THE CHRISTIAN LIFE/GROWTH
INTRODUCTION
The objective of this class is to teach you:
a) What Christian service and ministry is
b) The various aspect of ministry such as:
The Great commission
The Ministry of Reconciliation
Growing the Church
c) The believer’s relationship with his or her leaders
d) The believer’s attitude during courtship and engagement according to Gospel Envoys teachings.
These areas collectively make up the Christian life. At the end of the class you should know in clear terms why you need to render service in the church, maintain the right attitude with your leaders as well as the right attitude in courtship and engagement according to Gospel Envoys teachings.
CHRISTIAN SERVICE
Ministry is rendering service in the body of Christ or the church. Christian service or ministry is the believer’s active involvement in the body of Christ, (Romans 12-1 Good news Bible Examples of service or ministry:
a. Your involvement in the activity groups such as: choir, ushering, helps e.t.c
b. Your involvement in the cell system etc
c. Your involvement in the ministry programmes
THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CHRISTIAN
THE GREAT COMMISSION (Matthew 28:18-20;
Mark 16:16-18; Acts1:8) the great commission is a charge or commission given to all Christians by our Lord Jesus Christ to preach the gospel of salvation. It is necessary for us as members of the body to preach this gospel, thus liberating men from the evil intentions of the devil. We are to be witnesses of Christ in our world. Witnessing Christ helps us grow spiritually. The gospel of Christ is God’s power for salvation for man (Romans 1:16). Carrying out this commission is equally rendering service in the body.
B. THE NEED FOR TRAINING (Eph 4:11-16; 2Tim3:16-17; 2Tim 2:20-21).
The reasons why you need to be trained for Christian service or ministry are as follows:
a) It helps you to identify your ministry office (Eph 4:11).
b) It helps you to be effective in the work of the ministry (Eph4:12).
c) It perfects you unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Eph 4:13).
d) It ensures that you receive good doctrines necessary to guide your Christian life (Ephesians 4:14).
Examples of people that were trained by GOD
i. David: (1 Samuel 17:34-36). David was trained from when he was a shepherd boy at the age of 17 to becoming the king of Israel.
ii. Moses: (Exodus 1-3). Moses training was in 3 phases:
1. The first 40 years was in the courts of pharaoh where he was raised as a king’s son.
2. The next 40 years was in median when he was a shepherd.
3. The last 40 years was from when God delivered the Israelites through him, from Egypt through the red sea to the wilderness. And God gave him the Ten Commandments and the unction to write the first five books of the Bible.
Note: Just as God trained each of these men to enable them fulfil their ministry, God is also training us for the work of the ministry.
C. THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION (2 Cor 5:18-21; Dan 12:3; 2 timothy 4:1-5; Proverbs 11:30).
The ministry of reconciliation means reconciling or uniting man from his sinful nature back to the nature of God (righteousness, holiness and love). It means making men God’s friends (Ephesians 5:19 Good news Bible). God made Christ to be sin for us so that we can be made righteous. Therefore as the ambassadors of Christ, we are to reconcile men back to God (Daniel 12:3)
GROWING THE CHURCH (Eph 4:12-26; 1Corinthians 12:12-28; Exodus 36:5)
Ways in which we can grow the church:
Carrying out the great commission (Matthew 28:18-20).
Being involved in Christian service or ministry (Ephesians 4:12)
Edifying (strengthening, giving support, encouraging) the church in love (Ephesians 4:16).
Bringing (special) offerings for the work of the ministry such as: Total Experience, Camp Meeting, Loveworld Television Ministry, Church building projects, etc (Exodus 35:5).
YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR SPIRITUAL LEADER (Hebrews 13:17; 1Samuel 15:22-23; Numbers 16)
As a believer, you are to submit completely to your spiritual leaders in obedience. You should never criticize or judge your spiritual leaders, even if you perceive they are not living right with God. It is your duty to pray for them (Hebrews 3:16).
THE RIGHT ATTITUDE IN COURTSHIP OR ENGAGEMENT (1 Corinthians 7:32-34).
Courtship is the period of engagement between two people making preparation for marriage. During courtship it is important that we maintain the right attitude as believers. This we can do in two ways:
a. Purity in courtship (Eph 5:3-5, 1Cor 6:18-20, Heb 13:4)
You must abstain from fornication and all uncleanliness. Fornication before marriage is a blood covenant and brings death into all you do. (Refer to Pastor Chris’ singles seminar tapes 1&2).
b. Getting the church involved. (Matthew 16:19, Matthew 13:4).
Your spiritual leaders notably your Pastor should be aware of your relationship. Your Pastor will counsel you about marriage with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit; those who don’t listen to their Pastor will end up with shattered dreams and broken homes (Pastor Chris singles seminar tape1&2). “Be careful whether you may be married or not, live as though you were not. Note that there is no marriage in heaven, (Matthew 22:36- 37).
SHOULD A CHRISTIAN BE IN RELATIONSHIP WITH A NON CHRISTIAN? (2Cor 6:16; 1Cor 6:16-20).
A Christian should not be in a relationship or be engaged to an unbeliever because the unbeliever is still in the darkness and living in sin. Your relationship should be to preach the gospel to them.
WHAT WOULD YOU DESCRIBE AS A PROPER CONDUCT FOR A BELIEVER?
It is very important to conduct oneself in manner befitting citizens of the kingdom of God. This means your behaviour, manner of life must align with what God says you are (Phil 1:27, 3:17-20, 1Corinthians1:12, Eph 4:22) (1Cor 10:3, 1Cor 3: 1-3, 17).
When a person gets born again, the Holy Spirit becomes his guide and teacher; In other words, he no longer acts according to his feelings but is led by an inward witness. (Jn 14:26), His spirit is alive to God; he knows what to wear to glorify God because he is led of God.
Now, the bible says the law has been abolished that is the law or ordinances and decrees that prescribed do’s and don’ts for the children of Israel. We are now under grace (Eph 2:15-16, Romans 6:14). Paul emphasizes on the heart or inward man, not the body. “For man looketh on the outward appearance, but God looketh on the heart”1 Samuel 16:7.
Some have said ladies should not wear trousers or come to church with their hair uncovered. Their bible references for the judgement are usually Deuteronomy 22:5, 1Cor 11:1-15, 1Peter 3:3, 1 Tim 2:9. Deuteronomy 22:5 is the basis of stopping ladies from wearing trousers. “What pertaineth unto Man is not restricted to trousers. It could be underwear, shirt or skirt. In fact, the bible records that during this time men wore skirts (Psalms 133:2) the bible could not have been referring to trousers because there were no trousers in those days.
Today there are men in some parts of the world who wear skirts. In Nigeria the Urhobos, Itsekiris and Benins who are born again still use ladies wrappers and are not criticized by this same people. Again, such people should look at Deuteronomy 22:9-11 because the world would according to their judgement be guilty of those verses. Eph 2:15 tells us that the law has been abolished. So brothers and sisters go ahead and wear beautiful things, as you are led of the Spirit.
CONCLUSION
Christianity is a life service to God. A Christian can render his service through his active involvement in the body of Christ. Every Christian has been commissioned by our Lord Jesus Christ to preach the gospel. In other words, he has been called into the ministry of reconciliation. So any Christian who is not involved in reconciling men back to God is not functioning well. A Christian must maintain the right attitude in courtship by keeping himself pure and getting the Church involved. A Christian should not be in courtship or engagement with a non-Christian. Lastly, the class explained what a proper Christian conduct should be from scriptural perspective as against the common man made theologies, which has led so many Christians into bondage.