Assemblies P.I.W.C Sunday School CHRISTIAN LIVING | CHRISTIAN LIVING |
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MEMORY VERSE: Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways (put aside your own pleasures, forget himself, deny himself), take up your cross, and follow me (Mark 8:34). NLT TEXT; 1 Cor 15: 57(NJKV); Phil 4: 13; 1 John 4: 4; 5: 4; Rom 8: 37 TOPIC: CHRISTIAN LIVINGINTRODUCTION: To accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior demands not only believing the truth, but also committing ourselves to sacrificially follow Him. The choice between denying ourselves and living for our selfish desires must be made daily. The choice will determine our eternal destiny.Many people are eager to accept the salvation Jesus gives, but they have many questions about living as a Christian. Some, who would like to live a Christian life, wonder if they will be able to. Others are not sure that they are willing to do all that Jesus might ask of. Still others see the Christian life primarily as a matter of do’s and don’ts and are afraid that Christianity will take all the joy out of their lives. CAN ANY ONE REALLY LIVE A VICTORIOUS CHRISTIAN LIFE?Yes (1 Cor 15: 57; Phil 4: 13; 1John 4: 4). To be victorious we must begin in victory. Our starting point for victory must be victory not defeat-Christ’s victory. We can never be winners as long as we see ourselves as helpless, hopeless victims of Satan. WHAT CHALLENGES DOES JESUS GIVE THOSE WHO WANT TO FOLLOW HIM?Willingness to give up every thing for Him even our lives (Luke 14: 25- 33; Mark 8: 34-38; Matt 10: 37; 8 : 19-22). Our loyalty to Him and love for Him must be greater than every other attachments even to our own families. WHY SHOULD BELIEVERS WANT TO LIVE A CHRISTIAN LIFE? Ans. Out of gratitude for what God has done for them. Rom 12:1 Jesus encourages all believers to grow in relationship, commitment, and obedience to Him. Our relationship, commitment, and obedience are done out of love, not constraint (John 14:21). Living the Christian life is not abiding by an agenda or following a set of strict rules. Instead, the Christian life is characterized by:Understanding that you are a new creation (2 Cor5:17); Transforming and renewing your mind (Rom 12:1); Treating others with love (Philip 2:3-4) ; Living out the teachings of Christ (Matthew 5:3-10). WHO MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO LIVE A CHRISTIAN LIFE? (Phil 2: 12-13).God does. His grace is at work in us to produce the desire and power to do His will. However, God’s work is not that of compulsion or irresistible grace. The work of grace within us is dependent on our faithfulness and cooperation HOW BAD DO YOU HAVE TO BE TO GO TO HELL? (Galatians 2:16; Romans 3:24)It is hard for us to realize that salvation, and thus being part of God’s kingdom, is not based on works, but rather on faith. Sometimes we wonder if we have done enough to go to heaven. Eph 2:9 Salvation is not a reward for the good we have done, so none of us can take any credit for it.NLT We were not saved because we were good enough. We did not earn our salvation and we should never allow ourselves to believe that we have or that we can. If we believe that we can earn our salvation by doing enough good works, then we will only place ourselves in bondage because no one can be good enough by his own strength in order to please God. This is why Jesus Christ died, so that we could stand before God as if we never sinned. But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away." (Isaiah 64:6 NKJV)However, we were created for good works. We do good works because of the Spirit that is within us. Righteous people do righteous things, but always remember that humans still sin.Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead; But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?" (James 2:17; 20 NKJV) Eph 2:10 For we are God's masterpiece (workmanship). He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.NLT Eph 4:24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in ETERNITY? You have to be bad enough to reject the salvation provided to you by God. true righteousness and holiness. NKJV WHAT SINS CAN A PERSON COMMIT THAT WILL GUARANTEE THEIR PLACE IN HELL FOR ALL John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." NIV HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT YOU WILL GO TO HEAVEN TO BE WITH GOD FOR ALL ETERNITY?Eph 2: 8 John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. NKJV IS THERE SOME TYPE OF TEST THAT WE COULD PERFORM TO SEE IF WE ARE OF THE FAITH OR NOT? (Rom 8:14, 16 ; 1 John 2:3-6 We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. 4 The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.1 John 3: 7 Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. 9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother. NIV2 Cor 13:5 Examine and test and evaluate your own selves to see whether you are holding to your faith and showing the proper fruits of it. Test and prove yourselves [not Christ]. Do you not yourselves realize and know [thoroughly by an ever-increasing experience] that Jesus Christ is in you — unless you are [counterfeits] disapproved on trial and rejected? AMP ARE BELIEVERS GOING TO BE JUDGE? (Matt 25: 31-46; Rev 20: 11-15)2 Cor 5:10 For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.NLT Before we receive our eternal allotment it is proper that we should render our account of the manner in which we have lived, and of the manner in which we have improved our talents and privileges. It is to be for all the deeds done in the body; for all the thoughts, plans, purposes, words, as well as for all the outward actions of the man. All that has been thought or done must come into review, and man must give an account for all. (from Barnes' Notes, Electronic Database ). Romans 14:12 Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.NLT[Every one of us] That is, every Christian; for the connection requires us to understand the argument only of Christians. At the same time it is a truth abundantly revealed elsewhere, that "all men" shall give account of their conduct to God; 2 Cor 5:10; Matt 25:1; Eccl 12:14.[Give account of himself] That is, of his character and conduct; his words and actions; his plans and purposes. In the fearful arraignment of that day every work and purpose shall be brought forth, and tried by the unerring standard of justice. As we shall be called to so fearful an account with God, we should not be engaged in condemning our brethren, but should examine whether we are prepared to give up our account with joy, and not with grief. (from Barnes' Notes, Electronic Database) 1 Cor 3:13-15 But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person's work has any value. 