Welcome to PowerPoint with Jack Graham. Pastor, can you tell us about today's message? Just like the legendary coach Vince Lombardi started a session with his team by holding up a football and saying, gentlemen, this is a football. Reminding his championship Green Bay Packers about the fundamentals of blocking and tackling and catching. Today we're going back to the basics of our faith.
We're starting a series on Christian maturity called Things That Every Christian Should Know. And our first question is the most important one that you can answer. What is a Christian? Many people today say they're Christians because they go to church, were born into a Christian family, or simply because they were not Jewish or Muslim. But Do they really know what the word means?
Remarkably, the word Christian appears only three times in the entire Bible, but these three instances reveal the true marks of discipleship. and everything we need to know about what it means to not only become a Christian, but to actually be a Christian.
Now, here's Dr. Graham with his message. What is a Christian? Turn with me to the book of Acts. This is where we're going to start because our first topic is a question: What is a Christian?
Acts chapter 26.
Now The followers of Jesus were called a number of things: believers. People of the way, because Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father except by me. They were called soldiers, they were called disciples. Various ways in which Christians were described. But rarely in the New Testament are we called Christians.
three times, but these three times are really the marks. Of discipleship, what it means not only to be a Christian. how to become a Christian, but then how to be. Christian. Because many people who would say, I'm a Christian, And the word Christian wasn't really adopted.
By the Christian faith until about the third century. It would begin. We begin calling Christians Christians regularly or Christianity. And so. It was later on that we were called Christians, and yet a lot of people today.
They say, Well, I'm a Christian because they may go to a Christian church or have been born into a Christian family or because they're not Jewish or they're not Muslim or they're not agnostic. They say, Well, I'm a Christian, and there's a lot of misinformation, misunderstanding about. the basic belief of what is a Christian.
So very important. Paul said, for to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.
So Christianity is Christ. We talk about all kinds of Christians today: mainline Christians and evangelical Christians and Presbyterian Christians. And there are many opinions. And most people believe that being a Christian is being a good person and living a good life, which is commendable to all, that we would live a good and godly life. But living a good and commendable life, going to church.
uh taking communion Being baptized, these are all important things. But Being a Christian is Having a relationship with God through Jesus. Christ. You are not Born a Christian. You become a Christian and there's a big difference.
And that's why this very first verse and the time that I'm mentioning to you. regarding what is a Christian is found In Acts 26 and verse 28, when Agrippa said to Paul, and this was a king, you almost persuade me to become what? A Christian.
So Paul is before this king, Agrippa. He is a Jewish king. He's responsible for Israel under the auspices and the authority of the Roman government. There's also a governor of the Romans there by the name of Festus and his wife Bernice, and they were living in immorality, and Paul had already confronted them because Paul is on trial for his faith. He has been arrested for being a believer and follower of Jesus.
He had preached the gospel. all over the known world. between key before kings and princes and powers. Um In small synagogues, Jewish people, synagogues, everywhere he went. But it wasn't always that way with the Apostle Paul.
And so Paul is telling this man, this king Agrippa, about his life. He is sharing his testimony as he's on trial for his face. And he said, you know, I was a Jew, I was a bona fide Jewish person. I even was so strong. I was a super Jew.
I was on fire. For my faith, and a rabbi, and I was so angry at. These Christians, these people that said they were followers of Jesus, that I was actually leading a terrorist organization to kill Christians. He was taking out Christians wherever he could go. And he was on his way to a place called Damascus to, once again, to kill Christians.
And on that road, he met Jesus Christ, the risen Lord. Christ who is risen came into the presence of the Apostle Paul literally knocked him off his horse. He was blinded in the presence of God. And he's telling this story to this Jewish king, Agrippa. He's talking about what happened to him.
He said, you know, I was going in one direction and Jesus changed my life. I was going in the wrong direction. I was rabid. I was religious, but I was wrong about Jesus and Jesus changed my life. And then he says something to this Agrippa.
He said, now, Agrippa, I know that you know all about this story about Jesus because he says, I think it's in about verse 18 or 19. These things weren't done in a corner. This is public knowledge, this story of Jesus that's going around.
So you know full well this story of Jesus. He went on to say, he said, and I know you know and believe the prophets. I know you believe the prophets.
So here's a man, Agrippa, who knew about Jesus. He'd heard about Jesus. He believed the Bible to some extent. Because he believed the prophets. He was Religious.
In the end, after Paul shares his faith and shares his testimony. He says, Paul? you almost persuade me to to become A Christian. He was saying, Paul? Are you trying to convert me?
