What's the Point?

Why is it that you go to church? Or youth group? Do you go because your friends? Do you go for the people or the music? Or do you go because you actually desire to worship and have fellowship with others who have that same desire?

In the movie, To Save A Life, Jake struggles with the same questions. He is the star basketball, the life of the party, and the popular guy. He has everything ...according to the world’s standards. But then Jake encounters a youth pastor who invites him to church. And then his life begins to change.

In one scene of the movie, Jake is at Sunday school and the youth pastor, Chris, tells students to just take 30 seconds to reflect and ask themselves, “Who have I judged?” During the 30 seconds, Jake overhears people talking and goofing off and all of the sudden, he stands up and shouts to them. “Did you not just hear what he said? …what’s the point of all this if you’re not gonna let it change you?”

Ephesians 4.21-24 says that we are to put off our old selves and let Christ renew us. To let the Spirit make our thoughts and attitudes new. So if you call yourself a Christian, how are you different? What is the difference from your “old” self to when you accepted Jesus? How has your life changed?

Hebrews 6.1-3 says that we should mature in our understanding and our faith in God. We need to get past the Sunday school answers and let ourselves grow. We shouldn’t just be content or happy with what we know thinking that will be good enough or get us by. But Paul urges us when he writes to move on, to go from the milk to the meat (Hebrews 5.12-14) That we need to get past what it is we already know and grow and learn and act on what it is God has is teaching and has given to us. Sunday school answers can only get you so far. So are you staying in Sunday school? Or are you pursuing something more, going beyond to what God has called us to do.

So what’s the point of it all? What’s the point of Sunday school/service or Wednesday night programs, or even bible studies, if you’re not going to let it change you?

Like Jake so plainly states, what’s the point?

What is faith?

Photo by Jessica Perrault

Last night, I gave my first sermon to the youth. I talked about what is faith, and what faith in action looks like.

 Faith is Going 

• 1 Samuel 14.1-15 tells the story of Jonathan and his armor bearer leaving his fathers camp to go to the   Philistines outpost. Once they arrive, they see the Philistines off in the distance. Jonathan says to his armor bearer, "We will cross over and let them see us. 9 If they say to us, ‘Stay where you are or we’ll kill you,’ then we will stop and not go up to them. 10 But if they say, ‘Come on up and fight,’ then we will go up. That will be the Lord’s sign that he will help us defeat them.” 

• Jonathan goes by faith. He doesn't sit around and just wait for something to happen. He could have easily sat back and hung out in his father's camp with the 600 other men. He could have had comfort and security. But he choose to act. It was only him and his armor bearer. Against 20 men. Who in their right mind would think of doing that?!

• He doesn't go blindly into it either. Once they arrive, they see the Philistines off in the distance. Jonathan then asks the LORD for a sign and tells his armor bearer. Once they go up to them, the LORD delivers them that sign. 

• When the LORD give's them the sign, he obeys it, he goes and has confidence knowing they will defeat them. He doesn't second guess himself. He doesn't doubt or say, "Well I don't know if that was really a sign or not. How about you give me another." No, he sees it, and he takes it. 

Faith is Giving 

•  Mark 12.41-44 is the story when Jesus is sitting by the collection box in the temple. All the rich come by and put in large amounts. Then a poor widow comes and gives 2 small coins. 2! But Jesus says to his disciples, "“I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions.For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”

•  As the rich came, they only gave what was required, what was asked of them. But this poor widow comes, and gives all she has to live on. Similarly to Jonathan, she gives up any comfort and security she has by giving everything.

• In Matthew 19.16-30, Jesus encounters a rich man who asks what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus responds telling him to sell all his possessions and giving to the poor. This made the rich man sad, and he turned away because he had many possessions. Similarly, Jesus calls us to be willing to give all we have, not just our money or possessions, but our time and even our very lives, to follow Him. 

Faith is Action 

•  To sum it all up, faith is action. Hebrews 11 is a great example of this. Verse after verse, examples are given of people acting out on faith, even when things seem impossible or hard to do. Story after story you see people having faith and acting on God's call to them, by going and giving, everything they have to glorify Him. 

• Hebrews 11.6 says, "And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him" It's not enough to just say you believe in God. James 2.19 says, "You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God.* Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror." Basically, James is writing, so what if you believe? Demons believe that but they aren't followers of God. So what are you doing that sets you apart from them?    

How are you showing your faith?

Epicly Amazing!

Two weeks ago, my uncle (the youth pastor) told me I would be speaking to the youth as his replacement, while he was gone. At first, fear flooded my mind. I have somewhat of a fear with public speaking. He even gave me an out, saying he could have someone else talk. But I said no, I would do it. I prayed that God speak to me and open my heart to what it is he wanted me to talk about. After a week of praying and preparing....that night had finally come. Tonight was that night.

 I talked about faith and what it means to have faith (which I will put in a separate post). At first I was worried about what I would talk about, let alone for 25 minutes. 25 MINUTES! ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!?! I thought there was no way I could do that. But God has a good way of proving people wrong. (and lucky for that too) I was nervous as heck, but at the same time had a confidence about me. I knew God would give the words to say he would pull me through it. The sermon went really, REALLY well I think (as well as it coulda for my first time) and small group was even better. They actually talked! And weren't all rowdy like they normally are! (I help lead a small group of middle school boys) Seeing the impact and expressions of the youth, reminded me why it is I do what I do. It reminded me and confirmed the decision God has put on my heart to pursue youth ministry.

But afterwards is what was even more amazing.

Last week, as a group we went to Judgment House. (if you don't have a clue what that is, here's a link http://www.judgementhouse.org/) We had 10 kids get saved. It was an awesome experience. However, there is one kid in particular that got saved that I've been trying to work with and connect. It was so awesome to see him accept that invitation. So this week, after small groups, I did a follow up with him. I talked to him a little bit, and actually started to tear up (I know, its hard to believe). But the impact he made on me tonight (and hopefully I've made one on him) was just tremendous. He actually hugged me. HUGGED ME. He NEVER gives hugs. It just really opened my eyes to the work God has called me to do and how he is using me to further glorify and praise him and his Kingdom. God can use anyone and anything, no matter where they come from, or whatever the situation may be. It just amazes me that he would choose to use someone like me, and for that I am so incredibly thankful and blessed.

But that's just the beginning of the night.

Afterward, I drove back to campus for our weekly worship/fellowship. Usually it lasts about an hour long, we do some worship, someone speaks, then close with some worship. Tonight however was a little different. We did some worship. Someone spoke for awhile. And then we did some more worship. And more. And more. And more. And more. And more. (I think you get my point) Instead of the normal hour time slot we are usually in there, we went for almost 3 hours! It was so awesome to be in God's presence and to see so many people come forward for prayer and healing, in their brokenness before God. Song after song after song, was full out worship to the fullest that I've ever seen and am so blessed to be a part of! I can't even describe how exciting and vibrant and incredible it was. My voice was even squeaking because I was singing so loud and for so long. Seeing my friends, my peers, everyone just worshiping all out, hands in the air, shouting at the top of their lungs, jumping up and down, kneeling down before him, made me remember just how vast and powerful our awesome God is. And how little we are, yet how he uses us in extraordinary ways to make a huge impact, and further his Kingdom.