Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 53:42 — 46.0MB)
Subscribe: RSS
Mark 1:14-20
We invite you to join us for worship each Sunday morning at 9:30. You can also download our service at Baptist-Christian at iTunes. There are only 256 shopping days until Christmas. Someone says, “Wait, I’m still recovering from this Christmas, let alone think about next Christmas!” Why do we put off getting ready for Christmas when we know its coming? We wait until the last possible moment to shop, when we could watch for bargains all year. The point is this; did you put as much effort into properly representing Christ in 2012 as you did getting ready for the holidays? The better question is; how are you preparing or what is you plan to succeed as a proper representative for Christ in 2013? Do you even have a plan? Watch as Jesus helps us with a plan to succeed!
- JESUS GATHERED COMPANIONS! Read Prov. 13:20, then follow your chain references and do a study on companionship. Nowhere does God ever teach us that our Christian walk is solitary. From the beginning God said, “it is not good for man to be alone.” In Num. 10 Moses invites his father-in-law to guide him as a councilor; Solomon emphasizes companionship in Eccl. 4:12; Jesus sent His disciples out in pairs; even when He went to pray in Gethsemane He asked Peter, James, and John to go with Him, a little further; Paul was always accompanied. We have become a “church” of loners today. We think it is nobody’s business how we are doing in our personal life. Even so-called Christians don’t think it necessary to be faithful in attendance, and worse yet, in being an active part of the ministry, and eventually those people just dry up. How sad! Notice also
- JESUS WAS COMPELLED TO OBEY GOD! Read Lu. 2:47; 15:32; 18:1. The common thought is that Jesus and His followers must, or are compelled, to obey God. Paul teaches in 1Cor. 10:31-33 to obey God so others might be saved. The idea here is in daily living a Christian is compelled to obey God repeatedly thinks “is what I am doing right now drawing others to Christ or driving them away?” They are never concerned about their reputation, because they are more concerned about God’s! Jesus also
- ACCEPTED THE COST! Read Matt. 8:18ff. One of the biggest deterrents to following Christ is “first let me…” We can never follow God’s plan by doing it our way! Almost everything we do in life has a designated plan, pattern, procedure, or process that must be followed to end the right way. Discipleship is certainly no exception! How would Christ say your life conforms to His plan of discipleship? You know don’t you!
- JESUS WAS A MAN OF PRAYER! Read Mark 1:35ff. Trying to be a person of God without constant and consistent prayer is like trying to life without breathing! Scripture teaches us to pray without ceasing, and to always give thanks in everything. Notice Jesus went to a solitary place to pray. It is okay to pray constantly throughout your day, not matter what you are doing. However, it is equally important to spend some time each day alone with God in a quiet place. The thing is, when it’s all said and done God is not going to pick a few choice days out of your life and say, you did your best. He is going to review your entire life then make the call. Will He tell you He is pleased with your plan to succeed? You know don’t you!
If we can help you answer your spiritual questions, call us at (574) 643-9419.
