Last week a friend of mine encouraged me to watch a particular movie. No, it wasn’t you encouraging me to watch “V for Vendetta”. It was my friend Will who encouraged me to watch “the Notebook”. I figure mostly girls would have seen it. After all, where there is no violence or sports involved in a movie, rarely will a man watch it…except, of course, if his girlfriend wants him too.
Anyways, he encouraged me to watch it so, on Wednesday, Anne and I rented it. Might I say, I was impressed. I liked it. I’m not ashamed to admit it.
For anyone who doesn’t know what it is, I’m going to show a clip, but I need to give some background info before I do.
Background:
- In the movie an older man is reading a love story to an older woman about Noah and Allie – no Brokeback Mountain here
- It is about a wealthy girl and a country boy who fight the odds and end up sharing a love unmatched anywhere else.
- As the man is reading this love story, it become clear that Allie, the older woman, has Alzheimer’s. However, the man is still unknown, but it is clear he is the husband.
- At one point in the movie, Allie and the man’s grown kids come and visit. Allie doesn’t recognize them. After Allie leaves, the grown children try to convince the man that he should come home – that mom doesn’t remember any of them anymore. The husband responds by saying, “That’s my sweetheart in there. I’m not leaving her. This is my home now. Your mother is my home.”
- He continues to stay by her and read this love story. It then becomes clear that the man is Noah when Allie all of a sudden remembers the story and recognizes the man as Noah. She only remembers him for a few minutes, but it is cherished by the both of them.
- Finally, we reach to the end of the movie where they reunite and eventually die together.
We are surrounded every day by faithfulness. However, most of the time it involves people being unfaithful – Look at Brad Pitt with Angelina Jolie or Jessica Simpson with the Maroon 5 singer.
However, this man was faithful everyday to come, visit his wife, in hopes that she would remember the love they shared. Again, my background doesn’t do justice to the love they shared or the heartbreak involved with having a loved one with Alzheimer’s. But he was faithful because of his love for her – her love for him.
This man represents the kind of faithfulness Christ demonstrates to us. He is there, sitting right next to us every day, sharing a love story in hopes that we will remember that kind of love we can have. Most of the time we don’t remember – we forget and go our own way – but He is still there sitting next to us.
What am I talking about when I say that God is faithful? What does that mean and is there any proof to His undying faithfulness to us?
Numbers 23:19 - "God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?"
- God is not like us! He’s not going to turn His back on us for some better looking model.
- He is there for us and his promises always ring true. Every time he makes a promise, he backs it up. He comes through. He is the clutchest of clutch hitters.
For example:
- The promise to Abraham that he will have a son
- The promise to Noah that he will never again flood the earth
So, God is faithful, but how do we benefit from that?
Lamentations 3:22-23 - "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (ESV)
- Not only is He faithful – standing by us always, it says that his LOVE never ceases! His mercies never come to an end – that they are new every morning
- It’s like every morning we have a clean slate! No matter what happened the day before, God is there ready to share more love and more mercies on us the very next day!
In the Bible it points out many times – but I’m only going to pull out a few instances in which God tells us his promises.
Matthew 7:7-8 - “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
- Simple – if we ask, we will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened. All this in reference to turning to God. He is there wanting to help. We have to take the initiative to ask, seek, and knock
Romans 8:39 - “Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
- NOTHING will ever be able to separate us from the love of God! Who else can make a promise like that?
These are just a few of God’s promises that he is faithful to fulfill. There are many more in the Bible!
Challenge
So, the question now is – what will you do with God’s faithfulness?
Will you look at it and say, “those are nice promises – he seems like a pretty faithful guy.”, but not do anything with it. Or will you latch on to his faithfulness, latch on to those promises and say, “I need to stay close to this guy.”
Remember just what we talked about – how God’s promises are there for us and he provided. It says this in Psalm – Psalm 22:4-5 – “Our ancestors trusted in you, and you rescued them. You heard their cries for help and saved them. They put their trust in you and were never disappointed.”
They were never disappointed! Hey, life happens - people consistently let you down, turn their backs on you – remember, unfaithfulness is more the norm these days. But, you have God, who is sitting there, right next to you, ready to continue a love story that doesn’t have to end.
It is up to you! You have got to make a decision to tap into it or not. What will you do? Think of 1 thing you can do to tap into God’s faithfulness.
Monday, March 27, 2006
Monday, March 20, 2006
Relying on God's resources (not the worlds)
I want you to think for a minute of things that we can physically put into our body that can bring us harm?
Some things that I just randomly thought of were
Diet Coke has nutrasweet – it has been known to cause cancer
Sugar – too much of it can cause diabetes and it ruins teeth
Cigarettes – cause various forms of cancer
Alcohol – ruins your liver
All these things bring in harm to our bodies – especially when we have too much of it. Those are easy targets as to things that we inject in our bodies that can cause harm. What else, other than things that we physically “inject” into our lives that can bring us harm?
Well, how about these – when you hear a song on the radio - can that cause harm to you? Why or why not? What about when you watch your favorite Family Guy or OC episode. Can that cause harm to you? Why or why not?
Listen, I’m not picking on these shows, but I watched 90210 (the 1st OC) and I would argue yes, they do bring harm to you because of the messages they send you about how life should be lived and what you should do. They are small subtle messages involving pre-marital sex, dating, friendships, drinking, cigarette use, family life. You get a small dose here and another small dose there, you begin to believe that this lifestyle is right.
The point I’m trying to get across now is that the things we inject into our lives/our bodies shape who we are and what we do.
Over the next few weeks we are going to look at what God has to offer you compared to the world and how relying on His resources helps us have a better, more complete life.
The 1st resource we are going to look at is how to rely on God’s Spirit and how He alone can help you. Let’s look at what the Bible has to say about this.
1 Corinthians 3:16 – “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?”
2 things here:
1. We are God’s Temple
What does that mean?
Think of all the temples you know of. How do they look? Are they clean or dirty? Are they elegant or trashy?
All the temples ever create are these beautiful masterpieces built with the best materials, covered in marble and gold. Why are they created that way? It is to show honor and glory to God – it is a sacred institution and God deserves the best.
Well, in the same way, you are God’s temple – you are God’s sacred institution. You were perfectly created as you are and you need to treat yourself that way. By that I mean that you need to be careful what you put into your body as it can either give you life or cause harm to you. Because….
2. God’s spirit lives in you
Just like every temple dedicated to God, God’s spirit lives in us. He is there waiting to make an impact in our lives.
The question is…HOW DO YOU USE GOD’S SPIRIT and start living a better, more complete life?
We need to inject ourselves with some life giving resources
* Prayer - John 15:7 - "If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you."
* Studying God’s word - Joshua 1:8 - "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful."
* Right Friendships. We surrounding ourselves with the right friends to sharpen us and push us towards Christ will only benefit us down the road. Proverbs 27:17 – “As iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend”
* Being Obedient to God’s plan Most of us know in our heart of hearts the right path to take. We just have to look beyond ourselves and make those right decisions and go down the right path. It takes obedience to God’s plan, knowing that He has the right way, not us.
Challenge
By putting these things in our body, God’s spirit will dwell in us and will help us through life. We will be putting the right things in our life to help us instead of all the destructive things we talked about earlier.
So, what are you putting in your life?
What part of God can you put into your life this week?
