Following Jesus is far more than just believing. It is not enough to just believe in Jesus. The Bible says we are not just believers; we are “belongers.” We are to belong in a family of God which is the church. Once we belong, then we become. We believe, then we belong, and then we become all that God wants us to be in the first place.
0 Comments
God created you to help others. Regardless of your job or career, you are called to full-time Christian service. A “non-serving Christian” is a contradiction in terms. The Bible says, “He saved us and called us to be his own people, not because of what we have done, but because of his own purpose” (2 Timothy 1:9 GNT). Jesus came to earth with a mission. God has a mission for your life, too.
One of the first things Jesus did when He began His ministry was to select and train disciples. Discipleship has been one of the key elements of Christianity ever since. Matthew’s gospel reflects the way Jesus came to him and said, “Come, be my disciple.”
Who are you walking with? If you go on a walk with your friend, what do you do during the walk? Besides the obvious, walking, you are having a conversation, sharing things that are on your mind, and listening to your friend do the same as you head to your destination. You stay focused on what each other is saying and do not get distracted.
Easter Sunday is the most important day of the year for you and me. Everything we believe and share hinges on this day. Everything I have ever shared is based on this Easter! See for yourself!
Resurrection Sunday is the central event in the church year-the climax of worship, expectation, and celebration. This celebration is also a decisive test of the Church's faithfulness and conviction. “Palm Sunday,” the day of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem one week prior to his crucifixion and death. In case some of you are wondering why this is called “Palm Sunday,” it is because according to the Gospel of John the crowds in Jerusalem came out to greet Jesus carrying palm branches, which they either waved or strewed in his path. The palm branch was a symbol of triumph and victory in Jewish tradition and in other parts of the Bible (Leviticus 23:40 and Revelation 7:9 NIV). So, what does this mean?
Can I ask you a question, “How do you see others?” What is the right way to look at a person? As I always say, look to God’s Word to find the answer. Jesus shows us how to see others. “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.” (Mark 6:34 NIV)
How does a believer keep his or her motivation? Understand the motivation of the new believer. But how does one stay motivated in day-to-day living, year after year?
Motivation is an art, and like any art, it requires wisdom and skill. And like any art, it can be done poorly. An agitated verbal assault from the pulpit may be an awkward spectacle that goes viral on YouTube, but we know berating Christians into service by a verbal lashing from the pulpit is a powerless strategy. We all want God to use our churches to reach people for Christ. I do not believe there is anything more important to do with our lives than helping people begin a relationship with Jesus. Our purpose is to point people to Jesus daily.
But I also know many people in our churches are fearful of telling other people about Christ. Jesus made it clear in the Great Commission that evangelism needs to be our priority—but it is not the priority for most Christians. If someone were to come up and ask you, “Why do you go to church?” What would you say? Obviously, you put some kind of effort into coming this morning. It is pouring down rain outside. Why, when you could have sat at home all bundled up by a fire, watching a basketball game – some of you are leaving right now, I noticed – why did you show up this morning? Why do you even come to church?
|
Archives
April 2024
Categories |