Danerous Wonder

Dangerous Wonder

* Introduction

* Would you agree that being a Christian today is boring?

* Daughter loves to fall off of my lap head first.

* What would happen if we all took Jesus’ advice and “became like little children?”

* The obstacle of Dullness

* Don’t you just hate dull people?

* “The most critical issue facing Christians is not abortion, pornography, the disintegration of the family, moral absolutes, MTV, drugs, racism, sexuality, or school prayer.” “The critical issue today is dullness.” – Robert Capon, Episcopal Priest

* Christianity has become dull. We’re not talking about flashy churches, multimedia presentation, or big bands, but our feelings and relationships with Jesus.

* When was the last time you heard the term “Radical Christian”

* Acts 2:42-47 – [42]They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers.[43]Everyone around was in awe—all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! [44] And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. [45] They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person’s need was met. [46] They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, [47] as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.

• Are we in “awe” of what God does in our lives today?

• Do we live in harmony with each other?

* John 10:10 – [10] A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.

* The Obstacle of Dream Stealers

* Example – The Movie Hook

* The child has been chased out of us.

* Our dreams are snuffed out by people who tell us what we can’t do.

* Have you ever had a Boss that finds everything wrong with your work

* The Bible has a name for dream stealers – Pharisees

* John 9 – The Blind man healed

* Mark 14:3-6 – [3] While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. [4] Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste of perfume? [5] It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked her harshly. [6] "Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.

* The Obstacle of Predictability

* Society has cloned us.

* We are born; we attend school, get a job, get married, have a family, retire and die!

* Where’s the excitement in that.

* Religion has become the same way

• Church is always Sunday Morning, Sunday Night and Wednesday Night

• Dress has to be the same

• We must sing the same songs

• New ideas are not permitted

* Predictability and faith cannot co-exist

* Jesus was unpredictable

* He ate at the wrong people’s houses (sinners)

* Hung out with the wrong people (Tax collectors, adulterers, prostitutes)

* Healed people on the wrong day (Sabbath)

* Jesus lived in the moment (John 8)

* Women found committing adultery

* How did the Pharisees know she was committing adultery?

* The Obstacles of Possessions and Money

* What is Bill Gates really going to do with $60 Billion?

* Do you worry about your bills, where the next paycheck is coming from?

* Example: Rich Mullens’ life

* Example: Faith cleaned out her nebulizer and then said that she gets money for doing something.

* 1 Tim. 6:10 – [10] Lust for money brings trouble and nothing but trouble. Going down that path, some lose their footing in the faith completely and live to regret it bitterly ever after.

* When money is on our mind, there is little else there.

* Recapturing Dangerous Wonder

* We’ve lost the gleam in our eye

* Remember your first love

* Remember when you first met Christ

* Mary – Pregnant before she was married

* Disciples in the storm – Had the creator of the universe in the bottom of the boat and was still scared to death.

* Questions:

* Why are you here?

* Is church a game?

* Is church a social club?

 Is it something you do, because that’s what you’ve always done?

* Do You Want To Be Like Jesus?