What does it mean to be Christ
Centered?
The officers of the church had a
retreat in June, and in it, the concept of “Christ Centered” was presented from
the book “Move.”
As Christians (those who have faith in
Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior), we are called to be His disciples. Each
of us. Christian and Disciple should be synonyms. If we are a Christian, we are
called not to be baby Christians, but called to become “Christ Centered.” Every
youth and child in the church of course wants to grow up and become adults so
that they will be mature.
Hebrews 6:1 “Therefore let us leave the
elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity.”
If your elementary teachers let you
stay forever in elementary school, did they do a good job as a teacher?
The goal of teachers is to help their
students grow, learn, and move to the next
level.
As Christians, we are also called to
continuously grow. We canNOT be a disciple of Jesus Christ if we aren’t
growing. We MUST be growing in Jesus Christ to be a disciple of His.
Let’s take that a step farther.
Disciple = Christian. Therefore, if we are a Christian, we must be growing.
There are no stagnant Christians! If you are stagnant, what does that mean
then?
Revelation 3:15-17 “‘I know your works:
you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So,
because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my
mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not
realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.”
Lukewarm are people who aren’t growing.
If you are hot, you are growing in Jesus Christ. Otherwise, Jesus says you will
be spit out!
Don’t be spit out! As a church, we know
the Bible is the word of God! Therefore, it is the truth!
My prayer for us as a church is that we
are all growing. Each and every one of us. The session takes this very seriously
and is working hard to create the steps and opportunities for growth for each
of us. But the truth is, you have to want it. You have to feel the need to
grow. You aren’t going to grow unless you want to.
Want to GROW? Get passionate about
growth in Jesus Christ. The steps of growth are there, but desire it. “But seek
first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be
added to you.” Matthew 6:33. First and foremost, each of us, as Christians,
need to seek growth in Jesus Christ. God promises us if we do this, everything else
will be given to us.
Today, grow. Tomorrow, grow. The day
after tomorrow, grow.
Every day, we need to grow in our
relationship with Jesus Christ.
Are you?
Where are you growing in Jesus Christ?
Is it visible to others?
If you can’t say where you have grown
in Jesus Christ, then you probably aren’t growing.
If others can’t see it, then you
probably aren’t growing. (Remember, fruit is ALWAYS visible!)
~Carter
