to spot one deceptive message you’ve recently encountered.
Challenge: Evaluate one influencer’s teaching by comparing three statements to Scripture.

Day 5: First Importance

Paul prioritized non-negotiables: “Christ died for sins, was buried, rose.” The gospel roots in historical acts, not feelings or trends. Maturity means clinging to this anchor when storms of false teaching rage. [29:24]

Every doctrine branches from this trunk. Distill faith to essentials: Jesus’ substitutionary death, bodily resurrection, and exclusive salvation. Heresies sprout when we add or subtract.

Can you articulate the gospel’s core like Paul did? If asked, would your explanation center on Christ’s finished work or your own efforts?

“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”
(1 Corinthians 15:3-4, NIV)

Prayer: Thank Jesus specifically for His death, burial, and resurrection—naming one sin His sacrifice covered.
Challenge: Memorize 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 and share it with one person this week.

Sermon Summary

This passage from 2 Corinthians urges the church to move beyond infancy and pursue deliberate spiritual growth. Paul uses simple images of children learning to hold up their heads to show how alarming it is when growth stops; spiritual life must continue to develop or it becomes a serious problem. Paul treats the community like a bride promised to one husband and warns that divided affections lead believers away from sincere devotion to Christ. The letter exposes how cultural measures of success can distract a congregation into valuing reputation, wealth, or applause more than Christ’s name.

The text unfolds three clear areas of maturity. First, pure devotion requires single-hearted love for Jesus, resisting the slow drift toward worldly attractions that once tempted Eve. Second, financial faithfulness shows whether Christ truly rules a heart; money becomes a test of loyalty and priority, not merely a budget item. Paul models generosity by preaching freely and accepting sacrificial support, calling the community to move from consumer to contributor. Third, discernment in teaching protects the church from counterfeit gospels that sound attractive but betray the cross—prosperity promises, legalistic earning of favor, universalism, and distorted Christology all fall short of Scripture’s claim about who Christ is and what salvation costs.

The passage presses for practical change. Devotion must be reclaimed so that nothing holds the first place reserved for Christ. Finances must reflect first-fruits trust rather than a fear-driven grasping, and leaders must shepherd doctrine carefully so congregations learn to test every teacher by the clear gospel of Christ crucified, buried, and raised. The call feels both urgent and pastoral: celebrate early faith, but refuse to settle for spiritual infancy. Growth looks like deeper love, tangible stewardship, and sober theological discernment that together form a mature, faithful body ready to present itself pure and ready for the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Key Takeaways

1. Devote yourself to Jesus alone Paul calls for undivided affection that treats Christ as the one true bridegroom. Devotion is not mere sentiment but a practiced loyalty that repels subtle compromises—reputation, pleasure, and material success. Guarding single-heartedness requires daily choices to place Christ before competing goods. This devotion forms the foundation for all other maturity. [09:25]
2. Put God first in finances Money exposes ultimate loyalties and reveals whether Christ sits on the throne of the heart. True generosity begins with recognizing every resource as entrusted and responds by giving first, not last. Financial faithfulness functions as a spiritual discipline that breaks the idol of self-sufficiency and advances kingdom work. It shows whether growth has moved from infancy to adulthood. [18:32]
3. Reject counterfeit gospels and teachers False messages often come camouflaged with warmth, success, or clever words but betray the cross and the true nature of Christ. Discernment requires learning core gospel facts—Christ died for sins, was buried, and rose—then using Scripture to test every doctrine. Protecting the flock means refusing comforting distortions that cost the soul. Mature faith stands on revealed truth, not on appealing alternatives. [23:53]
4. Measure teaching by Scripture alone Sound theology forms spiritual muscles and steers communities away from error and confusion. Regular engagement with Scripture trains judgment, so new voices meet the standard of biblical truth rather than popularity. Leaders exist to help interpret and guard that standard, and every believer must grow in theological literacy. Faith matures when Scripture governs belief and practice. [29:24]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:48] - Family stories and growth
[01:38] - Celebrating milestones
[02:12] - Danger of stalled maturity
[03:29] - Paul’s pastoral concern
[06:00] - Grow Up: three areas
[06:50] - Pure devotion to Christ
[15:30] - Putting God first financially
[18:32] - Church giving snapshot
[21:26] - Rejecting false teachers
[23:53] - Examples of counterfeit gospels
[29:24] - The true gospel summarized
[32:21] - Practical call to grow

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
- 2 Corinthians 11:2-3 (ESV): "I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ."
- 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (ESV): "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures."

Observation questions

What metaphor does Paul use in 2 Corinthians 11:2 to describe the church’s relationship with Christ, and what does this imply about their spiritual calling?
According to the sermon, what are three examples of counterfeit gospels that distort the truth of Scripture? [23:53]
How does Paul contrast his approach to preaching the gospel with the worldly standards of success in Corinth? [10:14]
What key facts about Christ’s work does 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 emphasize as the foundation of the true gospel?

