Teaching Notes

(used from NorthtownChurch Lockin in 2004)

Characteristics of a Christian

MONDAY

Jesus said, "The first in importance is, 'Listen, Israel: The Lord your God is one; so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.' And here is the second: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.' There is no other commandment that ranks with these."  - Mark 12:29-31

A Christian must love God. This is the very first characteristic of a Christian is that they love God.  This is not a love in words but also in deed.  This means that what God requires is the most important thing to you.  You will not allow anything else to be before your love for God.

Thought for today: How do you show your love for God? The things you do around your friends, can they tell you love God?

Prayer: Lord allow my love for you to show though my actions.  If I say I love you then I must obey you.  Help me to obey you even when it calls for me to do some difficult things.

TUESDAY

Peter and the apostles answered, "It's necessary to obey God rather than men. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, the One you killed by hanging him on a cross. God set him on high at his side, Prince and Savior, to give Israel the gift of a changed life and sins forgiven. And we are witnesses to these things. The Holy Spirit, whom God gives to those who obey him, corroborates every detail." - Acts 5:29-32

A Christian must obey God. This goes hand in hand with yesterdays lesson.  If we say we love God then it should be evident in our desire to obey him.  When we want to have our own way and refuse to listen to him we do not show the respect and love we should show for our Heavenly Father.  When we obey God even above what people want us to this is what is required of God.

Thought for today: Do I obey God even when I might not look good around my friends?  Do I obey God when it might require me to make a stand that others refuse to make?  What is really most important, obeying God or being well liked and recieved?

Prayer: Lord help me to obey you even above what my friends or others may think.  Help me to make you my focus in everything I do.  I will try to get along as best I can with others but never if it calls for me to disobey you.

WEDNESDAY

"You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. - Matthew 5:43-47

A Christian will love their enemies and pray for them. Jesus challenged the people to go deeper.  He challenged them to love their enemies and pray for them.  He challenged them to go above a simply hello or greeting them.  He says even sinners can do that.  He challenges them to love those that would abuse them, hate them or even want to harm them.  What a strange request.  We must understand those Jesus spoke to were being asked to love the very people that had destroyed them, kill their people, taken their land.  If he could ask them then to do such a thing, surely he can require the same from us.  As Christians if we are asked to do it, we will be equipped to carry it out.

Thought for today: When was the last time you prayed for someone that had mistreated you?  When was the last time you showed love to someone you did not like?

Prayer: Lord you ask us to be loving even to those that have been our enemies.  This is a hard request but because we love you we will obey you.  We will do as you have requested us to do.  We will show love to others and we will pray that you would have control in their lives.

THURSDAY

“Pray without ceasing.” - I Thessalonians 5:17

Christians pray. It often amazes me how little we think we need to pray as Christians.  We think if I prayed this morning or the quick prayer over my meal that is enough for today or even for several days.  However one of the most amazing characteristics of a faithful Christian is one that prays.  We must be willing to pray all the time, in all situations and in all circumstances.  We pray when things are good.  We pray when things are bad.  We pray for ourselves.  We pray for others.  We pray.  This is one of our greatest sources to be able to gain power from God and to hear his direction for us (as well as through the reading of his Word.).

Thought for today: Do you pray often?  Do you say a quick prayer and move on or do you pray and then take time to hear God speak back to you?  How important is prayer to you?

Prayer: We want to hear from you today Lord.  We want to know your voice and to know you speaking to us.  Help us to pray without ceasing for all things and for all people.  Help us to become people of prayer.  It does not matter our age or any outward things, you look at our hearts.  Help us to have a heart of prayer.

FRIDAY

“That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;” - Phillippians 2:15

Christians are light. If we are children of God we must reflect God through our lives.  Others must be able to see the Light of Christ in us. We cannot look like the world around us and then try to look like God, it cannot be.  We cannot be darkness and light.  We cannot be holy and unholy.  We cannot be crooked and straight.  We are either one or the other.  God requires his children to reflect who his Son is.  We must be light.  Light dispels darkness and you can see what is truly in a room for instance when you turn the light on.  We then must reflect truth.  We are transparent and people can see that what we say is what we really believe.  We won't say we believe in Jesus but live as though we do not.

Thought for today: How do you reflect the light of Christ around you?  Do others know you are a Christian by your acts or do you have to tell them in order for them to know?  What ways can you reflect Christ more?

Prayer: Lord allow your Holy Spirit to direct me every step of my way.  Help me to be a light not hidden but one that shows to those around me who I belong to.  Help me reflect light so that others will want this relationship that I have with you.  Help me draw people to you.