Questions to ask sleepy and nominal Christians

Tim Keller  is a Pastor in New York City. He is the author of many great books and is a leader in why and how we should start new churches in a modern context.

He recently was asked what are some good questions to ask "sleepy" Christians and "nominal" Christians.

Before we get to the questions lets first define the terms "sleepy" & "nominal" Christian. A "sleepy" Christian is someone who believes in Jesus and His finished work but is distracted by lesser pursuits than keeping Christ the main pursuit of their lives. Lesser pursuits equal being passionate about things that do not have eternal value and in the end will not matter much. In other words, its not being passionate about the same things Jesus is passionate about. A "sleepy" Christian is just that "sleepy" towards Christ and His Kingdom. They are indifferent and thus not alert to the still small voice of Christ. (See Revelation 2:1-6, Luke 12:35-48)

A "nominal" Christian is someone who thinks they are a Christian because their parents were Christians, they go to Church, they believe in God, they like the idea of being spiritual people or good, moral people and so on. They are Christians by name and confession but their lives are not really being built around Jesus and His teachings. (See Matthew 7:13-27 & Luke 6:46)

Before I move on, please do not read into either of these terms that to be a Christian is to be perfect. Nothing could be farther from the truth. All true Christians are still imperfect. What makes a person a Christian is the awareness of their deep need for mercy and forgiveness and to turn to and trust in Jesus alone for life, purpose, and salvation. (See Romans 3:21-26)

Now that we have a foundation to work from here are the questions Tim Keller says to ask ourselves to wake ourselves out of our sleepiness or be converted from our nominal Christianity. These questions require a deep honesty with ourselves and God.

1. How real has God been to you this past week?

2. How sure are you of God's love for you?

3. How frequent are times of delight in God? Have you sensed His presence?

4. Have you been finding Scripture alive and active in you?

5. Are you finding certain biblical promises precious to you? If so, which ones?

6. Are you finding God challenging you to do something through reading Scripture?

7. Are you finding God's grace more glorious and moving than in the past?

8. Are you conscious of the evil and potential of evil in your own heart and in response growing in and grasping the preciousness of the mercy of God?

The Apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 13:5:Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test"?

May you be blessed with genuine faith as you trust God by knowing you are loved & accepted because of Christ and that He is pursuing you constantly!

Looking for love in all the wrong places

So here is the deal...you have tried self-help. You have tried "finding yourself." You have tried finding the bigger better deal. You thought that the next big thing was going to bring you lasting joy and happiness. You thought finding the right person would make you happy. How has that worked for you?

Listen, your normal. Every human being on the planet is trying to find the same things. There is a longing and an ache in our hearts for something more.

Years ago there was a hit country song called: "Looking for love in all the wrong places." We all have been looking for love and purpose in the wrong places.

Real love and purpose will not be found until you find the truth. The truth is not a set of facts but a person and His name is Jesus. He loves you and He created you. You exist because of Him.

"God rescued us from dead-end alleys and dark dungeons. He’s set us up in the kingdom of the Son he loves so much, the Son who got us out of the pit we were in, got rid of the sins we were doomed to keep repeating. We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God’s original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body. He was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—he is supreme in the end. From beginning to end he’s there, towering far above everything, everyone. So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the cross." Colossians 1:13-20 (The Message)

Would you come to Him and find love, purpose, and peace that goes beyond anything this world can offer. He answers the big questions of life and you will not find lasting joy until you find it in Him.

Heroes (He rose)

My family and I went to the movies yesterday and saw the new Captain America. It was a good movie. It had a good story line. It had all the necessary ingredients of a good Superhero movie such as courage, overcoming injustice, the evil villain, and impossible circumstances.

Prior to the movie we must have sat through previews for at least five upcoming Superhero movies due out in the near future. I love these types of movies, but I found myself thinking:  "what is the obsession with superhero movies and stories?"

There is a longing in the human heart for immortality. There is a longing to live courageously. There is an innate hatred for injustice and a longing to do something about it. We know we need a hero to accomplish this for us.

As we celebrate Easter this year or the next time you see a Superhero movie remember this, Jesus is the hero. He always will be the hero. Our hero came in and saved the day! Jesus conquered the villains of sin, death, the grave, fear, and Satan without weapons, gadgets, or tricks. Our hero laid down His perfect life to die for us. He won the battle none of us could ever win on our own. He rose from the dead! Death could not hold Him. His death had purpose and that purpose was to free us from an eternity separated from God.