An activity for you to do - Write on a note card what life giving resource you can inject in your life as a reminder for the week so you can start building into a healthy lifestyle that brings honor to God’s temple
It is a difference between life and death. What you should have rather than what you are having now. Don’t get me wrong, your life may be “good” right now. But it can always be better. Better begins with tapping into the life giving resources of Christ.
Some things that I just randomly thought of were
Diet Coke has nutrasweet – it has been known to cause cancer
Sugar – too much of it can cause diabetes and it ruins teeth
Cigarettes – cause various forms of cancer
Alcohol – ruins your liver
All these things bring in harm to our bodies – especially when we have too much of it. Those are easy targets as to things that we inject in our bodies that can cause harm. What else, other than things that we physically “inject” into our lives that can bring us harm?
Well, how about these – when you hear a song on the radio - can that cause harm to you? Why or why not? What about when you watch your favorite Family Guy or OC episode. Can that cause harm to you? Why or why not?
Listen, I’m not picking on these shows, but I watched 90210 (the 1st OC) and I would argue yes, they do bring harm to you because of the messages they send you about how life should be lived and what you should do. They are small subtle messages involving pre-marital sex, dating, friendships, drinking, cigarette use, family life. You get a small dose here and another small dose there, you begin to believe that this lifestyle is right.
The point I’m trying to get across now is that the things we inject into our lives/our bodies shape who we are and what we do.
Over the next few weeks we are going to look at what God has to offer you compared to the world and how relying on His resources helps us have a better, more complete life.
The 1st resource we are going to look at is how to rely on God’s Spirit and how He alone can help you. Let’s look at what the Bible has to say about this.
1 Corinthians 3:16 – “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?”
2 things here:
1. We are God’s Temple
What does that mean?
Think of all the temples you know of. How do they look? Are they clean or dirty? Are they elegant or trashy?
All the temples ever create are these beautiful masterpieces built with the best materials, covered in marble and gold. Why are they created that way? It is to show honor and glory to God – it is a sacred institution and God deserves the best.
Well, in the same way, you are God’s temple – you are God’s sacred institution. You were perfectly created as you are and you need to treat yourself that way. By that I mean that you need to be careful what you put into your body as it can either give you life or cause harm to you. Because….
2. God’s spirit lives in you
Just like every temple dedicated to God, God’s spirit lives in us. He is there waiting to make an impact in our lives.
The question is…HOW DO YOU USE GOD’S SPIRIT and start living a better, more complete life?
We need to inject ourselves with some life giving resources
* Prayer - John 15:7 - "If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you."
* Studying God’s word - Joshua 1:8 - "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful."
* Right Friendships. We surrounding ourselves with the right friends to sharpen us and push us towards Christ will only benefit us down the road. Proverbs 27:17 – “As iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend”
* Being Obedient to God’s plan Most of us know in our heart of hearts the right path to take. We just have to look beyond ourselves and make those right decisions and go down the right path. It takes obedience to God’s plan, knowing that He has the right way, not us.
Challenge
By putting these things in our body, God’s spirit will dwell in us and will help us through life. We will be putting the right things in our life to help us instead of all the destructive things we talked about earlier.
So, what are you putting in your life?
What part of God can you put into your life this week?
An activity for you to do - Write on a note card what life giving resource you can inject in your life as a reminder for the week so you can start building into a healthy lifestyle that brings honor to God’s temple
It is a difference between life and death. What you should have rather than what you are having now. Don’t get me wrong, your life may be “good” right now. But it can always be better. Better begins with tapping into the life giving resources of Christ.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
More to this Life than Living and Dying
This past week, my wife gave birth to our 3rd daughter, Ella. She is beautiful and everything that I could ever ask for.
Looking at Ella and the new life that she is, you can often get caught up in the moment and think – this is what life is about. She is so precious, innocent, delicate and a blessing from God – nothing else matters. However, eventually you grow up and you start going through the motions of life until you die – right?!? You go to school, hang out with your family and friends, go to college, get married, have kids of your own, help them through life and die. That’s how life is suppose to go, right?
No, there is more to this life than just living and dying – there is more to this life than just going through the motions – and as we wrap up our series on this, we are going to talk about how you can live your life more effective by doing 3 simple things.
The 1st thing you need to do is to make the Right choices
Sure, easy to say – make the right choice. But how do I know what is the right choice?
Read James 1:5 & 2 Timothy 2:22
There are 2 things here:
Ask God for wisdom and hw will give it to you
Pursue what is right & stay away from youthful lusts
· It says to pursue faith, love and peace
· Everything that we do should follow this
To make the right choices you have got to pursue faith, love, and peace. It is hard to stay away from youthful lusts – they all seem fun and “youthful”, but they lead to destruction.
The last thing in mentions in the 2 Timothy scripture is to enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts. This leads perfectly into the 2nd
In order to live your life more effectively, you need to surround yourself with the Right friends
Read Proverbs 13:20
Who are wise people? People who make right choices
What are right choices? People who choose faith, love and peace
What friends are you surrounding yourself with?
It is as simple as that folks. Are your friends pursuing the faith, love and peace that is found in Christ alone?
We have got to be surrounding ourselves with people who are following Christ.
Let me just add – there are “Christian” people who have no intention on following and pursuing Christ. Make sure your friends are those who pursue Christ; who pursue faith, love and peace. You will be better off because of it.
Lastly, we need to make sure we are following the Right path
How do we know what the right path is?
Romans 12:2 – “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.” (NLT)
The right path is not copying what the world is doing – it is letting God transform you into a new person!That is what happens when we follow God – we become transformed into a new person!
When you allow God to work in your life – to transform your life – the right path is easy to know because you will be making the right choices and surrounding yourself with the right friends.
To be honest, most of us know now what the right path is. However, it is so hard to follow it because of all the things we “won’t be able to do”. However, don’t look at it through those lenses. Look at it as all that you will be able to gain. All the peace and certainty you will have in your heart knowing that you are doing what God designed you to do. By that I mean, God has a unique plan for all of your lives. Some it is to be an architect, others a movie star, some a stay at home mom, others an entrepreneur. Just because you are a “Christian” doesn’t mean you are going to be a missionary in Africa – although it might. Whatever God’s plan for you is, you can reach it by following the right path.
Challenge
So, to sum up – I want to challenge you:
What choices are you making?
What friends are you surrounding yourself with?
What path are you headed down?
There is more to this life than where you are now. You can become transformed in God.
So, to make better choices, to surround yourself with better friends and to go down the better path all starts with following Christ.
Where are you with Christ? What’s preventing you from following him? Why wouldn’t you follow him?
Know this - Philippians 4:13 – “For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.”
Nothing is too hard for you as long as you are with Christ! You can do this!
Looking at Ella and the new life that she is, you can often get caught up in the moment and think – this is what life is about. She is so precious, innocent, delicate and a blessing from God – nothing else matters. However, eventually you grow up and you start going through the motions of life until you die – right?!? You go to school, hang out with your family and friends, go to college, get married, have kids of your own, help them through life and die. That’s how life is suppose to go, right?
No, there is more to this life than just living and dying – there is more to this life than just going through the motions – and as we wrap up our series on this, we are going to talk about how you can live your life more effective by doing 3 simple things.
The 1st thing you need to do is to make the Right choices
Sure, easy to say – make the right choice. But how do I know what is the right choice?
