I. Christ the Center

The primary motive of our entire life is to be pleasing to Christ. We are dead to the allure of the world and alive to Him. We daily ask what would Jesus do? What would He want me to do? How can I bring joy and delight to His heart?

2Cor 5:9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Galatians 5:24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

II. The Word

Because we care about what He’s said, and want to please Him, we hear, read, study, memorize and meditate on God’s words to us, thinking through implications for applications. As God’s word becomes flesh in our lives, we love others with it.

2Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 4:1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

John 8:31..."If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

III. Prayer

We express our abiding dependence upon God through continual conversations with Him, obeying His instruction to habitually request what’s best for us and others, according to His will, and thus banish the forces of darkness with holy light.

Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

Col 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

IV. Fellowship

We share the joy of other-centered love, relating in Truth to each other, working together as a family/team, to temporally and eternally benefit each other, so that our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, is glorified according to God’s plan.

Heb 10:22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Eph 4:13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ—16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

V. Witnessing

We prayerfully and lovingly share the Good News of what we’ve heard, seen and experienced with those in darkness, so that they can experience the grace of God and join us in living in the Light of Truth.

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

Matt 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1. How can you make sure that Christ is at the center of your life, in the driver’s seat, ruling your thoughts, feelings, values and actions?

2. Which wheels/spokes of your Christian life are the strongest/weakest? How does that affect your success in living or influence?

3. What objectives/goals could you move toward this year to have a more balanced and fruitful Christian life?