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30 SIGNPOSTS

We have used a useful summary of the beliefs, practices and character of a Christian which we have called signposts. They are not an exhaustive list.  But  they are a good starting point on the journey to becoming more like Jesus.  If you are wondering where you need to grow as a Christian, perhaps you could ask God to put one or more of these signposts on your heart.

BELIEFS

 
Trinity : I believe the God of the Bible is the only true God — Father, Son , and Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 13 14The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you.
 
Humanity saved by grace: I believe all people are loved by God and need Jesus Christ as their Saviour. I believe a p erson comes into a right relationship with God by His grace, through faith in Jesus Christ.
John 3 16"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.  
Ephesians 2 8Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish! 9We don't play the major role. If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing!
 
Authority of the Bible: I believe the Bible is the Word of God and has the right to command my belief and action.
2 Timothy 3 16Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another--showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. 17Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.
 
Personal God: I believe God is involved in and cares about my daily life.
Matthew 6: 28Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, 29but have you ever seen colour and design quite like it? The ten best--dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. 30"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers--most of which are never even seen--don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?
 
Identity in Christ: I believe I am significant because of my position as a child of God.
John 1 12But whoever did want him, who believed he was who he claimed and would do what he said, He made to be their true selves, their child-of-God selves.
 
Church: I believe the church is God's primary way to accomplish His purposes on earth today.
Matthew 5 13"Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavours of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage. 14"Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colours in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. 15If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. 16Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand--shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.
 
Compassion: I believe God calls all Christians to show compassion to those in need.
Psalm 82 3You're here to defend the defenceless, to make sure that underdogs get a fair break; 4Your job is to stand up for the powerless, and prosecute all those who exploit them."
 
Kingdom of God:  I believe Jesus came to establish God’s rule on earth; that there is a battle in every area of life, that I am called to work for God’s kingdom. 
Mark 1 14After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee preaching the Message of God: 15"Time's up! God's kingdom is here. Change your life and believe the Message."
 
Stewardship : I believe that everything I am or own belongs to God, and that there are no areas of life outside of his kingdom. 
1 Timothy 6 17Tell those rich in this world's wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage-- 18to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. 19If they do that, they'll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life.
 
Eternity: I believe that Jesus Christ is returning to judge the earth, to establish His eternal kingdom in a renewed creation, and that I shall be raised with a resurrection body.  
1 Corinthians 15 51But let me tell you something wonderful, a mystery I'll probably never fully understand. We're not all going to die--but we are all going to be changed. 52You hear a blast to end all blasts from a trumpet, and in the time that you look up and blink your eyes--it's over. On signal from that trumpet from heaven, the dead will be up and out of their graves, beyond the reach of death, never to die again. At the same moment and in the same way, we'll all be changed.
 

PRACTICES

 
Worship: I worship God in through everything I do for who He is and what He has done for me.
Psalm 95  6So come, let us worship: bow before him, on your knees before GOD, who made us! 7Oh yes, he's our God, and we're the people he pastures, the flock he feeds. Drop everything and listen, listen as he speaks.
 
Prayer: I pray to God to know Him, to lay my request before Him and to find direction for my daily life.
Psalm 66 16All believers, come here and listen, let me tell you what God did for me. 17I called out to him with my mouth, my tongue shaped the sounds of music. 18If I had been cosy with evil, the Lord would never have listened. 19But he most surely did listen, he came on the double when he heard my prayer. 20Blessed be God: he didn't turn a deaf ear, he stayed with me, loyal in his love.
 
Bible Study: I read the Bible to know God, the truth and to find direction for my daily life.
Hebrews 4 12God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon's scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defence, laying us open to listen and obey.
 
Single-mindedness : I focus on God and His priorities for my life.
Matthew 6 33Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
 
Spiritual Gifts: I know and use my spiritual gifts to accomplish God’s purposes.
1 Corinthians 14 1Go after a life of love as if your life depended on it--because it does. Give yourselves to the gifts God gives you. Most of all, try to proclaim his truth.
 
Biblical Community: I fellowship with other Christians to accomplish God's purposes in my life, others' lives, and in the world.
Acts 2 44And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. 45They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person's need was met. 46They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, 47as they praised God.
 
Giving Away Time : I give away time to fulfil God's purposes.
Colossians 3 17Let every detail in your lives--words, actions, whatever--be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.
 
Giving Away Money : I give away money to fulfil God's purposes.
2 Corinthians 8: 6That's what prompted us to ask Titus to bring the relief offering to your attention, so that what was so well begun could be finished up. 7You do so well in so many things--you trust God, you're articulate, you're insightful, you're passionate, you love us--now, do your best in this, too.
 
Giving Away Faith: I give away my faith to fulfil God's purposes.
Ephesians 6 19And don't forget to pray for me. Pray that I'll know what to say and have the courage to say it at the right time, telling the mystery to one and all, the Message that I, 20jailbird preacher that I am, am responsible for getting out.
 
Giving Away My Life: I give away my life to fulfil God’s purposes.
Romans 12 1So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life--your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life--and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.
 
 

CHARACTER

 
Joy: I have inner contentment and purpose in spite of my circumstances.

John 15 11"I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature.”
 
Peace: I am free from anxiety because things are right between God, others, and myself.
Philippians 4 6Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know you

r concerns. 7Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the centre of your life.
 
Faithfulness : I am faithful to fulfil God's will for my life.
Proverbs 3 3Don't lose your grip on Love and Loyalty. Tie them around your neck; carve their initials on your heart. 4Earn a reputation for living well in God's eyes and the eyes of the people.
 
Self-Control: I have the power, through Christ, to control myself.
1 Thessalonians 5 6So let's not sleepwalk through life like those others. Let's keep our eyes open and be smart.
 
Humility: I choose to esteem others above myself.
Philippians 2 3Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. 4Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.
 
Love: I unconditionally love others.
1 John 4 10This is the kind of love we are talking about--not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they've done to our relationship with God. 11My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. 12No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us--perfect love!
 
Patience: I am patient with others.
Proverbs 14 29Slowness to anger makes for deep understanding; a quick-tempered person stockpiles stupidity.
 
Kindness/Goodness: I choose to do the right things in my relationships with others.
1 Thessalonians 5 15And be careful that when you get on each other's nerves you don't snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out.
 
Gentleness: I am thoughtful, considerate and calm in dealing with others.
Philippians 4 5Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you're on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!
 
Hope: I can cope with the hardships of life and with death because of the hope I have in Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 6 17When God wanted to guarantee his promises, he gave his word, a rock-solid guarantee-- 18God can't break his word. And because his word cannot change, the promise is likewise unchangeable. We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go.