COMMENTS about this page: Kids want to know how to live the Christian life. Why do they try and then fail so often? There are some very good reasons and this basic outline (actually a series) covers those reasons as well as what we can do to live the Christian life the way God intended us to live it. I have used this outline (series) many times.

"Going Down the Mountain ... into the sweat and reality of life." Mark 9:1-8

It's great to be with you on "this mountain top." I have talked with many of you that have one great fear. How can I live the Christian life back home? This talk and outline is directed to the frustration of re-entering your normal life ... life at home ... life at school ... life in your real everyday world.

1. Understanding the Mountain Top! Mark 9:1-8

   A controlled environment where we are fed and motivated and brought face to face with issues we need to deal with.

   The mountain top is never to live on but to live from. It's a time to meet with Jesus and get a perspective.

   1. Capturing the "experience" ... the danger.

   2. Listen to Jesus ... He's going down with you!

   3. Your ministry is to society living at the base of the mountain.

2. Understanding Yourself: Knowing about yourself helps.
   1. What I am: (my body!)
      1. (A vehicle) physical/animal.

      2. Physical changes/foods. Ups & downs! Mood swings.

   2. Who I am: (My very human nature!)
      1. I am a god (Ps. 82:6). Proud! (Unconverted nature) Responsible!

      2. I am Independent! Ego! Independent nature!

      3. I am selfish! Self centered! I am number one!

      4. I am a goat! I am rebellious! (Matt 25:32)

      5. I am a Child of God! (a sheep) Isa. 53:6

      6. I am a wrestler: Struggling with flesh & spirit. Conflicting natures going on within me! (Gal 5:1)

   3. I can have guilt: (no one has guilt but man!) God has created me with the capacity to have guilt. Guilt is as necessary to my spiritual body as pain is to my physical body. It serves a similar purpose. (Ex) Lepers need of feeling pain.

   4. I am unique:
      1. There never was and never will be anyone just like me!

      2. Everyone and everything God makes is unique.

   5. I was born for a purpose: To glorify God by serving him and bearing fruit. Jn. 15; 2 Cor. 5:15-20 Eph 2:10 !

3. Understanding your World: Two very real kingdoms, two very real worlds. Kingdom of light and kingdom of darkness. Satan's kingdoms: Matt. 4:8. Seek God's kingdom: Matt. 6:33.

4. Understanding your Enemy: As a Christian you have an adversary, Satan the Devil.
   1. Who is Satan? Who are his demons? Isa. 14:12-14
      1. The world is in his power. 1 Jn. 5:19

      2. He is anti-God and anti-Christ. Really not anti-you!

   2. The struggle ... fight the warfare! Eph. 6:12
      1. Element of fear, darkness and ignorance. I Pet 5:8

      2. Element of his world. 1 Jn. 2:16

      3. Element of flesh: ego, lust, passion, power, possessions. 1 Jn. 2:16

   3. The strategy: Satan has a strategy. 2 Cor. 2:11
      1. His tactics: deceive, divert, divide, defeat, destroy!

      2. His traps: the snare, the pit, the rat trap!

   4. The mighty lion, seeking whom he might devour. 1 Pet. 5:8

5. Understanding Sin: We all sin it is in our very nature.
   1. Definition of sin:
      1. Sin is missing the mark of God's holiness.

