Introduction
Gordon McDonald, "Following Christ implies meeting God in the upper real world of the Heavenlies, mastering life in the inner real world of our selves, and making personal history in the outer real world of the streets."
Today we go back to the anvil to forge a real world faith.

I. We seek a Faith that Worships.

• Walk with Christ in the heavenlies
• This is the "spirit" world
• Worship Christ the Exalted One.
  • Christ is to be worshiped.
  • In worship, I experience self-abnegation.
  • In worship, the presence of God moves me from shallowness to depth.
  • In worship, we celebrate redemption and reconciliation.

II. We seek a Faith That Imitates.

• Walk with Christ in the inner world (real world)
• This is the "self" world
• Imitate Christ the Exemplary One.
  • Christ is to be imitated.
  • In Christ-likeness, I find self-mastery, not by my own power, thus more accurately the mastery of self.
  • In imitation, the power of God moves me from confusion to orientation.
  • In imitation, we find recovery.

III. We seek a Faith that Communicates.

• Walk with Christ in the outer world
• This is the "streets" and "society" world
• Communicate Christ the Evangelizing One (the Good News One).
  • Christ is to be communicated as the Good News for our world.
  • In kingdom building, I understand self-sacrifice.
  • In commitment, the purpose of God moves me from tame nothingness to wild discipleship.
  • In commitment, we develop relationships.

Conclusion
Effective faith must work in all of these worlds. A single-world faith will not suffice in times of suffering and persecution. Today if you would follow Jesus, let us recommit to worship, to Christian living, and to the ultimate salvific purposes of God. Let us go forth in imitation with a song on our lips and joy in our hearts.
Let us commit to obedience, discipleship based on Christ-likeness that begins in baptism. Let us commit to the mission and purposes of God as we seek to be light and salt and leaven in our world.
What is the shape of your faith? Are you forging a tri-world faith that will continue--no matter what? Why not come to Jesus--finding reconciliation and redemption for those who have never begun, finding resources for recovery and renewal in our continuing walk, finding commitment for communicating the good news.
If Christ today answers your faith needs, the opportunity to come to Him, whatever your need, is now, as we stand and sing.