“To be a Christian”

Introduction

What it means to be a Christian.  In today’s world it so many views on Christians.  As we try to live right and follow our God we have to address some issues.  Why are personal testimonies important in sharing the gospel?  Testimonies can show a non-believer the power of God.  If a person is a Christian, does it matter how they live their life?  As a Christian we have to set a standard of living that others will want to follow. What can your local church do to better communicate God’s love to your community?  People go to church to be saved and to receive love so our churches need support those people and show more love to them.

Why are personal testimonies important in sharing the gospel?

As we live our Christian life daily we come across many good and bad things in our lives.  We may wake up one morning and is so sick we can’t get out of bed and as we lay there start to pray and all of a sudden we feel the power and get up out of the bed and go on about out day.  We you go to church and you testify that to the congregation any non-believer is going to feel that spirit move deep down inside them.  Testimonies are important in our Christian living for it gives us the power to give hope to others it also gives us even more love for our God because we are personally feeling Him move within us.  At my church we have service on the second and fourth Sunday’s and each morning after our Pastor pray she offers a moment for anyone that want to testify about what God has been doing for them.  We I was younger I didn’t really understand what they were so happy about when someone got up and said that they got a new job and that they had prayed so hard for a new profession and they were struggling at their job. But now that I am older and working I understand why they were so happy and wanted to tell everyone about what God had done for them.  When people testify about God they light up in a way that only a Christian can understand and it’s our job to show those that haven’t been saved that they can experience that same joy.

If a person is a Christian, does it matter how they live their life?

            Christian has to keep a standard for themselves as loving and caring people who are God-loving individuals.  Most Christians I know are very loving and caring people and will go out of their way to help others.  I was raised in a Christian family and I have always been told that as a Christian it is my duty to be respectful and to carry myself in a professional manner at all times because those that are not saved are watching.  We have to be respectful when we out and about on a daily journey.  Nothing is worst then going into a store and sees a fellow church member ripping the cashier behind the counter because the price is wrong.  That is not how a Christian is supposed to act and it makes that person look different in the eyes of that person that sees the issue.  I have seen some members of our church do plenty of unchristian like things and it makes me think well if they can do stuff like that then why can’t I do it? What makes them so much different them me?  Have you ever asked yourself that?  I know you have we all have.  When we have to ask that about our fellow Christians it makes you wonder just how they see themselves.   I sometimes ask myself “wonder what others are thinking as they see me living right?” and I am hoping to myself that they are thinking that the Lord sure has blessed her.  We have so much to give as Christian and so much we can do to help those not saved yet that’s why it’s so important that we live our life in a standard that is pleasing to God and that He approves.  When we should love to others it brightens their day and makes them feel wanted.  When we welcome others into our church family with open arms and a warm smile it makes them realize that this is a place of caring, loving and supporting people and I want to come back to see what more I can experience from these people and this place.  I like to be able to call the church home and the member’s family and that can happen if we live by the Bible and at like loving Christian people daily.

What can your local church do to better communicate God’s love to your community?

            I live in Virginia and we have a ton of churches in my area.  We have small churches with maybe 10 members and we have larger churches with 100’s of members.  What’s sad for me to say is that over half of those churches don’t help the locals in need.  I have people ask me why should I join this church when all they do is collect money and don’t want to help anyone?  Have you heard people say that to you?  It’s sad to hear that but what’s worse is that it’s true.  How can you communicate God’s love to your community when you can’t even reach out to those in need?  I get asked those all the time and it’s hard for me to answer because I feel the same way.  My church has service every other Sunday and yes they collect a nice share of money but when a member or a members family member is ill they may send a get well card but in this economy a card may not be enough.  We give money to the church to help others.  God wants us to help those in need.  What better way to show God’s love then threw helping your fellow community when times are hard and people need you?  My family and some of my friends decided that our community needed someone they can call on for help and support someone who can minister pray to them in times of sorrow and someone who wouldn’t judge them because they don’t go to church all the time.  So we came up with a non-profit organization that reaches out to people not only people in my community but anywhere that may need a little love.  We have fundraisers and golf tournaments to raise money to help people.  We reach out to people who are members of our church because the church don’t help them.  The feeling you get when you help someone in need is priceless and to see the smile on a child’s face at Christmas after you have given them a bag full of gifts because the parents couldn’t supply the needs is priceless.  Our local churches needs to do more of that.  Make those priceless moments seen through the church so others will start to realize that God is moving in this place and they are doing good things to help people.  It is so important for churches to communicate God’s love for a church is the place of God’s worship and the home of believers.

Conclusion

            I value my religion upbringing and the love I have given to others.  I have grown a great deal in the past year or so in my religion background.  I have seen and felt the power of God daily.  He has blessed me more than words can say.  I try to give inspiration to my friends daily because without God I wouldn’t be where I am today and I want others see and feel the joy I have in my life.  I have learned that you don’t always see what God is doing in your life but if you stop and take a deep breath you will feel it.  When you have the support of loving Christians and a strong church you can work wonders in this world.  God died for our sins on the cross and we need to live each daily as Christians working for the Lord.  No matter how hard times gets and the world seems to crumble around you just look to the sky and God is there reaching out to you waiting for you to take His hand and be changed.  This class has been a true blessing.  As I end my report I want to say keep God first and you will never be in need.