Read James 1:5 & 2 Timothy 2:22
There are 2 things here:
Ask God for wisdom and hw will give it to you
Pursue what is right & stay away from youthful lusts
· It says to pursue faith, love and peace
· Everything that we do should follow this
To make the right choices you have got to pursue faith, love, and peace. It is hard to stay away from youthful lusts – they all seem fun and “youthful”, but they lead to destruction.
The last thing in mentions in the 2 Timothy scripture is to enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts. This leads perfectly into the 2nd
In order to live your life more effectively, you need to surround yourself with the Right friends
Read Proverbs 13:20
Who are wise people? People who make right choices
What are right choices? People who choose faith, love and peace
What friends are you surrounding yourself with?
It is as simple as that folks. Are your friends pursuing the faith, love and peace that is found in Christ alone?
We have got to be surrounding ourselves with people who are following Christ.
Let me just add – there are “Christian” people who have no intention on following and pursuing Christ. Make sure your friends are those who pursue Christ; who pursue faith, love and peace. You will be better off because of it.
Lastly, we need to make sure we are following the Right path
How do we know what the right path is?
Romans 12:2 – “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.” (NLT)
The right path is not copying what the world is doing – it is letting God transform you into a new person!That is what happens when we follow God – we become transformed into a new person!
When you allow God to work in your life – to transform your life – the right path is easy to know because you will be making the right choices and surrounding yourself with the right friends.
To be honest, most of us know now what the right path is. However, it is so hard to follow it because of all the things we “won’t be able to do”. However, don’t look at it through those lenses. Look at it as all that you will be able to gain. All the peace and certainty you will have in your heart knowing that you are doing what God designed you to do. By that I mean, God has a unique plan for all of your lives. Some it is to be an architect, others a movie star, some a stay at home mom, others an entrepreneur. Just because you are a “Christian” doesn’t mean you are going to be a missionary in Africa – although it might. Whatever God’s plan for you is, you can reach it by following the right path.
Challenge
So, to sum up – I want to challenge you:
What choices are you making?
What friends are you surrounding yourself with?
What path are you headed down?
There is more to this life than where you are now. You can become transformed in God.
So, to make better choices, to surround yourself with better friends and to go down the better path all starts with following Christ.
Where are you with Christ? What’s preventing you from following him? Why wouldn’t you follow him?
Know this - Philippians 4:13 – “For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.”
Nothing is too hard for you as long as you are with Christ! You can do this!
Thursday, March 02, 2006
More to Life than being Popular?!?
I was looking through my iTunes the other day and ran across a song that I listened to years ago in my college years. As I was listening to this song – reminiscing of all my great college years exploits, I couldn’t help but think about what this song was actually saying. So, I thought it would be good to ask you all to play it and see if you all can identify with this theme and if it is true of you and people in your school.
Download and play “Popular” by Nada Surf
This is the world’s view of how to be popular. Being popular is so important in today’s middle school and high school. There is so much pressure on you all to look a certain way, hang with the right people and be the coolest person you can be. I don’t care what kind of social circles you run in, no one wants to be excluded or not accepted. No one wants to look like the fool amongst all the students. We all desire to be popular in some way.
In looking at being popular, I wonder if there is more to this life than being just popular. I think there is and it is found in how God views us and others.
Often times, when we view ourselves, we are our own worst critic. We see things that others will not and really judge ourselves too harshly. However, despite our perfections or imperfections, it is good to see God’s perspective on this whole matter.
Our view of ourselves
Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (NLT)
We are all God’s “MASTERPIECE”
God doesn’t make a mistake – we were designed as we are; for a purpose
Romans 8:38-39 – “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels can’t, and the demons can’t. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can’t keep God’s love away. 39Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Nothing can separate us from God’s love. Translation: we are loved!
I don’t care what you look like or what you have done – God created you to be who you are and loves you all the same.
Our view of others
Now that you know how God views each and every one of us individually, what does God say about how we should treat others?
Matthew 22:36-40 - “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
Christ was asked what the greatest commandment is. Basically, he was asked, if I could follow 1 thing and 1 thing only, what would it be. His response is two-fold:
1. Love God
2. Love others as you would yourselves
He raps it up by saying that everything hinges on those 2 commandments.
So basically, if you aren’t loving God and aren’t loving people – you are missing the point. Loving others is so important – everything else is based on this! If it is so important, we need to do it and treat others as God would.
Another section in the Bible talks about this as well. I’m not going to post it because it is a long story, but here is the gist of it.
Matthew 25:31-46
Christ returns and divides the group up into 2. One group he says, come with me because, I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick or in prison and you visited me. He said, “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”
To the other group, he told them to depart from him for they never took care of the least of them. For he said, “whatever you did not do for the least of these, you id not do for me.”
Who are the least of these that you come into contact with? How do you treat them?
In many ways, the way you treat them is the way you would treat Christ
So how does this apply to popularity? How do you treat others around you? Are you so tied up with hanging with the “cool” crowd and the “winners” that you make fun of, neglect, or down right insult others? That is not God’s intent and it needs not to be ours.
Challenge
Remember, because God views us as loved (not one person isn’t loved); because we are God’s masterpiece - we need to view others they same way! Just because the way they dress or act is different from us, does not mean that we should or even can make fun of them. We are all loved by God and judged by God. We do not have that right to judge others.
Christ died for us all – not just you certain people. It doesn’t matter who they are, what they do, we are all God’s workmanship.
Live this week with this mindset: YOU ARE GOD'S MASTERPIECE & LOVE OTHERS AS CHRIST DOES!
Can you imagine the difference you can have in someone’s life by treating them with love and appreciating who they are for who they are? Let’s take the mindset of Christ!
Download and play “Popular” by Nada Surf
This is the world’s view of how to be popular. Being popular is so important in today’s middle school and high school. There is so much pressure on you all to look a certain way, hang with the right people and be the coolest person you can be. I don’t care what kind of social circles you run in, no one wants to be excluded or not accepted. No one wants to look like the fool amongst all the students. We all desire to be popular in some way.
In looking at being popular, I wonder if there is more to this life than being just popular. I think there is and it is found in how God views us and others.
Often times, when we view ourselves, we are our own worst critic. We see things that others will not and really judge ourselves too harshly. However, despite our perfections or imperfections, it is good to see God’s perspective on this whole matter.
Our view of ourselves
Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (NLT)
We are all God’s “MASTERPIECE”
God doesn’t make a mistake – we were designed as we are; for a purpose
Romans 8:38-39 – “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels can’t, and the demons can’t. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can’t keep God’s love away. 39Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Nothing can separate us from God’s love. Translation: we are loved!
I don’t care what you look like or what you have done – God created you to be who you are and loves you all the same.
Our view of others
Now that you know how God views each and every one of us individually, what does God say about how we should treat others?
Matthew 22:36-40 - “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
Christ was asked what the greatest commandment is. Basically, he was asked, if I could follow 1 thing and 1 thing only, what would it be. His response is two-fold:
1. Love God
2. Love others as you would yourselves
He raps it up by saying that everything hinges on those 2 commandments.
So basically, if you aren’t loving God and aren’t loving people – you are missing the point. Loving others is so important – everything else is based on this! If it is so important, we need to do it and treat others as God would.
Another section in the Bible talks about this as well. I’m not going to post it because it is a long story, but here is the gist of it.
