The Checklist

Remember - it's not just a simple "check!" and I'm done - but this is a tool to help US constantly examine OUR hearts as we strive to BE the Body of Christ TOGETHER:

• The Checklist:

Pursuing Genuine Love

__ Hate Evil (first in myself)

I must hate the evil in my own life more than that I might see in anyone else’s life. 

Matthew 7:1-5 – We are to be pursuing sanctification together

Psalm 1 – It’s absolutely critical that we surround ourselves with those who will encourage us toward holiness. 

__ Cling to Good

1 Peter 1:15-16 - Pursue righteousness - holiness -sanctification

HOW are you pursuing righteousness?

What specific things are you doing toward that end?

(make a list, write it down)

__ Pursue Family kind of Love

Think of your fellow Christians (especially those who are members of your church) in terms of brother & sister. Use the terms regularly.

__ Setting the example of love 

Look for a way to encourage, honor, praise, compliment one person each day this week. 

• a text message

• a note

• a phone call

• a personal conversation

• drop by their house with cookies

• take flowers to a widow or someone who is homebound

__ Passionately serve the Lord

Pursue serving the Lord, using your unique gifting, by serving others in the Body.

__ Hope in Christ

Are you intentional about not only forming your thoughts around the gospel, but also encouraging others with those same thoughts. 

Our only hope is in Christ. In who He is and what He has done. 

Be intentional to keep that in the front of your mind. 

__ Perseverance

It’s our hope in Christ that gives us the ability to do this. 

__ Prayer

We need to be praying both in unity and for unity. 

Pray the Lord’s Prayer - when are being obedient as a Body, we become a picture of the Kingdom of God, glorify Him, and it makes the gospel look beautiful to a watching world. 

__ Tangible Assistance

How are you helping others in specific, tangible ways?

There are 1,000 things you could do - the idea is.... DO IT!

showing that this entire passage

John 13:35 – By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” 

James 1:22-25 – But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ²³ For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. ²⁴ For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. ²⁵ But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. 

As you spend time in God’s Word and in prayer this week, be sure to be praying for our Body. Pray that we would all exhibit the Marks of the True Christian that are found in Romans 12:9-21. Be reading the passage daily in preparation for our time together this Sunday.