DISCIPLESHIP

Put It Into Practice

A Living Sacrifice: Romans 12:1-2 tells us “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Some translations state that your body is a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God is our reasonable service. Jesus gave His very life for us, the least we can do is live our lives for Him.

Colossians 3:1 reminds us “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”

Love God, Love Others (that’s harder than it would seem) Matthew 22:37-40 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Loving God may come easy to you- we love Him because He first loved us- it’s easy to love Him. People will let you down, they’ll say hurtful things, they may even lie about you, and Jesus wants us to love them anyway. Loving others is so challenging; Jesus also said in John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Share Your Faith: Share why you needed a Savior; share what God is currently doing in your faith journey- how are you growing? This will take practice. 1 Peter 3:15" …always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”

Practice sharing your testimony (Salvation story) Some people believe they are “good enough” to make it to heaven, but we know that Scripture says, “there is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 10:-12) Share how you realized you needed a Savior. Share how it may start out awkward to talk with God since we can’t see Him, but He is right here, and wants us to talk with Him. Be prepared to share how God is working in your life. What have you learned recently? What prayers have been answered? In what way did God “show up” when you needed Him to? What challenge has He recently helped you overcome? What’s one new thing you’ve learned recently about God; His faithfulness; His character?