Congratulations Jacob Martino on your baptism!!!

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Are You In Or Out
Romans 3:21-26

I was listening to a sermon the other day on the TV and the speaker quoted a theologian from some college somewhere. I don’t even remember the guy’s name, but I do remember what he said, because it sure got my attention.

He was talking about the way Americans had use religion since September 11th

The statement was “Religion is the Drug of the people”
It kills their pain
It helps take away their problems
It is their temporary fix

I think that there’s a problem with Christianity being the drug of the people

I think far too many people are using it to temporarily kill their pain, to temporarily help take away their problems, or for a temporary fix.

Christianity should not be a temporary fix, for Christians it should be a permanent fix.

Maybe that is where the problem is

Maybe some “so called” Christians don’t really know God

Maybe some “so called” Christians don’t have a relationship with God

Let me ask you something then, are they ‘so called “ Christians really Christians then?

Theologians estimate that only 75% of church members are genuinely saved

Billy Graham backs that up by saying that 30% of the people that accept Christ at his crusades are already on a church roll somewhere aw someone who claims to be saved

So if this is true, then most Christians aren’t Christians at all, They are almost Christians aren’t they

They may attend church and Sunday school regularly
They may really listen to all of the pastor’s sermons
They may only hang around with good ole’ Christian people
But where are they in their relationship with GOD?
Or do they even have a real relationship with GOD?

The scary thing is there are people who think because they are good people that they are Christians
That think because they go to church every week that they are Christians
That think because all their friends are Christians that they are Christians
That think because their parents are Christians that they are Christians
That think just because they never do anything wrong that they are a Christian
That they are a Christian and that they are in because of who they are

 

 

Can I let you in on a little secret, if you do not have your OWN relationship with God, there is no way to get in, it doesn’t matter if you are a good person
It doesn’t matter if you go to church every week
It doesn’t matter if all your friends are Christians
It doesn’t matter that your parents are Christians
It doesn’t matter that you never do anything wrong

Christianity is not something you can earn, it is a FREE gift that you have to accept

If you want to be a Christian and not an “almost” Christian then you have to be justified by faith or in simpler terms, you have to have your “OWN” salvation

Now to have your own salvation there is a few things that must happen first

See salvation is not like getting set free in a court of law where you have to prove you innocence, here you have to admit to being guilty, not innocent


God's terms for Salvation:
1. Believe -"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved..." (Acts 16:31)

2. Repent -"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing might come from the Lord." (Acts 3:19)

3. Confess -"If you confess with your mouth "Jesus is Lord" and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)

4. Baptized -(Jesus said) "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:16)

So now that I have explained salvation to you

Do you have your “Own” Salvation, or are you living off someone else’s

Are you a “true” Christian or are you an “almost” Christian

Let me tell you a few differences between a “true” Christian and an “almost” Christian

Almost Christians are acquainted with the Gospel
Christians are messengers of the Gospel

Almost Christians are interested in the Gospel
Christians are involved in the Gospel

Almost Christians enjoy the Gospel
Christians are filled with Joy because of the Gospel

Almost Christians say that they love God
Christians live the love of God

Almost Christians are good people
Christians are God people

See Salvation and Christianity are not a buffet
You cannot pick the parts you like and stay away from what you don’t like
You must eat from all of it

Salvation comes with a price, and that price is turning from the sinful ways of the world and following Christ
Have you paid that price
If not are you willing to pay the price

Salvation calls for a decision…

Jesus said there is a broad road…….He also said there is a narrow road, which road are you on

Jesus said some people build their house on sand…..others build their house on ROCK, where are you building your house

Jesus said some people will follow darkness……….others will chose to follow the light, which are you following

Someday Jesus will separate us. Goats on side and his sheep on the other (did you notice I said his sheep)

See there is no inbetween

Those are those that are “SAVED” and there are those who are not

Being a Christian is more than living a good life
It is more than having Christian parents
It is more than having Christian friends
It is more than attending church

Let me share a little story about two brothers with you

(A story about 2 brothers, one has salvation the other doesn’t. The one who does has a ticket, the one who doesn’t  does not. The brother who has no ticket borrows part of his brothers ticket. They then die, the brother who did not have salvation has Saint Peter unfold his ticket to reveal the word hell. The brother with salvation has Saint Peter to unfold his to reveal a cross. The moral is you can not get to heaven without your own ticket or salvation.

