How are we suppose to live as Christians and still have fun?

(10) things to PRAY for before Preaching & Teaching

Open: Plum tree branch grafted into a peach tree branch

But a branch that is willing

Then wrap it

You can’t graft it into the bottom bark of the tree because it won’t take

James 1:21 (KJV 1900)

21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

Answer 2 parts : HOLY — That Honors Christ

Note: When You have the Holy Spirit presence in you you have a desire to live Holy.[ David & Saul ]

Question: Can people just look at you and see your desire to live like Christ

Question: WHY would God save you for you to remain the SAME and be conformed to this world? [ Just maybe it’s not SALVATION you have ]

Question: WHY would you come to church if you’re not obeying God and living like God COMMANDS you to live

Statement: Our Actions should reflect a life transformed by Christ and aligned with biblical principles.

Galatians 5:13 (ESV)

13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

1 Corinthians 10:23–24 (ESV)

23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up.

24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.

1 Corinthians 10:23–24 (NIV)

23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive.

24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.

1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV)

31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

The Wedding in Cana of Galilee

Note: Remember, Jesus is not like us , He don’t just do things to just do it. It’s ALWAYS a divine purpose.

John 2:1–11 (ESV)

1 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. 9 When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

The Miracle was to reveal Jesus divine power and identity

The Miracle was to reveal Jesus being the Source of Joy

The Miracle was to reveal the outcome of Obedience

The Miracle was to reveal Jesus being the Source of Life

The Miracle was to reveal Your trust in Jesus

Examples: Christian FUN

Note: Now, you're going to always have that small group 4 to 7 people in the church that's going to be negative and try to destroy things but the bigger group have to stick together and not entertain the negativity

80 Plus — Bible study & Prayer every Monday Morning for elderly sisterhood fellowship

Fitness — in the City Park 3 days a week It's another opportunity for us as a church to get together

Gumbo / Crawfish étouffée cook off

Crawfish Boil — $15 a Member ——— NISH / Westgate have 1lb shrimp $15/$20 dollars plate

Special Need Ministry — To relief those with burdens

Marriage Ministry

Singles Ministry

Church Picnics

Game Nights

Talent Shows or Open Mic Night

Community Service Days

Mission Trips

Note: These ministries are not secondary but primary — Jesus says “ Hate you mother

Statement: The danger of these ministries is that they start off really well but because of a lack of COMMITMENT to God it fades out

Not Hat rallies, shoe rallies, pew rallies etc…..

Note: We should be Pursuing Holiness Hebrews 12:14

Hebrews 12:14 (NLT)

14 Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.

The Moody Bible Commentary (C. Exhortation to Sanctification (12:14–17))

12:14–17. The yield of moral “righteousness” (12:11) leads easily to the summons of the pursuit of holiness. But the writer begins urging his readership to pursue peace with the help of all men and women. The peace in view is less harmony and concord among believers, and more tranquility of heart, freeing one of anxiety caused by the trials and discipline in 12:3–13. But the addressees are especially to pursue … sanctification. This growing virtue is essential, for without it no one will see in heaven and throughout eternity the Lord.

In their corporate pursuit of peace and holiness, the readers are to see to it that three dangerous circumstances are avoided: First they must see to it that no one in their congregation comes short of the saving grace of God (12:15); it is inadequate to profess faith in Christ. They are to do everything possible to ensure that each actually possesses it. Second, they must prevent any root of bitterness from springing up. This is not an attitude of resentment; rather, this expression is an allusion to Dt 29:18, “that there will not be among you a root bearing poisonous fruit and wormwood”—an Israelite who spurns the Lord for false gods. Accordingly, in Heb 12:15 it figuratively refers to an apostate forsaking Christ. In the body of Christ such an individual can cause trouble and defile many. And third, the congregation must ensure none of their members become like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal (12:16). He illustrates an apostate who forfeits his spiritual birthright bequeathed by the Messiah for something far less, namely mere outward ritual or the temporal safety that denying their faith might bring. As Esau later tried to regain his lost blessing but was rejected, finding no opportunity for repentance (12:17), so it will be for the defector from the faith.

