Morrison Chapel

True Religion:  The Marks of the Christian Life
Hebrews 13:1-8     Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured. Let marriage be held in honor by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers. Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” So we can say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper;

I will not be afraid.

What can anyone do to me?”

Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Based on the Epistle and Gospel readings today, these are 8 Marks of the Christian Life:

1. L ove

2. H ospitality

3. S ympathy

4. P urity

5. C ontentment

6. L eadership

     6i. He/she Preaches C hrist

     6ii. Lives in the F aith

     6iii. Dies in L oyalty

     6iv. Leaves an E xample and

                        an I inspiration

Luke 14:1, 7-14      On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely. When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, `Give this person your place,’ and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, `Friend, move up higher’; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
He said also to the one who had invited him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

7. H umility

8. C harity

     8i. He/she may give from D uty

     8ii. From S elfishness

     8iii. From S uperiority

     8iv. Or because they cannot H elp it because it flows from a heart oriented to love others for the sake of Christ and His Kingdom.