HOW TO BE A BETTER CHRISTIAN

How many of you want to be a better Christian?

Have you ever had the thought, “I need to be a more effective Christian?”

Every Christian wants to be a better Christian. It should be all of our goals to be the best we can be for the Lord.

I.                  BE FAITHFUL. 1 COR. 4.2

A.    Be faithful to the Lord.

1.                  Matt. 25.21, 23

2.                  Revelation 2:10  Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Firm in adherence to the truth and to the duties of religion. Constant in the performance of duties or services; exact in attending to commands; as a faithful servant. Webster.

B.     We are to be faithful because the Lord is faithful to us.

1.                  2 Thessalonians 3:3  But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.

2.                  1 Corinthians 1:9  God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

C.     We are to be faithful in the things that God wants.

1.                  Bible reading

2.                  Prayer

3.                  Church attendance

4.                  Tithing and giving to missions

5.                  Witnessing

D.    In order to be a better Christian, we must be faithful from the start to the finish.

1.                  2 Timothy 4:7  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

E.     Be faithful in family.

1.                  Husbands and wives, parents and children.

F.      Be faithful in the secular world.

1.                  Work

2.                  School

3.                  Everyday activities.

JUST BE FAITHFUL.

Theodore Roosevelt said, “It is better to be faithful than famous.”

“Man measures success by numbers, God measures success by faithfulness.”

II.              BE FORGIVING.

A.    We are to forgive because God forgave us.

1.                  Eph. 4.29-32

2.                  Col. 3.8-14

3.                  Matt. 18. 21, 22

4.                  Luke 23:34  Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

B.     How can you be a better Christian if you have a hard time forgiving those who did you wrong?

C.     You can not be a good Christian by harboring a non-forgiving spirit.

“The heaviest load any man carries on his back is a pack of grudges.”

“It is far better to forgive and forget than to resent and remember.”

III.          BE FRUITFUL. COL. 1.10

Fruitful - Very productive; producing fruit in abundance; as fruitful soil; a fruitful tree; a fruitful season. Webster

A.    The parable of the Sower, Matt. 13.18-23

B.     The different fruits mentioned in the Bible.

1.                  Repentance. - Matthew 3:8  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

2.                  Fruit of the Spirit - Galatians 5:22-23  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

3.                  Good works - Matthew 7:17-18  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

4.                  Praise to God - Hebrews 13:15  By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

5.                  Converts to Christ - John 4:36  And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.