IF YOU WITNESS/IF YOU DO NOT WITNESS (8 OF 8)
by Tony Nester
Scripture: II TIMOTHY 1:6-9, MARK 8:38, ROMANS 1:16
This content is part of a series.
If You Witness/If You Do Not Witness
Spiritual Choices: 8 of 8
Text: Mark 8:38; Romans 1:16; 2 Timothy 1:6-9
Tony Nester
Becoming a Christian is a choice. Living as a Christian
means shaping one's entire life so as to keep faith with
the fundamental choice to follow Jesus Christ. We call this
"discipleship."
One Christian teacher explained it like this: Discipleship
is a sign that you have made a choice to live in a certain
way. It is the setting of a direction to your life, the
marking off of certain guidelines, the expression of a
certain spirit. A person will do different things at
different times depending upon circumstances; but he will,
if he is a mature person, bring to bear the same spirit at
all times and under all circumstances as he makes his
different choices. (1).
We're talking here about consistency. If we are Christians
then our Christianity is to run through our entire life.
There isn't supposed to be a part of our life that is
marked "Christian" which we give to God while other parts
go unmarked. Day after day, circumstance after
circumstance, choice after choice, we're meant to live out
our faith in Christ.
This is the heart of witnessing. "You will be my
witnesses," Jesus told the disciples (Acts 1:8). Well, yes
we will be, but only if we choose and continue to choose to
remain true to our Lord.
It's not easy. In fact, quite often we are embarrassed
about our faith in Christ. Jesus said that many people
would be ashamed of him.
"Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this
adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man
will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his
Father with the holy angels."" (Mark 8:38 NRSV).
I believe this verse applies first to those who consciously
reject Christ, but this morning I want to draw out it's
meaning for those of us who claim to be among his
followers. We, too, are often ashamed of him. We call him
the ...
Spiritual Choices: 8 of 8
Text: Mark 8:38; Romans 1:16; 2 Timothy 1:6-9
Tony Nester
Becoming a Christian is a choice. Living as a Christian
means shaping one's entire life so as to keep faith with
the fundamental choice to follow Jesus Christ. We call this
"discipleship."
One Christian teacher explained it like this: Discipleship
is a sign that you have made a choice to live in a certain
way. It is the setting of a direction to your life, the
marking off of certain guidelines, the expression of a
certain spirit. A person will do different things at
different times depending upon circumstances; but he will,
if he is a mature person, bring to bear the same spirit at
all times and under all circumstances as he makes his
different choices. (1).
We're talking here about consistency. If we are Christians
then our Christianity is to run through our entire life.
There isn't supposed to be a part of our life that is
marked "Christian" which we give to God while other parts
go unmarked. Day after day, circumstance after
circumstance, choice after choice, we're meant to live out
our faith in Christ.
This is the heart of witnessing. "You will be my
witnesses," Jesus told the disciples (Acts 1:8). Well, yes
we will be, but only if we choose and continue to choose to
remain true to our Lord.
It's not easy. In fact, quite often we are embarrassed
about our faith in Christ. Jesus said that many people
would be ashamed of him.
"Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this
adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man
will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his
Father with the holy angels."" (Mark 8:38 NRSV).
I believe this verse applies first to those who consciously
reject Christ, but this morning I want to draw out it's
meaning for those of us who claim to be among his
followers. We, too, are often ashamed of him. We call him
the ...
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