ARE YOU A WINNIE THE POOH CHRISTIAN? INTRODUCTION: A. WINNIE THE POOH AND HIS FRIENDS WERE INVENTED TO TEACH A YOUNG BOY SOME LESSONS AND TO ENTERTAIN HIM. B. IF WE LOOK AT THE CHARACTERS, HOWEVER, WE CAN SEE DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES THAT SOMETIMES EXPRESS THEMSELVES IN CHRISTIANS. I. WINNIE THE POOH A. POOH BEAR IS OVERLY CONCERNED WITH THE PHYSICAL THINGS OF LIFE, SOME CHRISTIANS GET TOO WRAPPED UP IN THIS PHYSICAL WORLD AS WELL. B. (Mat 6:25-34) Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? (26) Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them Are ye not much better than they? (27) Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? (28) And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: (29) And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (30) Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, 0 ye of little faith? (31) Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (32) (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. (33) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (34) Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof C. (John 15:19) If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. D. (James 4:4) Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. E. (Mat 13:22) He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. II. PIGLET A. Piglet is always easily frightened. B. (2 Tim 1:7-8) For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (8) Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; C. (Mat 8:24-26) And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. {25} And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. {26} And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. D. (1 John 4:18) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. III. TIGGER A. Tigger allows his emotions to overwhelm his common sense and courtesy. B. (Rom 10:2) For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. (Rom 10:3) For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. C. (Phil 3:4-7) Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: (5) Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; (6) Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. (7) But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. IV. OWL A. Owl thinks he is so smart, but can't spell his own name B. (Rom 12:3) For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. C. (Gal 6:3) For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. D. (3 John 1:9) I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. V. KANGA A. Kanga is little Roo's mother and tries to protect him from everything B. (John 18:10-11) Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. {11} So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?" C. (Prov 3:5-6) Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. {6} In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. D. (2 Cor 3:4-5) And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: {5} Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; E. (1 Tim 4:10b) We trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. VI. ROO A. Roo is a copycat. He usually imitates all the wrong things. B. (Exo 23:2) Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment: C. (1 Cor 11:1) Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. D. (1 Pet 2:21) For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow in his steps. E. (3 John 1:11) Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God. VII. GOPHER A. Gopher is not in the book and constantly undermines & destorys B. (Psa 1:1-2) Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; {2} But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. C. (Col 3:16-17) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. {17} And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. D. (John 17:17) "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. E. (Rom 10:17) So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. VIII. RABBIT A. Rabbit is always trying to boss everyone and get into their business. B. (1 Pet 4:15) But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men1s matters. C. (2 Th 3:11-12) For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. {12} Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. IX. EEYORE A. Eeyore always feels left out. B. (1 Cor 12:14-20) For the body is not one member, but many. {15} If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? {16} And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? {17} If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? {18} But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. {19} And if they were all one member, where were the body? {20} But now are they many members, yet but one body. C. (Acts 6:1) Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. X. CHRISTOPHER ROBIN A. Christopher Robin is the only one that is alive. B. (Eph 2:1-5) And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins: {2} Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: {3} Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. {4} But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, {5} Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) C. (John 5:24-25) "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. {25} "Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. CONCLUSION A. ARE YOU THE KIND OF CHRISTIAN YOU OUGHT TO BE OR DO YOU NEED TO MAKE A CHANGE? B. (2 Pet 3:11-14) Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, {12} Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? {13} Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. {14} Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.