Matthew 25:31-46
Christ returns and divides the group up into 2. One group he says, come with me because, I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick or in prison and you visited me. He said, “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”
To the other group, he told them to depart from him for they never took care of the least of them. For he said, “whatever you did not do for the least of these, you id not do for me.”
Who are the least of these that you come into contact with? How do you treat them?
In many ways, the way you treat them is the way you would treat Christ
So how does this apply to popularity? How do you treat others around you? Are you so tied up with hanging with the “cool” crowd and the “winners” that you make fun of, neglect, or down right insult others? That is not God’s intent and it needs not to be ours.
Challenge
Remember, because God views us as loved (not one person isn’t loved); because we are God’s masterpiece - we need to view others they same way! Just because the way they dress or act is different from us, does not mean that we should or even can make fun of them. We are all loved by God and judged by God. We do not have that right to judge others.
Christ died for us all – not just you certain people. It doesn’t matter who they are, what they do, we are all God’s workmanship.
Live this week with this mindset: YOU ARE GOD'S MASTERPIECE & LOVE OTHERS AS CHRIST DOES!
Can you imagine the difference you can have in someone’s life by treating them with love and appreciating who they are for who they are? Let’s take the mindset of Christ!
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Praying
Who likes to read? What types of books do you like to read?
The books I like to read are those “How to” or biography books. I’ve never been big on fictions or any other kind of book because they offer me nothing - I'd rather watch a movie. “How to” or biography books give me directions on how to do something that I never knew how to do before. Biography books help me see the real person of someone I looked up too or admired. It is the True Hollywood Story of these people.
Today, we are going to hear from Jesus the “how to” of prayer. If I were to ask you to raise your hands if you know “how to” pray, would you raise your hand? You don’t need to, but I’d be curious to see who knows how to pray. Today, you will find out exactly “how to” pray.
Read Matthew 6:5-15
Two keys here:
1. Don’t be showy. Pray for the right reasons, not to put on a show
Why can’t we be showy? Isn’t it good to let others know how good we are at prayer or that we are fasting for a good reason? In v. 6-8, it says to go in a secret place to pray and don’t babble on in your public prayer, or even in your prayer time alone because God already knows what you are going to ask.
Is Jesus saying public prayer is bad? No, public prayer happens all the time. Jesus is criticizing the guy who prays forever about nothing, just to give off the image that he is such a good prayer.
Why should you pray in secret? Although it is great to pray in a public setting, it is also necessary to pray by yourself. It is important that you have that individual time with God in which you can be honest with Him and share your thoughts and concerns. It is also a chance for God to speak to you and reveal things to you then. If you don’t allow God a chance to speak to you, then you are missing out on some pretty important things he could desire to share with you.
Christ tells you how to pray
One thing that I have found out through time is that a lot of people do not know how to pray. Well, ladies and gentlemen, let me tell you this…it is not rocket science. In fact, Christ has given us a diagram on how to pray.
- Give honor and glory to God (v. 9). Why do this? Because he is our creator and he is worthy of honor and glory
- Ask for God’s will to be done, not ours (v. 10). Why do this? We are selfish people aren’t we? I’m not saying this in a bad way, but we really do look out for ourselves in what we do, don’t we? Well, by praying that God’s will, not ours, be done, we are asking for his way, not our way be done. We are admitting that it is really he, not us in control and that we want to be apart of his way.
- Provide for us (v. 11). Why do this? Why not? Why wouldn’t you pray that He helps us and provide for us? He is the God of all and can do all.
- Forgive as God forgave you…if you don’t forgive, you will not be forgiven (v.12)
Once again, Christ is the model here. Christ says to forgive as He has forgiven us.
However, Christ says if you don’t forgive, you will not be forgiven! Imagine that. You will be forgiven as you forgive others. Important step here. How willing are you to forgive others?
- Help us resist temptation (v. 13). Why do this? Hey, believe it or not, there are things in this world that are not good for us, but look awful good by their appearance. Temptations are different for each person, but the results are the same…they often lead to consequences for your actions. Hey, but throwing up because you had too much to drink is fun…having to raise a child at a very young age is easy and what you really wanted when you decided to go for it all…having gained an additional 20 pounds because of your binge eating looks good. Christ is there, in the midst of it all ready to help (Hebrews 2:18)
As I tell you all this about how you should pray, I want you to know that this is not a magic formula, that you have got to pray these things in this order for it to work. However, what I will say is that this is a guide and a help for you in what you should pray for when you pray.
What is missing is that in prayer, there has got to be a time when you listen. A time that all you do is just sit there and give God a chance to talk to you. All prayer is a conversation between you and God. If you do all the talking, there isn’t much conversing going on. You have got to allow God to talk to you. It is only then that he will be able to help you.
Challenge
So, today, whether you are at home hanging out or when you are in bed trying to fall asleep, try praying as Christ modeled. Again, nothing showy, just a little heart to heart with God. He has given you an example, try just praying that for a while. Then, as you feel more comfortable, make it more personal. Why wouldn’t you?
The books I like to read are those “How to” or biography books. I’ve never been big on fictions or any other kind of book because they offer me nothing - I'd rather watch a movie. “How to” or biography books give me directions on how to do something that I never knew how to do before. Biography books help me see the real person of someone I looked up too or admired. It is the True Hollywood Story of these people.
Today, we are going to hear from Jesus the “how to” of prayer. If I were to ask you to raise your hands if you know “how to” pray, would you raise your hand? You don’t need to, but I’d be curious to see who knows how to pray. Today, you will find out exactly “how to” pray.
Read Matthew 6:5-15
Two keys here:
1. Don’t be showy. Pray for the right reasons, not to put on a show
Why can’t we be showy? Isn’t it good to let others know how good we are at prayer or that we are fasting for a good reason? In v. 6-8, it says to go in a secret place to pray and don’t babble on in your public prayer, or even in your prayer time alone because God already knows what you are going to ask.
Is Jesus saying public prayer is bad? No, public prayer happens all the time. Jesus is criticizing the guy who prays forever about nothing, just to give off the image that he is such a good prayer.
Why should you pray in secret? Although it is great to pray in a public setting, it is also necessary to pray by yourself. It is important that you have that individual time with God in which you can be honest with Him and share your thoughts and concerns. It is also a chance for God to speak to you and reveal things to you then. If you don’t allow God a chance to speak to you, then you are missing out on some pretty important things he could desire to share with you.
Christ tells you how to pray
One thing that I have found out through time is that a lot of people do not know how to pray. Well, ladies and gentlemen, let me tell you this…it is not rocket science. In fact, Christ has given us a diagram on how to pray.
- Give honor and glory to God (v. 9). Why do this? Because he is our creator and he is worthy of honor and glory
- Ask for God’s will to be done, not ours (v. 10). Why do this? We are selfish people aren’t we? I’m not saying this in a bad way, but we really do look out for ourselves in what we do, don’t we? Well, by praying that God’s will, not ours, be done, we are asking for his way, not our way be done. We are admitting that it is really he, not us in control and that we want to be apart of his way.
- Provide for us (v. 11). Why do this? Why not? Why wouldn’t you pray that He helps us and provide for us? He is the God of all and can do all.
- Forgive as God forgave you…if you don’t forgive, you will not be forgiven (v.12)
Once again, Christ is the model here. Christ says to forgive as He has forgiven us.
