Following yesterday's sermon (10-08-06), some of you asked me to post the outline of the self-test I discussed. The sermon drew upon Luke 11:37-54. Based on the text, I proposed a self-test we might take in order to discern if we are building lives of which God would approve. The seven elements of the self-test are as follows.

1. Am I facing and dealing with the ungodly stuff inside myself?

2. Am I giving to the poor?

3. Am I supporting the work of the people of God?

4. Am I demanding and working for justice for all people?

5. Am I nuturing my love for God?

6. Am I seeking out and supporting the new movements undertaken by God's Spirit in my era?

7. Am I trying hard not to place obstacles of any kind in the way of those who wish to follow Jesus but instead to encourage them?

Such "good works" represent God's gift of salvation working to transform us into God's kind of people. We, of course, do not take the test once but instead repeatedly, and so long as we live there's always opportunity to improve our score. Take out your pens or pencils and get started.