So I'm a Christian, Now What 1 Five Essential of the Christian Life

“SO I’M A CHRISTIAN…NOW WHAT?”

#1: “Five Essentials of the Christian Life”

Pastor Bonita Laudeman

February 4, 2007

Text: Matthew 22:37-40 and 28:18-20

Theme: God calls us to do life together, on purpose for him.

Goal: To inspire us to do life together, on purpose for him.

Introduction

Last month Pastor Greg did a series called “Why I am a Christian.” We learned about other religions and we learned about atheism. And hopefully we learned more about our own faith and why we believe what we believe.

We learned that you don’t have to turn off your brain to be Christian. Jesus said that we can love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, as well as strength.

Today we’re starting a new series that kind of flows out of the last series. Ok, so the Christian faith makes sense. So I decide to be a Christian. Now what? How should I live? What does God want me to do?

Turn in your Bibles to the book of Matthew. We’re going to learn that Jesus gave us five essentials. Once we become Christians, we are supposed to strengthen our faith through five essential habits; and Jesus tells us what these five habits are in the book of Matthew.

READ the texts…and comment on them…

Illust: your weight lifting days…and the habits you needed?

In our spiritual lives, to be a Christian is much more than just a single decision. “Oh, I believe in Jesus!” Then you walk away and do your own thing. Jesus calls us to follow him and he promises to transform our lives by his grace and his love.

God calls us to do life together, on purpose for him.

We see in these words of Jesus five essentials for Christian living…

[Rick Warren “The Purpose Driven Church” 102f and 114f; also “The Purpose Driven Life”, the various chapters on the five purposes]

1. Worship: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart…”

Warren 103

Matthew 4:10 “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.”

2. Ministry: “Love your neighbor as yourself”

Warren 104

1 Peter 4:10 "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms."

3. Witness: “Go and make disciples of all nations…”

Warren 104

Acts 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”"

4. Fellowship: “baptizing them in the name of the Father…”

Warren 105

Jesus calls us to belong, not just to believe.

Ephesians 2:19 "Now you are no longer strangers to God and foreigners to heaven, but you are members of God’s very own family, citizens of God’s country, and you belong in God’s household with every other Christian." (The Living Bible)

5. Discipleship: “teach them to obey everything I commanded…”

Warren 106

Acts 2:42 "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."

Conclusion/Application

My story/the Bible story/our story: You might be asking, “So I’m a Christian…Now What? What do I do? How do I live? Here’s how: build these five essentials into your life…

Self-Evaluation:

How can I worship God better?

How can I serve in his name?

What can I do to witness to others?

Am I involved in a small group? (promote small groups)

Am I learning and growing? (promote SOD)