Title The Christian Appearance (2 Timothy 2:1-7)
Introduction
It is said that once at a church, the evangelism president held a dedication service for the Women's Evangelism Society. However, the female evangelist said, "Let's all sing the preparatory hymn 365 Won together."
People's interests are usually things of this world.
Among them, people are interested in people who have prospects, are smart and have a lot of money, if they have power, they are better, they have a good education, if they are cool, they are people with great personalities.
Among them, the people of the world are always focused on this world.
Wouldn't it be great if I could move these people around at will? I thought about it. Wouldn't it be great if I could get people who are habitual drug addicts in the US to quit drugs, get jobs, and make them people who don't lie and can keep their promises?
But today, through the Word, He is speaking words that can move people.
The first is to instill faith in people.
We who believe in Jesus Christ try to be like the apostle Paul in many things.
However, we know that we should not only try to resemble outward appearance, but also resemble everything Paul does. For that to happen, we have to work hard and do something. We must always be truth-tellers. As you preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, if your appearance and actions lie in lies, no one will believe you. Of course, we have to make you believe in Jesus Christ, not make them believe, but if people don't believe in me, they won't believe the Jesus Christ I preach.
Therefore, as someone who spreads the gospel of Jesus Christ to people, you must first gain trust as a guide for them.
In order to earn that trust, you must always be a truth teller when dealing with people. The truth is also connected with promises, and when you make a promise, you must be a keeper.
“While a butler’s wife was battling an illness at the hospital, a friend of mine came and went and said, “I’ll come back next time!” and went back.
However, when he came to visit, the friend also fell ill, and the symptoms were severe. Nevertheless, the friend showed up at the funeral.
People around me ask, "How did you get here with that body?" When he said worriedly, the friend said, "I promised the deceased that I would definitely come. I have to keep my promise, even if I have to die on the way."
Shouldn't a Christian be like this?
Even those who make promises and then openly break them without any hesitation, parents who make small promises with their children and regard them as trivial, and ultimately the relationship between parents and children can be alienated by this promise.
When you become a person who inspires faith in your children and friends, many people around you will consider you a sincere person and will follow you, and they will follow your opinion with every word you say.
Second, please maintain uniformity and fairness.
Verse 5 of today's sermon says, "If a player does not play according to the law, he will not receive a crown..."
One of the negative words is the word hypocrisy. This word is also the opposite of coherence. the bible
It is written, "He is a double-minded, undecided in all things" (James 1:8).
Trust is not formed in such an atmosphere of embracing these two hearts.
There was a person who came to a spiritual seminar at a church as a lecturer, and the members were deeply moved by this person. After he and the lecturer came out of the church and passed his car, he opened the car door and hit his dog, shouting in an angry voice, "I told you not to jump into the front seat."
To many saints, he is considered a great spiritual instructor, but do dogs think so?
For another example, when I asked the reason for an elementary school teacher that the children of that school looked very similar to, "The teacher has two faces. He shows a beautiful face to other teachers and only shows an angry face to us." The unconsolidated appearance can't do a good job.
Just as science is based on reliability and accuracy, so are human relationships.
And if you have a car, there are times when you have to park it in the parking lot. If there is a parking lot that pays a rip-off while looking at people, you will probably never go to that parking lot again. Unless we change the way the parking lot operates, we will not be able to continue our business.
In the same way, when you always maintain the same appearance and fairness as a Christian, regardless of whether you are dealing with the high or low, the learned or the ignorant, the rich or the poor, many people around you will come to you, and with this image of the gospel The Lord will always give you grace and wisdom.