BEING A CHRISTIAN

BEING A CHRISTIAN I. DOES BEING BORN IN AMERICA MAKE US CHRISTIAN? A. WEBSTER DEFINES “CHRISTIAN” - “ONE WHO PROFESSES BELIEF IN THE TEACHING OF JESUS CHRIST.” B. WHAT STANDS OUT ABOUT THE WORD “CHRISTIAN” IS THE TITLE, “CHRIST.” II. TO BE A CHRISTIAN IS TO MODEL OR EMULATE THE LIFE OF CHRIST. A. ACTS 11:26c B. THE WORD “DISCIPLES” IS NOT MADE IF REFERENCE TO JESUS’ 12 DISCIPLES, BUT NEW CONVERTS TO CHRISTIANITY IN ANTIOCH. C. EPHESIANS 4:1-2 III. WHEN WE EXAMINE THE LIFE OF JESUS, WHAT CHARACTERISTICS STAND OUT? A. HUMILITY, GENTLENESS, PATIENCE AND LOVE. B. PAUL URGES THE CHURCH TO INCORPORATE THESE QUALITIES INTO OUR LIVES, IF WE ARE TO LIVE A LIFE “WORTHY” OF THIS CHRISTIAN CALLING. IV. PRACTICING CHRISTIANITY REQUIRES ACTIVATING ONE’S FAITH. A. JOHN 3:3b KJV John 3:5-7 KJV B. PROFESSING FOLLOWER OF CHRIST, A CHRISTIAN, “MUST” BE BORN-AGAIN. C. ACTS 2:38 V. BEING A CHRISTIAN REQUIRES THAT WE ARE BORN OF THE SPIRIT. A. EPHESIANS 4:23-25 KJV B. A BORN-AGAIN TRANSFORMATION REQUIRES A “RENEWED” MIND; A RADICAL NEW WAY OF THINKING. C. AN INTENTIONAL ACT OF “PUTTING ON” THE NEW MAN. D. A CHRIST-LIKE LIFE ALSO REQUIRES “PUTTING AWAY” THINGS FROM OUR OLD LIFE. E. EPHESIANS 4:31 KJV 1JOHN 3:9-10 VI. HAS THE TITLE “CHRISTIAN” BECOME MARGINALIZED TODAY? A. TO BE IDENTIFIED AS A CHRISTIAN IS THE HIGHEST CHARACTER WHICH ANY HUMAN CAN BEAR ON EARTH. B. CONFESS JESUS AS LORD AND BELIEVE GOD RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD.