Relevant Christianity

Relevant Christianity

 With the summer winding down and fall right around the corner, many people will be busy with all kinds of plans and activities. Vacations are over, it’s back to school time for students and teachers. The sports season is in transition, fashions on the racks in stores and menus in the restaurants are all new and fresh.  So in this time of new beginnings it strikes me as a good time to evaluate my Christian walk, taking in to consideration past successes and failures with an eye toward planing for greater effectiveness and relevance in the future. I believe the key to success in any undertaking lies in maintaining two clear perspectives. They are simplicity and consistency. Here are four simple practices that many have had success with in maintaining an effective Christian walk. Of course no one can live the Christian life without the guidance and empowering of the Holy Spirit. So the first step is to daily seek His guidance, and then maintain these simple practices consistently. These are tried and true principles. If you are seeking a richer relationship with God and more relevance as a committed Christian in the world, make them part of your plans for a new beginning.

I)    Bible Reading ~

1.Deut.8:3 – Man lives by bread and what else?_______________________________   

2.  Ex.6:16-21 – How often are we to gather our spiritual food? ____________________

3.  Rev.2:17 - What is promised to the overcomer? _______________________________

4.  Ps.119:103 – How does David describe God’s words? _________________________

5.  I Pe.2:2 – What gives growth? ____________________________________________

6.  Deut.6:6 ; Ps.119:11 – What are we to keep in our heart? _______________________

 7.  Ps.119:105 – What helps us see our way? ___________________________________

 8. II Pe.1:19 – What do we have and what should we do with it?___________________________________________________________________________________

II)    Prayer ~

Mk.1:35 – When did our Lord pray? ______________________________________

2.  Lk.6:12 –When else did our Savior pray? ___________________________________

3.  Lk.5:16 – Where did the Master pray? _____________________________________

4.  Mt.11:20, 25 ; Jn.11:41;17:1 – Where else did Jesus pray? _____________________

________________________________________________________________________

5.  Mt.6:6 – What did Christ command us to do? What is the promise? _______________

________________________________________________________________________

6.  I Th.5:17 – So, how often, where, and how long are we to pray? _________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

III)    Church Attendance / Christian Fellowship ~

Mt.18:20 ; I Jn.1:3 – Who is with us when we gather together?

_______________________________________________________________________

2.  Heb.10:24-25 – Who are we to consider?____________________________________

3. What are we not to do? __________________________________________________

4.  Eph.5:19 ; Col.3:16 – What are we to do and with whom? 

________________________________________________________________________

5.  Jn.15:12, 17; 13: 34-35 – What did our Lord command us to do?_________________

6.  How will all men know that we are the Disciples of Christ? _____________________

7.  I Jn.3:11, 18; 4:7-8, 20-21 – What should we do? _____________________________,

 How should we do it? _______________________________,
 Where does it come from? _____________,

8.  What does it show when we do it? _________________________________________

9.  When we don’t? _______________________________________________________.

10. What is the standard with which we are to judge ourselves and others? 

_______________________________________________________________________

IV)   Witnessing ~

Mt.28:19-20 – What is “The Great Commission”? 

_______________________________________________________________________

2.   Mt.10:32-33 + Lk.12:8-9; I Jn.2:23 + 4:15 -  What is the promise

 and the warning regarding public confession of The Lord Jesus Christ? 

________________________________________________________________________

3.  Ro.10:9-10 – What is it besides our faith that assures our salvation? 
                                                                                                                             

4.  Ro.10:13-14 – How are the unsaved able to be saved and what’s our part? 

________________________________________________________________________

5. Acts 1:8 ; I Pe.3:15 – What are we to be? _________________  __________________

6. II Tim.1:8 – What are we not to be? ________________________________________

7. Ps.66:16; 96:2-4 – Who are we to tell? ___________________  __________________

8. Jer.20:9 ; Acts 4:18-20 – What experience did the Prophets and the Apostles have

 in common? _______________________________________________________________

9. II Cor.4:13 – We believe, therefore we should do what? ________________________

10. Titus 2:1-15 – We are to ___________things of sound doctrine, 

older women are to _______ the younger, we are to have sound 

________ that cannot be condemned. These things we are to

____________, and ___________, and ___________, with all authority.

ØVerse 15b In the N.A.S.B. says, “Let no one disregard you.” You are RELEVANT !

11. II Tim. 1:7- 8 – What has God given to us, and what should we do?

_______________________________________________________________________

            Well, that’s it, I believe that if we will follow this simple plan with
 consistency good results are sure to follow. May God bless your efforts
 to become a more relevant Christian wherever you are whether you’re
 at home, or at work or school,or just out and about, and of course
 last but by no means least at church!                                

                                                                                                                           D.R.Z. Sr.  

Leader's version with answers:                                                                                                                   

 Relevant Christianity

 With the summer winding down and fall right around the corner, many people will be busy with all kinds of plans and activities. Vacations are over, it’s back to school time for students and teachers.