 

Now let me ask you

Where do you stand in your relationship with God

Do you have a relationship with him

Are you a “true” Christian or an “almost” Christian

Are you “in” or are you “out”

VIDEO TO START

1 Corinthians 12

12 - The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13 - For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 - Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 25 - there should be no division in the body, but its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 - If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.27 - Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a part of it.

Ephesians 4

11 - It was He Who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 - to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 - until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 - Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 - Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him Who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 - From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Have you ever believed that something was true-and then later discovered that it was false and in fact was nothing more than an "old wives tale?" Well, you're not alone. In fact, this is such a common occurrence that several web sites have been formed where readers post-and then discuss-these false truths, which are referred to these days as, "urban myths." It's very interesting to read through these popular "myth-conceptions"-because some of them contain just enough "sense" to make it really hard to know whether or not they are true.

Let me share some of them with you now along with some true statements-and you'll see what I mean. I'll read them one at a time and then we'll vote to see who believes they are factual. Here's the first one:

o A penny dropped from the top of the Empire State Building will embed itself in the pavement.
How many of you think that is true? I've heard it for years but it is FALSE.

o You can send a coconut through the US MAIL without wrapping it.
How many of you think that is TRUE? It is! Now, this next one really got me thinking.

o Albert Einstein did poorly in school.
I have heard this frequently but it is also not true. Sometimes this brilliant man forgot to wear socks but he did great in school! One more:

o Some Oregon highway workers blew up a whale and the resulting explosion showered a nearby town with blubber.
This one is true-it really happened.

Now-I've put you through this little test this morning to show you how easily we fall for misconceptions in life. And because we do, we end up basing many of our opinions and actions on things that are just not true. Well, one subject area that tends to foster many misconceptions concerns today's teenage population-and adults seem to be very susceptible to this particular brand of "urban myths." Of course this is not good for us as Christians because the Scripture we just read very clearly teaches that every a local church is to function as one body-and like a real body, each part is important. If there is not clear understanding and cooperation between each body part, then that body is not healthy and cannot function as Christ, the Head, would want.

This morning I want us to try to better understand the wonderful teens who are part of our church family-those adolescents who worship and grow along with us- I want to do that this morning by casting the light of truth on some of the misconceptions that we have about teens-things that we think are true but in fact are not.

Now-I realize that this was not my original sermon plan. Today I had intended to speak to you about some new years resolutions and running your race for Christ... But last night we practiced worship and I talked with the kids, when I got home last night @ 10:45! I felt the HEAD leading me to preach on this issue instead.

Okay-back to today's topic. What are some misconceptions that we tend to buy into when it comes to today's young people? I came up with four and the first one is this:

1.         These days many adults believe that youth ministry is just FUN and GAMES.

There are some people who honestly think that nothing serious goes on in your typical youth program-that all that youth leaders do is order pizza, run weird relays, and have lock-ins. In some peoples opinion; little or no REAL ministry takes place. They believe that working with teens is both FUN and EASY. Well, this is a huge misconception because working with today's teens in such a way that you try and meet their unique needs can be an incredibly difficult job. In fact I will  tell you that most of the time it is an OVERWHELMING task. To help you understand WHY this is so-why it can be such a difficult job-let me give you a brief snapshot of the life of today's teens.

