What is a good What is a good application? application?

Where does Where does application start?application start?

Does doing precede being, or being precede doing? Does who we are determine what we

do, or does what we do determine who we are? Is a person a thief because he steals, or

does he steal because he is a thief?

Do you wear a skirt and so you are a girl, or are you a girl so you wear a skirt? (unless you are

Scottish )

Think about what you want to be in life. Let’s say are a lawyer. Are you a lawyer because you went to law school, or did you go t law school because

you wanted to be a lawyer?

The point is, our actions come from our The point is, our actions come from our sense ofsense of identity, not the other way

around. The connection between our identity and our actions is an aspect of

how we are designed.

Who we are determines what we do.Who we are determines what we do.

Adopting a Throw-Away-Kid from Brazil

Position versus PracticePosition versus Practice

Suppose you are on a basketball team and Suppose you are on a basketball team and you are a guard (you are a guard (positionposition). You could decide ). You could decide to post-up underneath. You would still be a to post-up underneath. You would still be a

guard, but you wouldn’t be playing your guard, but you wouldn’t be playing your position rightly (practice)position rightly (practice). You could even . You could even decide to sit on the bench and tell players decide to sit on the bench and tell players what to do, but you would still be a guard.what to do, but you would still be a guard.

The more a guard learns his The more a guard learns his positionposition and lives and lives it out practically (it out practically (practicepractice), the better he’ll be ), the better he’ll be

and the more good he’ll do for his team.and the more good he’ll do for his team.

More important than studying a More important than studying a passage and coming up with an passage and coming up with an application to do something, is to application to do something, is to learn more about who you are or learn more about who you are or

who God is.who God is.

And don’t we always say… “Christianity And don’t we always say… “Christianity is a relationship, not a religion.”is a relationship, not a religion.”

Of all the things about right and wrong Of all the things about right and wrong that you will know by the time you die, that you will know by the time you die, what percentage do you know now? what percentage do you know now? (What (What (as a percentage)(as a percentage) do your parents do your parents

know about right and wrong that you know about right and wrong that you don’t know?)don’t know?)

Our struggle in the Christian Our struggle in the Christian life is not knowing right from life is not knowing right from wrong, but knowing God and wrong, but knowing God and

self and living rightly.self and living rightly.

What is a good application? What is a good application?

Where does application start?Where does application start?

Knowing God (not just about Knowing God (not just about Him). Who He Is; What He Has Him). Who He Is; What He Has

Done; Who he made us (who we Done; Who he made us (who we are); What He expects…are); What He expects…

Are we saved or will we be saved?Are we saved or will we be saved?

Are we justified or will we be justified?Are we justified or will we be justified?

Are we forgiven or will we be forgiven?Are we forgiven or will we be forgiven?

Are we glorified or will we be glorified?Are we glorified or will we be glorified?

Both are true. God has called us Both are true. God has called us to live out practically what we are to live out practically what we are declared to be (legally in Christ).declared to be (legally in Christ).

Who we are determines what we Who we are determines what we do.do.

So - work hard at knowing who So - work hard at knowing who you are and who God is first.you are and who God is first.

And this is really what studying God’s Word is And this is really what studying God’s Word is about. Don’t focus so much on doing, but about. Don’t focus so much on doing, but

focus on God’s character (being) and who you focus on God’s character (being) and who you are (being)are (being)

I hope these slides help you in some way I hope these slides help you in some way (feel free to delete this slide).(feel free to delete this slide).

Feel free to contact me for any reason. I have some Feel free to contact me for any reason. I have some handouts and extra info for some of the slides that I handouts and extra info for some of the slides that I did not include. There are also a few notes at the did not include. There are also a few notes at the

bottom of some slides, but not as much as I should bottom of some slides, but not as much as I should have. If you have some great ideas or help or have. If you have some great ideas or help or

criticisms, or just want to talk, give me a call or shoot criticisms, or just want to talk, give me a call or shoot me an email. me an email.

youthpastortimo@hotmail.com(515) 448-5414(515) 448-5414