Being a Christian in this world in this Society and culture that we live in. It is easy for a Christian To succumb to the worldly things around them simply because we are living in a world as christians that we are around more secular things than spiritual things.

And the reason why there is so much more secular things to do than spiritual things is because the world has taken over the world and not the church has taken over the world. And a matter of fact the world is taking over the church.

Remember God has designed the church to take over the world. If Jesus took 12 men to change His time why we can't do it now when we have 12 million Christians pre-se

Because the world has so much to offer and the church has little to nothing to offer weak and unsettled Christians easily succumb to the things of the world more than the things of Christ.

Examples: Christian FUN

Note: Now, you're going to always have that small group 4 to 7 people in the church that's going to be negative and try to destroy things but the bigger group have to stick together and not entertain the negativity

80 Plus — Bible study every Monday Morning for elderly sisterhood fellowship

Fitness — in the City Park 3 days a week It's another opportunity for us as a church to get together

Crawfish Boil — $15 a Member ——— NISH / Westgate have 1lb shrimp $15/$20 dollars plate

Special Need Ministry — To relief those with burdens

Note: These ministries are not secondary but primary — Jesus says “ Hate you mother

Statement: The danger of these ministries is that they start off really well but because of a lack of COMMITMENT to God it fades out

Not Hat rallies, shoe rallies, pew rallies etc…..

Statement: How are we suppose to live as Christians — “ Can we just have a LITTLE FUN.

1 John 2:29 (ESV)

29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.

1 John 2:29 (MSG)

29 Once you’re convinced that he is right and righteous, you’ll recognize that all who practice righteousness are God’s true children.

1 Peter 1:13–16 (ESV)

13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,

15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,

16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

The Bible Knowledge Commentary (1:13–16)

1:13–16. Peter now gave five pointed exhortations: prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope.… do not conform to … evil desires.… be holy. Actually in the Greek the first, second, and fourth are participles, which are subordinate to two commands: “have hope” and “be holy.” The participles either support the commands (i.e., have hope, with a prepared mind and self-control; and be holy, not conforming to evil desires) or they take the role of commands, as in the NIV.

(1) “Prepare your minds for action” (v. 13). Obedience is a conscious act of the will. Christians in conflict need a tough-minded holiness that is ready for action.

(2) “Be self-controlled” (v. 13; cf. 4:7; 5:8; 1 Thes. 5:6, 8). This word nēphontes, from the verb nēphō (“be sober”) is used only figuratively in the New Testament. It means to be free from every form of mental and spiritual “drunkenness” or excess. Rather than being controlled by outside circumstances, believers should be directed from within.

(3) “Set your hope fully” (1 Peter 1:13). Holy living demands determination. A believer’s hope is to be set perfectly (teleiōs, completely or unchangeably), and without reserve on the grace (cf. v. 10) to be bestowed when Jesus Christ is revealed (lit., “in the revelation [apokalypsei] of Jesus Christ”; cf. the same phrase in v. 7; also cf. the verb “be revealed” [apokalyphthēnai] in v. 5). Four times Peter has already spoken of the Savior’s return and the accompanying ultimate stage of salvation (vv. 5, 7, 9, 13).

The strenuous mental preparation suggested by the three admonitions in verse 13 is needed so that Christians (d) do not conform to (syschēmatizomenoi, also used in Rom. 12:1) the evil desires (1 Peter 1:14) of their past sinful lives (cf. Eph. 2:3), when they were ignorant of God (cf. Eph. 4:18). Rather as obedient children (lit., “children of obedience”) they were to mold their characters to (e) “be holy” in all they did (1 Peter 1:15). Their lifestyle was to reflect not their former ignorance (agnoia), but the holy (hagioi) nature of their heavenly Father who gave them new birth and called them (cf. “called” in 2 Peter 1:3) to be His own. First Peter 1:15–16 do not speak of legal requirements but are a reminder of a Christian’s responsibility in his inner life and outer walk. Though absolute holiness can never be achieved in this life, all areas of life should be in the process of becoming completely conformed to God’s perfect and holy will. The quotation in verse 16 was familiar to all who knew the Old Testament (Lev. 11:44–45; 19:2; 20:7).

Colossians 3:17 (ESV)

17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.