However, Christ says if you don’t forgive, you will not be forgiven! Imagine that. You will be forgiven as you forgive others. Important step here. How willing are you to forgive others?
- Help us resist temptation (v. 13). Why do this? Hey, believe it or not, there are things in this world that are not good for us, but look awful good by their appearance. Temptations are different for each person, but the results are the same…they often lead to consequences for your actions. Hey, but throwing up because you had too much to drink is fun…having to raise a child at a very young age is easy and what you really wanted when you decided to go for it all…having gained an additional 20 pounds because of your binge eating looks good. Christ is there, in the midst of it all ready to help (Hebrews 2:18)
As I tell you all this about how you should pray, I want you to know that this is not a magic formula, that you have got to pray these things in this order for it to work. However, what I will say is that this is a guide and a help for you in what you should pray for when you pray.
What is missing is that in prayer, there has got to be a time when you listen. A time that all you do is just sit there and give God a chance to talk to you. All prayer is a conversation between you and God. If you do all the talking, there isn’t much conversing going on. You have got to allow God to talk to you. It is only then that he will be able to help you.
Challenge
So, today, whether you are at home hanging out or when you are in bed trying to fall asleep, try praying as Christ modeled. Again, nothing showy, just a little heart to heart with God. He has given you an example, try just praying that for a while. Then, as you feel more comfortable, make it more personal. Why wouldn’t you?
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Living a life without Regret
Have you ever regretted something you said or did?
I’ve regretted a few things that I have said before. For instance, there was this girl in middle school named Donna. I was your typical middle school boy – annoying and stupid – and I thought it would be fun to sing her name in order to make fun of her. It was that song, “Donna” by Richie Valines. It was popular once again back in the late 80s because of a movie. Anyways, I so annoyed her that one day, when I least expected it, she turned around, kicked up her leg and racked me! That’s right, right in the middle of the locker room. I was down for the count and done for many minutes. Do you think I regretted what I said? You bet.
On a more serious note, we are going to focus on Living a life without regrets. We are going to look at living a life without regret and how can you possibly take back something you might have said or done.
So, starting out: How do you live without regret?
1. Be wise in your actions
In order to be wise with the decisions you make, it might be good to know what actions are appropriate or not.
Read Galatians 5:19-21
- Do your actions produce these results? If you are involved with these things or are involved with people that do these things, I think it is safe to say that you are not headed down the right path. I’m not being critical here, but let’s just look at some of these. What could be positive about:
· Sexual immorality or orgies. Sure it seems like fun, but what is fun about getting an STD or pregnant? I know some of you are real daredevils, but do you really want to tempt fate? I know we are living a life to the extreme, but that is a little too extreme, don’t you think?
· Outbursts of anger. Listen, I struggle with my anger, but what is good about getting so mad you punch a hole in the wall or break something?
· Lastly, drunkenness. What good could become of this? Do you think it is fun to get so drunk that you wake up not knowing what just happened the night before? Do you think it is fun to get so drunk that your judgments go out the window and you may have gone too far with a girl/boy you hardly knew? Do you think it is fun to get drunk that you spend half your night throwing up and the next day with a crazy hangover?
I’m not trying to over-spiritualize this talk boys and girls – most of this is just good old common sense. To live without regret, we have to avoid these things. Not because you shouldn’t have fun, but because of the consequences that you are messing with. Believe me, there are other ways we can have fun with far less serious consequences.
2. Be wise in your words
We’ve all heard of the phrase “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but….” (Let students finish). Could that statement be any further from the truth? Words have a tremendous impact on people and us. Well, if we are going to live without regret, we have to choose our words wisely. Let’s see what the Bible has to say about it.
Read Proverbs 12:18 and 15:1, 4
How many people find these sayings to be true? I definitely do – every time I respond to someone in anger and say something harsh, the response I get back is typically harsh. However, when I respond in kindness and love, the conversation usually has a more positive tone.
Look at the consequences of lashing out
· It stirs up anger and crushes the spirit
Look at the benefits of responding in kindness and in love.
· Brings healing, life and health; it turns away wrath
What if you have so much regret now? What can you do?
As much as you may not want to admit it, was have all made mistakes and I’m sure that there is something we all wish we could take back. Whether it is something you said to your friends, your parents or you siblings or whether it is something you did, we all wish we could take it back.
Unfortunately, that is impossible. We can not take back what we said or did. However, we can do 2 things to help give us some peace:
o Go and Ask forgiveness
Whether they forgive you or not, you have asked for it and express your sincere apology. You have done your part and you can move on.
o Begin anew
Read 2 Corinthians 5:17; John 8:1-11
· This girl probably did something she regretted – either she was married and having an affair or she was having an a
· What was Jesus’ response to her? “Go and sin no more.”
Challenge
That is my challenge to you all this week and from here on out – Go and sin no more. Take Christ’s challenge of having life and life to the full in him – live a regret free life by being wise with your actions and your words. You see, when we have a relationship with Christ, we don’t have to care about what others do or say to us – we can respond in love because we know that no matter what Christ loves you and is with you. By having this attitude, you can save yourself and others a lot of restless nights wondering what might have been.
I’ve regretted a few things that I have said before. For instance, there was this girl in middle school named Donna. I was your typical middle school boy – annoying and stupid – and I thought it would be fun to sing her name in order to make fun of her. It was that song, “Donna” by Richie Valines. It was popular once again back in the late 80s because of a movie. Anyways, I so annoyed her that one day, when I least expected it, she turned around, kicked up her leg and racked me! That’s right, right in the middle of the locker room. I was down for the count and done for many minutes. Do you think I regretted what I said? You bet.
On a more serious note, we are going to focus on Living a life without regrets. We are going to look at living a life without regret and how can you possibly take back something you might have said or done.
So, starting out: How do you live without regret?
1. Be wise in your actions
In order to be wise with the decisions you make, it might be good to know what actions are appropriate or not.
Read Galatians 5:19-21
- Do your actions produce these results? If you are involved with these things or are involved with people that do these things, I think it is safe to say that you are not headed down the right path. I’m not being critical here, but let’s just look at some of these. What could be positive about:
· Sexual immorality or orgies. Sure it seems like fun, but what is fun about getting an STD or pregnant? I know some of you are real daredevils, but do you really want to tempt fate? I know we are living a life to the extreme, but that is a little too extreme, don’t you think?
· Outbursts of anger. Listen, I struggle with my anger, but what is good about getting so mad you punch a hole in the wall or break something?
· Lastly, drunkenness. What good could become of this? Do you think it is fun to get so drunk that you wake up not knowing what just happened the night before? Do you think it is fun to get so drunk that your judgments go out the window and you may have gone too far with a girl/boy you hardly knew? Do you think it is fun to get drunk that you spend half your night throwing up and the next day with a crazy hangover?
I’m not trying to over-spiritualize this talk boys and girls – most of this is just good old common sense. To live without regret, we have to avoid these things. Not because you shouldn’t have fun, but because of the consequences that you are messing with. Believe me, there are other ways we can have fun with far less serious consequences.
2. Be wise in your words
We’ve all heard of the phrase “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but….” (Let students finish). Could that statement be any further from the truth? Words have a tremendous impact on people and us. Well, if we are going to live without regret, we have to choose our words wisely. Let’s see what the Bible has to say about it.