Interpretation questions

Why does Paul compare the Corinthians’ potential deception to Eve’s experience in the Garden of Eden (2 Corinthians 11:3)? What does this reveal about the nature of spiritual compromise?
How does financial generosity serve as a test of loyalty to Christ, according to the sermon? [18:32]
The sermon mentions that false teachers often camouflage their messages with warmth or success. Why might these traits make their teachings appealing, and how does this align with Satan’s tactics (2 Corinthians 11:14)?
Why is it significant that Paul calls the gospel message “of first importance” in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4? How does this prioritize theological discernment?

Application questions

What practical step could you take this week to identify and remove one distraction that competes with Christ for your “first place” in devotion? [09:25]
How does your current approach to finances (giving, saving, spending) reflect whether Christ is truly the ruler of your heart? What specific change could deepen this area of faithfulness? [15:30]
When evaluating a teaching or podcast, what questions or Scripture-based criteria could you use to test its alignment with the gospel of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection? [29:24]
Have you ever encountered a teaching that sounded appealing but conflicted with Scripture? How did you respond, and what would you do differently now?
In what area of your spiritual life (devotion, stewardship, discernment) do you feel most “stuck” in infancy? What is one tangible action to pursue growth there? [32:21]
How could you intentionally support others in your community this month to help them grow in rejecting counterfeit gospels or financial faithfulness?

Sermon Clips

47s

#GospelNotProfit

“``And some of the Corinthian Christians, they're like, oh man, Paul. That's embarrassing. Everybody else that's super popular from a worldly perspective, they're charging boo coo bucks. Why couldn't you have done that, Paul? Why did you give the gospel away for free? This is embarrassing. We wanted to measure up according to the world's standards. And Paul's like, are you guys kidding me? You guys have totally bought into a lie. The way that the world thinks about finances. The way that the world thinks about what is actually true or valuable. And he says, you guys are being led astray just like Eve was led astray in the Garden of Eden.”

39s

#RejectProsperityGospel

“Now the sad truth is that in our world, there are many who will preach false gospels. I'd like to mention a few of those false gospels that come to us. So the first one I want to mention is the prosperity gospel. This is one that's been around for a while and it's this whole idea that, hey, God's ultimate plan for you on this earth is that you be wealthy and that you be healthy. And if you're not rich and if you're sick, it's because something is wrong with your faith. Now, this is a lie. This is not true.”

49s

#EternalNotInstant

“It is true that that we trust God, that he cares for us. We know that he has all the resources of the universe at his disposal, and he cares for us. But those people who tell us that you need to be living your life, your best life now, they are forgetting about the the future life that we have with God in heaven, and they're forgetting the teachings of Jesus who said in Luke chapter nine that if anyone would come after him, they must take up their cross, deny themselves, and follow Jesus. So don't buy into the prosperity gospel that says, hey, if you're doing this faith right, it's gonna mean that you are rich.”

35s

#GrowBeyondInfancy

“I told you before it'd be a really bad thing if you had a baby who lifted their head off for the first time when they were a couple months old, still having that as their only mark of maturity when they get to be 21 years old. God calls us to honor him with our finances, with our first and our best. And so in that financial generosity, you could be in an infantile stage where you're like, you know what? I've taken no steps. I'm only receiving when it comes to my part in God's family.”

36s

#KeepGrowingInFaith

“So let me be clear. The beginning stages of a of a person growing up, it's so exciting to celebrate each of those milestones. In the beginning stages of a person walking with Jesus are so exciting. That's to be celebrated and to be commended. We praise God for every new step of faith. But if physically or spiritually, we get stuck at some point and we don't end up with any more maturity in that area, then something something is seriously wrong in our hearts.”

30s

#JesusFullyGodFullyMan

“But for all those who reject Jesus, the Bible tells us clearly the wrath of God remains on him. There's one more I'd like to mention, and it's not so much a title, but the understanding that if there's anyone who teaches that Jesus wasn't fully God or that Jesus wasn't fully man, they are firmly in heresy. They are teaching something that the Bible does not teach.”

25s

#JesusFirstAlways

“And so my prayer for every person in this room is that if you've got something in your life in the area of pure devotion to God, you've got something that that somehow has edged Jesus out as the number one in your life, I want to encourage you. Get rid of that thing. It might be a good thing. It might be a good gift from God, but nothing belongs as number one aside from Jesus Christ.”

41s

#RootedInScripture

“And even more than that, I want to encourage you to continue to grow deeper in your theological understanding. Grow deeper in your understanding of sound theology. A big part of what that means is is getting into God's word and getting God's word into you. It's one of the reasons that we preach the Bible on Sunday mornings. And while we study the Bible in our small group Bible studies throughout the week, that we each might have our minds be transformed so that we can understand what is right, what's sound theology, and what is bad doctrine.”

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Grow Up! By David Wood

Devotional

Day 1: Holding Heads and Hearts High

Day 2: Eyes Only for the Bridegroom

Day 3: Robbing Banks to Feed Family

Day 4: Snapping Turtles in Sermon’s Clothing

Day 5: First Importance

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Grow Up! By David Wood

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