Everywhere he went, Paul was trying to bring people to Jesus. That's what Christians do, and Christians who don't are a contradiction.
So he's saying, look. You almost, in just these words, you think I'm going to become a Christian, but the point? that I'm driving home to you is that This man needed to Be convicted of his sins, to be converted to Jesus Christ. and to become a Christian.
So what is a Christian? There is a decision to make.
Now, God is sovereign. God works by His Holy Spirit to bring people to conviction. He works through the Word. Nobody's here by chance or accident. Nobody's watching and viewing online apart from divine appointments.
We believe God brings people together, His Holy Spirit, but there is a human responsibility. To make a choice, a decision of your will. Jesus talked about these choices. He said, no one can serve two masters because he will either love the one and hate the other, hate the one, love the other. But you must make a decision.
You can't serve two masters. Jesus talked about two roads. I rode That is wide and broad, and leads to death and destruction. And he said, Another road which is narrow. And he said, few are on that road.
Yet it leads to life. He said, you must make a choice. Joshua stood before the children of Israel and And he said, choose today. He said, as for me and my house, we will serve. The Lord choose you this day whom you will serve.
And There's a choice to make. There's a decision to make to become a Christian. You don't. You know, it's not like you're walking down the road one day and God just zaps you and poof, you're a Christian. You're not born into the Christian family.
You are born again into the family of God. You become a follower of Jesus. There is this. Clear line, a decision. To make you say, Well, how do I make that decision?
What decision are you talking about? It's all about Jesus: that Jesus is the Son of God and God the Son. He died on the cross for your sins, He was buried, and on the third day He arose again, He came out of the grave, He is alive. And if we confess with our mouths the Lord Jesus and believe in our hearts that God is raised Him from the dead, we will be saved. Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.
He doesn't reject anyone who comes to Him. Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved, and whoever means you. And whoever means me as we call upon the Lord, but you must make that decision. Jesus said, I stand at the door and knock, and if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in. The Spirit is knocking, the Savior is knocking at your heart's door, but you must, as an act of will, invite Christ into your life.
Paul described it as a gift of God's grace. But to receive a gift, you must open the gifts, you must take the gift. And so God has provided this gift of salvation, which is the forgiveness of all of our sins, and Christ lives in our lives, and the hope and the promise of eternal life that begins now and never ends because we're going to heaven. This is salvation. to know Christ.
Christ in you is the hope of glory. It's not just getting us out of on earth and into heaven. It's getting God out of heaven and into our hearts. And that's what Christ has done for us. He lives in us, and we become by faith in God's grace.
And grace is God's hand of mercy and salvation reaching out to us. And faith is when we reach up and take the gift and receive the gift. If somebody gave you a gift and you just left it on the table and never opened it, the gift is not applicable. And so Jesus offers us this gift. God says, this is my salvation.
The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
So there's so much that can be said about this, but I hope you're hearing what I'm saying. That you must become a Christian. Almost, you persuade me to become a Christian.
Some of you are almost Christians. But you're not fully persuaded. Let today be the day that you are persuaded. Yes. The first mark of a believer.
You're listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham and the message, What is a Christian? The 23rd Psalm is one of the most beloved passages in the Bible. There is so much depth and encouragement in knowing that God is our shepherd. This month, Dr. Graham is diving into the 23rd Psalm in a set of 23 videos, and he would love for you to join him for this powerful exposition of David's declaration of God's faithfulness.
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Now, let's get back to today's message. What is a Christian? The second thing and turn to Acts chapter 11. And here we meet some believers at Antioch, and God was doing a great work at this place called Antioch. As a matter of fact, the center of the Christian faith was moving from Jerusalem at this point, scattered through persecution.
And at Antioch, God had done an incredible, powerful work, and many people came to Christ. And from Antioch, really, it became the mission point, the launching point to the gospel mission around the world. But it all started. And described in verse 26 of Acts chapter 11.
So when he found them, he brought him to Antioch, and it was a full year that they assembled with the church. Notice the importance and the significance of the church right in the heart of this. and taught a great many people, and the disciples were first called what? Christians at Antioch. First time.
This is before Paul taught to Agrippa. Agrippa knew about the Christians. But they were first called Christians. At this place, at this church. called Antioch.
How? Why? Not because They had a less named the church contest. and came up with Christian. No, they were They were not called Christians until this day.
And why were they called Christians? Because the word Christian means Christ in you is little Christ. Christianity is Christ in unity. Yeah.
