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I'm a Christian, Aren't I? -- Contents -- Acknowledgments -- Foreword -- Introduction: Unwrapping the jigsaw puzzle -- Real lives - Gloria -- 1. Those who are confused -- 2. Those who are disappointed with God -- 3. Those who stop short -- The authentic Christian -- Real lives - Dan -- Let the puzzle begin -- Questions for reflection -- Piece 1: Believing -- Getting God in focus -- A million miles away or down to earth? -- Abstract or personal? -- Real lives - Liz -- Indifferent or compassionate? -- Perfect, or just powerful? -- Condemning or rescuing? -- Beginning to believe -- Real lives - Ian -- Is belief enough? -- Questions for reflection -- Piece 2: Belonging -- What is church? -- Picture postcards of the church -- 1. The church is the family of God -- 2. The church is like a building -- 3. The church is the body of Christ -- Do I have to go to church to be a Christian? -- Real lives - Amanda -- How can I get the most out of church? -- Real lives - Rich -- Is belonging to a church enough? -- Questions for reflection -- Piece 3: Behaving -- Common objections -- Objection 1: 'Jesus died to forgive me. Surely it won't matter if I carry on sinning?' -- Objection 2: 'Didn't Jesus say he came to set me free from rules?' -- Real lives - Samantha -- Objection 3: 'Aren't the Bible's commands 2,000 years out of date?' -- Objection 4: 'I've messed up big time already. There's no point trying to start being holy now.' -- Objection 5: 'But I don't want to change!' -- What motivates Christians to behave like Jesus? -- Motivation 1: We comply with Jesus' commands as a mark of our love for him -- Real lives - Amy -- Motivation 2: We behave like Jesus because we represent him to others -- Motivation 3: When we act as Jesus did - serving others - we serve Jesus himself -- Motivation 4: We obey what Jesus says because he is our Lord -- Real lives - Trevor
Wrong motivation: We don't obey Jesus to earn his approval -- How can I change? -- Is 'behaving' enough? -- Questions for reflection -- Piece 4: Baptism -- What is baptism? -- 1. Baptism is a sign of washing -- Real lives - Victoria -- 2. Baptism is a sign of Jesus' death - and ours! -- 3. Baptism is a sign of Jesus' resurrection - and ours -- 4. Baptism links us to Christ in membership -- A watershed moment -- Getting from symbol to reality -- Real lives - Lindsey -- Why should Christians be baptized? -- Is baptism enough? -- Questions for reflection -- Piece 5: Born again -- Surprise 1: Jesus said, 'You must be born again' -- Surprise 2: what it means to be born again -- Surprise 3: who Jesus was talking to -- Surprise 4: how the second birth happens -- Surprise 5: the effect it has -- Real lives - Tom -- How does this jigsaw piece fit with all the others? -- Real lives - Ken -- The essential spiritual experience -- Questions for reflection -- Conclusion: Putting the pieces together -- Finding the missing piece -- The myth of the 'incomplete Christian' -- Real lives - Jonny -- Real lives - Anna -- Finishing the puzzle -- Questions for reflection -- Notes -- Introduction: Unwrapping the jigsaw puzzle -- Piece 1: Believing -- Piece 2: Belonging -- Piece 3: Behaving -- Piece 4: Baptism -- Piece 5: Born again -- Conclusion: Putting the pieces together -- Further reading -- Believing -- Belonging -- Behaving -- Baptism -- Born again -- Bible
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