Focusing on God in Spirit, Love and Lordship

Philippians 3:12-14 (NIV)

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

1. Living in Spiritual Worship: Romans 12 2. Living in Love: 1 Corinthians 13 and 1 John 3 3. Living in Spirit: Galatians 5 and Hebrews 5 - 6 4. Living in Light: Ephesians 5 and 1 John 1 5. Living in the Armor of God: Ephesians 6 6. Living to know Christ: Phillipians 3 and 2 Peter 1 7. Living Spiritually Alert: 1 Thessalonians 5 8. Living in Faith: Hebrews 11 9. Living Close to God: James 4 10. Living in Holiness: 1 Peter 1 11. Living in Truth: 2 John There is only ONE Good News Galatians 1:6-10 Grow in the Knowledge of God 2 Peter 1:1-11 Know the Wisdom of God 1 Corin. 1:18- 2: 16 Live and Worship in Spirit Romans 12:1-21 Put on the Armor of God Ephesians 6:10-20 Stand Firm to your Faith 2 Thess. 2:13-17 Know false and true teachings 1 Timothy 6:1-21 Promote True teachings Titus 2:1-15 Grow from basic Christian towards MATURE Christian Hebrew 6:1-8 Learn to discern false teachings 1 John 4:1-6 "Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." Ephesians 6:17 (NLT) (READ your BIBLE and KNOW the Word of God) A local church is for: Worshiping & Praying (Romans (12:1-2) Love (1 Pet. 1:22) Edify (Eph. 4:16) Encourage (Heb. 10:24) Teach and Admonish (Col. 3:16) Bear Burdens (Gal. 6:2) Comfort (1 Thes. 4:18) Forgive (Eph. 4:32; Matt. 6:14-15) Work Together (Phil. 1:27) Discipline ( Matt. 18:15, 2 Cor. 2:5-11, Thes. 3:6-15, and Jude 22-23) The best way to witness is to: Be like Christ (truly a Christian) People watch you (your behavior, your attitude, your speech) You are the light They will DRAW to you and ask questions about YOUR life Then you tell them about Christ If you talk (witness about Christ) and your life do not show it, that's NOT effective witnessing. I believe the hardest part as a Christian is being like-Christ and try to live in a "blameless" life. We do not expect our pastors to be the only ones who are acting like-Christ and live in a blameless life. ALL members of the Church must live in a blameless life, be the shining light to the lost and bring them to Christ. Pastor/Elder qualifications: Titus 1:6-9 ".....must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer is entrusted with God's work, he must be blameless-not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.