Time and time again we often come across questions like, “How does a Christian live a Christian life?” or “How should does God help us?” Should we work hard towards perfection or should we just let go and let God do the work He has planned? Reading Hodges there are some key facts he includes in His book Six Secrets of the Christian life. We can confirm these facts through biblical passages that are important to the Christian life. As Christians I believe that we are walking with a shallow meaning of what it is to be a true follower of Christ. That’s where Six Secrets of a Christian life play an important role in explaining and guiding a Christian who want to have that experience. We should not look at this book as everything a Christian needs, …show more content…
The first chapter deals with the resurrection life of Jesus Christ. The second chapter talks about transforming our minds through the Holy Spirit. The key reason for that, explained in chapter three, so that other people can see God’s life through us and how we make decisions resulting in the glorification of God. Chapter four, however, is showing the truth in which our mind should be set on shown in God’s word. Then that’s when chapter five talks about the way we relate to God in overcoming this world through His name. Finally, we come to chapter six where Hodges refer back to chapter five, saying that we should pursue God’s glory on the regular bases. Doing this intentionally and being focus to have the proper mindset. The six step or chapters should open our eyes so that we can discover God’s purpose for our lives through Christ …show more content…
So the many questions asked most can be answered in this book. I believe like it is not six secrets but it is six truths of the Christian life. This book reminds us that we have to keep a spiritual mindset, we ask and seek for God, letting our life be a living light to others, discovering God’s marvelous mirror, finding who we truly are, so that we may know who to live a Christian
I believe the most important concept that I gained from reading the book was to remain faithful, in good times and in bad. Walking blindly can be very terrifying, but God always has a plan for each and every one of us. At times, the plan remains unseen, and that should not deter or slow me on the path that my heart is yearning
If as believers we fail to completely trust the Word of God and form our life under its direction then our witness will become misleading and even confusing. Believer’s effort in diligently understanding, applying and holding full trust to the word of God in all aspects of our life will be instrumental in building our faith. Such a faith will elevate us to enable us rise above the unrelenting wave of our culture’s non-biblical ideologies. Biblical worldview is very important in order to develop a life, which can be emulated by others in diligence, integrity and honesty in the modern society (Tackett, 2014).
talks about the importance of sincere prayer as well. He talks of faith and forgivness, all of
If there is one thing that a person can take out of this book and nothing else is how we are to see people and how God sees people. Dr. Elmer is also correct when he say “that all who desire to follow Jesus must desire to be servants. We must put aside the robe and pick up the towel.”
She moves through all eighteen chapters by dissecting the meaning of all twelve truths labeled as “Healing Truth”. The first truth tells the reader that if God allows pain it is because there is a purpose for it. A purpose that will work out for good. The chapters are arranged in a way that the reader understands why God works the way that he does even if it does not make sense. She also chose to include how some people burden themselves with pain they themselves can bring to a halt. After all the soul searching she encourages the book ends on the twelfth Healing Truth. The twelfth of the truths explains to the reader how the only way to heal is if the “healing begins at the cross” for it is “the greatest expression of God’s love”. The writing is set up so simple and easy to understand. It is very difficult to get lost reading her book.
Philosophy of Ministry: God's desires come first, I must always live my ministry God's way. I must live as a Christian (1 Corinthians 9:27) I must have a proper relationship of surrender to the Leader. In my personal life or in the Church I must understand that Christ is Head and Chief Shepherd (Ephesians 1:22, Hebrews 13:20). The “management” of Church is about relationships with God and Man, not just maintaining a social organization.
According to Ninian Smart, the seven dimensions of religion include practical and ritual, emotional and experiential, narrative and mythical, ethical and legal, doctrinal and philosophical, social and institutional, and material. The practical and ritual dimension involves rituals and practices that provide spiritual awareness of adherents. The emotional and experiential dimension includes the life changing experiences that either the leaders or followers of a religion go through. Narrative and mythical dimension are the stories and past records that preserve tradition and culture in the religion. Ethical and legal dimension of the religion are basically the codes of behavior that are followed and expected within the religion. The doctrinal and philosophical dimension is the belief system created by leaders for believers. Social and Institutional dimension is the organizational structure of the religion. Last but not least the material dimension includes works of people and preservation of sacred places creating symbolic representation of traditional beliefs. Using these seven dimensions, we will explore how they can be interpreted in the religion of Christianity.
