Engaged in Christianity

Engaged in Christianity

Matt. 9:35-38

Introduction:

Every morning I start my Toyota Tacoma pickup truck. The engine runs, the radio works, the lights work, and the wipers work. But that pickup won’t go anywhere until I put it into gear.
When I get to the office, I see thousands of wonderful books. But those books won’t do me any good unless I open and read them.
When I sit at my computer, I have the world at my disposal through email and the Internet. But unless I search and connect, I can’t learn a thing.
So it is with Christianity. It is not merely a faith to be believed; it is a life to be lived!

Activity is not the same thing as involvement
Weeds grow by themselves but flowers need cultivation
Most of us can do more than we think we can but usually do less than we think we have.

God Wants Fruit

John 15:8-10 "By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love."

Luke 13:6-9 And He began telling this parable: "A certain man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it, and did not find any. And he said to the vineyard-keeper, 'Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?' And he answered and said to him, 'Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down. ' "

John 15:2 "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit."

We bear fruit in our service, in our kindness, in sharing the gospel, in teaching, in visiting, in each of the 30 or so ministries we have in this church.

We Produce Fruit By Action

A recent Gallup poll (Nov. 2001) found:

Engaged members are 40 times more likely to be highly spiritually committed than non-involved members
12 times as likely to invite someone to church
2 ½ times as likely to be satisfied with their lives
volunteer twice as many hours per week in service to community
give a percentage of their income that is 3 times greater than the non-involved

I have found that people involved in serving the Lord

Are more likely to grow spiritually themselves
Find greater satisfaction with Concord Road Church of Christ
Develop deeper friendships with other members
Are less likely to drop out of church

People who spread their faith keep their faith

Acts 5:42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

a. complaints won’t stop the growth

Acts 6:1, 7 Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food…. And the word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.

b. persecution won’t stop the growth

Acts 8:3-4 But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house; and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison. Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.

Bearing Fruit is How We Show Our Love

1 John 2:3-6 And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.

Matt. 12:50 "For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother."

John 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him.

Love is not an emotion but a lifestyle; it is shown! it acts! it is dynamic!

1 Cor. 13:4-8 Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous. Love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly. It does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.

1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.

Conclusion:

Jesus did not merely speak of His mission on this earth—He acted upon it.

Luke 19:10 "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

1 Pet. 2:24 He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

2. Are you living out your Christian life?