Sermon Tone Analysis

*7 Habits of a Christ-like Person*

* *

1 Peter 1:15-1:16 (NIV)

\\ \\ *Introduction \\ *In 1989, a book hit the shelves that was destined to become a best seller.

It was geared toward giving people the tools they needed to enjoy powerful and effective living.

The book is saturated with advice on leadership, life management and relationships, all centered around the “inside-out” concept that behavior is learned, it is not instinctive.

Old habits can be discarded and replaced by new and effective habits.

\\ \\ This book was written by *Stephen R. Covey*

It’s called *The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People*.

The habits he outlined are;

\\ Initiative \\ Creativity \\ Productivity \\ Interdependence \\ Empathy \\ Valuing Differences \\ Consistency \\ \\ Let me ask you a question – If you were to describe yourself in one word, what would that word be? \\ \\ According to Covey, If you exhibit these seven habits in your daily life, you could rightly describe yourself in the one word, “Effective” \\ \\ How does scripture want us to be able to define ourselves?

\\ \\ I think that being *Christ-like and Holy* is a worthy goal for every Christian.

\\ Jesus Christ was “HOLY”,

Something that is HOLY, is separate, different, other than…

or Devoted entirely to… \\ \\ If I were to ask if anyone here defined themselves as “Holy”

Probably no one would raise their hand.

Calling yourself HOLY somehow seems kind of un-humble.

\\ \\ But Christians are called to live a holy life.

Look at… \\ \\ *1 Peter 1:15-16 \\ 15But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; \\ 16for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

\\ * \\ Why should we be HOLY?

Because God is Holy.

\\ \\ But then comes the question, *“How can I know if I’m ‘Holy’ or not?”* \\ \\ Well, today, In the same way that *Stephen Covey* outlined the seven habits of highly effective people,

 

I’d like to outline; \\ *THE SEVEN HABITS OF CHRIST-LIKE OR HOLY PEOPLE \\ \\ *

AND \\ /We can use these Habits to find the areas in our life where we might need strengthening.

\\ \\ /

 

 

 

*Habit #1** – Christ-like, Holy People understand that Scripture is the guide for their daily lives (Scripture)*

* *

*Psalm 1:1-2** – “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.”

\\ \\ *Christ-like --> Holy People  -->  Love God’s word.

\\ \\ They can’t get enough of it.

They base their lives on it.

They feed on it until it is a part of them.

\\ \\ They know that it has the power needed to protect them from all the different kinds of junk we face in this life.

\\ \\ *Psalm 119:11 – I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

\\ * \\ And they share it whenever possible.

\\ \\ *Col 3:16 - Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. \\ * \\ /With Christ-like, Holy People, /

/Studying and applying the Scriptures is a habit /

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

*Habit #2** – Christ-like,  Holy People seek God daily in prayer.

(Supplication) \\ * \\ *1 Thess.

5:16 – “… pray continually” (Imperative) \\ * \\ If our lives are to be defined as “*Holy*” we must be a people of prayer.

\\ \\

Why?

Because Prayer is our half of a lifelong conversation with God? \\ \\

Prayer is our lifeline connection to God.

\\ It is how we develop our relationship with the creator of the universe.

\\ \\

It is how we keep and maintain our relationship with God.

\\ *How many here, *

*have at one point or another in the course of your life, had parents?

\\ * \\ That should include all of us.

\\ \\ I can remember hearing my mother praying by her bed.

I can still see her on her knees beside her bed praying, for her kids.

I can even see the bed.

It had one of those cheneel bed spreads on it.

\\ She understood the power of prayer and how necessary it is for living a Christ-like Holy life.

\\ \\ My friends, let your Children hear you pray.

Expose them to the discipline of prayer.

\\ \\ *Prayer is the well of life* for the Christian.

\\ \\ Take advantage of the opportunity to draw from that well of life.

Young People, Young Adults, Men, and Women.

We should all have a set time of prayer.

Because a life of prayer leads to a life of holiness.

\\ \\

/With Christ-like Holy People, Prayer is a Habit \\ \\ /

 

*Habit #3** – Christ-like,  Holy People are devoted to following Christ no matter what.

(salvation) \\ \\ *

We see Paul demonstrating this devotion in… \\ *2 Tim 2:8-9a – Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David.

This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal.

\\ * \\ Christ-like, Holy People realize that being a Christian isn’t always a cakewalk,

but they do it anyway because they’re devoted to Jesus Christ their Lord.

\\ \\ And also, they realize how much Jesus suffered for them, and they are willing to do the same.

Because they’re devoted to following him no matter what.

\\ \\ But more than just enduring hardship, Christ-like, Holy people are devoted to Jesus because they understand that in him alone, is eternal life.

\\ \\ *John 14:6 - Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through me.

\\ * \\ Devotion to Christ comes from a desire to identify with him

and live with him forever.

\\ \\

/With Christ-like, Holy People /

/Unconditional devotion to Jesus Christ is a Habit /

*Habit #4** – Christ-like,  Holy People live each day guided by the Holy Spirit (Spirit) \\ * \\ *Gal 5:16,25 - 16 So I say, live by the Spirit…25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit \\ * \\ To live by the Spirit means that our lives are showing evidence

of the presence of God's Holy Spirit inside us.

The Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

\\ \\ A life that shows these traits is a life that is defined by the presence of the Holy Spirit.

\\ \\ Also, Christ-like, Holy people follow the leading of the Holy Spirit even when it is contrary to their own plans.

\\ \\ Like Paul in *Acts 16 - 6 *

*Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.

7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.

8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.

9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

\\ * \\ The results of this willingness to follow is that the world will be changed \\ \\ */With Christ-like, Holy People \\ Following the leading of the Holy Spirit is a Habit /*

*Habit #5** – Christ-like, Holy People are accountable to God’s house and His people (Saints) \\ * \\ *Hebrews 10:25** - Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another \\ * \\ I’ve heard it said that being in church no more makes you a Christian than being in McDonalds makes you a hamburger.

\\ \\ And that’s true.

However, Holy people understand the benefits of being with God’s people.

\\ \\ Paul tells us that the church is like a body.

All of us are members of it.

And *how can the body benefit from an arm that sleeps in.

\\ * \\ If church is not a habit but an occasional thing, then make it a habit.

\\ \\ Parents, if you want your kids hanging around the right kind of people, make sure they’re in church.

If you do, you’ll cultivate holiness in their lives and in your own.

\\ \\ Be there for everything you can.

Find a place to get involved.

Find your place of ministry and be faithful to it.

\\ \\ Besides being present be accountable to someone.

Find a friend you can share with and be accountable to.

Have them keep you accountable in prayer, and studying the word