Dr. HL Champion presents this  teaching a simple but pragmatic  foundation as a tool  for pastors. Use this in your one on one  continuum foundation for every area of  building a  strong  Christians.

Five Priorities in the Christian Life

Five priorities

Memorize each priority with the related thumb and finger.
Then apply the starter verses.  The power verses will      strengthen this teaching.  Study the Support Chapters for  more understanding and to be able to  teach others.

As one can not grasp the action fingers without applying  the “Power  of the Thumb“.  So it is in the Christian  Life; Strength of Fingers in  Prayer, Ministry, Evangelism,  and Giving lies in applying the Thumb;  “Power of the  Word of God“!

 

Appendage   –    Priority Starter Verses    –    Power Verses     –   Support Chapters.

The Word of God: Thumb –

The strongest appendage, necessary to grip. Nothing without Bible truths can be grasped in following Christ. All other priorities must be connected to Bible teaching as all fingers get strength by contacting the Thumb.

Priority Starter Verse: Romans 10:17   ”So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”   The basis of one’s Salvation must be from the Bible alone.

Power Verse:    Matthew 4:4    “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”  Jesus compares the Bible to the soul as food to the body.

Psalms 119   The   longest chapter in the Bible. All 176 verses deal with the phenomenon of the Bible’s  total effect upon God’s people. Each verse has at least one of the 8 terminologies for the Scriptures.        Find them.

Prayer:  Index Finger –

points up to our High Priest, the one who intercedes on our behalf. Jesus Christ is the One Way to God. “Index finger pointing up” Symbols are  found on Old Grave Markers in the 1800?s.

Priority Starter Verse:  1 John 5:14 “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he hears us:”
Add verses 9-15.

 Power Verse: Jeremiah 33:3 “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

 Support Chapter: God Answers Intense Prayers ! Matthew 6  -A lengthy passage Jesus teaches about prayer. The Model Prayer begins in v.9. He taught his disciples these prayer principles.      Another Support Chapter:   The Real Lord’s Prayer in John 17.

Church Life:  Middle Finger –

The center appendage is balance, strength, prominence. Congregational life is center to the other four priorities. Attendance alone is powerless!
Priority Starter Verse:    Hebrews 10:25  “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another. . “  A command to keep encouraging each other in church fellowship.

Support Verse: Ephesians 3:21 “Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

Support Chapter: Church Life brings Glory to Christ. Hebrews 10  The foremost passage on Congregational Essentialness. Begin with verse 19.
Three serious sins of Church Absentee-ism are found in verse 29.  List these sins of  Church Absenteeism. (1)  ________(2)________(3)_________.

Witnessing:  Ring Finger –

Confessing Christ publicly is akin to one confessing relationship to a spouse. Just as one introduces one’s mate to others, so does a Christian introduce Christ to friends and acquaintances.

Priority Starter Verse:    Matthew 10:32 “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.”

Power Verse: Romans 1:16  “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

Support Chapter: Acts 8,9,10  –  Three Sinners are witnessed to by 3 Christians. Each chapter gives us basic principles of evangelism.
Name the Sinner and the Witness in each chapter.
Acts 8; Sinner ____________, Witness  __________,
Acts 9: Sinner____________, Witness__________,
Acts 10: Sinner __________, Witness___________. List features of both groups in each chapter.

Giving:  Little Finger –

Seemingly unimportant, but necessary! ? The last shall be first?. To be done with humility.  Tithes are to be returned to God. Offerings are yours To give freely.

Priority Starter Verse:  2 Corinthians 9:6 “But this I say, He which sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which sows bountifully shall reap also bountifully.”

Power Verse: 2 Corinthians 9:7 “Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Power Chapter:  In Hebrews 7 – 7 times The Tithe is taught:  Abraham Tithing to Melchizedek   –   Then Us Tithing to Jesus our Melchisedec High Priest    –  Tithing Testifies, That Christ is Alive!
Presenting the Word of God!  Use this series of 5 messages for Sunday School lessons, one on one discipleship, and a series of sermons/Bible Studies.

Notes:It is not necessary to take the fingers in order for teaching, but do take them in order in memory!
Use the Support Passages as the basic text on each topic.
Use Starter Verses and mark in the Bible the next starter verse.
Do the same for Power Verses..

Dr. H.L. Champion
President – Baptist.org

Featuring : Five Priorities in Walking with Christ
email: broc@baptist.org  facebook: Bro Champion
phone: 615-944-0348