The Pocket Cross
The Pocket Cross
I carry this cross in my pocket
As a simple reminder to me.
That Jesus Christ our Savior
Gave His life for me.
• Pick it up Daily
Put it in you pocket or purse as a reminder that you have to intentionally take up your cross and follow Jesus daily.
It’s not a one-and-done thing. It’s an ongoing pursuit.
• Remember the Gospel.
Every time you feel it in your pocket or see it sitting on your desk, remember that Jesus lived a perfect life, died on the cross, rose again on the third day, and is presently interceding… FOR YOU!
The call is to live a faithful, Christ-exalting life in the details of daily life.
• Prayer
Remember that you are being prayed for. Remember to pray for others. Our common bond as the people of of Coram Deo isn’t demographics, it’s that we’re all saved by the same sacrifice. Carrying this little cross is a tangible reminder of that.
• It’s Something “EXTRA”
Carry this “Extra” thing to remind you that it’s in the “Ordinary” ebb and flow of life that we experience the joy of knowing and following Jesus. it’s in the day-in-day-out-drudgery-&-details that discipleship develops
• Reminder to share the Gospel
Pray for the Lord to give you:
opportunity,
boldness, and
clarity
in sharing the gospel
PURSUING THE EXTRAordinary
As you pursue faithfully following Jesus in the midst of the Ordinary-ness of live, what does that look like. Below is a basic outline of what it looks like to pursue Christ in the ordinary rhythm of life.
The overarching goal of the Christian life is the pursuit of sanctification.
In practical terms, what does that look like? For a faithful Christian striving to glorify God, what is the goal? What does it look like?
Simply put - the biblical purpose of the church, applied to an individual Christian is the primary pursuit of Christianity.
The threefold biblical purpose of the church is the exaltation of God, the edification of the Body, and the evangelism of the lost.
For the individual Christian, the goal is to worship and glorifiy God, pursue the “one anothers,” and strive to proclaim Christ whenever the opportunity arises.
Obviously the details are more complicated, but the bottom line is - worship God, pursue spiritual growth, and share the gospel. That is the extra ordinary life Christ calls us to.
The Ordinarily Faithful Christian Man
This summary is a basic framework. Looking at the Bible and outlining practically what your life should look like. Discipline and intentionality must be present as you think through how they should work themselves out in the use of your time, talent, and treasures.
1. A Faithful Man Worships God
Go to church. Every Sunday. Be early. Sit close. Bring your Bible. Take notes. Sing. Pray. Let it be obvious to everyone you’re fully engaged. Stay after & chat with people. Be involved in ALL the main ministries of your church, not just Sunday morning. Hebrews 10:24-25
2. A Faithful Man is Saturated in the Word.
Grow in your knowledge of and love for God’s Word through through the disciplined input of Scripture. Five aspects of saturation: hearing, reading, studying, memorizing, and meditating. 2 Timothy 3:14-17
3. A Faithful Man Prays
It will look different for everyone, but at a minimum, pray for your family, your close friends, and your church’s leadership. Ephesians 6:18
4. A Faithful Man Grows Theologically
Grow through discipleship, mentoring relationships, reading books, blogs, listening to sermons & podcasts, etc. Colossians 1:9-12
5. A Faithful Man Pursues both Fellowship & Friendship
Start by simply encouraging others, but don’t stop there. Purposefully pursue knowing others and inviting them into your life. Serve them. Love them. Get to know them. Be a blessing in their lives. Proverbs 27:17
6. A Faithful Man Stewards Time, Talent & Treasure
Intentionally steward your resources. It’s all too easy to waste them. Work hard and be provide, but keep your primary focus on productivity and faithfulness in light of eternity. 1 Corinthians 4:2
7. A Faithful Man Provides for & Leads His Family
Take care of your family. (Whether just you, a wife, and/or children) This is a crucial aspect of begin a faithful Christian man. Ephesians 6:4
Read, study, & think through the framework presented in these passages as they’re very foundational & instructive. These are excellent starting places to study, memorize, & meditate on:
• Colossians 1:9-12; 3:12-17
• 2 Peter 1:5-10
• 1 Timothy 3:1-13
• Galatians 5:22-23
The Ordinarily Faithful Christian Woman
The simplest description is that a Christian woman’s pursuits are the same as the man’s, but where the man leads and provides for the family, the woman helps the husband and nurtures the family. Titus 2:1-5, Proverbs 31, and 1 Peter 3:1-6 describe what a faithful Christian woman/wife/mother should look like.
1. A Titus 2 Woman
This passage describes a pattern of discipleship where older faithful women teach younger women to be faithful and what to pursue.
Older women are to be:
temperate,
dignified,
sensible,
sound in faith,
sound in love,
sound in perseverance.
They are to teach the younger women to be:
sensibility:
to love their husbands,
to love their children,
to be sensible,
pure,
workers at home,
kind,
being subject to their own husbands
When women possess these qualities, they make the gospel look beautiful to others.
2 A Proverbs 31 Woman
She is trustworthy
She is a support and encouragement to her husband
She contributes to the household as she can.
She wisely stewards resources
She takes care of the physical needs of the family
She works hard
She cares for others
3. 1 Peter 3:1-6 is a faithful summary of all of the above and highlights that the faithful woman’s behavior points others to Christ.
Ultimately, a faithful woman strives to come alongside her husband following his faithful leadership and strives to be his helpmate.
What is a Faithful Christian Family?
A faithful family requires a faithful husband and father. The faithful husband and father is committed to being a faithful man shepherding his wife, children and those the Lord has placed in his care. These are extensions of the faithful man as it is his primary responsibility to lead in these things and his wife helps him as they pursue these things together.
1. Prioritize Church
There will always be things that will, if you let them, take you out of church. They certainly seem important in the moment, but remember that worshipping God is more important now, and it’s also part of preparing for eternity. A faithful family is seeking to grow as part of their church family, interweaving with the lives of others in the church family
2. Prays together
Families should pray with and for one another in a variety of settings.
3. Prioritizes Time Together
Nothing communicates care and love more than spending time together. A family must make a habit and priority of spending time together. At home, recreation, vacations, etc. This should be part of the rhythm.
4. The Father Leads - there’s a “Faith Vibe” overall
A faithful man must lead his family spiritually. For most, this will involve some form of family devotion time. There’s no authoritative formula, but prayer & the word should be central elements. Bottom line is: what do we do that makes us distinctively a “Christian Family?” these things.
How We Strive to Catalyze this at Coram Deo Bible Church
Our Five Commitments are all the biblical purposes of the church and intended to catalyze all of the things on the previous page.
A High View of God - gathering weekly to worship and obey the Lord
A High View of His Word - striving to be deeply saturated in Scripture
Faithful Discipleship - pursuing of sanctification & spiritual growth
Gospel Centrality - reminding one another for edification and rehearsing for our evangelistic pursuits
Joy in Community - the Lord gives us joy in doing all of this in the company of other faithful followers.
We are committed to simplicity, stewarding our time, talents, and treasures toward Sunday Worship, Family Groups, and Discipleship