8002 U. S. Highway 301 South, Riverview, FL 33578 813-677-5995
What Kind of Christian Do I Want to Be?
Maybe it’s my age, the fact that I’m in my 40th year of full-time ministry, or that I’ve been a bishop for a while, but for some reason, I’ve recently been asking myself, “What kind of Christian do I want to be?”
The interesting thing about my response is that it always begins with the kind of Christian I don’t want to be.
- I don’t want to be one kind of Christian in public and another kind in my private life.
- I don’t want to be the kind of Christian who claims he wants to do God’s will but goes ahead and does what he wants to do instead.
- I don’t want to be one of those Christians others look at and say, “Well, if he’s what a Christian is like, there’s no way I want to be one of them.”
I want to be someone who actually experiences the love of God, which is more powerful than all my insecurities, failures, and mistakes. I want to accept Jesus’ invitation to be in relationship with Him as Lord and Savior every moment of every day, and to be his follower all the time. I want to become the person God dreams for me to be, regardless of what’s going on in my life, because the love of Christ is transforming my attitude, beliefs, temperament and actions—transforming me from the inside out. I want to be a Christian who is head-over-heels in love with Jesus for all eternity.
But, most of all, I want to be a Christian who so loves other people that I can’t wait to share God’s love with them.
So how about you? What kind of Christian do you want to be?
Bishop Gary Mueller,
President of the General Commission
of United Methodist Men
Who I Am in Christ
I Am Accepted in Christ. “I am a child of God.” (John 1:12) … “I am a friend of Jesus, and I am chosen by God.” (John 15:15-16) …”I am greatly loved.” (John 3:16 and 1 John 3:16) … “I have been made right in God’s sight.” (Romans 5:1) … I am united with God and one with Him in spirit.” (1 Corinthians 6:17) … “I have been bought with a high price.” (1 Corinthians 6:20) … “I am part of Christ’s body”. (1 Corinthians 12:27) … “I am adopted by God.” (Ephesians 1:5) … “I can come directly to God through the Holy Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:18) … “I have been redeemed and forgiven of my sins.” (Colossians 1:14) … “I have been made complete in Christ.” (Colossians 2:10)
I Am Secure in Christ. “I am free from condemnation.” (Romans 8:1-2) …”I know that all things work together for good.” (Romans 8:28) … “I am free from any condemning charges against me.” (Romans 8:33-34) …”I cannot be separated from God’s love.” (Romans 8:35) … “I belong to Christ and He has commissioned me.” (2 Corinthians 21-22) … “I have died to my old life and am now hidden with Christ.” (Colossians 3:3) … “I am certain that the good work that was begun in me will be completed.” (Philippians 1:6) … “I am a citizen of heaven.” (Philippians 3:20) … “I have been given a spirit not of fear, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7) … “I can go boldly before God’s throne and receive his mercy and grace in times of need.” (Hebrews 4:6) …. “I am held securely by God so the evil one cannot touch me.” (1 John 5:18)
I Am Significant in Christ. “I am the salt and light of the world.” (Matthew 5:13-14) … “I am a branch of the true vine.” (John 15:1, 5) … “I have been chosen to produce good fruit.” (John 15:16) … “I am a personal witness of Jesus here and everywhere.” (Acts 1:8) … “I am God’s temple and his spirit lives in me.” (1 Corinthians 3:16) … “I am a new creation in Christ, and I am a minister of reconciliation to others and to the world.” (2 Corinthans 5:17-20) … “I am a partner with God in his work.” (2 Corinthians 6:1) … “I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realm.” (Ephesians 2:6) … “I am God’s masterpiece, and I was created to do good works.” (Ephesians 2:10) … “I can come boldly into God’s presence with freedom and confidence.” (Ephesians 3:12) … “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)
"Jesus Has A Word for You"
Pastor Louis Telcy's Sermon of 09/22/2019