Okay. Christ in you. Paul said, I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me. And so they were called Christians. Why?
Because they, listen up. They resemble Christ. They were reproducing Christ. They were remarkably like Jesus. People were looking at these folks.
They say, this. This is like Jesus. These people remind me A Jesus.
So they reflected Christ, they reproduced Christ. They revealed Christ with their lives and their works because salvation doesn't end. At the cross and the tomb, the resurrection, it goes forward. For by grace are you saved through faith, not of yourselves, the gift of God. But then it goes on to say in verse 10 of Ephesians 2, for we are his workmanship created in Jesus Christ unto good works.
that God has created for us before the beginning of time. While we are not saved by good works, the faith that saves works. And faith without works is dead. Jesus went about, according to the book of Acts, doing good things. And so when Christ is in us, Christ.
Is reproduced through us. It's not me just trying to do the best I can to be like Jesus. Jesus is actually in me, infusing me with spiritual power. in order that I may produce spiritual fruit in my life.
So, to be a Christian is first a decision to make and then Get ready. Therefore, there is a life to live. There is a life. to live. If anyone be in Christ, 2 Corinthians 5, 17, he is a new creation.
Old things are passed away, everything's become new. We've passed from darkness to light. We have this assurance because we know we're not what we ought to be, we're not what we used to be. We're not what we're used to be, but praise God, we're not what we're going to be. Because we are saved by the grace of God and Christ is living in us and this is a growing process.
And we keep growing in our faith, but we become more and more. like Jesus as we grow, as we go. Until somebody looks at you Your kids? Your wife, your husband? Your neighbor?
your co-worker and says, You must be a Christian.
So, I have to ask myself, and I have to ask you today. If a group of people were sitting around talking about Christianity and answering the question, what is a Christian? Maybe in the locker room, maybe in your classroom, in your neighborhood, if there's a neighborhood get-together and people start talking about Christianity, even your church group, if people are. at the office and people are saying, what is a Christian anyway? Would anybody mention your name?
It's a big question. We are to live for Jesus Christ so that when people think of Jesus, they see Jesus in us. His joy becomes our joy. His purpose becomes our purpose. Passion becomes our passion.
And yes, there's one other thing: his enemies become our enemies. And that's the last time that I want to mention the word Christian today, and it's found in 1 Peter chapter 4. Go to 1 Peter chapter 4 and look at verse 16. Chapter 4, verse 16. It says, if anyone suffers as a what?
Help me. Thank you. If anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.
So, what is a Christian? There is a decision to make, there is a life to live, a life of Christ alive in us by His Spirit, and there is a price to pay. If anyone suffers As a Christian. The Christians that Peter was addressing here. like Christians of every generation are suffering in some way.
These were in the fiery trials of physical persecution. But we all live in the midst of trials and tribulations and tragedies, whether we're suffering because of Christ, because of our faith in Christ in some way. The Bible says all that live godly, this is 2 Timothy, all that live godly in Jesus Christ will suffer persecution. If you're not being pushed or pressured or persecuted in some way, canceled in some way because you're a Christian, then it's probably because you're in some holy hole and don't stick your head out or else you're not living a godly life in Jesus Christ. Because all who live godly in Jesus Christ will face the flag.
There will be fire, you will take fire incoming. And therefore, when you suffer because you are a Christian, or you suffer because of life, some of you are suffering right now. Your kids have gone haywire, they're not in the faith, they're prodigals, or your marriage is broken, and you don't know if it's going to get back together, or your finances are shattered, or your dreams are shattered, or you're just going through trials and tribulations in your life. Jesus said, In this world, you will have tribulation. Satan opposes us.
Tough times come against us.
So what are we going to do when we suffer? Blame God? Yeah.
Glorify God. That's what the scripture says. If you suffer as a Christian, don't be ashamed of this. Be like those disciples when they were beat to within an inch of their lives. They said, We praise God that we were counted worthy to suffer for Christ.
It takes courage and conviction to follow Jesus in every generation, including ours. And yes, if you stand up for Christ. There are people who want to set you down and shut you up. But my view is Churches today in general, Christians in general, we are way too passive. God has called us to take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, and storm the gates of hell.
We are to fight the good fight of faith. We're to win people to Christ. We're to stand. Get up from our knees. Get up from our knees having prayed ourselves full, and then tell the world to be bold and courageous about our faith, tell our friends, our family about Jesus.
