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Podcast: 2024-11-24: What, Who, Why, When, Where, of Christian?
https://crestviewchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2024-11-24.mp3
2024-11-24: Pastor Mark Quist – What, Who, Why, When, Where, of Christian?
Focus for Sunday, “So you say you’re a Christian? What does that mean?” There are many different ways people answer this question, whether one professes to be a Christian or not. A textbook answer would be something like this, “A Christian is one who is saved by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior – to believe in Jesus, receive Jesus into your heart, and then follow Jesus.” Of course, there are many variations and additions to a textbook meaning of Christian. Well, that sounds pretty good. Yet, this definition requires some further explanation to understand it further and better.
Others might answer by saying, “A Christian is one who is judgmental, hypocritical, repressive, exclusive, anti this or that…” And this list of descriptions could also be varied with additions made to it. This doesn’t sound so good.
Both of these answers to ‘What does it mean to be a Christian?’ may better be explained and understood by describing the essence of Christian. Essence is “the intrinsic or indispensable quality of something, that determines one’s character.” The intrinsic or indispensable quality for a Christian would be God’s love. And God’s love becomes the defining and shaping essence of a Christian. If I had to boil that essence down, I’d say a Christian is one who is truly free. Free to love God with their whole heart and being. Free to love their neighbor well and rightly (including the radical love for enemies). Free from sin and its influence, free to follow in God’s ways. Freely forgiving because God has fully forgiven. Freely generous because God has given everything. And this list could also go on and on… free to share this good news with others… free to embrace hope, joy, and peace in the depths of the heart, come what may!
“So you say you’re a Christian? What does that mean?” How would you describe the essence of Christian to someone else when they inquire. A few pithy Scripture texts for Sunday preparation: Galatians 5:1, John 8:34-36, and Revelation 1:4-6, Some significant clues as to what is the essence of being Christian – what do you hear and see?
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By Pastor Mark Quist
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https://crestviewchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2024-11-24.mp3
2024-11-24: Pastor Mark Quist – What, Who, Why, When, Where, of Christian?
Focus for Sunday, “So you say you’re a Christian? What does that mean?” There are many different ways people answer this question, whether one professes to be a Christian or not. A textbook answer would be something like this, “A Christian is one who is saved by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior – to believe in Jesus, receive Jesus into your heart, and then follow Jesus.” Of course, there are many variations and additions to a textbook meaning of Christian. Well, that sounds pretty good. Yet, this definition requires some further explanation to understand it further and better.
Others might answer by saying, “A Christian is one who is judgmental, hypocritical, repressive, exclusive, anti this or that…” And this list of descriptions could also be varied with additions made to it. This doesn’t sound so good.
Both of these answers to ‘What does it mean to be a Christian?’ may better be explained and understood by describing the essence of Christian. Essence is “the intrinsic or indispensable quality of something, that determines one’s character.” The intrinsic or indispensable quality for a Christian would be God’s love. And God’s love becomes the defining and shaping essence of a Christian. If I had to boil that essence down, I’d say a Christian is one who is truly free. Free to love God with their whole heart and being. Free to love their neighbor well and rightly (including the radical love for enemies). Free from sin and its influence, free to follow in God’s ways. Freely forgiving because God has fully forgiven. Freely generous because God has given everything. And this list could also go on and on… free to share this good news with others… free to embrace hope, joy, and peace in the depths of the heart, come what may!
“So you say you’re a Christian? What does that mean?” How would you describe the essence of Christian to someone else when they inquire. A few pithy Scripture texts for Sunday preparation: Galatians 5:1, John 8:34-36, and Revelation 1:4-6, Some significant clues as to what is the essence of being Christian – what do you hear and see?