like stars in the universe how to shine the light of christ in a dark world

LIKE STARS INTHE UNIVERSE

How to Shine the Light of Christ in a Dark World

Philippians 2:14-15, NIV

““1414Do everything without complaining or Do everything without complaining or arguing, arguing, 1515so that you may become so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.”the universe.”

How Do We Shine?

““1616In the same way, let your light shine In the same way, let your light shine before men, before men, that they may see your that they may see your good deedsgood deeds and praise your Father in and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16, NIV)heaven.” (Matthew 5:16, NIV)

Personally Know aChristian

Don't Know aChristian

15%

85%

Believe Lifestyle isDifferent

Believe ChristiansAre Hypocritical

15%

85%

How Paul Definedthe Christian Lifestyle

Philippians 4:2-9, NIV

• Deliberate Unity

““22I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. to agree with each other in the Lord. 33Yes, and Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.”book of life.”

How Paul Definedthe Christian Lifestyle

Philippians 4:2-9, NIV

• Thankfulness

““44Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”again: Rejoice!”

How Paul Definedthe Christian Lifestyle

Philippians 4:2-9, NIV

• Gentleness

““55Let your gentleness be evident to all. Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.”The Lord is near.”

How Paul Definedthe Christian Lifestyle

Philippians 4:2-9, NIV

• Prayer

““66Do not be anxious about anything, but in Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 77And the peace of God, which transcends all And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”minds in Christ Jesus.”

How Paul Definedthe Christian Lifestyle

Philippians 4:2-9, NIV

• Purity of Mind

““88Finally, brothers, whatever is true, Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things.”such things.”

How Paul Definedthe Christian Lifestyle

Philippians 4:2-9, NIV

• Imitation of Godliness

““99Whatever you have learned or received Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me- put it or heard from me, or seen in me- put it into practice. And the God of peace will into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”be with you.”

Living as Children of LightEphesians 4:17-24, NIV

““1717So I tell you this, and insist on it in the So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 1818They are darkened in their understanding They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. due to the hardening of their hearts. 1919Having lost all sensitivity, they have Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.”continual lust for more.”

Living as Children of LightEphesians 4:17-24, NIV

““2020You, however, did not come to know You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Christ that way. 2121Surely you heard of him Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. the truth that is in Jesus. 2222You were You were taught, with regard to your former way of taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; corrupted by its deceitful desires; 2323to be to be made new in the attitude of your minds; made new in the attitude of your minds; 2424and to put on the new self, created to be and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and like God in true righteousness and holiness.”holiness.”

The Bad News for Unbelievers…

Hebrews 12:14 (NIV)

““Without holiness no one will see the Without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Lord.”

The Good New for Unbelievers...

John 3:16 (NIV)

““1616For God so loved the world that he gave For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”eternal life.”

The Bad News for Christians…

Galatians 5:17 (NIV)

““1717For the sinful nature desires what is For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.”do what you want.”

The Good News for Christians…

1 John 1:9 (NIV)

““99If we confess our sins, he is faithful and If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”us from all unrighteousness.”