The document discusses what it means to be a committed Christian. It begins by examining a passage from John about Jesus being glorified and commanding his disciples to love one another. It then defines a committed Christian as someone who is committed to giving God all glory, loving other believers, and having unwavering loyalty to God. The challenges facing the church today that can undermine commitment are identified as religious pluralism, materialism, and secularism. The document emphasizes that true commitment involves living according to God's commands, not just making promises of loyalty.

1. BE A COMMITTEDBE A COMMITTED
CHRISTIAN NOTCHRISTIAN NOT
JUST A CHRISTIAN!JUST A CHRISTIAN!
TEXT:TEXT:
JOHN 13:31-38JOHN 13:31-38

2. 3131 Therefore when he had gone out, Jesus Therefore when he had gone out, Jesus
said, “said, “Now Now 11
is is aa
the Son of Man the Son of Man bb
glorified,glorified,
andandcc
God God 11
is glorified in Himis glorified in Him;;
3232 11
if God is glorified in Him, if God is glorified in Him, aa
God will alsoGod will also
glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Himglorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him
immediately.immediately.
33 “33 “aa
Little children, I am with you Little children, I am with you bb
a little whilea little while
longer. longer. cc
You will seek Me; and as I said to theYou will seek Me; and as I said to the
Jews, now I also say to you, ‘Where I amJews, now I also say to you, ‘Where I am
going, you cannot come.’going, you cannot come.’
34 “A 34 “A aa
new commandment I give to you, new commandment I give to you, bb
thatthat
you love one another, you love one another, cc
even as I have lovedeven as I have loved
you, that you also love one another.you, that you also love one another.

3. 35“35“aa
By this all men will know that you are MyBy this all men will know that you are My
disciples,disciples, if you have love for one another.if you have love for one another.””
3636 Simon Peter Simon Peter
said to Him, “Lord, where aresaid to Him, “Lord, where are
You going?” Jesus answered, “You going?” Jesus answered, “aa
Where I go,Where I go,
you cannot follow Me now; but you cannot follow Me now; but bb
you willyou will
follow later.”follow later.”
37 Peter 37 Peter
said to Him, “Lord, why can I notsaid to Him, “Lord, why can I not
follow You right now? follow You right now? aa
I will lay down my lifeI will lay down my life
for You.”for You.”
38 Jesus 38 Jesus
answered, “answered, “Will you lay down yourWill you lay down your
life for Me?life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, Truly, truly, I say to you, aa
aa
rooster will not crow until you deny Merooster will not crow until you deny Me
three times.three times.

4. ABOUT COMMITMENT…ABOUT COMMITMENT…
““If you do not plan to live the Christian lifeIf you do not plan to live the Christian life
totallytotally committedcommitted to knowing your Godto knowing your God
and to walking in obedience to Him, thenand to walking in obedience to Him, then
don't begin, for this is what Christianity isdon't begin, for this is what Christianity is
all about. It is aall about. It is a change of citizenshipchange of citizenship, a, a
change of governmentschange of governments, a, a change ofchange of
allegianceallegiance. If you have no intention of. If you have no intention of
letting Christ rule your life, then forgetletting Christ rule your life, then forget
Christianity; it is not for you.” Christianity; it is not for you.”
Kay ArthurKay Arthur

5. WHAT IS A COMMITTEDWHAT IS A COMMITTED
CHRISTIAN?CHRISTIAN?

6. 1. YOU ARE COMMITTED TO GIVE1. YOU ARE COMMITTED TO GIVE
GOD ALL THE GLORY…GOD ALL THE GLORY…
• Jesus taught His disciples that perspective both by
example and by precept:
PHILIPPIANS 2:5-10
• “5Have this attitude (manner, thoughts, outlook,
approach, mind-set) in yourselves which was also in Christ
Jesus, 6who, although He existed in the form of God, did not
regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but emptied
Himself, taking the form of a bond-servantbond-servant, and being made
in the likeness of men. 8Being found in appearance as a man,
He humbled HimselfHe humbled Himself by becoming obedientobedient to the point of
death, even death on a cross. 9For this reason also, God
highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is
above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus EVERYEVERY
KNEE WILL BOWKNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth
and under the earth, 11and that every tongue will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”glory of God the Father.”

