Are you a committed Christian?

On 6/25 I have the opportunity to preach at Community Bible Church while my friend Pastor Scott is out of town. I have been working on my sermon and have decided on 2 Corinthians 11 as the chapter I'll be preaching out of. The theme of the message is: Do you have the credentials to be a Christian? Here is a small excerpt from the message:

III. STRESSFUL CONCERNS

V. 28 "Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches."

Concern for the churches. Talk about "stressful concern." To be concerned about just one church would be stressful enough, but Paul was concerned about all the churches where he had preached or served. One credential of a committed Christian is that he or she is concerned about their church.

ILL.- A known backslider told his preacher after the church service, "Wonderful sermon, Pastor. Everything you said reminds me of somebody or other I’ve known or met."

Brothers and sisters, we should have a concern for the church, but not a critical concern, not a condemning concern. Our concern should be discerning, but not damning. It should be perceptive, but not policing.

Rom. 14:1 "Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters."

Rom. 14:19 "Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification."

Rom. 15:1-3 "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please himself..."

Our concern for the Lord’s church should be to build up, not to tear down. It should be toleration for one another in the church, not torment of one another. It should be edification, encouragement, helpfulness, kindness, consideration, compassion, and sympathy...Much of the time in life we are only concerned about ourselves, but the credential of a true Christian is that he or she is concerned about others. The Christian is always watching out for others: carrying packages, helping with this or that, opening doors for others, running errands, attending to needs, looking for ways to serve others.

Brothers and sisters, a genuine concern for people makes the difference. It makes the difference in life and in the church. Concern for the church must mean concern for one another. And when this is evident, good things will happen. Genuine love, genuine concern will build a church and bless the world around it.

John 13:35 Jesus said, "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Genuine concern for the church, genuine concern for others is a credential of a committed Christian.