A. First of all, they live in a world of RAPID CHANGE.

They are of course going through the inevitable PHYSICAL changes that come with adolescence but their WORLD is almost constantly changing as well. This means that-in a time when they need something permanent-something fixed-today's teens have to deal with a great deal of instability. Let me try and explain what I mean.

A few of generations ago, it would have been common for a person to spend the first 18 years of his life in the HOUSE where he was born. This was a source of stability for him-especially in the teen years. Well these days this is a luxury that only a very small minority of teens enjoy. Due to changing job markets teens and their families move and move often.

Another thing-many teens today have no HERITAGE OF FAITH. That is to say, they were not taken to church as children but rather are brought here by teenage friends, so they often don't have the STABILITY of parents and grandparents who embrace a personal faith in Jesus Christ and who have taught them the truth of God's word. As teens they are just starting down the road of spiritual maturity without the benefit of years of children's Sunday School and J.A.M.

Only a few generations ago, it would have been common for a teen to have his biological mom at home and his biological father at work during the day. But, due to the high cost of living, this stability is a luxury that a mere 4 percent of today's teens enjoy.

So-the next time you observe some "ridiculous" teen behavior and you scratch your head and mutter under your breath, "What is wrong with teens today!" realize that much of what is wrong is related to this ROOTLESSNESS that they have to deal with.

 

B. Another thing we need to know is that today's teens walk through a MORAL MAZE.

Only a few years ago we used to say that our adolescents were growing up in an R-rated world. In my opinion it is now X-rated and if you doubt this, then I challenge you to stand and listen in the hall of a high school on a typical week day. Watch an evening of prime-time television. Listen to the radio. Walk down the street. Read a magazine. Look at billboards. In fact they live with filth so much that it doesn't seem like filth to them. It seems normal.

The point I am trying to impress upon you is that it is a tough time to be a teenager! Proverbs 14:12 says There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. These kids live this out everyday.

Consider these staggering statistics:

o Every day nearly 8,000 teens become sexually active.

o Every day over 3,000 run away from home.

o Every day nearly 3,000 witness their parent's divorce.

o 70% of today's high school seniors know of a peer who attempted to commit suicide.

o 66% have gambled in the past year, and, by the way, teens are twice as likely as adults to become addicted to gambling.

o Two out of every three teens know someone who practices an openly gay lifestyle.

o Illicit drug use doubles during the adolescent years.

I could go on quoting depressing statistics like this all day long which I hope helps you to realize how difficult it can be to minister to today's teens. It is NOT all fun and games. Our second misconception...

2. They believe that teens don't want any BOUNDARIES in life.

Now-most teens won't admit this but they do want solid guidelines. They gain assurance and comfort from knowing that there are rules they can rely on. In fact a study was done a few years ago that showed that juvenile offenders who had parents who did NOT give them boundaries said things like this: "I wish my parents would shake me up...punish me when I first go wrong...tell me why things are wrong...convince me that more severe measures will come if I continue to misbehave. I wish they would call my bluff and stand firm on what is right, even when I threaten to run away or drop out of school." Other studies show that when teens are given FAIR and CONSISTENT guidelines they are more likely to feel loved and valued.

 

So it is an "urban myth" to say that teens don't want absolutes. They desperately need them. They gain comfort from God Who as James 1:17 puts it, "...does not change like shifting shadows." They are re-assured by the truth that, "the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever." (1 Peter 1:25) ... They need to hear us show by the way we live our lives that, "...all God's commands are trustworthy ....and that Your word, O Lord, is eternal...It stands firm in the heavens. (Psalm 111:7-8) They need to know that in the sinful world they live that, "...a young person can keep his or her way pure by living according to the unchanging word of God." (Psalm 119:9)

They need to see hear you say that you believe the Bible is true and that its teachings are absolute. They need you to share the experiences in your life that have proved to you that God's word is something you can cling to- something you can build a life upon.

On to our third misconception.

3. ....that teens are influenced more by their PEERS or today's CULTURE than they are by PARENTS or ADULTS.

