We all know people who claim to be Christians, they believe in God, yet they live like he doesn’t exist. They “talk the talk” and know the right words to say, but they don’t “walk the walk.” There is no change in their day-to-day lives. Faith is only intellectual for them, but not something that actually impacts their lifestyle. John Wesley called them “practical atheists” because their practices were the same as those who had no faith at all. Craig Groschell calls them “Christian Athiests” in a book he authored, which the pastor is basing this sermon series on in the coming weeks.
Maybe this atttiude describes where you are now or where you’ve been. You believe, but you want to put your money where your mouth is and truly practice your faith. This series is designed to help you take the next step in faith and move towards Christian maturity, or “Christian perfection,” as John Wesley called it. (No, you can’t be perfect in this life in the way we typically understand perfection, but God does desire that you become mature in your faith.) In the next 12-weeks as we journey towards Holy Week, learning what it means to follow in the Way of Jesus, we will explore together how we can live out the Christian life and truly practice what we preach. Practice makes perfect!