7. 2. YOU ARE COMMITTED TO2. YOU ARE COMMITTED TO
LOVE THE BRETHREN…LOVE THE BRETHREN…
• 34 “A 34 “A aa
new commandment I give to you, new commandment I give to you, bb
thatthat
you love one another, you love one another, cc
even as I have lovedeven as I have loved
youyou, that you also love one another., that you also love one another.
• 35“35“aa
By this all men will know that you are MyBy this all men will know that you are My
disciples,disciples, if you have love for oneif you have love for one
another.another.””
““Love is commitment; love is aLove is commitment; love is a
relationship that never gives up.”relationship that never gives up.”

8. HOW SHOULD LOVE BEHOW SHOULD LOVE BE
EXPRESSED?EXPRESSED?
Romans 12:9-21Romans 12:9-21
“9 Let love be genuine.Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold
fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with
brotherly affection. Outdo one another in
showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be
fervent in spirit,[a] serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope,
be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13
Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek
to show hospitality.”
“14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do
not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who
rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in
harmony with one another. Do not be haughty,
but associate with the lowly.[b] Never be wise in
your own sight.

9. • 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to
do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If
possible, so far as it depends on you, live
peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge
yourselves, but leave it[c] to the wrath of God,
for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,
says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your
enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give
him something to drink; for by so doing you will
heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be
overcome by evil, but overcome evil with
good.”

10. 3. YOU HAVE AN UNSWERVING3. YOU HAVE AN UNSWERVING
LOYALTY TO GOD..LOYALTY TO GOD..
3636 Simon Peter Simon Peter * *
said to Him, “Lord, where aresaid to Him, “Lord, where are
You going?” Jesus answered, “You going?” Jesus answered, “aa
Where I go,Where I go,
you cannot follow Me now; but you cannot follow Me now; but bb
you willyou will
follow later.”follow later.”
37 Peter 37 Peter * *
said to Him, “Lord, why can I notsaid to Him, “Lord, why can I not
follow You right now? follow You right now? aa
I will lay down my lifeI will lay down my life
for You.”for You.”
38 Jesus 38 Jesus * *
answered, “answered, “Will you lay down yourWill you lay down your
life for Me?life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, Truly, truly, I say to you, aa
aa
rooster will not crow until you deny Merooster will not crow until you deny Me
three times.three times.

11. A GODLY INSIGHT…A GODLY INSIGHT…
LEARN TO DIFFERENTIATELEARN TO DIFFERENTIATE
BETWEEN:BETWEEN:
PROMISED LOYALTYPROMISED LOYALTY
ANDAND
PRACTICEDPRACTICED
LOYALTYLOYALTY

12. THE CHALLENGESTHE CHALLENGES
THE CHURCH ISTHE CHURCH IS
FACING TODAY…FACING TODAY…

13. Religious pluralism generally refers to theReligious pluralism generally refers to the
belief in two or more religious worldviews asbelief in two or more religious worldviews as
being equally valid or acceptable. More thanbeing equally valid or acceptable. More than
mere tolerance, religious pluralism acceptsmere tolerance, religious pluralism accepts
multiple paths to God or gods as a possibility!multiple paths to God or gods as a possibility!
PLURALISMPLURALISM

14. MATERIALISM…MATERIALISM…
Is defined as “the preoccupation with
material things rather than intellectual or
spiritual things.”

15. SECULARISMSECULARISM
““Essentially, secularism says that man does notEssentially, secularism says that man does not
need God. It can be defined as “a system ofneed God. It can be defined as “a system of
doctrines and practices that disregards or rejectsdoctrines and practices that disregards or rejects
any form of religious faith and worship. Itsany form of religious faith and worship. Its
primary objective is the total elimination of allprimary objective is the total elimination of all
religious elements from society.”religious elements from society.”

16. REMEMBER THIS…REMEMBER THIS…
Deuteronomy 7:9Deuteronomy 7:9
"Know therefore that the LORD"Know therefore that the LORD
your God, He is God, the faithfulyour God, He is God, the faithful
God, who keeps His covenantGod, who keeps His covenant
and His lovingkindness to aand His lovingkindness to a
thousandth generation withthousandth generation with
those who love Him and keepthose who love Him and keep
His commandments;”His commandments;”