Living Like You Mean It

KEY SCRIPTURE

1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Greeting

1 Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,

2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving

4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 

CONTEXT

Clocks are finely tuned machines. If one spring or gear is out of place, it fails to work properly. Ridgewood Church can be like a clock that’s right on time. But each of us must do our part. One malfunctioning gear can ruin everything. So invest in your relationship with God. Take it seriously. If you want to make a difference, live your Christian life like you mean it.

1 Corinthians 1:1-3

Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, to the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:4-9

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you—so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Living out Your Faith Like You Mean it Will Pit You Against Common Cultural Values

1 Corinthians 6:20

…for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Jesus will Sustain You when You Live out Your Faith Like You Mean it

1 Corinthians 1:7b-9a

…so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful…

You Have a Responsibility to Others to Live out Your Faith Like You Mean it

1 Corinthians 1:9

God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Corinthians 6:15

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never!

1 Corinthians 1:10

I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

Live Like We Mean It

  • Dealing with Factions
  • Doing Away with Immorality
  • Developing a Sensitivity to Those with a Fragile Faith
  • Doing Evangelism
  • Using Spiritual Gifts
  • Learning how to be Selfless in Marriage
  • Reverently Partaking in the Lord’s Supper
  • Focusing on Christ’s Resurrection and the Hope of Heaven