During the 1700’s George Whitefield, John Wesley, and Charles Wesley were students at Oxford University in England. During that time they started a “CLUB” or “Society” that was formed to keep their mind focused on God and living the Christian Life. As members of this club, they would meet together and discuss the Bible and other things. However, one of the most important things was a series of questions they would ask themselves everyday during their personal time with God.
Several of the questions were “Did the Bible live in me today?”, “When did I last speak to someone else about my faith?”, and “Do I disobey God in anything?”
The main purpose of this club was to keep their minds focused on God and live the way HE COMMANDS!
There have been other groups formed over the years with that in mind. In 1782, John Oberlin, in the hope of advancing the spiritual interests of his church people established a society, which he called “The Christian Society”. Some of the “rules” were:
1. We are all one in Christ Jesus.
2. Jesus said, Abide in Me.
3. Christ is all and in all.
4. Bring forth much fruit.
5. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.
This “society” will have those ideas in mind. Obviously, since my readers are all over the world, we cannot meet weekly in person, perhaps we will meet via ZOOM in the future or something.
My main idea will be sending out a weekly or monthly society newsletter. It will cover things like I mentioned above. It will also have a weekly or monthly Bible verse. It will also include some Christian book recommendations, and other things.
I am calling this THE BEST LIFE: FOLLOWING JESUS SOCIETY.
We desperately need more Christians to REALLY FOLLOW JESUS, and I’m hoping this will be a good reminder to focus on Him.
If you would like to “Join” this society and get the monthly (for now) society newsletter – please email me at: thebestlifefollowingjesus@gmail.com. There is NO CHARGE!
Society Guidelines
- Remember: Jesus said, Abide in Me.
- Christ MUST be ALL to me.
- Bring forth much fruit.
- Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.
- Follow the example of Jesus Christ
- Search the Scriptures daily
- Nourish the inner man by the word of God and continual prayer
- Be kindly affectionate one to another with brotherly love
- Did the Bible live in me today?
- When did I last speak to someone else about my faith?
Colossians 3:1-17
Put On the New Man
1. Therefore, if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
3 For you died and your life has been hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, is manifested, then you also will be manifested with Him in glory.
5 Therefore, consider the members of your earthly body as dead to sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry.
6 On account of these things, the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,
7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.
8 But now you also, lay them all aside: wrath, anger, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.
9 Do not lie to one another, since you put off the old man with its evil practices,
10 and have put on the new man who is being renewed to a full knowledge according to the image of the One who created him—
11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, and freeman, but Christ is all and in all.
12 So, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience;
13 bearing with one another, and graciously forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone, just as the Lord graciously forgave you, so also should you.
14 Above all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body, and be thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with gratefulness in your hearts to God.
17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.