Message
Notes
Getting Ready for Extreme Makeover…
How to Become an Attractive Christian
April
18, 2004
1
Peter 3:15-17 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared
to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that
you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear
conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in
Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17It is better, if it is
God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
1) Decide who is going to be the leader of your life But in your hearts set
apart Christ as Lord...
Let
Jesus be Lord, not fear…
1 Peter 3:13-14 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14But
even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear
what they fear; do not be frightened.”
Therefore, if anyone is in
Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Titus
3:11-12 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12It
teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to
live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age…
2
Timothy 3:14-16 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have
become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and
how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you
wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is
God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in
righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped
for every good work.
Romans
3:23 …for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Romans
6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in
Christ Jesus our Lord.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his
one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but
have eternal life.
A Prayer to begin a relationship with Christ: Jesus
Christ, I admit to you that I am messed up. I realize today that I am not
living my life for you. I turn from my sin. I realize my sin has offended you.
I ask for the forgiveness that you freely give. I turn to you, Christ, and ask
you to take control of me. I give you everything I am and everything I will be.
Please take charge of my life. Amen.
2) Be Ready to Answer for your Faith …Always be prepared to
give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that
you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…
John
4:28-30, 39 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and
said to the people, 29"Come, see a man who told me everything I
ever did. Could this be the Christ?" 30They came out of the
town and made their way toward him. Many of the Samaritans from that town
believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I
ever did."
Ask
these questions:
Do
you really have hope in your life? If not, keep referring back to number one…
Do
you treat people who are not as far along as you or have a different belief
system with gentleness and respect?
3) Line up your lifestyle with what you know is right …keeping a clear
conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in
Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17It is better, if it is
God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
Luke 19:5-10 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and
said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house
today." 6So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
7All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to
be the guest of a 'sinner.' "
8But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here
and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated
anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount."
9Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house,
because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10For the Son of Man came
to seek and to save what was lost."
Matthew
5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be
hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.
Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In
the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good
deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Ask
yourself:
If I were to go on trial today for being a Christian, would there be enough
evidence to convict me?
What
kind of attitude do I have towards those who are not yet believers? What about
my brothers and sisters in Christ? What about those with positions of authority
over me?
Communion:
1
Corinthians 11:23-28 23For I received from the Lord what I also
passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24and
when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is
for you; do this in remembrance of me." 25In the same way,
after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my
blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26For
whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death
until he comes.
27Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in
an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the
Lord. 28A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread
and drinks of the cup.