 The sports season is in transition, fashions on the racks in stores and menus in the restaurants are all new and fresh.  So in this time of new beginnings it strikes me as a good time to evaluate my Christian walk, taking in to consideration past successes and failures with an eye toward planing for greater effectiveness and relevance in the future. I believe the key to success in any undertaking lies in maintaining two clear perspectives. They are simplicity and consistency. Here are four simple practices that many have had success with in maintaining an effective Christian walk. Of course no one can live the Christian life without the guidance and empowering of the Holy Spirit. So the first step is to daily seek His guidance, and then maintain these simple practices consistently. These are tried and true principles. If you are seeking a richer relationship with God and more relevance as a committed Christian in the world, make them part of your plans for a new beginning.

I) Bible Reading ~

1. Deut.8:3 – Man lives by bread and what else? The Word of God.  

2. Ex.16:16-21 – How often are we to gather our spiritual food?  Daily, every day    

3. Rev.2:17 -What is promised to the overcomer? Hidden Manna (revealed mysteries of God, See - Prov.3:32; Jn4:32; Mt.13:11, also the full sufficency of Christ.)          

4. Ps.119:103 – How does David describe God’s words? Sweeter than honey in his mouth.

5. I Pe.2:2 – What gives growth?  The milk of the Word

6. Deut.6:6 ; Ps.119:11 – What are we to keep in our heart? The Word of God

7. Ps.119:105 – What helps us see our way? God’s Word

8. II Pe.1:19 – What do we have and what should we do with it?   The Word made sure.

Pay close attention to it until the Lord comes again.

II) Prayer ~

1. Mk.1:35 –When did our Lord pray? Early in the morning while it was dark

2. Lk.6:12 –When else did our Savior pray?  At the end of the day and all night.

3. Lk.5:16 – Where did the Master pray?  In a solitary place by Himself.

4. Mt.11:20, 25 ; Jn.11:41;17:1 – Where else did Jesus pray? In public.

5. Mt.6:6 – What did Christ command us to do? What is the promise? Go into our room, close the door, and pray.  The Father will repay us.

6. I Th.5:17 – So, how often, where, and how long are we to pray? Morning and evening,

While alone or in public, unceasingly.

III)    Church Attendance / Christian Fellowship ~

1.  Mt.18:20 ; I Jn.1:3 – Who is with us when we gather together?

The Lord, the invisible Church, the Father, and the Son.

2.  Heb.10:24-25 – Who are we to consider? Each other

 3. What are we not to do? Forsake our assembling together

4.  Eph.5:19 ; Col.3:16 – What are we to do and with whom?  Fellowship and worship with one another.

5.  Jn.15:12, 17; 13: 34-35 – What did our Lord command us to do? Love one another.

6.  How will all men know that we are the Disciples of Christ?   If we love one another

7.  I Jn.3:11, 18; 4:7-8, 20-21 – What should we do? Love one another, How should we do it?  In deed and in truth, Where does it come from? God,

8.  What does it show when we do it? That we are born of God (born again)

9.  When we don’t? That we cannot love God and we are a liar if we say we do.

10.What is the standard by which we are to judge ourselves and others by?  The one who loves God should love his brother Christian

IV)     Witnessing ~

1. Mt.28:19-20 – What is “The Great Commission”? Go and make 
disciples and teach them

2.  Mt.10:32-33 + Lk.12:8-9; I Jn.2:23 + 4:15 -  What is the promise and the warning regarding public confession of The Lord Jesus Christ? If we confess Christ before men

He will confess us before the Father and the angels of God. If we deny Him He will deny us, we will not hasve the Father

3. Ro.10:9-10 – What is it besides our faith that assures our salvation? Our confession of Jesus as Lord

4. Ro.10:13-14 – How are the unsaved able to be saved and what’s our part? By hearing the Word of God. We are to tell it to them.

5. Acts 1:8 ; I Pe.3:15 – What are we to be? His witnesses  Always ready to make a defence for the hope that is in us.

6. II Tim.1:8 – What are we not to be? Afraid to give testimony of the Lord.

7. Ps.66:16; 96:2-4 – Who are we to tell? All who fear God, amoung
 all nations, all peoples.

8. Jer.20:9 ; Acts 4:18-20 – What experience did the Prophets and the
 Apostles have in common? 
They could not repress or contain the word of God. They had to declair it
publicly.

9. II Cor.4:13 – We believe, therefore we should do what?  Speak.

10. Titus 2:1-15 – We are to speak things of sound doctrine, older women are to teach
the younger, we are to have sound speach that cannot be condemned. These things we are to

speak, and exhort, and rebuke- reprove, with all authority.

Verse 15b In the N. A. S. B. says, “Let no one disregard you.” You are RELEVANT !

11. II Tim. 1:7- 8 – What has God given us, and what should we do? The power of love
 and discipline, not to be ashamed but to join Paul and the disciples, the prophets, the martyrs,  

And our Lord and savior Jesus Christ in the privilege of suffering for the gospel if need be, according to the power of God.  WITNESS!

            Well, that’s it, I believe that if we will follow this simple plan with consistency good results are sure to follow. May God bless your efforts to become a more relevant Christian wherever you are whether you’re at home, or at work or school, or just out and about, and of course last but by no means least at church!

                                                                                                                           D.R.Z. Sr.