Taking your position as a disciple of Christ!
Matt 24:45-50
45 "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47 I tell you the truth; he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, 'My master is staying away a long time,' 49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards.
50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. (NIV)
Can I be a Christian without being a disciple?
You are either a disciple or disciple maker, which is it? If neither then you are not a Christian!
z.b..The story about the photo shop called “One hour service”
1 Cor 4:2-4
2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. (NIV)
Beliefs – practices – attitudes – lifestyle There are a couple of things between beliefs and lifestyle.
We are looking for the practical side of our relationships. How can I help you to take your place in the Kingdom of God? How can we help each other?
Heb 10:23-29
23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. (Without someone being faithful we have no basis for hope) 24 and let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-- and all the more as you see the Day approaching. 26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the Law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? (NIV)
This verse is not only talking about church but when we get together. Is it just movies? Just bowling? Just popcorn? Are we leaving Jesus out, in the fear that we will appear fanatical? SPUR ONE ANOTHER ON TOWARD LOVE AND GOOD DEEDS!
2 Pet 1:2-10
2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. (2 Pet 1:3…he even shares his own glory and his own goodness with us! (TLB)) 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge (firsthand experiential knowledge) of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. 10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, (NIV)
* Note: Once again between having believed (faith) and Love is all these things!
Faith= trust, conviction of truth / practice trusting God in your life. Healing, provision, not worrying, asking, experiences his goodness through interaction with him.
Goodness= Virtue, excellence / become better, increase in the things of God. Keep learning, practicing, make it better, In every area of your life.
Knowledge= knowledge of what we believe, God’s will / don’t ever stop studying.
Self-control= the practicing of. / When the Holy Spirit speaks to you in your heart DO IT or DON’T DO IT! Practice listening to the still small voice.
Perseverance= hopeful endurance / don’t give up so easily. Verbally, mentally, physically, spiritually hold on to him and go through things. The easy way is most of the time not God’s way.
Godliness= godly relationship with God / Time with him being honest, real,
Brotherly kindness= Brotherly love, love for your own Christian family / if we can’t love people in our own church family we will not love others either. Practice. Do the practical relationship building. You need what others have too.
Love= agape, love for all. God so loved the world… / God’s unconditional love for all people. You will never get good at this or any other thing if we don’t practice.