Gary Patton's List: Lifestyle

• Matthew 16:20-25
• Matthew 16:20-25
• Matthew 16:20-25
• “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.^{J)" class="crossreference">} ²⁵ For whoever wants to save their life^{a]" class="footnote">[a]} will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

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• Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, ¹¹ in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

• 20 statements
• used to examine Christ-likeness
• • I listen to others to learn their story before telling them about my faith.
   
  • In recent years, I have influenced multiple people to consider following Christ.
   
  • I regularly choose to have meals with people with very different faith or morals from me.
   
  • I try to discover the needs of non-Christians rather than waiting for them to come to me.
   
  • I am personally spending time with non-believers to help them follow Jesus.
• • I see God-given value in every person, regardless of their past or present condition.
   
  • I believe God is for everyone.
   
  • I see God working in people’s lives, even when they are not following him.
   
  • It is more important to help people know God is for them than to make sure they know they are sinners.
   
  • I feel compassion for people who are not following God and doing immoral things.
• 10 statements used to assess self-righteousness (like the Pharisees)
• • I tell others the most important thing in my life is following God’s rules.
   
  • I don’t talk about my sins or struggles. That’s between me and God.
   
  • I try to avoid spending time with people who are openly gay or lesbian.
   
  • I like to point out those who do not have the right theology or doctrine.
   
  • I prefer to serve people who attend my church rather than those outside the church.
• • I find it hard to be friends with people who seem to constantly do the wrong things.
   
  • It’s not my responsibility to help people who won’t help themselves.
   
  • I feel grateful to be a Christian when I see other people’s failures and flaws.
   
  • I believe we should stand against those who are opposed to Christian values.
   
  • People who follow God’s rules are better than those who do not.
• Christ-like in action and attitude
• Christ-like in action, but not in attitude
  • Christ-like in attitude, but not action
  • Christ-like in neither

• The findings reveal that most self-identified Christians in the U.S. are characterized by having the attitudes and actions researchers identified as Pharisaical. Just over half of the nation’s Christians—using the broadest definition of those who call themselves Christians—qualify for this category (51%). They tend to have attitudes and actions that are characterized by self-righteousness.

   

• On the other end of the spectrum, 14% of today’s self-identified Christians—just one out of every seven Christians—seem to represent the actions and attitudes Barna researchers found to be consistent with those of Jesus.

   
• Looking at America’s evangelical community—a group defined by Barna Group based on its theological beliefs and commitments, not self-identification with the terms “evangelical”—38% qualify as neither Christ-like in action nor attitude
• About one-quarter (23%) of evangelicals are characterized by having Jesus-like actions and attitudes, which was higher than the norm
• Evangelicals are notably distinct from the norms in two ways: first, they were slightly more likely than other Christians to be Christ-like in action and attitude.
• in the “middle ground,” with so-called jumbled actions and attitudes, evangelicals are the only faith group more likely to be Pharisaical in attitude but Christ-like in action.
• The research shows that non-evangelical born again Christians and notional Christians were not much different from one another and not too distinct from national norms among all Christians.

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• Luke 12:47-49

  • "Sin is Not Without Consequences for Christians"
    Christians Beware!
    
    In Luke 12:47-49, Jesus clearly warns us that we will suffer severe consequences ...even in Christ... when we do not act on what we know to be right.
    
    © GaryFPatton (gfp '42™ 2013-02-03)
• ⁴⁷ “That servant who knows his master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows

  • Because Jesus died for our sins and rose from the grave to cover them as proof of His Father's acceptance of God the Son's sacrifice for our awful behaviour, does not mean He ignores our sin when we KNOW better.
• From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

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• Romans 5:3-5

  • What The Bible Says Is Below
    
    What Others Say on This Subject
    
    "Like a fence, character cannot be strengthened by whitewash." ~ American proverb
    
    What I Suggest About This Passage
    
    In Romans 5:3-5, of the New Covenant section of the Christian Bible, Jesus' Apostle (sent-out-one), Paul tells us what produces character.
    
    And building R-E-A-L character (Relational-Engaging-Authentic-Loving & Life-giving) is what God is about during the earthly portion of a Jesus Follower's eternal life.
    
    You can read my further comments on this passage in e-Sticky Notes attached to individual verses below. To see them, click the small, numbered icon at the beginning of an highlighted Verse.
    
    © GaryFPatton (gfp '42™ 2013-01-25)
• we^{a]" class="footnote">[a]} also rejoice in our sufferings,^{A)" class="crossreference">(A)} because we know that suffering produces perseverance;^{B)" class="crossreference">(B)} ⁴ perseverance, character; and character, hope.

  • Non one I know likes the idea of suffering. (I know no masochists. :-))
    
    But our ever-loving heavenly Father promises that our trials will produce the perseverance indicated in verse 4 here as essential to producing character He wants in us. He says so at James 1:2-8 at http://diigo.com/0qoff .
    
    In addition, in One Corinthians 10:13 at http://diigo.com/0jmgy God also promises some incredibly exciting things that will accompany EVERY trial He allows to come our way. Check these out. You'll be encouraged.
• does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love^{D)" class="crossreference">(D)} into our hearts by the Holy Spirit,^{E)" class="crossreference">(E)} whom he has given us.

  • Many people, including nominal Christians, confirm in survey after survey that they often, or even usually, feel hopeless.
    
    This verse makes clear that the hope which God the Father places in the hearts of Jesus Followers by sending the Holy Spirit to live in us (One Corinthians 6:18-20 at http://diigo.com/0qjns) is 'sure' because He is ever-loving as confirmed at One John 4:15-17 at http://diigo.com/0qe80 .

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• 1 Timothy 6:11-13

  • "How to Live A Life Lived & Finished Well"
    
    1 Timothy 6:11-13 clarifies how Jesus would have His Followers lead a life of passion and perseverance.
    
    Only in this way can a Jesus Follower fulfill the destiny the One God prepared for each of His Sons and Daughters before the beginning of time as outlined in the Bible at http://diigo.com/0n20e .
    
    And we can only do this by letting our Lord live His life out through us as it says at http://diigo.com/0jggi .
    
    GaryFPatton (gfp '42™ 2012-12-27)
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• Colossians 2:6-20

  • "Freedom From Rituals, Rites and Rules of Religion plus Human Regulations"
    
    In Colossians 2:6-20. The Apostle (Sent-Out-One) Paul clearly explains why the above is true and why Jesus condemned the "traditions of the Elders" in Mark 7:4-13 at http://diigo.com/0v710 .
    
    GaryFPatton (gfp '42™ 2012-12-21)
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• Why you should probably stop eating wheat

  • A brief article summarizing what modern research is discovering about the dangers of modern, hybrized grains ...particularly whole wheat... and why we might be wise to not eat it.
    
    GaryFPatton (gfp '42™ 2012-12-16)
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• The Invincible, Irrefutable Joy

  • Story re how Dietrich Bonhoeffer, himself a badly persecuted German Jesus Follower who opposed Fascism, encouraged other persecuted countrywo(men).
    
    GaryFPatton (gfp '42™ 2012-12-16)
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