We can trust our hero. He has no equals. He has no arch rivals. Our hero loves us deeply. He is coming back to complete what He started 2000 years ago. The hero will return.

A New Years Prayer

O God, make me discontented
O God, make me discontented with things
the way they are in the world,
and in my own life.
Make me notice the stains when people get spilled on.
Make me care about the slum child downtown,
the misfit at work,
the people crammed into the mental hospital,
the men, women and youth behind bars.
Jar my complacency,
expose my excuses,
get me involved in the life of my city and world.
Give me integrity once more,
O God, as we seek to be changed
and transformed,
with a new understanding and awareness
of our common humanity.

Robert Raines

Not only Christmas Day

Lord, this is my prayer 

Not only on Christmas Day 

But until I see You face to face 

May I live my life this way:

Just like the baby Jesus 

I ever hope to be, 

Resting in Your loving arms 

Trusting in Your sovereignty.

And like the growing Christ child 

In wisdom daily learning, 

May I ever seek to know You 

With my mind and spirit yearning.

Like the Son so faithful 

Let me follow in Your light, 

Meek and bold, humble and strong 

Not afraid to face the night.

Nor cowardly to suffer 

And stand for truth alone, 

Knowing that Your kingdom 

Awaits my going home.

Not afraid to sacrifice 

Though great may be the cost, 

Mindful how You rescued me 

From broken-hearted loss.

Like my risen Savior 

The babe, the child, the Son, 

May my life forever speak 

Of who You are and all You've done.

So while this world rejoices 

And celebrates Your birth, 

I treasure You, the greatest gift 

Unequaled in Your worth.

I long to hear the same words 

That welcomed home Your Son, 

"Come, good and faithful servant," 

Your Master says, "Well done."

And may heaven welcome others 

Who will join with me in praise 

Because I lived for Jesus Christ 

Not only Christmas Day

-- Mary Fairchild

What would life be like?

Jesus, what would life be like?

If I truly loved you with all I have?

If I truly loved my neighbor with all I have?

If I cared more about what you thought of me more than what others think of me?

If I actually put into practice your teachings?

If I took you at your word and stepped out in faith to partner with you in your kingdom work?

If I really took up my cross, denied myself, and followed you everywhere?

If I made love the ultimate motivation of my heart?

If I made your glory the ultimate goal of my life?

If I forgave others as you have forgave me?

If I slowed down to enjoy the relationships and people you have put in my life?

If I lived everyday in light of eternity?

If I let you have your way in my life?

If I made faithfulness rather than success the goal of my life?

If I do these things you said I would be like the man who built his house on a firm foundation. That no matter what happens in this life my house will be secure because it is built on you. That is what you said life would be like.

Church is a verb

In Matthew 16:18 Jesus said: "I will build my church..."

When most people hear the word "church" they immediately think of a building or location. We say things like "Do you go to church" or "Are you going to church?" We tend to equate church to a place.
The English word "church" evolved from the German word "Kirche' which means church as a location or institution. The word Jesus used in the Greek is the word "Ekklesia" which literally means "called out ones" or "called out assembly and congregation." Jesus did not have in mind a building or location, but a people.

Here is the point. When Jesus said He was going to build His church, he meant He was going to start a movement. He invites all people to come belong to His church, but He also expects those same people to go out and be the church!

If you only go to church you are missing the main things Jesus intended for His people. #1, you miss out on vital, deep life giving relationships. Our relationship with God is meant to be shared with other believers. We are told numerous times to practice what Scripture calls the "one anothers." For example, we are to love one another, pray for one another, care for one another, share with one another, and so on. Its impossible to practice and grow in the one anothers if you only "go to church."

#2,
you miss out on what you were re-created by God for, and that is to have impact on the lives of people who do not know Jesus. We are to help the broken, the lost, the lonely and the hopeless to find Who they are looking for and Who is the answer to their questions. If I only "go to church" I am missing out on being the church. People who only go to church get bored with church. There is no amount of great preaching, worship, lazer shows, or cool videos that will keep you from getting bored. BEING the church is the answer to our restlessness and our fickle attitudes towards church.

Remember you don't go to church, you belong to the church. You don't go to church you are to be the church.