We look at all the foolish behavior that teens embrace and we tend to point the finger of blame at poor peer groups or the negative influence of TV, movies, music, etc.-things like that. But you know-in reality-these things are not the strongest influence in the life of a teenager. In fact, dozens of studies have been done in an effort to find out what it is that has the greatest power over the way a teen thinks and the results always come out something like this:

1. Parents first, then
2. Extended family,
3. Other significant adults (teachers, coaches, pastors, mentors, etc.),
4. Same age peers, and finally
5. The media

That may shock you parents out there but this research shows that YOU rank #1 with your child even during their teen years. They care more what you say than what anyone else says. They yearn for adults who have experienced life to love them enough to guide them. The problem is not the negative influence of our kids' peer group and the media. These influences always come in dead last. The problem is that the other more important influences at the top of the list---parents, extended family, other significant adults-have stopped doing their job. You see, if kids spend very little time with their parents or have no parents to spend time with...if they have no extended family, and have no significant adults in their lives, this leaves the peer group and the media to be the PRIMARY influencers of kids. They become the most influential things in their lives by default.

So today, our young people are not being destroyed because they are surrounded by bad influences. Teens have always been subject to the negative influence of our sinful world. The problem today is the fact that they lack "righteous people" in their lives to make a difference-strong family, loving parents, adult mentors. As Prov. 29:15 reminds us, "A child left to himself disgraces his mother." Too many of today's children are left to themselves. Too many do not have adults to look to for positive influence. Too many of us parents spend little or no time with our teens. This is bad news because the BEST way to deal with negative influences is not through programs and discussion groups on peer pressure, rock music, TV and the like. The most effective way-is to give them a more powerful influence- "righteous" adults who care about them and want to be friends and mentors. And this is the way it is supposed to work in the church as the older parts of this body work to care for and nurture the growth of the younger parts.

Well, every teen who walks through these doors needs that kind of mentoring. They need adults to give them time. They need us to learn their names and get to know them. They need us to become involved in their lives. It is important that we do so because far too many adults buy into what I think is one of the most damaging misconception of all. You see many adult church members...

 

4. ....believe youth ministry is not their JOB.

They think, "After all, that's why we have a youth minister." Well, if you hear nothing else this morning, hear this. As a member of the body of Christ that is known as The Church of Christ at Logansport -you have a responsibility to ALL parts of this body-and that includes the adolescents that God has brought into our church family. Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said, "In a Christian community, everything depends on whether each individual is an indispensable link in a chain." Perhaps when he said this he was thinking of the passage from 1 Corinthians that we read a moment ago: "...there should be no division in the body, but its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it."

You know, most of the time churches look at their youth as a part of the body of Christ to ignore until it matures. They think things like, "Those teens! All they do is spill pop and drive crazy. I wish they would grow up! Well, I want us here to guard against that kind of thinking. In fact I want us to make a conscious effort to become involved in the lives of the teens that come through our doors. I want each of us to think of ourselves as YOUTH MINISTERS.

In the video we saw at the beginning of our service Olympic athlete Derek Redmon's father came down on the track to help his son that day simply because he was his father. As father and son, they're family and family helps family. Well, the teens in our church are our family too. The question this morning is: "Will you remain a spectator in the stands simply content to watch them run life's race...even criticize them from afar or will you come down from the stands to put your arms around them and help them know that you love them too much to let them run alone?"

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As we come to our time of decision, you may need to repent of the misconceptions you have embraced about our youth here at the Church of Christ.  You may decide you would like to make yourself available to the youth. God may be simply telling you, to get to know one of our teens. I love Boyd Robinson's old saying, "Have you hugged a youth today?" Have you? Have you told one of our teens that you love them and believe in them and want God's best for them-that you are there to help? In other words, you see your need for truth-If that applies to you then I encourage you to come and commit to follow Jesus Christ-God's only Son-Who died on the cross for your sin.