The Starting Point of Spiritual Transformation
January 24-25, 2009
Series: What Does it Mean to be "An Extraordinary Follower of Christ?"
Speaker: Brian T. Anderson
- Introduction
- “Transforming ordinary people into extraordinary Followers of Christ.”
- Matt. 28:18-20 (NAS) 18“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.19Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,20teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
- An “Extraordinary Follower of Christ” is Someone Who Lives Out These 3 Commitments:
- Commitment to Christ
- Received Christ as Lord and Savior (Born Again)
- Water baptized
- Worshipper of God
- Obedience to Christ and His Word
- Commitment to His Church
- Membership (Newcomer’s class)
- Consistent attendance
- Small group participation
- Giving of Finances
- Serving
- Commitment to His Cause
- Sharing your faith
- Being an inviter
- Leading and discipling others
- Ministering to others
- Ministering to the poor
- Local and global outreach
- What Does It Mean to be “Born Again?”
- John 3:1-2 (NLT) 1There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. 2After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.”
- John 3:3-4 (NLT) 3Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”4“What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”
- John 3:5-6 (NLT) 5Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.”
- Matt. 3:1-3, 5-6, 11 (NLT) 1In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was,2“Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”3The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said, “He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the LORD’s coming! Clear the road for him!’” 5People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John.6And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. 11“I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”
- John 3:6 (NLT) “Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.”
- John 1:12-13 (NLT) 12But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.13They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
- John 3:7-8 (NLT) 7“So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’8The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”
- Everyone Must Be Born Again!
- Rom. 5:12 (NAS) Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned.
- Rom. 3:23a (NAS) For all have sinned.
- Rom. 6:23 (NAS) For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- John 1:12 (NAS) But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.
- Matt. 10:32-33 (NAS) 32“Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. 33But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.”
- Conclusion