How To Be An Effective Christian
Introduction
1. "effective" (definition, Webster): causing or capable of causing a
desired or decisive result, in use, in operation, actually
available for service. Militarily, men ready and fit to fight.
2. "effective" = energes (Gr.- Strong's) 1754. energeo, en-erg-eh'-o;
from G1756; to be active, efficient:--do, (be) effectual (fervent),
be mighty in, shew forth self, work (effectually in).
3. God has the power to make men's works ineffective :
Psalms 33:10 "The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect."
4. Men can make their works ineffective:
Mark 7:13 ""making the word of God of no effect through your
tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.""
1 Corinthians 1:17 "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to
preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of
Christ should be made of no effect."
Romans 3:3 "For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief
make the faithfulness of God without effect?"
Romans 4:14 "For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is
made void and the promise made of no effect,"
5. By the power of God we can be effective Christian:
a. He made the work of the apostles effective by His power:
Galatians 2:8 "(for He who worked effectively in Peter for the
apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward
the Gentiles),"
Ephesians 3:7 "of which I became a minister according to the gift of
the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power."
b. He can make our works effective by His power.
Ephesians 3:20 "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly
above all that we ask or think, according to the power (dunamis)
that works (energeo) in us,"
1 Thessalonians 2:13 "For this reason we also thank God without
ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard
from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in
truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who
believe."
James 5:16 "...The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man
avails much."
6. How can we become effective Christians?
I. Know and Manage Your Time:
A. The key to effectiveness is management of self.
1. We have too many victims in our day. The person with the
mentality of a victim can go nowhere and can accomplish nothing.
We need to take on the responsibility of managing our own lives.
2. The victims in the church are the whiners. "No one ever calls
me," "I'm not growing because bro. Smith is a lousy teacher,"
"The elders just don't provide enough programs," "I don't have
time to study by Bible lesson," "I don't have time to do personal
work."
3. We must manage our lives and not put the blame for our sad
condition on the mismanagement of others.
B. First, know your time: keep a record for a few days of how you
spend your time.
C. Second, ask yourself, "What are my goals, values, and priorities?
D. Third, impose the second on the first. Use your time to achieve
your goals and priorities.
E. We are stewards of our time, and time is short:
Luke 12:42,43 "And the Lord said, "Who then is that faithful and
wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household,
to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that
servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes."
James 4:14 "whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow.
For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little
time and then vanishes away."
II. Focus On Outward Contributions:
A. Selfishness is the worst enemy of the effective Christian
1.Decide to make a difference.
2."Efficiency is doing things right, effectiveness is doing
right things.
B. The effective Christian is a servant.
1. He serves God. Heb. 9:14 "to serve the living God."
2. He serves others:
Matthew 20:26 ""Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever
desires to become great among you, let him be your servant."
Matthew 23:11 ""But he who is greatest among you shall be your
servant."
III. Build On Strength:
A. Use the resources of the strong. Recruit strength.
1. Divine strength: prayer, meditation of God's word.
Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who
strengthens me."
Philippians 4:8 "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."
2. The strength of other Christians:
Philippians 3:17 "Brethren, join in following my example, and
note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern."
Philippians 4:9 "The things which you learned and received and
heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with
you."
B. When your faith is weak spend time with someone whose faith is
strong. When your understanding is weak spend time with someone
who understands. When your prayers are weak listen to someone
whose prayers are strong. When your love for the lost is weak
spend time with those who love and are seeking the lost.
IV. Concentrate On a Few Main Areas:
A. Someone said that you can effectively only concentrate on 5
things at anyone time.
B. If our lives are like the pattern of a shotgun blast we will
never hit the distant object.
C. We need to narrow our focus: God, Family, Brethren, etc.
D. If we fill our lives with things that are meaningless we
will live meaningless lives.
E. "One thing"
Mark 10:21 "Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him,
"One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to
the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up
the cross, and follow Me.""
Luke 10:42 ""But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that
good part, which will not be taken away from her.""
Philippians 3:13 "Brethren, I do not count myself to have
apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which
are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,"
V. Make Effective Decisions That Establish Systemic Change:
A. "systemic" of or relating to the entire system
B. When problems which destroy effectiveness arise ask yourself,
"Is this problem a symptom of a deeper problem?" The deeper problem
will never go away simply by treating the symptom.
C. Symptoms:
1. I don't study like I should
2. I don't worship with the saints as often as I should.
3. I don't pray like I should
4. I don't teach others like I should.
5. I don't get anything out of worship.
6. I am not giving as I should.
D. The deeper problem may be that I am not truly converted, or not
truly convinced, or not truly committed.
1. If I can't form the habit perhaps there is something wrong
with my heart.
2. I need to fix the problem in my heart and the habit will no
longer be the problem.
Matthew 5:8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see
God."
Matthew 6:21 ""For where your treasure is, there your heart will
be also."
Matthew 12:34 ""Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak
good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks."
Matthew 15:8 "'These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me."
Matthew 22:37 "Jesus said to him, " 'You shall love the LORD
your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all
your mind.'"
Matthew 24:48 ""But if that evil servant says in his heart,
'My master is delaying his coming,'"
Mark 6:52 "For they had not understood about the loaves, because
their heart was hardened."
Hebrews 3:10 "Therefore I was angry with that generation, And
said, 'They always go astray in their heart, And they have not
known My ways.'"
Hebrews 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."
Conclusion:
1. The effective Christian is one who is fit for the kingdom
2. The effective Christian is one who at the end of the day can say
that he is better than he was at the beginning.
3. To be effective takes effort on our part. We must take control
of our lives and not act like we are victims.
4. Not fun but satisfaction. The difference between the pursuit of
the immature and the adult.
5. Phil 3:12-16
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