Five Commitments that Define a Christian

Sunday mornings into November 2011

follow Jesus!

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:

The Apostles’ Creed

Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary,suffered under Pontius Pilate,was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell.

The Apostles’ Creed

The third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there he shall come to judge the living and the dead.

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in the Holy Spirit;the one holy church;the communion of saints;the forgiveness of sins;the resurrection of the body;and the life everlasting.

Amen.

Luke 9:23Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up

his cross daily and follow me.”

Five Commitments that Define a Christian

Sunday mornings into November 2011

follow Jesus!

follow Jesus!

iWill SEEK: passionately pursuing God in all of life!

follow Jesus!

iWill OBEY: joyfully submitting to God in all his directives,

recognizing that He is Lord and I am not!

follow Jesus!

iWill CONNECT: deliberately building accountable

relationships with other followers of Jesus!

Doing Life Together

September 2011

follow Jesus!

iWill CONNECT: deliberately

building accountable relationships with other

followers of Jesus!

follow Jesus!

Accountable relationship:

A relationship in which the individuals involved call each other to give an account of their faith walk in Christ.

follow Jesus!

“One of the greatest reasons Christians get into trouble is that they don’t have to answer to anyone for their lives. Ask around. You will learn that very few have built accountability into their Christian lifestyle. It is the missing link of Christianity.” (Patrick Morely)

follow Jesus!

Ephesians 6:11Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

The battle is REAL!

follow Jesus!

Ecclesiastes 4:12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

The battle is REAL!

follow Jesus!

1 Peter 5:8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Our Enemy is RELENTLESS!

follow Jesus!

Matthew 26:41Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.

Our body is WEAK!

follow Jesus!

Hebrews 3:13But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

Sin is DECEITFUL!

follow Jesus!

Accountable relationships MUST be practiced. Why?

The battle is real!Our Enemy is relentless!Our body is weak! Sin is deceitful!

follow Jesus!

How does a person build accountable

relationships?

follow Jesus! Six Essentials of an Accountable relationship:

Face-to-face

follow Jesus!

follow Jesus! University of Stanford study

For every hour on computer, smartphone,

etc. – we lose ½ hour of face-

to-face interaction!

follow Jesus!

follow Jesus!

“The media technologies we use to communicate are designed for speed and urgency - not for thoughtful reflection and undistracted conversation. They are designed, not to encourage depth in existing relationships, but . . .

follow Jesus!

. . . to widen our network and our ability to say less that is of real substance. Quick and impulsive replies dominate the landscape; thoughtful, longer replies seem out of place and unnecessary.”

(Tim Challies)

The communication

process involves far more than mere words!

follow Jesus! Six Essentials of an Accountable relationship:

Face-to-faceRegularly scheduled

follow Jesus!

Hebrews 3:13

But encourage one another daily, as

long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

follow Jesus!

Hebrews 10:24-25And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

follow Jesus!

Hebrews 10:24-25And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

follow Jesus! Six Essentials of an Accountable relationship:

Face-to-faceRegularly scheduledInvolving God’s Word

follow Jesus!

John 17:17Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

follow Jesus! Six Essentials of an Accountable relationship:

Face-to-faceRegularly scheduledInvolving God’s WordEngaging beneath the

veneer of life

Wood Veneer

We hide behind masks of veneer!

follow Jesus! Six Essentials of an Accountable relationship:

Face-to-faceRegularly scheduledInvolving God’s WordEngaging beneath the

veneer of lifeNecessarily honest

follow Jesus!

Ephesians 4:15

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way

into him who is the head, into Christ.

follow Jesus! Six Essentials of an Accountable relationship:

Face-to-faceRegularly scheduledInvolving God’s WordEngaging beneath the

veneer of lifeNecessarily honestDeepening trust

follow Jesus!

Proverbs 27:6Faithful are the wounds of a friend.

follow Jesus! Six Essentials of an Accountable relationship:

Face-to-faceRegularly scheduledInvolving God’s WordEngaging beneath the

veneer of lifeNecessarily honestDeepening trust

follow Jesus! Six Essentials of an Accountable relationship:

Face-to-faceRegularly scheduledInvolving God’s WordEngaging beneath the

veneer of lifeNecessarily honestDeepening trust

Drinking coffee stunts growth!

follow Jesus!

If you are not practicing accountable

relationships at some level … you will STUNT

YOUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH!!!

follow Jesus!

iWill CONNECT: deliberately building accountable

relationships with other followers of Jesus!