I'm a Christian, aren't I?
Completing The Picture
1st Edition
Published on 17. December 2012
144 pages
978-1-84474-733-7 (ISBN)
Description
Popular ideas about what being a Christian means donaEUR (TM)t always help us see the full picture:
* 'A Christian is someone who believes in God'
* 'I've been christened - so I'm a Christian'
* 'I attend church'
* 'I try to lead a good life'
* 'A Christian is someone who's been "born again"'
Many people think of themselves as Christians but arenaEUR (TM)t quite clear what that means. Some feel confused, or disappointed with God. Others have never fully embraced a relationship with Jesus.
In this simple but profound book, Dan Clark helps the reader put together all the pieces of what being a follower of God really means. Challenging us to explore what Jesus' priorities are, readers will discover a richness in their Christian life which may have been lacking: joy, peace, assurance, deep relationships, contentment and friendship with God.
* 'A Christian is someone who believes in God'
* 'I've been christened - so I'm a Christian'
* 'I attend church'
* 'I try to lead a good life'
* 'A Christian is someone who's been "born again"'
Many people think of themselves as Christians but arenaEUR (TM)t quite clear what that means. Some feel confused, or disappointed with God. Others have never fully embraced a relationship with Jesus.
In this simple but profound book, Dan Clark helps the reader put together all the pieces of what being a follower of God really means. Challenging us to explore what Jesus' priorities are, readers will discover a richness in their Christian life which may have been lacking: joy, peace, assurance, deep relationships, contentment and friendship with God.
More details
Edition
1. Auflage
Language
English
Place of publication
Nottingham
United Kingdom
Product notice
Reflowable
ISBN-13
978-1-84474-733-7 (9781844747337)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
03/2012
Inter-Varsity Press
€13.60
Shipment within 3-4 weeks
Book
01/2010
Inter-Varsity Press
€19.50
Shipment within 3-4 weeks
Person
Daniel Clark is Associate Vicar at Christ Church Clifton in Bristol. He has also written 'Alive' (IVP)
Content
- Intro
- I'm a Christian, Aren't I?
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Foreword
- Introduction: Unwrapping the jigsaw puzzle
- Real lives - Gloria
- 1. Those who are confused
- 2. Those who are disappointed with God
- 3. Those who stop short
- The authentic Christian
- Real lives - Dan
- Let the puzzle begin
- Questions for reflection
- Piece 1: Believing
- Getting God in focus
- A million miles away or down to earth?
- Abstract or personal?
- Real lives - Liz
- Indifferent or compassionate?
- Perfect, or just powerful?
- Condemning or rescuing?
- Beginning to believe
- Real lives - Ian
- Is belief enough?
- Questions for reflection
- Piece 2: Belonging
- What is church?
- Picture postcards of the church
- 1. The church is the family of God
- 2. The church is like a building
- 3. The church is the body of Christ
- Do I have to go to church to be a Christian?
- Real lives - Amanda
- How can I get the most out of church?
- Real lives - Rich
- Is belonging to a church enough?
- Questions for reflection
- Piece 3: Behaving
- Common objections
- Objection 1: 'Jesus died to forgive me. Surely it won't matter if I carry on sinning?'
- Objection 2: 'Didn't Jesus say he came to set me free from rules?'
- Real lives - Samantha
- Objection 3: 'Aren't the Bible's commands 2,000 years out of date?'
- Objection 4: 'I've messed up big time already. There's no point trying to start being holy now.'
- Objection 5: 'But I don't want to change!'
- What motivates Christians to behave like Jesus?
- Motivation 1: We comply with Jesus' commands as a mark of our love for him
- Real lives - Amy
- Motivation 2: We behave like Jesus because we represent him to others
- Motivation 3: When we act as Jesus did - serving others - we serve Jesus himself
- Motivation 4: We obey what Jesus says because he is our Lord
- Real lives - Trevor
- Wrong motivation: We don't obey Jesus to earn his approval
- How can I change?
- Is 'behaving' enough?
- Questions for reflection
- Piece 4: Baptism
- What is baptism?
- 1. Baptism is a sign of washing
- Real lives - Victoria
- 2. Baptism is a sign of Jesus' death - and ours!
- 3. Baptism is a sign of Jesus' resurrection - and ours
- 4. Baptism links us to Christ in membership
- A watershed moment
- Getting from symbol to reality
- Real lives - Lindsey
- Why should Christians be baptized?
- Is baptism enough?
- Questions for reflection
- Piece 5: Born again
- Surprise 1: Jesus said, 'You must be born again'
- Surprise 2: what it means to be born again
- Surprise 3: who Jesus was talking to
- Surprise 4: how the second birth happens
- Surprise 5: the effect it has
- Real lives - Tom
- How does this jigsaw piece fit with all the others?
- Real lives - Ken
- The essential spiritual experience
- Questions for reflection
- Conclusion: Putting the pieces together
- Finding the missing piece
- The myth of the 'incomplete Christian'
- Real lives - Jonny
- Real lives - Anna
- Finishing the puzzle
- Questions for reflection
- Notes
- Introduction: Unwrapping the jigsaw puzzle
- Piece 1: Believing
- Piece 2: Belonging
- Piece 3: Behaving
- Piece 4: Baptism
- Piece 5: Born again
- Conclusion: Putting the pieces together
- Further reading
- Believing
- Belonging
- Behaving
- Baptism
- Born again
- Bible
