MEAN GIRLS
A STUDY OVER THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT: PART V
INTRO: MEAN GIRLS: A 2004 movie about a home school girl who goes to High School for the first time, and she runs into Mean Girls. Lyndsay Lohan plays the home school girl who joins a group of girls called The Plastics, and they wear skirts, hang out with the boys, gossip about teachers, and rip on everyone the whole movie. Though I am not here to make value judgments about a movie that seems to be the cliché HS B movie, it does bring up a significant issue…INSULTS. Which is the topic of today’s lesson (for leaders, a good opening might just be to ask someone some details they saw from the movie)
BIBLE VERSE: Matthew 5:11-12
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
1. HOW NON-BELIEVERS INSULT BELIEVERS.
A. INSULT YOU: I was walking through Wal-Mart about 2 years ago, and a person walked up politely and read my T-shirt (it was kind of odd, I just saw the dude staring at me intently and I had totally forgotten I was wearing a Christian shirt, I have so many, I sometimes forget I have them on). And he responded, “I use to believe that message too…when I was stupid.” We had a discussion, you don’t insult my God.
How to handle the insult? Heed advice from Proverbs 12:16 which reads (which I probably should have heeded):
A fool’s annoyance is known at once, but the prudent overlooks an insult.
B. PERSECUTE YOU: We discussed this last week, but here is one more story, John Huss.
From the Foxe’s Book of Martyr’s:
Huss preached his beliefs from the pulpit and at the university as well. John Huss was soon summoned to Rome by the pope and he, along with those who followed his teachings, were eventually excommunicated from the church. Huss appealed the sentence of excommunication, but to no avail. Since he could no longer preach at Bethlehem chapel, he retired to his hometown of Hussenitz and continued to teach his doctrine.
Huss was invited to attend the Council of Constance, but when he arrived about January 1415, he was arrested and held in a room in the palace. When he went before the Council he listened to the forty articles read against him and appealed his case to the higher judge, Jesus Christ. As the conversation continued, he was laughed at and mocked by council members, who were enraged at his words and condemned him to be burned.
They suggested that the crown of his head should be cut off and that was carried out by using a pair of shears. Then they put a paper bishop’s hat on his head that had demons painted on it, as well as the word’s "A Ringleader of Heretic’s" boldly written. They then bound him to a stake with a chain and placed bundles of his books around him up to his neck. He was then asked to recant his teachings, to which he replied, "I never taught any doctrine that was evil, now what I have taught with my lips, I will seal with my blood."
When the flames engulfed him, he began to sing a hymn so loud and cheerful that he could be heard above the crackling of the flames and the noise of the crowd. His remains, as John Wycliffe’s, were gathered and cast into the Rhine River. However, they could not destroy his memory or his teachings from the minds of his supporters. In death, Huss became more of a threat to the papacy then he had been in life.
C. FALSELY SAY ALL KINDS OF EVIL AGAINST YOU: As this age moves forward, there will be those who aggressively mock the gospel message of Jesus Christ.
For example, in an article titled: Flying Spaghetti Monster at Tennessee Courthouse, some people have made up a church to make fun of Christians calling it “Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.” Because some places erect manger sets at Christmas or have a statue of a Catholic saint, this group demanded the right to have a statue called “His Noodly Appendage” erected outside a local courthouse.
By mocking fun of believers, a statue like this by a bunch of non-believers as cut as giant meatballs might be, is really an offensive attack. It’s evil (leaders, you could go a different and more personal route here if someone has ever undercut you with lies either in the work world or ministry world, be careful not to name any names if you go that route).
D. WHAT IS OUR RESPONSE? REJOICE!
2. HOW NON-BELIEVERS INSULT GOD.
A. BIBLE VERSE: Luke 11:37-53
When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him, so he went in and reclined at the table. But the Pharisee, noticing that Jesus did not first wash before the meal, was surprised.
(notice Jesus sees their judgment)
Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You foolish people!”
(then Jesus goes into full motion with specifics on how the Pharisees are sinning)
verse 45: One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.”
(no kidding huh, they got that)
THE BIG POINT: Jesus had been insulted by the people’s decisions on how they treated Him and His followers. And when someone who does not know the Lord does this, there can be a rude awakening. God does deal directly with people. He doesn’t mix words. Some people who don’t know God do not understand this. In all reality, none of us understand this. God just tells us how it is sometimes and he doesn’t mix words to do it.
