So far, so good, you may think.  I want to have Jesus at the center of my life.  I want to adjust my relationship with anyone, anything, or any purpose that takes priority over Him.  But I get distracted. I get busy.  I forget about Him.  I sometimes wait to call on Him until I'm at the end of my rope.  How can I allow Him to be the first priority in my life so that I turn to Him first?  How can I have a personal, lifelong, obedient relationship with Him?

John 15:5  says:  "'I am the vine; you are the branches.  If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing'"

Without Jesus' living in you and your living in Him, you can do ________________to bear fruit.

You may try to make it on your own.  You may try your own remedies and the world's remedies.  You may do good deeds to satisfy you ego or please others.  But ultimately, the victory is His.  You can do nothing to bear fruit without Him.

Jesus said that three things will characterize your life when He lives in  you and you live in Him. 

"'Why do you call me, "Lord, Lord," and do not do what I say?' " Luke 6:46

" ' This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples' " John 15:8

" ' A new command I give you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so must you love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another' " John 13:34-35

Match these three things with the appropriate verses.

_____1. Luke 6:46                     a.obedience

_____2. John 15:8                     b. love

_____3. John 13:34-35             c. fruit

Remember these three things by putting them in sequence: love produces obedience, and obedience produces fruit.

Two things that will help you grow most as a Christian are a quiet time with God and Scripture memory.  Part of discipleship is setting aside from 15 to 20 minutes everyday to spend with Jesus Christ, who is at the center of your life.

God Bless you on your journey!

"'If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters-yes, even his own life-he cannot be my disciple.  And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.  In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.'"  Luke 14:26-33

In this scripture, what parts teach that Christ must have priority over the following areas of your life?

Person___________________________

Possession________________________

Purpose__________________________

These areas were concerns in Jesus' day just as they are in ours.

Christ's disciples had to learn gradually, just as we do.  His followers sometimes put their own selfish needs and concerns above Him.  Two of them chose sleep over honoring His request to stay awake and pray with Him in the garden of Gethsemane.  They argued about who would be chief in His kingdom.  When Jesus was arrested, His followers fled, and one of the closest to Him denied Him. Who was the disciples' first priority on such occasions?

Read Acts 4:18-37- shows that his disciples loved Him more than any other person, possession, or purpose in their lives.  Jesus never stopped working with them to transform them into His own character. 

The passage you just read indicated that the disciples loved Christ more than any other person, possession or purpose.  Can you say this about your relationship with Christ?  Apply this passage to your life.  List anyone or anything that presently takes priority over Christ in you life.

Person____________________________________

Possession________________________________

Purpose___________________________________

This is a story that is in this Bible Study.

Randy prided himself on the work he did at church.  Each Saturday he set up chairs for the Sunday worship service.  He served as the chairman of a church committee, taught a weekly Bible study, and helped at all youth events.  At least four nights a week he was involved in a project at church.  Randy thought that if he did enough at church, people would appreciate and compliment him.  When people told Randy that they admired him for his diligent church efforts, he beamed with pride.  Soon Randy depended so much on others' praise of him that he forgot the real reason for his service.  Randy thought that he was being obedient to Christ by his faithful church service, but his priorities had become misplaced, making his relationship with Christ secondary.

If Randy drew a circle representing his life, whose name would likely be in the center of the circle?

_________________________________________________________

What seems to be the motivation behind Randy's acts of service?

_________________________________________________________

It could be said that Randy, instead of Christ, was at the center of his circle.  Realizing that the focus of our lives is on self instead of on Christ can be a startling revelation, but it is very important to be honest with yourself and with God about this matter.

Stop and pray, asking God to show you ways other persons, possessions, or purposes motivate you instead of your love for Him.

Who or what motivates you?

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

If you listed anything or anyone besides your love for Jesus Christ, confess in prayer that your life is controlled by impure desires.  Then list the steps you will take to give Christ control of your life.

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

To be Christ's disciple, you need to surrender control to Him in every area of your life.