Video...Work as Worship
Slide#1
Welcome…Gift bags
Prayer
As Christians…we have witnessed God’s grace in our lives and many times in those who are close to us.
Every week… Because of God’s love for mankind…people like you and I get the opportunity to walk out of the church a changed person!
For some…this change is easy to accept…while for others even knowing they have been forgiven…the change is challenging.
I recently ran across a show on Netflix called… “One Nation under God”
The plot of the show focused on 4… 20 year old Christian college guys from Dallas…
These four young men were trying to reveal that knowing God… is more than just a religion…rather it’s about relationship?
This simple concept (religion vs. relationship) has created a wedge between people and Jesus for centuries…
Most people have an opinion of who Jesus is…but that is where what they think they now stops!
I have come to realize that the majority of people in life are simply complacent with the idea of just living their lives.
But what is sad to me is... (That the majority)…meaning the ones who don’t know about Jesus’ life changing power He offers.
Even those who are living right here in Hobbs…will live their whole lives without knowing Jesus…die and then spend the rest of eternity in Hell.
That bothers me…how about you?
Thinking about that…what would you be willing to do to help people learn about Jesus?
It bothered the four college students so much… that during their 2008 summer break… they decide to go a spiritual journey across the United States… and create the movie “One Nation under God”
Slide #2
And as they traveled…they stopped in various locations to ask people questions like… who was Jesus and -what happens to people when they die… -what do you know about Christianity?
And in all honesty I was shocked by some of the answers that people gave them.
Living in a smaller community like Hobbs…we often feel like that the truth of message has at least shared with everyone at least once.
But after viewing this DVD movie…
Clearly we live in a world that has become very distant from the truth that is found in the Bible.
A world where people are more concerned with materialism and self fulfillment… than obedience and life change.
A world that really does not care about Jesus or the Bible…
I can understand the people in the world who have never heard the truth…but for Christians who week after week hear the truth.
And still chose to live their lives in an unworthy manner…What does God think about them?
What is it about the name of Jesus that causes so much contradiction and challenge in our world today?
I would like to share with you a couple of responses from some of the people the young men interviewed as they traveled around the US…
One of the people interview shared that Jesus was just a fabricated story that had been made up just to scare people…
Another person shared that all people were placed on earth for a purpose… and if you fail to accomplish (your purpose) during your life time…you were forced to come back again (reincarnation) and finish what you were asked to do.
Many were asked the question …to give their opinion of what being a Christian today meant?
And almost every person answered the same regarding Christianity by sharing these two words…
Hypocritical…and Judgmental.
This caught my attention…..How many of us who call ourselves Christians…Are living our lives (in the public’s eye) in a Christ like manner???
Matthew 7:1… Tells us… “Judge not, that you be not judged”
This is why life change is so important…
But if we are going to be the ones who are reaching the lost in our world…we need to be looking at people like Jesus would.
If you truly want to see people get saved and live the rest of their lives for Christ…you have got to live a life set apart from the world’s standards…
Every time God shares a message with the church that hits close to home like… drinking…drug use…or life change.
People feel personally attacked…
If you have had a true life change…your desire to do these things…STOPS…
But if you continue to do them around the world…you are sharing the wrong message of Christ.
Slide #3
There was a survey was taken in 2008…
As a result…35,000 Americans were questioned regarding their religious beliefs.
57 % of those surveyed who claiming to be E-van-gelical Christians…
We’re willing to publically admit that their religion might not be the only path to salvation…
My first thought was where in the world do these people go to Church? And if you know anyone going there…get them out…………
The Bible is clear about truth…
After I read this…I was concerned…because of what these people shared…means that what Luke shared with us in the book of Acts chapter 20:28-31 is true…there are people out there sharing false doctrine with people.
Slide #4
Acts 20:28 30 “ Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock….Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.”
So what does this mean for us today?
What this means is this…plain and simple…if your here today and when you die you want to end up in heaven…
You cannot be part of the 57% of Christians who claim that there are other ways to get into heaven.
You must pay attention to what the Word of God says…
There is only one way to get into heaven…
Slide #5
Wasn’t it Jesus who shared in John 14:6…“I am the way, the truth, and the life! No one comes to the Father except through me”
You are real…Heaven is real…and your decision to ask Christ into your life must be real.
Life is not a game…it is very important…
Because life is not a game… I have an important question to ask everyone today…
Besides being in church today…what is the most important thing to you?
Is it your family… Is it having friends… The score of a football game or… What’s for lunch…? Maybe it’s the upcoming Christmas shopping season… Or the World Series…
Granted…all these things are important…
The most important thing should be…what you do with God…
How many of you here today want to end up in heaven when you die?
Watching the show…”One nation under God”…really opened up my eyes about Jesus and eternal life.
The problem with our world is people have over complicated the message….
Because there is so much sin in the world today and in our lives…we assume that Jesus would never forgive us.
That is NOT true…matter of fact…that is no-where close to the truth………..
What is the truth???????
While traveling thru Arizona…the four college guys from Dallas slept at a Campground one night.
They noticed two senior couples sitting out by a picnic table and asked them to share with them what they knew about Jesus..
The two couples were obviously grounded in their faith and were able to share the truth that is found in the bible. (must have been members of VP)….
They shared that Jesus Christ was the Son of God and how He was sent to earth to die on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins.
Without the forgiveness of our sins…faith is dead.
I cannot imagine living in this life without knowing that when it is finally over…
Is when those who ask Christ for forgiveness will finally find peace and rest?
There are steps that must be followed..
(And just for the record…life doesn’t just end like many who were interview said it does?)
If you claim Christ as your Lord and Savior…we should be busy sharing what we know with the world. (Excited…and not hypocritical and judgmental)
¾ of the way thru the show the four men interviewed young lady from New York City…who was probably in her early twenties…
She was asked her opinion of the church… (This one breaks my heart)
She shared that singing and praying in church made her feel uncomfortable…it wasn’t her thing…
But she did say that she attends it on holidays and special occasions…with the only INTENTION of making her parents feel good?
Thinking about all the questions and answers about being a Christian brought concerns to my mind again.
What is the importance of the church and the message it holds today?
How does it make a difference in a person’s life?
We all know that the church is the people not the building…so if this is true…which it is……
You and I have our work cut out for us….
Clearly God is doing great things thru us here at VP…but we cannot allow ourselves to get caught up in the Mayberry Syndrome.
(Let me explain the Mayberry syndrome)
“No matter what happens during the day…Old Andy… Aunt B…Barney and Goober... Their just gonna make things right…
Truthfully…The world we live in has become a lazy…uneducated classroom.
People are using God’s intended text book…the bible for table levelers and dust collectors… instead of learning it and sharing it to change people’s lives.
How many of us can truthfully say that we have studied our text book…and are doing all we can to reach a dying world?
Since its existence this textbook has always been intended to be…
Slide #6 A Refuge (Psalm 84:1;4)
1)How lovely is your dwelling place,
O LORD of hosts!
4)Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise!
God does care about you…He knows everything you have done in your past…
And still He wants to have a relationship with you.
He is a loving and compassionate God…
The church and the Bible have also always been intended to be…
Slide #7 Our Strength (46:1-3)
1)God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
Please understand…each of you here today has the opportunity to walk out of here a changed person.
You can meet Jesus right here and turn your life over to Him…
Please Stand
