Believer part 1

Believe; we’ve been talking about Believe for quite a while now.

We’ve looked at some things that we can believe in and some areas where we need to change our lives.

Some of you have even accountability groups to hold each other accountable for your actions.

So, now what?

Where do we go from here?

Do we just believe in these things and that’s it?

Well tonight, we start a new twist into our concept of Believe.

As we continue to strive to place our lives under the authority of Christ, we are going to add one letter to our Believe, an “r”; Believer.

As we’ve looked at some things that we can believe in, we now want to shift our focus what a person looks like who believes in Jesus Christ.

How do they live their life; how do they make decisions; how do they stay strong; etc?

These are the issues that we are going to tackle.

Living your life for Christ is more than just a belief, it’s a change.

Merriam Webster’s dictionary says that the word “believer”, means to be astounded at; do you know what that means?

It means filled with amazement, surprise, bewilderment, or wonder.

Truly, those disciples who walked with Christ were true believers because they were constantly filled with amazement at Christ.

Mark 10:32
Luke 4:36
Mark 6:51

On and on; the disciples were amazed by Christ.

The feeding of the four thousand and the five thousand, bringing back the dead to life, walking on water, healing the sick, turning water into wine, and the way and the authority in which Christ taught amazed them.

The disciples became believers because they were filled with wonder and surprise because they knew that what they had seen was real.

They knew that the Man before them was the living Son of God, and they were amazed.

And that amazement and belief in Christ caused these men and women to align their lives after His teachings.

And these people give us a perfect example how to be a believer.

There is more to this “Christian thing” than just coming to church.

It’s about taking your life and placing it in the hands and under the authority of God.

It’s about:
-Changing your thought patterns (Single-minded)
-Having a desire to know more about Him (Studious)
-Being faithful, honest, and trustworthy (Faithful)
-Showing Christ in everything you do (Work Ethic)
-Living a consistent life (Lifestyle)
-Submitting your whole self to God’s control (Submissive)
-Being faithful with what God has given you (Stewardship)

Over the next few weeks, we are going to be talking about these things and determining how to add these attributes to our lives.

I Corinthians 11:1

Paul was changed by Christ.

Just as Paul imitated Christ, we are to imitate Christ and pass His truths on to others.

As we begin this journey, we’re going to make journals.

In these journals, I want you to write your prayers, thoughts, struggles, praises, and Scriptures that mean something to you.

And tonight, we are going to practice.

(Read the following Scripture and write out what it means to you.)

I Corinthians 9:19-27