Becoming Christian
Becoming A Christian

Doing Justice

• Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
  
• Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
• Matthew 25:31-46
  
• Romans 14:17 “The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

Cornerstone Connection

Mosaic

• Mission: "In partnership with people who have disabilities, Mosaic provides supports and advocates that all may realize God's gift of wholeness of life."
  
  • Mosaic is a faith-based organization serving people with developmental disabilities.
    
  • We believe that every individual is a person of worth.
    
  • Together Mosaic staff members, volunteers and the people we support work as partners.
• Current Ministry:
  
  • People Mosaic supports: More than 3,500
    
  • Employees: More than 5,000
    
  • Locations: 40 agencies comprising more than 250 communities in 14 states

Hillcrest Transitional Housing

• A transitional housing program providing a Christian environment that helps homeless families become self-supportive, self reliant contributors to society.
• Kansas Director: Shawn Benson

For Our Children and Our Children's Children

Leaving A Legacy Of Life

A Life Giving Series

• Building A Foundation For Life
  
• Growing A Richness Of Life
  
• Creating A Culture Of Life
  
• Leaving A Legacy Of Life

"Show me, O LORD, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man's life is but a breath."
Psalm 39:4

What will you do with the dash?

• Much in 21st century
  
• Length of dash = short
  
• A particular moment
• 1st date - born on
  
• 2nd - expiration date
  
• Final date - hereafter?

The bias of nature: The neglected heart, the life of crumbled walls, will soon be overrun by the world and chaos will prevail.
--- A.W.Tozer

Leaving a Legacy of Life
A Heart of Wisdom

• Psalm 90:12 "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."
  
• II Timothy 4:7-8 "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."

The family is the foundation for Godly seed, the demonstration of Divine agreement, and is sealed by blood covenant!

Kingdom Contrast

• Romans 14:17 "The Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit."
  
• The Kingdom is:
  
  • creative rather than destructive
    
  • has a spirit of abundance rather than of lack
    
  • is filled with generosity rather than selfishness

God has a calling for each of us,
a particular role to play!

• None of us has a commonplace life: we all have a part to play
  
• Humility is the touchstone of serving God.
  
• This is a willingness to be outshone while we shine for God!
  
• The Poppies in the Corn

Our days are numbered. One of the primary goals in our lives should be to prepare for our last day. The legacy we leave is not just in our possessions, but in the quality of our lives. What preparations should we be making now? The greatest waste in all of our earth, which cannot be recycled or reclaimed, is our waste of the time that God has given us each day.
--- Billy Graham

Why I don't like Christians!

• Many have a judgmental spirit!
  
• They can be weird
  
• They can be hypocritical
  
• Christians can be needy
  
• Christians can be irresponsible
  
• Conclusion: We, therefore, are not living what we believe, not loving brothers in Christ and not loving non-Christians.

Traits Worth Considering

Giving the Praise They Crave: Are You an Affirming Parent?
Realistically praise what your child does, and show them that you notice, love, and value them.

Counting To Ten – Again: Are You a Patient Parent?
When frustrated, stay calm and cool and try to see the world from your child's viewpoint.

Hearing What They Don't Say: Are You an Attentive Parent?
Listen for the feelings, values and fears your child does not overtly express and find gentle and meaningful ways to let her know you understand.

Seeing a Picture of Their Future: Are You a Visionary Parent?
Treat your child's dreams seriously and foster a future that will help them actualize what they aspire to do and be.

Building a Better Bond: Are You a Connected Parent?
Create bonding experiences by intentionally fostering activities you both enjoy together.

Commemorating Milestones: Are You a Celebratory Parent?
Communicate a powerful message of love to your child by planning festivities to commemorate developmental signposts worth remembering.

Keeping Your Word: Are You an Authentic Parent?
Use everyday occurrences to "walk your talk" and show your child that you are deserving of their trust.

Creating the Safest Place on Earth: Are You a Comforting Parent?
Instill deep emotional security in your child by maintaining a non-anxious presence and reassuring them that you are always available to talk.

Instilling Wisdom: Are You an Insightful Parent?
Become an "emotional coach" for your child by accepting negative emotions as a fact of life and using them as opportunities to teach life lessons.

Practicing the Presence of God: Are You an Prayerful Parent?
Use opportune times to talk to God together with your child and discuss ways you can pray for each other.

The Sh'ma
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
"Listen, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."

For Our Children and Our Children's Children

Creating A Culture Of Life

“He brought me to the banqueting table, 
And his banner over me was love.”
Song of Solomon 2:4

Love = I Corinthians 13:4-7

By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
John 13:35

The Great Life!
The Great Commandment & The Great Commission

• Love God and love your neighbor
  
  • in front if your kids!
    
• There is a natural need for security
  
  • Natural = fallen and fractured state of man
    
• This is the driving force behind children that naturally test the leadership and strength of their parents and/or guardians
  
  • Why? --- to see if they are strong enough to protect them before they will yield to them

A Life Giving Series

• Building A Foundation For Life
  
• Growing A Richness Of Life
  
• Creating A Culture Of Life
  
• Leaving A Legacy Of Life

““Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”
Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:36-40

You DO what you believe!

Culture

• Derived from the root word of cult
  
  • [<F <L <colere to cultivate, worship]
    
  • Anthropological - The sum total of the attainments and learned behavior patterns of any specific period, race or people.
    
• The essence of culture is religion and religion is the dress of culture.
  
  • Morality “Is”
  • Ethics “Ought”

Could the religion of America be the willingness to die for a higher standard of living?
--- Dr. Ravi Zacharias

Creating A Culture

• Our Worldview & traditions
  
  • The culture of a good life is an environment of praise.
    
  • Define family from God’s perspective with the cultural mandate of Genesis 1:26-27
    
  • Our destiny of hope is as kings and priests forever.
    
• Romans 14:17 “The Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

Our Worldview

• Everybody’s got a worldview
  
  • This determines how we live our lives.
    
• The sum total of all the worldviews in our culture determines the kind of society we have.
  
  • Christians are losing the worldview battle!
    
• We need to teach the next generation what we believe, why we believe it, why it matters, and how it plays out in every walk of life

Our Worldview Determines:

• How we form our families
  
• What is taught in schools
  
• What laws our communities pass
  
• What kind of music we listen to
  
• What we believe about art and science

Worldview Questions are:

• Who am I and what is my purpose in life?
  
• What is my view of God and how can I be right in my relation to Him?
  
• What do I see as God's purpose for me?
  
• How did material things come into being?
  
• What is right and what is wrong, good and bad?

The Sh’ma

“Listen, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
Deuteronomy 6:4-9