Belief & Behavior
“Belief without Behavior” was a phrase Professor Ryan Burge used to describe American spirituality. He made the comment when asked about a recent increase in Christian beliefs among younger American males. He called the revival a myth with several nuances.
People can say they believe in God and do nothing with it. Behavior, though, means your belief changes the way you live. Behavior has clear advantages for people. People who practice their religion are more tolerant, more likely to volunteer, and be engaged. It improves your physical and mental health. So, why don’t we do the one thing that will help us? In this series we will focus on 4 behaviors of the Christian faith — worship, prayer, scripture and serving.
October 4: Worship
1 Peter 2: 1-10
Worship is more than singing, prayers and a sermon. It is where we go to encounter God. Or, as we say, where we connect our heart to the heart of God. Jonathon Wesley believed worship is where we connect our inner soul to God and from the experience the love flows out into the world. Therefore, we gather to encounter God, then listen for how this encounter shapes us to live differently in the world.
October 11: Prayer
Luke 11: 1-4
Christians pray. It is how we talk to God. And yet, prayer is often so misunderstood. Many Christians do not pray because they think they don’t know what to say, or how to say it. We often confuse it with a Wish List. Prayer is actually God working in us, allowing Jesus to come alive within us. Prayer is also how we build a relationship with God.
October 18: Scripture
2 Timothy 3: 10-17
Bible is where we hear the voice of God. God speaks in stories, but each story is set within the larger story. In the center of the whole story is Jesus. In him, we see and meet the fullness of God. The Bible is not intended to be a mere chronicle of past events, but a living communication from God, telling us now what we need to know for our salvation. We listen to the whole story to find life and live it abundantly.
October 25: Serving
Luke 22: 24-30, Luke 4: 16-21
John Mark Comer created a wonderful resource for Christians and those exploring the idea of becoming Christians. It’s called, Practicing the Way. Essentially, he teaches users how to behave like a Christian. One of the 3 core principles is to do as Jesus did. Serving others is key to practicing the way of Jesus.