Sermon: Four phases of the Christian life

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4 phases of the Christian life

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Introduction

Different people have different ideas about what the Christian life is all about. The politicians see us
as “the religious right” to be courted or ridiculed. The liberals see us as “fanatic fundamentalists” who
take a good thing to extremes. Even among ourselves there are differing attitudes as to what is
involved in living the Christian life. I believe the normal Christian life goes through four phases.

I. Turning (Salvation)

A. Any journey begins with a first step. In this case, salvation. It’s as simple as ABC.

1. Accept the fact that you are a sinner, lost without God.

2. Believe that He loves you and that Jesus died for your sin.

3. Confess Jesus to be Lord of your life.

B. Must involve turning away from sin!

1. In John 8, Jesus forgave the woman but told her to “go and sin no more…”

2. He does not forgive us to remain in our sin; He forgives us to take us out of our sins.
3. Does God love homosexuals? Certainly; but He doesn’t love their sin. The problem with the
homosexual lobby is not that they don’t believe God forgives sin; it is that they do not accept that
what they do is a sin!

C. Gradual improvement is not God’s way

1. When it comes to sin, some folks think that improvement satisfies God. “I don’t drink as much as I
used to!” Guess what! Sooner or later there has to be a last time. Why not now?

2. The first step in the Christian walk is turning away from sin and turning toward God. Have you
made that step?

II. Learning (Christian discipleship takes several forms)

A. Personal Bible study:

1. Psalms 119:11 “Thy word have I hid in my heart…”

2. Should be both REGULAR and SYSTEMATIC.

3. God’s primary way of speaking to our hearts

B. Regular church attendance (serves at least four purposes)

1. Sermons give insights we may have missed

2. Surround ourselves with godly influences

3. Gives opportunity to joyfully worship God

4. Gives us an outlet to minister to others

C. Becoming a part of a LIFE group

1. Building relationships with other Christians

2. Rise to their spiritual level

3. Learn from their Bible studies

4. Learn to give and receive Christian love

III. Yearning (Hunger for intimacy with God)

A. Strange phenomenon: the closer we come to God, the closer we want to become.

B. The more we have of Him, the hungrier we get for more!

C. Some may call it renewal, some revival, I call it maturity!

D. There is a juggling of our priorities in life.

E. Move from “phileo” love to agape love for Christ

IV. Burning (giving of our selves in service for Him)

A. The greatest joy in the Christian life comes in service for Him

B. Cannot be a contrived burning; without the three previous steps any attempts at burning will
eventually fizzle out.

C. Burnout? Comes when people try to do God’s work in their own strength. Cannot effectively be
done.

D. When you do God’s work, God’s way, in God’s time, He gives more than enough fuel for the
burning.

V. Question: Where are you on this journey?

A. How many here are aflame, burning for service for God?

B. How many are in the yearning stage, hungry for more of Him?

C. How many are in the learning stage, you love Him, but you’re just learning how to live for Him.

D. How many are here and you are ready to turn to Him?