TEXT:  Acts 11:26

INTRODUCTION:

A.      THE WORD "CHRISTIAN" IS USED MANY WAYS.

B.      IN THE BIBLE IT REFERS TO TRUE DISCIPLES OF JESUS.

          1.       Jesus taught a manner of life.  Real Christians live that life.

          2.       How does a real Christian live?

A REAL CHRISTIAN...

I.      IS GIVEN TO PRAYER.

A.      PRAYER IS A REGULAR PRACTICE( 1 Thess. 5:17;  Luke 18:1 ).

B.      PRAYER WILL BE ANSWERED( Matt. 7:7-11 ).

C.      IT SHOULD BE FILLED WITH THANKS( Col. 3:15;  Phil. 4:6 ).

II.     IS A CAREFUL AND DILIGENT BIBLE STUDENT.

A.      THE IMPORTANCE OF BIBLE STUDY.

          1.       The Gospel is the power of God( Rom. 1:16 ).

          2.       It equips us to live( 2 Tim. 3:16-17 ).

          3.       It equips us to teach( 2 Tim. 2:15;  Heb. 5:12 ).

          4.       We should be able to give answer( 1 Pet. 3:15 ).

B.      DAVID EXEMPLIFIES THE RIGHT ATTITUDE( Psa. 119:97 ).

III.    LIVES WHAT HE TEACHES.

A.      WE ARE TO WALK WORTHILY( Eph. 4:1; Phil. 1:27 ).

B.      NEW CREATURES, NEW LIVES( Rom. 6:4;  Eph. 4:20-24 ).

IV.   IS ON THE LOOKOUT FOR OTHERS' SALVATION.

A.      THE GREATEST WORK( James 5:19-20 ).

B.      FOR OUTSIDERS( Matt. 9:36-38 ).

C.      FOR OTHER CHRISTIANS( Gal. 6:1;  Heb. 3:12 ).

V.    ASSEMBLES WITH THE SAINTS( Acts 2:42 ).

A.      JESUS IS THERE( Matt. 18:20 ).

B.      FOR WHAT HE CAN DERIVE( Heb. 10:24 ).

C.      IN APPRECIATION( Heb. 10:25 ).

VI.   REALLY BELIEVES( Heb. 11:6 ).

A.      GOD IS FAITHFUL( 2 Tim. 2:11-13 ).

B.      FAITH BRINGS THE CHRISTIAN TO COMMIT( 1 Pet. 4:19 ).

VII.  HAS A FAITH FOUNDED UPON THE WORD       ( Rom. 10:17 ).

A.      THAT FAITH MOTIVATES AND DIRECTS HIM(  2 Cor. 5:7 ).

B.      HE IS BOUND BY IT( Rom.14:23;  2 John 9 ).

C.      HE IS JUSTIFIED BY IT( Rom. 1:17 ).

CONCLUSION:  WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN?

A.      A DISCIPLE( Acts 11:26 ).

B.      WHAT IS A DISCIPLE?( John 8:31-32 ).

          1.       Abides in his word - Obeys.

          2.       Follows a discipline.

C.      HOW DOES ONE BECOME A DISCIPLE?

          1.       Matt. 28:19-20.  How to make a disciple.

          2.       1 Cor. 10:1-2.  An initiation into the discipline( Rom. 6:3-4 ).