How to Be an Exemplary Christian
Notes
Transcript
Have an Effective Faith (1-5)
Have an Effective Faith (1-5)
Genuine Believers have responded in Faith to the Gospel and it is evident in their lives.
They were known throughout the region for having turned to God from idols.
Their faith was effective because they were called by God - election.
Their faith was effective because they were empowered by the Holy Spirit.
To be an exemplary Christian you must first be genuinely saved and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Be Eager Followers (6-9)
Be Eager Followers (6-9)
The Thessalonians were eager followers of both Paul and Christ.
We need Christian mentors, and we need to follow the
Mother making pancakes for two young boys - Timothy and Mark. Argument. “if Jesus were here he would let the other one go first.” Timothy says, “Mark, you be Jesus.”
Following Christ can cost you - Acts 17:5-6 “But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also,”
Followers of Christ will end up confronting the idols of the day! The idols today are:
self-worship 2 Tim 3:1-3 “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,”
pleasure-worship 2 Timothy 3:4-5 “treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.”
earth-worship Romans 1:25 “because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.”
Followers of Christ will always be out of step with the culture, because we seek to honor and serve Jesus first!
Maintain an Eternal Focus (10)
Maintain an Eternal Focus (10)
Thessalonians is the book of hope. Paul had been driven out of Thessaloniki, but their hope remained grounded in the Lord’s return.
We are delivered from wrath! - the coming judgement of the world.
We are looking for the Savior’s return! “What a day that will be!”