BOTTOM-KICKING EXAMPLE (MAN & HIS DECK STORY): Years ago I was in my office and Pastor Steve busted out with an amazing WOW from his. So I went in to ask him what happened. He had been reading a news article about an unlucky club owner who had just closed down for the night. The story read that 100s of partiers were hanging out in the outside area of his facility on the deck partying like they had done for years. Then the bar closed. And as the man walked out to turn off the hanging lamps, the deck immediately collapsed and killed the man by practically cutting him in half. I then asked Pastor Steve why he specifically thought this was a big deal. He explained to me, “Tom, why would this deck that had tons of weight on it 30 minutes before suddenly crash under the weight of a 150 pound man if God didn’t want this guy killed. Now, there is no way we will ever know for sure, and maybe there is some type of scientific evidence. But in my experience and what the Bible tells me, when God wants a guy taken out He takes him out.” I have never forgotten that story.
B. BIBLE VERSE: Luke 20:9-19
9 He went on to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time. 10 At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed. 12 He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out.
13 "Then the owner of the vineyard said, ’What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.’
14 "But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. ’This is the heir,’ they said. ’Let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
15 "What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others."
16 When the people heard this, they said, "May this never be!"
17 Jesus looked directly at them and asked, "Then what is the meaning of that which is written: " ’The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone.
18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed."
19 The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.
THE BIG POINT: Sometimes Jesus communicates 3rd party, but the message is just as clear. Let’s analyze this a bit further.
VINEYARD: “A vineyard is a plantation of grape-bearing vines, grown mainly for winemaking, but also raisins, table grapes and non-alcoholic grape juice. The science, practice and study of vineyard production is known as viticulture.” Looking at vineyard pictures, some our planted in giant rows, in windy areas they can be planted in small curved areas, but regardless of the field shape, all vineyards have something in common. And that is there are sticks/fences/etc for the vines to grow on because they climb all over the place. They’re everywhere and they cannot be untangled.
VINEYARD IN BIBLICAL TERMS: Why say Vineyard? The vineyard is an OT parable for the nation of Israel. Jesus is saying that the Pharisees were entrusted with the entire fate of their nation in which God allowed them to tenant farm. But because of their selfish desires, they killed everyone God sent to them.
WHY? And what is the reason for their murders? They wanted OWNERSHIP. People who do not know the Lord want ownership over their lives and of the world! Where did this begin? In the Garden of Eden when Adam & Eve chose to want to “be like God.” Friends, we have to be very, very careful that we don’t try to bend things to OUR WILL. We must bend our will to His will.
OWNERSHIP EXAMPLE:
Youtube videos (do not use real names of videos so youth will not be encouraged to check them out):
“rental car destruction” has a video of a person running a stick shift back & forth while driving
“don’t buy a rental car” had tires smoking so bad I couldn’t see the car while sick rap music played
“rental car jump” revved up the car fast and jumped a double hill/sparks flying everywhere
“rental car abuse” had a car driving sideways with Magnum PI music in the background
People trusted those drivers with their vehicles, and the renters did NOT take good care of them at all! And though there is an element of sophomoric humor involved to some I suppose, it’s flat wrong! And that is how some people behave with the gift of salvation that has been given to them. Which brings up our last point of the three.
3. HOW BELIEVERS INSULT GOD.
OWNERSHIP QUESTION: What is it you own? Seriously, what in your life do you own and have not given over to God. For the sake of purposes, I have made a general list, physical & spiritual. If they don’t apply just cross them off. If God owns them put a G on top of it. But you own them, circle them.
PERSONAL INVENTORY: Let’s take an inventory and find out. Were all believers here right, let’s take a look at what we do or do not do and take a personal examination (some of this will be a direct transition from point 2 that carries over, but for this example we will put the Bible Verse at the end).