Read Proverbs 12:18 and 15:1, 4
How many people find these sayings to be true? I definitely do – every time I respond to someone in anger and say something harsh, the response I get back is typically harsh. However, when I respond in kindness and love, the conversation usually has a more positive tone.
Look at the consequences of lashing out
· It stirs up anger and crushes the spirit
Look at the benefits of responding in kindness and in love.
· Brings healing, life and health; it turns away wrath
What if you have so much regret now? What can you do?
As much as you may not want to admit it, was have all made mistakes and I’m sure that there is something we all wish we could take back. Whether it is something you said to your friends, your parents or you siblings or whether it is something you did, we all wish we could take it back.
Unfortunately, that is impossible. We can not take back what we said or did. However, we can do 2 things to help give us some peace:
o Go and Ask forgiveness
Whether they forgive you or not, you have asked for it and express your sincere apology. You have done your part and you can move on.
o Begin anew
Read 2 Corinthians 5:17; John 8:1-11
· This girl probably did something she regretted – either she was married and having an affair or she was having an a
· What was Jesus’ response to her? “Go and sin no more.”
Challenge
That is my challenge to you all this week and from here on out – Go and sin no more. Take Christ’s challenge of having life and life to the full in him – live a regret free life by being wise with your actions and your words. You see, when we have a relationship with Christ, we don’t have to care about what others do or say to us – we can respond in love because we know that no matter what Christ loves you and is with you. By having this attitude, you can save yourself and others a lot of restless nights wondering what might have been.
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Witnessing - is it for you?
When I say witnessing, what do you think of?
When I say testimony, what do you think of?
Do you need a testimony to witness?
So often, we think we need a written testimony in order to properly witness to others. Althought that is very help and I strongly encourage you to write down your own testimony for the proper time, you do not need a written testimony to witness. Our testimony is our life change that God made in us. I believe that it is more of our actions than our words. We can all get up and share what God has done in our lives, but, I believe it is more of a witness/testimony when someone sees the life change in us day in and day out.
Today, we are going to talk about Christ's commandment to witness to others and how you can effectly witness to others without a written testimony - how your life in Christ can be an impact to others.
Read Acts 1:8
If you look at it in a map, Christ said this in or around Jerusalem. So He was telling them to witness to the closest group of people they know (people in Jerusalem). Then he told them to witness to Judea which was the region in which they lived in. Then He told them to witness to all of Samaria which was the outward reaches of the region. So, His model was to witness to those closest to you, those that you are associated with and then those who are out there, further out.
If we were to relate what Christ is telling them to what he could be telling us, I believe that he is telling us to be witnesses in:
Jerusalem: close friends
Judea: your school
All Samaria: the world
Let’s break this down a little bit deeper.
Jerusalem: Close Friends
The single closest mission field we have in front of us (besides our family) are our friends. They are the ones we hang out with the most. However, despite this closeness, our friends are a mission field we rarely tap into. Here are a few questions to think about in rating how you are doing with your non-christian friends:
One last way to minister and witness to the world is by doing service and mission opportunities. How does doing service and mission opportunities allow you to witness to others? Through our deeds. On service projects and mission trips, we have a unique opportunity to go to another place and help people in need. By doing this, we win the right to share with them why us NOVA people would help others. We win the right to share with them the impact that Christ has made in our lives, in hope that they would come to know Him as well.
A bunch of students and leaders at my Church had the opportunity to help a single mom move apartments last spring. It wasn’t the easiest thing to do, as it took most of the day, and many of them sacrificed their “day off” to do this.
Well, because of their sacrifice, this family saw the love of Christ demonstrated. You see, a woman in our Church has been working with this woman and her kids for quite some time and has been telling her about Christ. However, it wasn’t into this past spring in which she actually got to see the love of Christ demonstrated in a great magnitude. In fact, for the past few months, she has been coming to our Church regularly - hearing about Christ.
What an impact you all made on this mother!
Challenge
Even without a written testimony, your life testimony can have a huge impact on others. I have outlined 3 different Groups that we can share Christ. Our friends, our schools and the world.
Christ gives us a plan, a strategy to reach others for Christ. Now, we have to go and do it.
Step out in faith and Christ will bless what you do. Maybe not immediately, but Christ will bless your efforts.
Read Philippians 4:13 - Christ can empower all of us to share our faith with others - with or without a written testimony.
When I say testimony, what do you think of?
Do you need a testimony to witness?
So often, we think we need a written testimony in order to properly witness to others. Althought that is very help and I strongly encourage you to write down your own testimony for the proper time, you do not need a written testimony to witness. Our testimony is our life change that God made in us. I believe that it is more of our actions than our words. We can all get up and share what God has done in our lives, but, I believe it is more of a witness/testimony when someone sees the life change in us day in and day out.
Today, we are going to talk about Christ's commandment to witness to others and how you can effectly witness to others without a written testimony - how your life in Christ can be an impact to others.
Read Acts 1:8
If you look at it in a map, Christ said this in or around Jerusalem. So He was telling them to witness to the closest group of people they know (people in Jerusalem). Then he told them to witness to Judea which was the region in which they lived in. Then He told them to witness to all of Samaria which was the outward reaches of the region. So, His model was to witness to those closest to you, those that you are associated with and then those who are out there, further out.
If we were to relate what Christ is telling them to what he could be telling us, I believe that he is telling us to be witnesses in:
Jerusalem: close friends
Judea: your school
All Samaria: the world
Let’s break this down a little bit deeper.
Jerusalem: Close Friends
The single closest mission field we have in front of us (besides our family) are our friends. They are the ones we hang out with the most. However, despite this closeness, our friends are a mission field we rarely tap into. Here are a few questions to think about in rating how you are doing with your non-christian friends:
1. What do you all talk about?
2. Why not talk about Christ? If they aren't Christians, they might be challenged to look deeper into who Christ is. If your friends are Christians, you might be able to hold each other accountable to living your life for Christ. Either way, it is a win, win.
3. Do your close friends even know that you believe in Christ? Why or why not?
4. What are you afraid of? Rejection? If they are your friends, won't they still be your friend even if you talk about Christ?
If your close friends don’t even know that you believe in Christ, how can you expect to share Christ with complete strangers? We need to put our trust solely on God to ask Him to give us opportunities to share our faith and to give us the words to say when those opportunities present themselves to us. God will not leave you high and dry. (Isaiah 41:10)
Judea: Your School
If I were to see you down the hall at your school…see you live your life, do the things you do at school and with your “school” friends, would I be able to tell there was something different about you?
What I’m asking is, Is Christ revealed in everything you do or are you no different than the average Joe in the halls?
If we are going to make an impact in your school, in your community, you need to be different than the average Joe. Why be like everyone else?
John 13:34-35
It says for us to love one another. By the way we love others (treat them, respond to them, etc), others will know that we are Christ’s disciples.
The way you treat people can make all the difference in the world. Wouldn’t it be great to be remembered in your school as a person who treats people right…never degrading or picking on people. Not because you’re this “Ned Flanders” guy who thinks the world is hunky dory, but because Christ has made a life-changing impact on you. Think of the impact you can have one others through that.
One last way to minister and witness to the world is by doing service and mission opportunities. How does doing service and mission opportunities allow you to witness to others? Through our deeds. On service projects and mission trips, we have a unique opportunity to go to another place and help people in need. By doing this, we win the right to share with them why us NOVA people would help others. We win the right to share with them the impact that Christ has made in our lives, in hope that they would come to know Him as well.
