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Living The Christian Life Introduction:
Are you happy? Are you happy as a Christian? Are you finding it hard to live the
Christian life? Perhaps the first 2 questions are determined by your answer to
the 3rd question. In this lesson we want to talk about “Living the
Christian Life.” I)
Problems- Matthew 23. A)
Legalistic people – forgetting the purpose we chose to serve God, 1.
It is not wrong to keep the law and Jesus blasted the Pharisees for not keeping
the major points of the law. 2.
It is wrong to keep the law but not the spirit of the law. That leads to our
next problem. B)
Formalism – creates a cold religion, lack of emotion, 1.
A heartless and external religion does no one any good. 2.
It did not do the Pharisees any good in the day of Jesus and it will not do us
any good today. This leads to the next problem. C)
Hypocrites – see others not trying to live right 1.
Going through the motions is hypocrisy. 2.
You might see some Christians doing one thing on Sunday morning and another
Monday. This is not new it happened in the 1st Century and today. D)
General dissatisfaction – not happy with life in general and God’s law in
particular II)
Solutions – Matthew 5.3-10 A)
Realize your position – you need God! 1.
People that are satisfied without God don’t think
they need Him. Matthew 16.24
a. I have a big house, good job, good family, why do I need God?
b. Trying to get some people to think about their soul is like trying to
sell a drowning man some water. They are not interested. 2.
The people in the Bible that followed Jesus were primarily poor. They needed
help and realized it.
a. When was the last time you really needed help; physically,
mentally, or spiritually?
b. In those cases we get it, other wise we are not interested.
c. The fact is we need God every day. 3.
Matthew 5 Blessed are the poor in spirit- they will put their trust in God and
not in other things like their house, job, family, or themselves. 4.
Those who mourn – they have a deep sense of compassion. There can be little
comfort where there has been no grief. 5.
Are we taking “this seriously?” Do I take my salvation seriously enough to
change? B)
Appreciate what you have, Romans
12.1-2 1.
Living differently begins with thinking differently.
a. A while back we had a woman that came and wanted to be “re-baptized”.
I don’t think she was really questioning her baptism but she was having a hard
time living the Christian life. She was always missing services, and just not
happy.
b. She was re-baptized but the problem remained the same. She was not
thinking differently. 2.
Thinking differently means to appreciate what you have before you lose it.
a. We usually appreciate things after they are gone. (Car, house, people)
b. We should appreciate our physical and spiritual blessings. We should
appreciate our spiritual family. 3.
Recognize that with blessings come responsibilities. I have responsibilities to
my family, job, God. C)
Make it personal 1.
It is and should be personal to you. We are talking about your soul, your
salvation.
a. You have a right o hear timely gospel sermons that influences your l
b. You have the right to hear the truth even if you don’t like it. 2.
Jesus usually got a reaction from the people because He made it personal. 3.
He practiced what He preached, John
13.3-14. 4.
What significant difference will the ideas expressed today have on my life? 5.
Matthew 5 speaks of those that hunger
and thirst D)
Look to serve others – to help others 1.
Look for ways to support, encourage, buildup, and stimulate others. 2.
Don’t rely on others to stimulate and encourage you. Hebrews
10.24; Romans 12.10-13; 1 Thess. 2.2-5; 5.11 3.
Being a servant comes with the job description of being a Christian. 4.
Serving others is one of the most Christ like attitudes we can have.
a. Make it y our goal to improve your serve, and we are not talking about
tennis.
b. Make it your goal to get more involved in helping others. Conclusion:
We can not take away the trials of life but we can respond to them better. |