This is the notes I used for the closing message at Fall Retreat 2014 at Jumonville Camp & Retreat Center (Hopwoood PA). The message is based on the theme "Pause" produced by youthministry360. The focus of the theme was the importance of "hitting pause" in our life to spend time with God using the disciplines of prayer and studying His Word. By "hitting pause" we are enabled to live our life "on play" for God.
Our prayer is that 100% of the youth will be found living a life of faith in God years from now because of the seeds that were planted in their hearts this weekend!
Intro
- (illustrate this) 80% of you will leave your faith behind as you step out on your own. 25% will return by your early 20s.
- Heard these stats at a PYWN conference last month
- Broke my heart for youth
- That's my story
We've spent this weekend talking about "hitting pause". This morning I want to talk to you about hitting the play button. Living our life in play.
- Matthew 28:16-20.
- Background for this passage.
- Jesus had been crucified, then arisen, and then had been appearing to the disciples and others over a period of 40 days.
- The scene they’re about to read is the last recorded interaction Christ had with His disciples in the Book of Matthew.
- We can see Jesus challenge His disciples to embrace a life of action and service.
- This is the same call we have on our lives today.
- Jesus was commanding His disciples to devote themselves to leading others to follow Christ.
- We’re called to make disciples as we go through life.
- You and I are to live our life and to love God in such away that it draws others to a relationship with Him.
- Making time to seek God by hitting pause is how you lay the foundation for a life lived on mission for God. It’s how you prepare yourself to obey Christ’s call to make disciples of others.
- You see, you need to hit pause not just for you but for others. Your Mom or Dad who doesn't know Jesus, your friend who is struggling with life, you co-worker 10 years from now needs you to hit pause now.
Here's why.......
We’re called to make God known. We’re called to lead others to a saving relationship with Christ. The question we have to ask is how we’re preparing ourselves to do this.
Hitting pause equips us to live in play.
- We have to face the fact that preparation is huge when it comes to our ability to effectively lead others to Christ and to grow in Christ.
- We can’t replicate or multiply what we don’t have in the first place.
- An intimate relationship with God, His Word, and His ways is the groundwork for living our lives on God’s mission.
- Read Verses 19-20, This verse is a great challenge to us.
- “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
- How it’s possible to teach what we don’t know?
- How we can lead someone to obey the things we don’t obey ourselves?
- How effective we’ll be at drawing others to Christ when we ourselves are distant from Him?
It’s OK to be a little in awe of the task we’re called to. If we weren’t, it would probably mean we weren’t listening really well! It’s a big task. However, Jesus gives us a big clue here as to how we can accomplish this task. Let’s take a closer look.
- “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
- Jesus was reminding His followers and us of a great spiritual truth: As believers, we have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us!
- Jesus’ disciples didn’t have the full picture of this yet. But we do. We can know what it means to have the Spirit helping us along in this life.
- Then, say something like: Jesus knew the call wasn’t going to be easy. He knew that we’re sinful and weak. He knew that we’re naturally prone to wander from Him. He knew that we’re selfish and will always look out for ourselves first. But He also knew that somewhere deep inside us, we long to make a difference. He knew that when we tasted reconciliation and forgiveness that we would want to bring this gift to others. And He knew that we would be better with His help. So, God in all His amazing knowledge planned all along to send His Spirit to help us in our call to lead others to Christ. And that’s pretty awesome.
You’re not alone. You’re not left to live this life under your own power. God is in you and with you. God’s very Spirit is guiding you and equipping you to live for Him. God has given us The Church--a gathering of fellow believers who are on mission together for God.
But here is what we need to understand about the difference between the 80% & the 20%:
- The 20% remained faithful because they internalized it; they sealed the deal, their faith became their own.
- It's easy to be on fire for God here, right? It's easier now because you have Christian friends in your life.
- But, how easy is it when you are 1 Christian among many non-Christians?
- When I went to college, I stopped surrounding myself with other believers. I didn't stay as connected with The Church as I should have and I did not stay connected with God. I didn't stop believing He existed nor was I angry at Him. I was just indifferent about my faith.
- That stopped being my desire for awhile.
- Let me illustrate it this way:
- The Cross--you got there because it was the attitude and the desire of your heart to get there. And you did it with others who had the same attitude and desire.
- Marriage--Lori & I are in the 24th year of marriage because it is the attitude and desire of our heart to live life together and to love each other.
- It's not because of an event on June 8 1991. The reason we are married today is because it's the attitude and desire of our heart to be in love and share life together. We have continued in that.
- Lost ring.
- It starts with the event (wedding vows/salvation) but it continues with a daily commitment. Again, the attitude or desire of our heart.
- We call it Surrender.
- Pastor Nate, spoke of His kids reaching up & saying "hold me daddy"!
- We need to ask God to hold us every day; surrender to Him.
CLOSING
- Do you want to be among the 80% or the 20%?
- Do you want to lead others to Christ?
- Do you want to experience the fullness of a relationship with God, Your Father?
- Then you need to hit pause so you can live your life in play.
- Are you on fire for God this morning? I bet many, if not all, of you are.
- But, the question isn't just for today...... do you want to be on fire for God 10 years from now? 20 years from now?
- Then I plead with you this morning, to commit yourself to hitting pause in your life--making time not finding time--for Jesus in your life.
- Surrender yourself to Jesus. Cry out "Abba Father, hold me!"
- Come and pray for what you need to do to make that happen in your life. Come and pray for someone who you want to reach for Jesus. Come and pray for living your life on mission for God.
- Altar time
- You do indeed have an incredible power source.
- This is a long, long journey.
- You will be used immediately to have an impact for the Kingdom, but you’ll also be spending the rest of your life seeking God and growing closer to Him.
- There will be successes and failures along the way but, keep the attitude and desire of your heart firmly surrendered to Him and you will find your way home and you will find peace and joy for the journey!