You know, some of us Are way too concerned about what people say about us rather than being concerned about what God says about us. Be concerned about what God says about you, not what people say about you. Don't let people's rebukes or their blasphemies, their mocking in our generation keep you from standing for Christ. There will be even persecution in some places. But what did Jesus say?
He said, if you're going to follow me. Pick up your cross. Take the cross. And follow me. Whoever said it was okay to be on the fringes, to be a Christian if it doesn't get tough.
To be a Christian if it's not convenient. Whoever said, well, I'm a Christian, but...
Well, I'm a Christian, but you know, I'm not one of those born-again kind of Christians. Or I'm a Christian, but you know, I don't say much about it. I'm a Christian, but I don't get that fired up about it. Whoever gave us the right to say I'm a Christian, but anything? As Christians, We are to follow Christ without reserve, without regret, without retreat.
to say, Lord Jesus, I will follow you anywhere, anytime, any cost. And let me tell you something. When you do, is worth it. That's right. It's worth it.
You see, that's why he said. Glorify God in this. Praise God. That you're facing some fire. And don't be ashamed.
Don't be ashamed of it. Glorify God. So what is a Christian? There is a decision. Yeah.
There is a life. To live. And there is a price to pay. Are you willing to? to give your life.
to follow Jesus. whatever the cost, whatever the consequences, to say yes, Lord. I will follow you. You are listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham and the message: What is a Christian? It's easy to get caught in the cycle of always trying to do more, be more, and carry it all by yourself.
As a result, so many people battle stress and anxiety, especially around the holidays. But that's not God's heart for you. And in his booklet, Breaking Free from Stress, Dr. Jack Graham speaks directly to the anxious heart. Offering biblical hope to those who feel weighed down and wrung out by stress.
Drawing from Psalm 23 and real-life stories, he reminds you that while stress is inevitable, living enslaved to it is not. Breaking Free from Stress is our thank you for your gift of $10 or more to help proclaim the gospel through PowerPoint. And when you give, know that your support helps take God's word across the airwaves, into homes, prisons, and hearts all over the world. To request your copy of Breaking Free from Stress? Text stress to 59-789.
That's stress. The 23rd Psalm is one of the most beloved passages in the Bible. There is so much depth and encouragement in knowing that God is our shepherd. This month, Dr. Graham is diving into the 23rd Psalm in a set of 23 videos, and he would love for you to join him for this powerful exposition of David's declaration of God's faithfulness.
If you'd like to join, just text Challenge to 59789. Again, text Challenge to 59789. Pastor. What is your PowerPoint for today? As we close today, I want you to just imagine walking into heaven one day and meeting someone who says, I heard about Jesus because of you.
Picture a co-worker, a neighbor, maybe even your own child or grandchild saying, Your life. Your words pointed me to Christ. That's the ripple effect of authentic, genuine Christianity. It doesn't end with us. It flows through us to touch the world and eternity.
You see, the world is watching. They're not looking for perfect people, but they are looking for real people who have been transformed by the power of Jesus Christ. They want to see if this Jesus we talk about on Sunday actually makes a difference on Monday through Saturday. When your integrity costs you a promotion, when you forgive someone who doesn't deserve it, when you choose joy in the middle of tears, That's when Christ becomes visible to a world desperate for hope and healing.
Some of you have been sitting on the sidelines of your faith far too long. You've been a spectator when God calls you to be a participant, and not just a participant, but a victor. You've been playing it safe when Christ called you to take risks for the kingdoms and to do things that are hard. His glory. Today is your invitation to step fully into the adventure that God has planned for your life.
And for those of you who have never taken that first step, who have been almost persuaded near To trust in Christ, but you've not fully committed to Him, this is your time. Jesus is not looking for perfect people. He is looking for people with willing hearts. He is looking for people like you who will say yes to His love, yes to His grace, yes to His forgiveness, and yes to the abundant eternal life that He gives. The question isn't whether or not you're good enough for God.
The question is whether you're ready to let God be good and great and gracious to you. Will you trust him with your past, your present, and your future? Will you let him write a better story, his story, with your life? that you could never ride alone. And that is today's PowerPoint.
Remember, when you give a gift of $10 or more to PowerPoint, we'll send you a copy of Dr. Graham's booklet, Breaking Free from Stress, as Our Thanks. Just text the word stress to 59-789. And join us again next time as Dr. Graham brings a message about what God expects and desires in your walk with Him.
That's next time on PowerPoint with Jack Graham. PowerPoint with Jack Graham is sponsored by PowerPoint Ministries.