      2. Sin is that which is against God, self, and others.

      3. Sin is rebellion.

   2. Sin Symptoms: Gal. 5:20-21 (Deeds of the flesh)

   3. Three basic types of sin:
      1. Thinking sins. Matt. 5:28

      2. Doing sins. Gal. 5:20-21 (Deeds of the flesh!)

      3. Failure to do good = sins. James 4:17

   4. Anatomy of sin: I saw, I coveted, I took. Josh. 7:21 Gen 3:6

   5. Brinkmanship: the skill (art) of walking the line.
      1. Playing on the edge.

      2. Little "pet" sins.

      3. Note: abstain from all appearance of sin. 1 Thess. 5:22

   6. Consequences of Sin. What you sow you reap. Gal. 6:7-8
      1. Out of fellowship. NOTE: One seed many seeds!

      2. Troubled spirit = touchy, blame others!

      3. Guilt - seared conscience. These result in

      4. Into self. Bad attitudes!!

      5. Appetite for more sin.

      6. Growing frustration and problems.

   7. Spiritual Hygiene: The way we keep spiritually clean. (B.O!)
      1. Calling sin "sin" - sensitive to sin.

      2. Washing regularly - repent and return. 1 Jn. 1:9

      3. Keeping from sin:
         1. Treasure God's word. Ps. 119:9 & 11

         2. Think on profitable thoughts. Phil.4:8

         3. Keep active in good. Ministry.

         4. Fellowship with healthy believers.

      4. Guilt - the warning sign. Note: Keep short accounts with God!
   8. Number one sin: Idolatry! A proud look. Prov. 6:16-18

6. Highs and Lows: After every high comes a low!

   After His "high," Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan - His "low." Matt. 4:2 & 3

   Note: Not every low is a spiritual issue, but may be physical.

7. Feeding Yourself: We are what we eat! It is essential that we quickly learn to feed ourselves.

   The Word is as food: 1 Pet. 2:2; 1 Cor. 3:2.

   Facts: Food is essential. There is food you like and food you don't like. There is good food and bad food. There is junk food (empty calories).

   NOTE: Your diet takes years to produce good effects or bad effects. Seek a balanced diet - extremes are dangerous.

   1. Feeding yourself spiritually: (Takes discipline!!!)
      1. Attitude: good regular diet.

      2. Set a regular time and place alone.

      3. Equipment: Bible and concordance and commentary.

      4. Clean yourself: confession and repentance. 1 Jn. 1:9

      5. Pause - praise and prayer.
         1. Thanksgiving.

         2. For God's speaking.

      6. Open the Word - verse by verse.

      7. Not a study, but a feeding = insights.

      8. Application: "Today I will ...!"

      9. Prayer.
         1. Thanksgiving & worship.

         2. For others.

         3. For myself.

            Note: Make a prayer list.

   2. Vitamins: memory verses act as spiritual vitamins. PS. 119:11

   3. The sandwich: Doing God's will can become food. Jn. 4:34

   4. The restaurant: making the best of preaching, teaching, books, etc.

8. The "Feeling" Issue: Today feelings are so important, but feelings are fickle. We had better not trust them. Trust in faith, not feelings.

   NOTE: If we are motivated by feelings and impulse, we become inconsistent.

   EXAMPLE: Spiritual "VERTIGO" will cause you to crash and burn!

9. The "Failure" Issue: Often we just get tired of trying. That little voice that says, "I can't do it!" - that little voice says, "Quit!"
   1. Spiritual life, in fact any life, is a struggle. Gal. 5:17

   2. The failure syndrome/attitude. Fear of failure.

   3. Success through failing: "Learn to walk."

10. Priority on Fellowship: We are a body of people. A church. Together. God intends for us to function from the base of fellowship. We are created interdependent not independent! We are called to assemble together regularly. Heb. 10:25

11. Called to Serve, not Sit: Each of us is born into the body for a purpose. We are each "gifted" for the body. 1 Cor. 12:7-10; 1 Pet. 3:10
    1. Involved in your church, your school, your world. Making a difference.

    2. Involved in helping the poor, aged, crippled, orphans, etc.

    3. Scripture is strong on serving! James 1:22; Matt. 25:35-40

12. The Visible Christian: Christ wants a lifestyle. We must become "braille" for a blind world to read. We must become "DIMENSIONAL" believers. The Scripture puts it this way! Matt. 5:13-16 The early Believers were called "Christians" ... why? They were a visible people! Acts. 11:26