Sermon Outlines: How to Become a Better Christian

What does it mean to be a good Christian? If you survey a random group of people they will each have very specific ideas about what a good Christian should look or act like. A church typically demands certain things from its members depending upon denomination or man-made doctrine. In many cases these requirements have nothing to do with what God wants.

Way too often Christians are filled with doubt because of the restrictions put upon them by others. The good news is only God can tell you what He expects of you. It's okay to listen to other opinions, but in the end it's your personal relationship with Jesus that matters.

Forgive
In order to become a better Christian it's essential that we not only forgive others, but we must also forgive ourselves. If we refuse to forgive we will become angry and bitter. We all mess up from time to time. Forgive and move on.

Do Not Judge
Luke 6:37 says, "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven." Strong Christians understand that only God can judge a person's heart. There are times when issues must be dealt with, but in most cases it's better to get out of the way and let God do His job. Contrary to popular belief, He can take care of things much better than we can.

Read the Bible
Set apart time to read and study the Bible. In order to become a better Christian you must know who God is and what He expects of you. Christians who never read the Bible are like blind people without a guide. If you consider yourself a Christian it should not be an option.

Pray
The only way to know God in a personal way is to pray. Many people consider prayer a formal one-way conversation with an impersonal entity. Prayer is actually a two-way conversation with a person who happens to be God. To become a better Christian we must try to be more like Jesus, and the best way to do that is to spend time with Him in prayer.

Fellowship
Spend time with other Christians. Not the negative ones, but those who encourage you. Hang out with positive thinkers as much as possible and avoid people who cause you to do things you know you shouldn't.

Serve Others
One of the best ways to become a better Christian is to help others. Find something nice to do for someone each week. Get involved in your church or favorite local charity. Take a homeless person to lunch. The possibilities are endless. When we serve others the personal benefits are immeasurable.

Share Your Testimony
What has God done for you? Are you grateful or angry? We can't help but talk about the things that have made us who we are. Even if you've been in a tough place, think back on those times when He led you out of the storm. Sharing your testimony will not only strengthen your faith, it will also encourage others.

Conclusion
Becoming a better Christian is not about cleaning up your act or trying to look a certain way. It's about getting to know God. You may be the biggest screw-up around, but if you begin to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ you will become a better person. Stop trying to fix your problems and turn them over to Him. Don't be too hard on yourself when you mess up. Ask God to forgive you, make things right with those you hurt, and get back up again.

May God encourage and bless you as He reveals not only His plans for you, but also His unconditional love and grace.

Source: Ministrymaker Sermon Outlines