When I began reading this book I was told that it would challenge me to go beyond an average life. The book keep point is to be audacious in your faith. The book gives us a story of Stephen, and his walk from the start of his church, and what it took to get where it is now. The book also gives testimonials of people who have walked out in this same faith, and the results that they began to see from it. Three key points that stood out to me, and have impacted me in this book is to have a vision, have audacious faith, and develop hearing the voice of God, and trust him.
My favorite part of the book was the chapter on “Ethics.” I believe my moral compass will guide me in the work place, amongst many other places. For example; the ENTJ, is said to be driven by success. If I do get into a corporate position or become a politician, I’m sure there will be bribes and offers that require me to compromise my beliefs for a move up “the ladder.” As a believing Christian I’ll be sure to look out for possible avenues of temptation although; I’m sure I won’t make such dreadful mistakes, the information I’ve gained from my research makes me want to be all the more
“Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity” (2010) is about the purposeful integration of psychology and Christianity. Entwistle, discusses the integration of scripture and nature, holding to historic orthodox Christianity that “Scripture and the natural world have their origins in God’s creativity and revelation” (Entwistle, 2010, p. 136). Theology clarifies the Word of God (Bible), and Psychology corresponds with the works of God. A working definition of integration is offered,
What is Christianity all about? What are the basic beliefs of Christianity and how did it begin? According to (AllAboutReligion, 2010),” Christianity began about 2000 years ago in Judea, [presently known today as Israel] with Jesus Christ and His faithful group of disciples”. This paper will address the viewpoint of the Christian faith and its outcome. The central message of Christianity is based upon the teachings of Jesus and his promises. Christianity teaches that there is merely one God in all existence and that God created the universe. It also teaches that Jesus is the only way to be set free from the coming judgment of God and that Jesus desires his values and his standards to abound. Moreover, Christianity is the only religion that offers a savior. Religion has been in every culture since the beginning of human society and there are many religions competing for the heart of humanity throughout the world at large.The following characterizations are based on the Christian faith: redemption, covenant and grace. Although Christianity is a matter of choice for the human race, what type of influence did it have on the China, Africa, and Rome inhabitants?
The Late Middle Ages saw great theological discrepancies through the progression of Christian mysticism. The exploration into spiritual practices and the unification of the soul during this period led to great philosophical works. The Cloud of Unknowing and The Imitation of Christ are two noteworthy texts that discuss one’s aspiration to attain union with God. The Cloud of Unknowing is an anonymously authored spiritual exercise that accentuates movement toward the contemplative life by acknowledging what is unknown by man. In contrast, The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis is a spiritual guide which emphasizes that the way to be fully Christian is to live in the imitation of Jesus Christ. While many of the thoughts concerning human reason and withdrawal from the corporal world are similar in the texts, the two are inherently different as the account in The Imitation of Christ is more compelling due to its focus on a humanistic objective while acquiring union and salvation with God.
Christology: A Global Introduction Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen is associate professor of systematic theology at Fuller Theological Seminary and holds a teaching post at the University of Helsinki and Iso Kirja College in Finland. He is the author of Christology: A Global introduction, Pneumatology: The Holy Spirit in Ecumenical, International, and Introduction to Ecclesiology: Ecumenical, Historical, and Global Perspectives (Back Cover). Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen presents the latest, comprehensive introduction to the various opinions about Christology from around the world.
The education of children has existed since the beginning of time as parents have taught and molded their children into the young adults they desired them to be. Initial training of children was not in a formal setting, although history would see numerous settings, purposes, and methodological changes. Philosophies of education have also changed through the years as various voices have seemed to grasp the purpose of educating the next generation, thus laying out objectives to reach those goals of teaching children.
There has always been some sort of Christianity in history. Always new ways of doing things with each generation that comes of age. The changes that are made have not been with the conception of destroying the established ways but with establishing a continuity to preserve what is now and what is new. This is known as the preservation of type or the first note of fidelity of the existing developments of Christianity also known as the Principles of Christianity. There are three particular principles that I find to be intriguingly fascinating.