14 If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. 15But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.NLT HOW WILL BELIEVERS SHOW THAT GOD IS REALLY AT WORK IN THEIR LIVES?The Holy Spirit within them will produce Christ like fruit for all to see (Gal 5: 22-23a; Matt 3: 8; 2 Cor 8: 21) HOW CAN BELIEVERS LIVE A RIGHTEOUS LIFE IN THE MIDST OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS? (Dan 1:8, 11, 12; 3: 12-18; 6: 13-15) Believers are faced not only with the task of living righteously within a world that is unrighteous but also a challenge of not been influenced by them. We have to maintain our commitment to God’s way even though those around us live according to their own way. We must resist being assimilated into the way of the world around us; even if it causes us social issues with the people that we associate with (Numbers 13: 30; 14: 6-9). In Genesis 6:5-8 we see evil everywhere. Things were so bad that God almighty was sorry that he created humans and decided to get rid of them. However, Noah survived in such an environment. Picture yourself in an environment where everyone around you was constantly doing evil. Would you join in? HOW DID NOAH DO IT?He walked with God (Genesis 6:9). What does it mean to walk with God? It implies that his behavior and course of life was consistent with God. According to Pastor William R. Cunningham “Walking with God isn’t presented as following a list of rules. It is the way we conduct ourselves. There isn’t a rule or law that could specify what to do in every situation and decision that we may face in our lives. Therefore, we need a guide more than a rulebook. That guide is God through his holy spirit. So we can conclude that Noah had a relationship with God, especially since there were no scriptures that he could refer to. There was no Old Testament that he could refer to in order to know what was right or wrong”. It is one thing to do what is right when others are looking. It is another thing to do what is right when we think no one is looking. Noah. DO BELIEVERS HAVE TO LESSEN THEIR MORALS IN ORDER TO FIT IN THE SOCIETY? (Gen 39: 7-13)No, Noah didn’t do that. Imagine trying to remain true to the righteousness of God on your job when others treat certain things as alright. For example, the Bible teaches us to view fornication and adultery as unrighteous (Deut. 22:20, 21, 23–29; 23:18; Ex. 22:16; Numb 5:11-31), but the world condones both. Should we seek to fit in and condone those as well?The great people in history did what the others around them were not doing. For example, consider Martin Luther who went against the behemoth of an organization, namely the Catholic Church. He stood up for what he believed in a time where many were going along. DO BELIEVERS EXPERIENCE PAIN BECAUSE WE DIDN’T DO WHAT GOD SAID TO DO? (Jonah 1: 1-4)Not always. What would have happen if Noah didn’t build the ark?Many times we have to work against the tide and do what is right even in a culture that promotes doing what is unrighteous. Sometimes that may be very difficult, but in the end it is well worth it, because it is ultimately God we want to please. Do the right thing even if you are the only one standing there. Do the right thing even though everyone else is doing something else. God is always with you and it is he who is working through you to accomplish his will. We have to swim up stream sometimes to get where God wants us to go. It may not be easy and it may cause an ark full of pain. However, it is something that we have to do anyway because God told us so. Noah built the ark and hence accomplished what God told him and he saved his life and that of his family. WHAT IS WORLDLINESS? (1 John 2: 15-16; John 17: 14-18; Rom 12: 2) Worldliness is living according to the standard and desire of the sinful and unbelieving world. Believers are: aliens and strangers (Heb 11: 13; 1 Peter 2: 11). The Greek word for world (aion) actually means continued duration; a space of time, or an age. The word has been translated into ages, course, beginning of time, eternal, eternity, and several others. It appears that in this context Paul means the age, which is characterized by a period of time. ARE CHRISTIAN MORALS CHANGING?Is Christianity affected by the time period and society?(Heb 13: 8; Matt. 24: 35; Luke 21: 33). WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO KEEP FROM CONFORMING TO THE WORLD AROUND YOU? (Matt. 12: 34; Luke 6: 45; Pr. 23: 6-7; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Peter 1: 14)permit me to ask the following questions: If you could cheat on your spouse and know that you would not be caught, would you do it? Would you steal something if you knew you wouldn’t get caught?Would you be one of the looters looting businesses after a disaster struck?Consider a natural disaster that causes mass destruction of property. Why do some people begin to loot and others do not? It is not laws that keep people from doing one thing or another for the most part. It is what’s inside of the person that determines what he or she will or will not do. What you do is dependant on who you are on the inside. It is all about your relationship with the Lord and how that influences your life.Allow the Holy Spirit to permeate you and your life. Stay close to God. That is how we effect change in our lives. Don’t rely on your own understanding, but rather be aware of God in your lives and allow him to guide you. Being with God is an important step in renewing the mind.We have to join with God in spirit if we expect to renew our minds. We renew the way we think by embracing God in spirit, allow him to work in us and by reading, studying and meditating on the Word of God.
IS IT POSSIBLE FOR BELIEVERS TO OVER TEMPTATION AND LIVE A HOLY LIFE? (1 Corinth 10:13)Yes, since God always provides a way out of temptation. Acts 11:26c And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. NKJVWHAT DID THE FIRST FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST DO SUCH THAT THEY WERE LABELED CHRISTIANS? What traits did they see so prominent that they were nicknamed. What traits do you have that someone would conclude that you are a Christian?(Gal 5: 22-24)John 12:26 (NKJV) If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.John 10:27 (NKJV) -- {27} My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) -- {17} Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
 written by akomea kenneth, December 04, 2009 how does the holy spirit utilise the youth in this times |
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CENTRAL TRUTH: Our responsibility as citizens of God’s kingdom is to live like the people we now are. 
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