Striving To Be Like Christ

08/12/2019 Striving To Be Like Christ

Series: The Story Of The Bible 

https://vimeo.com/351105527

What Does The Bible Say?

Ephesians 5; 2 Corinthians 11; 2 Timothy 4

19 Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I’m going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives. (Galatians 4:19 NLT)

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. 3 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. 4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. (Ephesians 5:1–4 NLT)

Our goal is for lives to reflect Christ as we sin less.

We are not sinless, but as a Christians we sin less.

24 Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. 26 I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. 27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. 28 Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger? 

(2 Corinthians 11:24–29 NLT)

You can only suffer like Christ when you become more like Him.

6 As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. 8 And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:6–8 NLT)

What will people say about you as you come near the end of your life?

How Can We Obey?

Be intentional in becoming more like Christ. 

Question 1 of 5

Tell about a time in your spiritual journey when you felt God called you to a new level of commitment and growth in your faith. How did you respond to this call?

Question 2 of 5

As the apostle Paul drew near the end of his life, he expressed how he had served God with humility, fully proclaimed the truth, called Jews and Gentiles to repentance, and bravely faced hardships. As you think about how you will invest the rest of your life, name one thing you really want to do for Jesus and one step you can take to move closer to this goal?

Question 3 of 5

Paul was a spiritual father to Timothy, so please tell about a spiritual parent of yours and how God has used that person to shape your faith. Then tell about a person God has allowed to be your spiritual child and how you are seeking to help him or her grow in maturity in Christ.

Question 4 of 5

Paul celebrated the fact that Timothy had known the Scriptures from his youngest days because of a rich spiritual heritage of faith in his birth family. How can we make our homes a place of healthy spiritual growth?

Question 5 of 5 

Why is it important for us to be intentional in following Christ? How does that help us sin less?