A bunch of students and leaders at my Church had the opportunity to help a single mom move apartments last spring. It wasn’t the easiest thing to do, as it took most of the day, and many of them sacrificed their “day off” to do this.
Well, because of their sacrifice, this family saw the love of Christ demonstrated. You see, a woman in our Church has been working with this woman and her kids for quite some time and has been telling her about Christ. However, it wasn’t into this past spring in which she actually got to see the love of Christ demonstrated in a great magnitude. In fact, for the past few months, she has been coming to our Church regularly - hearing about Christ.
What an impact you all made on this mother!
Challenge
Even without a written testimony, your life testimony can have a huge impact on others. I have outlined 3 different Groups that we can share Christ. Our friends, our schools and the world.
Christ gives us a plan, a strategy to reach others for Christ. Now, we have to go and do it.
Step out in faith and Christ will bless what you do. Maybe not immediately, but Christ will bless your efforts.
Read Philippians 4:13 - Christ can empower all of us to share our faith with others - with or without a written testimony.
Sunday, February 05, 2006
Better than the Super Bowl?
With the Super Bowl tonight, it brings to mind many of the great Super Bowls in History.
· Super Bowl 6: Cowboys rushed for 252 yards and held Dolphins to under 200 yards total offense. Cowboys 24, Dolphins 3
· Super Bowl 12: Cowboys 27, Broncos 10
· Super Bowl 27: Who can forget the Cowboys forcing 9 turnovers from the Bills? Aikman had 4 TDs! Cowboys 52, Bills 17
· Super Bowl 28: Emmitt rushing for over 100 yards and 2 TDs as he single handedly beat the Bills. Cowboys 30, Bills 13
· Super Bowl 30: Larry Brown picking off Neil O’Donnell for a TD score! Cowboys 27, Steelers 17
Oh yeah, did I tell you I was a Cowboy's Fan?
Today we are going to talk about another super moment. However, this moment is different from all those other Super Bowl ones. In fact, it is different from any other moment in history. It is the most defying moment in all of history. It has changed history and can personally change your life.
Let me share it w/you.
Read Luke 23:13-46
This, my friends is the greatest single moment in all of history! Forget about all the great sports moments or civil rights moments or even the war moments - don't get me wrong, they are all great and important moments in the history of this world. The only thing that can compare is the Easter Sunday…when Christ rose from the dead.
Why is the death of someone a great moment? Because 1 person saved us from death! He saved us from present and eternal death.
How?
You see, because of this barrier between us and God, we can never have a full and complete life. This barrier arose when we decided that we know how to live our life better than God, the creator of the world and us. When he died, the wall that separated us from a relationship with God is gone! Now, because of Christ we can have life...present and eternal life.
He took the burden of our sin and pain upon him so that we wouldn’t have to experience that pain. He made it possible for us to have life and life to the full.
It’s kind of like a Rocky Movie. It is Christ vs. the Sin Wall the prevents us from having a relationship with God. Christ took the beating for us. Then, after he took the beating, he came back with a fierce assault and destroyed that wall to claim the prize for us…a relationship with Christ.
Bad analogy, but you get the point. This, by far, is the greatest victory ever.
Challenge
So, how does this affect you?
Someone took the punches for you…someone took the pain for you…someone died for you. How do you respond?
The way I see it, you have 3 different ways to respond:
Go on with your life. Think to yourself, that was a good story, but my life doesn’t really need any help right now. I’m fine where you are.
· My question to that is, are you really fine? Are things really going good enough that you don’t need any help? Well, what happens when things don’t go so well? Where are you going to turn then? Know that God/Jesus are there for you. However, it is in your best interest not to wait.
Be changed and begin a relationship with Christ
· As I’ve said earlier, Christ desires to lead you through life so that you can live life to the full. We can have that, but developing a relationship with Christ and have him lead us.
Recommit your life to Christ
· You may have already given your life to Christ, but have fallen away from living the way God intended. Well now is your chance to re-up with Christ. Now you have a chance to start over and begin all over.
Either way you choose to go is fine. Do not feel pressured to do any of the ones I just mentioned. You have to do what you are comfortable with, but I will say that having life and life to the full is God’s desire for you (John 10:10). You can have that with Christ by your side. Will you walk along side of him?
· Super Bowl 6: Cowboys rushed for 252 yards and held Dolphins to under 200 yards total offense. Cowboys 24, Dolphins 3
· Super Bowl 12: Cowboys 27, Broncos 10
· Super Bowl 27: Who can forget the Cowboys forcing 9 turnovers from the Bills? Aikman had 4 TDs! Cowboys 52, Bills 17
· Super Bowl 28: Emmitt rushing for over 100 yards and 2 TDs as he single handedly beat the Bills. Cowboys 30, Bills 13
· Super Bowl 30: Larry Brown picking off Neil O’Donnell for a TD score! Cowboys 27, Steelers 17
Oh yeah, did I tell you I was a Cowboy's Fan?
Today we are going to talk about another super moment. However, this moment is different from all those other Super Bowl ones. In fact, it is different from any other moment in history. It is the most defying moment in all of history. It has changed history and can personally change your life.
Let me share it w/you.
Read Luke 23:13-46
This, my friends is the greatest single moment in all of history! Forget about all the great sports moments or civil rights moments or even the war moments - don't get me wrong, they are all great and important moments in the history of this world. The only thing that can compare is the Easter Sunday…when Christ rose from the dead.
Why is the death of someone a great moment? Because 1 person saved us from death! He saved us from present and eternal death.
How?
You see, because of this barrier between us and God, we can never have a full and complete life. This barrier arose when we decided that we know how to live our life better than God, the creator of the world and us. When he died, the wall that separated us from a relationship with God is gone! Now, because of Christ we can have life...present and eternal life.
He took the burden of our sin and pain upon him so that we wouldn’t have to experience that pain. He made it possible for us to have life and life to the full.
It’s kind of like a Rocky Movie. It is Christ vs. the Sin Wall the prevents us from having a relationship with God. Christ took the beating for us. Then, after he took the beating, he came back with a fierce assault and destroyed that wall to claim the prize for us…a relationship with Christ.
Bad analogy, but you get the point. This, by far, is the greatest victory ever.
Challenge
So, how does this affect you?
Someone took the punches for you…someone took the pain for you…someone died for you. How do you respond?
The way I see it, you have 3 different ways to respond:
Go on with your life. Think to yourself, that was a good story, but my life doesn’t really need any help right now. I’m fine where you are.
· My question to that is, are you really fine? Are things really going good enough that you don’t need any help? Well, what happens when things don’t go so well? Where are you going to turn then? Know that God/Jesus are there for you. However, it is in your best interest not to wait.
Be changed and begin a relationship with Christ
· As I’ve said earlier, Christ desires to lead you through life so that you can live life to the full. We can have that, but developing a relationship with Christ and have him lead us.
Recommit your life to Christ
· You may have already given your life to Christ, but have fallen away from living the way God intended. Well now is your chance to re-up with Christ. Now you have a chance to start over and begin all over.
