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Dr. Stephen W. Christian

Pastor Stephen W. Christian

Called Christians - Dr. Stephen W. Christian

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Dr. Stephen W. Christian, Senior Pastor and Bishop, shares the message, “Called Christians” on Sunday, July 11, 2010.

Acts 11:26 When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching great numbers of people. (It was there at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians. )

Called Christians
Why were they called “Christians?” Before this encounter in Antioch, they were referred to as “disciples” and “followers of the Way.” What did they do to cause people to call them Christians? I suggest to you that they began to act like Christ as disciples of Christ. They practiced the disciplines of Christ doing things that Jesus Christ himself did. Today, I believe that the greatest need in the church is the Christ-like discipleship demonstrated by these first century Christians.

These Christians went to the synagogue every day to gather with other saints. If daily meetings were their custom because that’s when the church gathered, it should be our custom to gather when the saints gather—particularly Bible Study and Worship Services.

Sanctification
We should not be Christians by name only, but also in practice. Our position is what Christ has done for us, our practice is what we have done for Christ. We are made to sit in heavenly places so that’s our position. What Christ has done for us changes our destiny, what we do for Christ changes our disposition.

Jesus has sanctified us in position, but He has us to help Him sanctify us in practice. He sanctified Himself so that we could be sanctified in the present of God. Remember the definition of “sanctified” means to be “set apart.” Christ has set the believers apart.

Sanctification is also defined as “growing out of sin and more fully into Christ.”

We are working at Bountiful to get back to the basics of our faith. We should not call ourselves leaders if we are not willing to practice the disciplines of the Christian faith. We are looking for leaders who are nice, sweet, loving, and kind.

We are not ready to serve until we can absorb the little abuse that comes from dealing with difficult people.

Psalms 122:1 NLT
I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.”

Those of us who can be in church should be. We should make the assembling of ourselves together as a priority above our schedules, struggles, and situations.

When you read the word of God you need to ask yourself these questions:

• Is there a warning to heed?
• Is there a promise to claim?
• Is there a sin to forsake?
• Is there a command to obey?
• Is there a lesson to learn?
• Is there a principle to apply?
• Is there an example to follow?

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