My Christian Duty

MY CHRISTIAN DUTY

Ecclesiastes 12:10-14

The Mission of a Baptist Church is to follow Jesus Christ in full obedience, to minister unselfishly in His name, and to share the Good News of His Gospel with people locally and around the world.

Five areas of importance in the Christian life - Fellowship, Discipleship, Ministry, Evangelism, and Worship.

My Life Purpose: I am to glorify God, disciple believers and evangelize the world. It’s amazing how quickly a church can forget its PURPOSE and as a result fail in its MISSION.

My Life Purpose is rooted in two foundational passages of Scripture:

The Great Commandment. Mark 12:29-31 The first of all the commandments is, The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

The Great Commission. Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

It is my desire and determination to make sure that our Church understands its PURPOSE and does not fail in its MISSION. In communicating the purpose of our church it is important that we make it personal. It is a privilege to be a Christian, but being a Christian means accepting and acting out our responsibility. I want to remind you of five biblical responsibilities that God has given to you and I. These are rooted in our Mission Statement!

#1. God wants you to be an active MEMBER of His family. Ephesians 2:19 Ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

The purpose of FELLOWSHIP is to draw us closer to God. 1 John 1:3-4 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. [4] And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

Following Christ is not just a matter of believing; it also includes belonging.

The Christian life is not a solo act. Hebrews 10:22-25 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,.. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

The biblical pattern was set in Jerusalem. Acts 2:41-47 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

We cannot fulfill our MISSION if we waver in this area of PURPOSE.

#2. God wants you to be a MODEL of His character.

1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

John 13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

1Timothy 4:12 Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

This is the purpose of DISCIPLESHIP.

Galatians 4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

#3. God wants you to be a MINISTER of His grace.

Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.