Either way you choose to go is fine. Do not feel pressured to do any of the ones I just mentioned. You have to do what you are comfortable with, but I will say that having life and life to the full is God’s desire for you (John 10:10). You can have that with Christ by your side. Will you walk along side of him?
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Getting Bogged Down
I know you may be “too old” for this – but has anyone seen that show "Higgly Town Heroes" on Disney? You don’t have to raise your hand if you don’t want. My kids watch it. Well, in every episode, there is a mini-crisis – like Wayne’s cat is in the tree or Yoube misses his grandparents. They try to figure out a way to help this person. Then, Twinkle offers her way to get the job accomplished – some far fetched, crazy way. In fact, her way if physically impossible. She talks about aliens and digging man made holes to China. Her way is quickly discounted because of the details – it isn’t physically possible.
Let’s look at a story involving Christ in which people got so bogged down by the details that they failed to see the true glory of God.
Read John 5:1-15
Let’s look at a story involving Christ in which people got so bogged down by the details that they failed to see the true glory of God.
Read John 5:1-15
There are 2 truths in this story:
1. Jesus once again broke down barriers – He didn’t care that it was the Sabbath.
- The Sabbath literally means, “day of rest”. It was the day set aside where you could not work. You couldn’t mow your lawn.
- Now enter Jesus – he sees someone who has been ill for many, many years. He knows his pain so he asks him if he wants to get well. He doesn’t care what day it is – he sees someone in need, he's going to help them. Helping people should not be constrained by days.
- If you had the power to heal people – would you just let him be because it is a holy day or would you help him?
- Understand this – the Sabbath is an important day and needs to be honored – but to not heal someone because or it leads me to my next point
2. The Religious leaders let the dos and don’ts of religion to blur their view
- They couldn’t accept that God had done a wonderful thing in this person’s life – they were too stuck on the rules – they didn’t understand Grace – Ephesians 2:8,9 – it is by grace we are saved not by the things we do; the rules we obey
- To often we get bogged down by the details; so bogged down that we fail to see Christ work in a miraculous way
- How often we get bogged down with the technicalities?
o we think that having a relationship with God means no more fun
o we think that we can never follow Christ because of our past - God certainly doesn't want us
o we think going to Church on Sunday allows us to check off the box – we make Christ a religion that happens on Sunday and forget the relationship
There are so many things that could bog us down from following Christ. The thing you have got to ask yourself is are they just excuses or are they legit.
What's the worse that can happen if you choose to follow Christ? You lose all your friends overnight? OF COURSE NOT! Remember God blesses those who seek him Matthew 6:33 – “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (NIV)
Challenge
My challenge for you all is to put the details aside and seek out Christ. Meaning how do you know what following Christ is like unless you try it yourself. We can assume what it will be like but until we experience Christ for ourselves, we'll never really know the miraculous healing power he has; the blessings he wants to give us. This week, Seek out Christ! You won't be disappointed!
Sunday, January 22, 2006
What kind of friend are you?
Think of someone who is dear to you – someone you love and care for very much. I’m not saying this is someone of the opposite sex like your boyfriend or girlfriend. This is someone who holds a special place in your heart. This could be a grandparent, parent, sibling, or friend, anyone close to you. What makes them so dear to you?
Part of it is an investment you have made in their lives. For months and years you have spent time with them and made being around them a real priority in your life.
In Philippians 1:1-11, Paul talks and models exactly what our relationships with others should look like.
Read Philippians 1:1-11
Paul models true relationships with others in 3 ways:
1. Thanks God for them and the blessing they are to him (v. 3)
- The first thing he does after he introduces himself (Remember, this is a letter), is thank God for them and says what a blessing they are to him.
- What’s the truth in that? The truth in that is that he lets them know exactly how he feels about them. He lets them know how important they are to him and that he is thankful they are his friends.
- Do you let the people close to you know that?
- This is particularly convicting to me. In all my friendship or relationships with others, I rarely express to them how thankful I am to be in a relationship with them. It is more than just saying, “I love you”. It is saying how much you appreciate who they are and what they mean to you.
- What is stopping you from doing that today?
2. Prays for them (v. 4)
- Do you pray for those close to you?
- Do you ask people to pray for you?
- I’m not talking about just the simple, “pray for me” prayers or “pray for me as I take this test”. Those are good and all, but so generic, so superficial
- Why would we ask someone to pray for us? (Let students answer)
- We want to pray for us because the situation we are in is too tough for us to handle on our own. We need prayer so that God can come into our situation and give us wisdom and help.
- By having someone pray for you, you are also opening up your life and being vulnerable – you are allowing others to know you deeper.
- I have a friend the other day who asked me to pray for him. He was really challenging himself to overcome some struggles and asked me to pray for him about it. His hope was that God could help him through this time. So, what did I do? I made fun of him. OF COURSE NOT! I prayed for him and was encouraged to do the same.
- Prayer can lead to so many blessings – are you praying for those close to you? Are you allowing others to pray for you?
3. Challenges them to keep growing in their knowlede and understanding of God (v. 9-11)
- How often do we challenge others to grow in Christ?
- So many of us here hang out with each other outside of Church. I wonder, however, how many times Christ is brought up between you all. I’m sure boys, girls, school, sports, and many other things are brought up countless times.
- But Christ, He is like a buzz kill, right? Anytime you mention Him, it just ruins conversations, right? No – it shouldn’t be that way. What’s the worst thing that can happen if someone challenges you in Christ? Let me share a recent story with you:
- I was talking to my friend Will the other day. We were talking about football and other random stuff when all of a sudden, he pulls the Christ card on me – dang him! He actually had the gull to ask me if I had listened to this sermon tape/mp3 file he sent me. I told him I had not and he said to me something like, why wouldn’t you. That, my friends, was a challenge to me. So, what did I do. That night, after the kids had gone to bed, I stayed up to listen to this tape. I took notes and you know what happened? I was challenged and encourage to love Christ and my family because of it.
- Who benefited from that? My family and I
- Would I have listened to it if I had not been challenged by Will. Maybe, but considering that he gave it to me over a month and half ago, it probably would have been a while before I would have listened to it.
Challenge
So, what am I saying here? Are you following in Paul’s model and are you surrounding yourself with people who are following in Paul’s model? It is just as important to surround yourself with others that are following Christ as it is that you are. If you are following Christ and all you do is surround yourselves with others, too often – I’ve seen it a million times – we become more like them than they become more like us. We need to have that balance so people can be spurring us on towards Christ.
This week, ask yourself - where do I fall short of Paul's model. Then, ask yourself what can you do this week - what is 1 goal you can set - that can get you closer to this model?
Share your goal with a friend so that you can be held accountable - maybe your goal will spur others on towards growing closer to Christ.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
The 1st Blog - Living Water
Welcome - This is my first Blog. Welcome and I hope you all will read these blogs and be challenged in your relationship with Christ because of it. I started this blog because of Christ's message to the Samaritan Woman in John 4. Christ said that he was the "Living Water" in which people would never thirst again after they had it.
This Site will have Bloggs for 2 different groups of people:
This Site will have Bloggs for 2 different groups of people:
- Youth Leaders
- Youth
For Leaders, we will offer training resourses and articles on effective Youth Ministry.
For Youth, we will offer commentaries on everything youth - from trends and current events to devotionals to effective ways to live out your relationship with Christ.
Please stay with us as we continue to construct this site to make it THE site for Youth and Leaders to come.
Tom
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