PHYSICAL
THE WAY MY BODY LOOKS MY SCHOOL WORK WHERE I ‘LL GO TO COLLEGE
MY BOY/GIRLFRIEND MY CAR MY PARENTS RELATIONSHIP
AMOUNT OF MONEY I NEED MY VIDEO GAMES THE MUSIC I LISTEN TO
WHAT TIME I GO TO BED INTERNET WEBSITES TV SHOWS MY EYES SEE
SPIRITUAL
MY DAILY QUIET TIME MY PRAYER TIME MY YOUTH GROUP
MY FOCUS ON OUTREACH MY EARS IN CHURCH PURITY OF MY THOUGHTS
CONCERN FOR THOSE HURTING HOW I SERVE OTHERS HOLINESS OF MY WORDS
DESIRE FOR THE PARTY ENJOYMENT OF GOSSIP WHEN GOD REBUKES ME
BIBLE VERSE: Luke 7:36-50 (The Story of the Woman With the Perfume)
(In this story, Jesus is eating again with the Pharisees, after he has again been by snubbed by them. They are suppose to ceremoniously wash his feet, seat him the proper place, but none of this happened. You know, it’s one of those polite “I want to control you meetings” in which a supposed higher up calls you over to show you what you could have if you give in. But Jesus will have none of that. Then, during the meal, a women, a prostitute, we know not just because the Bible says it but because perfume was the way to determine one in those days as opposed to how one dresses like today). Let’s pick up the story in verse 44:
When he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much.
CONCLUSION: You see, it is not becoming one of THE PLASTICS. It IS about becoming one of THE DISCIPLES. And to do this, we have to NOT carry about so much of what WE want—that is insulting to God. We need to be carrying for those who don’t know the Lord and those hurting. I say we do that.
Sources:
Appleby, Chris. The Ultimate Insult, Sermon Series: The Parables of Jesus. St. Thomas’ Burrwood, Surry Hills, Province: November 2001.
Chadwick, Harold J. The New Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. Copyright 1997, pages 79-85.
Terdiman, Daniel. Flying Spaghetti Monster Statue at Tennessee Courthouse, cnetnews.com: March 31, 2008.
Strite, Jeff. Jesus and the Party Crasher, Church of Christ at Logansport: March 2001.
Wikipedia.com. Key word search: vineyard.
Youtube.com (titles of clips listed above).
NAME: _________________________________
MEAN GIRLS
A STUDY OVER THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT: PART V (INSULTS)
BIBLE VERSE: Matthew 5:11-12
Blessed are you when people _____________________________ you, __________________ you, and _______________________ say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
1. HOW NON-BELIEVERS INSULT ___________________________________.
A. Insult You (The Wal-Mart Story): ________________________________________________________
Proverbs 12:16: A fool’s annoyance is known at once, but the prudent ______________________ an insult.
B. Persecute You (John Huss): ____________________________________________________________
C. Falsely Say All Kinds of Evil Against You (Spaghetti): ________________________________________
2. HOW NON-BELIEVERS INSULT ___________________________________.
A. BIBLE VERSE: Luke 11:37-53
Jesus dealt with their insults _______________________________________.
Man & His Deck Example: _______________________________________________________________
B. BIBLE VERSE: Luke 20:9-19
Jesus dealt with their insults through the ______________________________________.
Vineyard Example: ____________________________________________________________________
Rental Car (Ownership) Example: ________________________________________________________
3. HOW ___________________________ INSULT __________________________________________.
PHYSICAL
THE WAY MY BODY LOOKS MY SCHOOL WORK WHERE I ‘LL GO TO COLLEGE
MY BOY/GIRLFRIEND MY CAR MY PARENTS RELATIONSHIP
AMOUNT OF MONEY I NEED MY VIDEO GAMES THE MUSIC I LISTEN TO
WHAT TIME I GO TO BED INTERNET WEBSITES TV SHOWS MY EYES SEE
SPIRITUAL
MY DAILY QUIET TIME MY PRAYER TIME MY YOUTH GROUP
MY FOCUS ON OUTREACH MY EARS IN CHURCH PURITY OF MY THOUGHTS
CONCERN FOR THOSE HURTING HOW I SERVE OTHERS HOLINESS OF MY WORDS
DESIRE FOR THE PARTY ENJOYMENT OF GOSSIP WHEN GOD REBUKES ME
BIBLE VERSE: Luke 7:36-50
CLOSE: It’s NOT becoming one of the ______________. It IS about becoming one of the _____________.