Casey

Casey

Introduction--Casey’s Story (Saturday, September 28):

?“Hello. My name is Casey. Let me start by letting you know a little about myself as far as religious belief. Growing up I was raised to believe that God and Jesus were our saviors. I went to a Baptist church and was even baptized. As I got older, I started to question more and after moving away from my childhood church I was unable to gain answers. While I never fully stopped believing, I wasn't quite sure about the whole God topic. Recently, I have taken it upon myself to read the Bible and hopefully regain that connection with the Lord. I am 22 almost 23 years old, and like most need guidance and would really love to have that bond I had as a little girl. I was hoping you all could help me in my journey to get back in touch with my religion and my faith in the Lord. I work legitimately 7days a week with no time to attend formal church settings due to random crazy hours, but  I don't feel like that should matter as long as I'm making an effort to keep in touch with God on a daily basis where ever I may be. Please, if you all can help me I would be forever grateful. It's been so long that I'm not even sure how to pray anymore. I know that sounds silly, but it's true. If you could e-mail me back at your earliest convenience with some kind of answer that would be great. Any guidance you can offer is appreciated. Thank you so much, Casey”

I. Assumptions I made based on her comments

A. Grew up in a Christian home, but the common questions of faith were not answered to the satisfaction of her young adult mind

B. She is seeking truth on her terms

C. She is expecting an emotional connection

D. Church participation is really not a priority for her–that is, she’s looking for personal revival without support of a church body

II. The Bad News

A. We Can’t Come to Christ on Our Terms

1. "You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, 'He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us'?" (James 4:3-5)

2. “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (Matthew 10:34-39)

3. Without a commitment to Christ, whatever we do–religion–is really idolatry

4. James is saying that any pursuit of Christ that isn’t pure (it’s really Jesus you want, not a feeling) is idolatry

5. Jesus’ words in Matthew 10 are hard to swallow, but to follow Him is meant to demonstrate (more for us than for God, since He already knows our hearts even when we don’t) just how authentic is our desire to know Him

B. We Can’t Come to Christ Without Sacrifice

1. “…as [Jesus] was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

? And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’”

? And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.”

? And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” (Mark 10:17-22)

2. An authentic relationship with Jesus is first of all characterized by sacrifice and total commitment

3. At some point in all our lives, we are faced with this: “Am I ready to walk away from everything to know this Jesus?

4. If, even in His love for this man, Jesus was willing to lay it all out (the true cost of a commitment to Him), we are giving a false hope to tell otherwise