Our September series is finally all wrapped up. I hope that you can walk away from it feeling as challenged as I do. The bottom line is that God is looking for teenagers who are genuine and real. I hope you fit that description! My sermon notes are attached below.
ManyMugsOfHotChocolateToYa
BEAT THE SYSTEM
PART 4
“Thrilled & Clueless”
Review:
Last week we spent some time talking about how you should always think of yourself first…but be sure to nod and smile. That is, if you’re aiming to beat the church system. Which, hopefully by now you are 100% convinced is a capital B bad idea! We made an effort to establish the fact that there is no system to beat. God desires a relationship with each and everyone of His children…and if you’re busy trying to pull the wool over His eyes, and over the eyes of everyone He’s put into your life to help you…then you’re the only one who loses.
Being a Christian should NEVER will like a chore…or like it’s your duty because you own God a favour. The truth is that God has MUCH MORE to offer you than you have to offer Him!!! We ended up counter-pointing the lie by stating a truth that says Think of Jesus first…because you represent Him. I haven’t been able to get away from this idea for weeks. I’m fascinated by God’s total belief in me to rise to the occasion and represent Him with my words, actions, and life. Yes, it’s a heavy responsibility…but it’s one that we can (and will) fulfill.
Message:
How To Beat The Church System:
4. Just focus on the thrills.
Through the years I have found that a lot of “church” kids are just thrill seekers. Most teens who go to church just want to feel good. When they are at church they worship and come around the altars because it “feels” good. But after that feeling wares off they start looking for other thrills, other ways to feel good. Typically at a party or with the opposite sex. I’ve found that coming around the altar for worship or really “going for it” during the service is not a great way to determine where a student really is with Christ. Even crocodile tears don’t necessarily mean too much!
These are the teens who love the “Holy Ghost Goose Bumps”…and the warm fuzzies that they feel in worship…or the “buzz” of a concert or youth conference.
To these teens, the best part of Exelerate is when we throw a party…so they can just chill out with their friends.
Now, there isn’t anything wrong with that…at all…but if you are just a youth group thrill seeker, the fact is that you have zero depth in your relationship with God.
How To Be Real:
4. Focus on growing.
Everything that is alive will grow. A tree…will grow. Grass…will grow. Your puppy…will grow. Your iguana…will grow. Your body…will grow. Even your toe-nails…will grow.
Everything that is alive will grow, without exception. And when something stops growing, that’s your quick clue that it’s dying!
So if your relationship with Jesus is real and alive, you must focus on helping it grow.
Consider yourself a gardener. Your heart is where seeds are planted.
Luke 2:40 - And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
How To Beat The Church System:
5. Be clueless…but hide it by memorizing Scriptures and getting your ‘praise on’.
If you are right with God you will go to church, however, just because you go to church doesn’t mean you are right with God. ”Church teens” don’t understand that. They think that because they have been raised in church, know a few scriptures, have asked Jesus into their heart 200 times then they are in good standing with God. Salvation is not based on works, but on completely accepting Gods grace and allowing his son Jesus Christ to be the Lord of your life.
Ephesians 2:8 - For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
How To Be Real:
5. Be transparent…by being real with God and others.
The word “transparent” literally means “to be see-through”. Are you comfortable with God being able to see through you, or for your parents, or for your pastor and leaders…to see through you?
This means that you have to be cool with not having anything to hide behind. It’s a big step, and it takes a lot of guts. And that’s just it, really. Being a Christian takes A LOT of guts.
When I think of the Bible, I think of all the people who had guts to live what they believed. It did cost them something. But it was well worth it.
Psalm 44:21 - Would not God search this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart.
Acts 15:8a - So God, who knows the heart…
Over the years I have found that “church teens” know just enough about Jesus to realize He will forgive them if they sin, and this lack of knowledge, faith and life change causes them to have a lot more pain and guilt than they should ever experience…and that makes me sick to my stomach.
That’s why I’ve dedicated the past 12 years of my life to reaching teenagers. The churched, the unchurched, the saved, and the unsaved….because they all need Jesus.
Posted on
Mon, September 28, 2009
by Garrett Johnson