How To Make A You-Turn

“How to make a YOU-turn”

“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward that which is ahead,

I press on for the mark for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 3:13-14

Intro: In 1964 Guy Willis and the Willis Brothers released a record single of an old country truck driving song

which became a top ten country music hit.

Let me read you the words to the first verse and chorus:

He was headin' into Boston in a big, long diesel truck

It was his first trip to Boston, he was having lots of luck

He was going the wrong direction down a one-way street in town

And this is what he said when the police chased him down.

CHORUS:

Give me forty acres and I'll turn this rig around

It's the easiest way that I've found ...

Some guys can turn it on a dime or turn it right downtown

But I need forty acres to turn this rig around.

A “U-turn” in driving means to perform a 180 degree turn to reverse the direction of travel.

A “Y O U -turn” has two meanings:

(1) to turn around your personal life…, so that you have the hope…, love…, joy…, and peace…,

that God created for you to have…, through salvation and your personal relationship with Christ.

The second meaning is…

(2) to move the church in the direction of commitment and growth…

so that we are a church that is living and fruitful

fulfilling the Great Commission of Christ…, to make disciples…

I am convinced that these two things go hand and hand…

Learn this Lesson: You must have personal and spiritual growth…,

in order…, to have church growth and professions of faith.

And when you are in a church…, that has baptisms…, and new members joining…

You will have people…, growing and maturing…, in their faith.

So today we are going to talk about “How to make a YOU-turn.”

I. Be Friendly

“I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” Matthew 25:35

Everyone wants to be around friendly people.

One of the most important things you can do for your spiritual life…,

is to surround yourself with…, positive…, friendly…, Christian people.

Friendliness is contagious…

To be invited…, welcomed…, and included… are among the greatest feelings you will ever have.

One Sunday a church was having a special service…, and the pews were filled to capacity.

Just after the service began…, a young man walked down the center aisle of the church

He was wearing flip flops and blue jeans.

He had a tattoo down his arm.

And when he couldn’t find a seat,

he squatted down…, right in front of the first pew…, sitting cross legged Indian style.

Everyone watched as the head usher walked down toward him.

The usher was in his best suit and tie.

And some in church thought, “Thank-you for doing something about this!”

Others just watched to see what would happen…

But what they saw was this…

They saw…, the head usher…, sit down beside the young man.

He took off his coat and sat Indian style.

He took a hymn book and turned to the page of the song

He leaned in…, toward the young man…, and shared the hymn

By the end of the service the two were talking and smiling and they were best friends.

If you had been there that day…, that would have been the only sermon that you needed.

Friends this was a YOU-turn moment for the young man…, in his flip flop and blue jeans

This was a YOU-turn moment for the head usher…,

And this was a YOU-turn moment for many other people…, in the church that day.

How do you make a YOU-turn?

You work intentionally to let your guard down…,

You open up your heart and say, “God…, come in.”

You open your mind and say “Holy Spirit I am watchful…, I am ready for you to act in my life…

You open your door and say “Jesus I confess my sin…,

I want you to change me and make me into what I ought to be.

I am ready

Maybe you have heard the story about the new Farm Agent

who was making his first official trip to some of the farms in the county.

He drove down this winding dead end road.

Along the way he saw these big signs that said,

“Keep Out!” “Trespassers Will Be Shot!” “This Means You!”

Finally with great anxiety and in trepidation…,

the agent got out of his car and knocked on the farmer’s door…,

What he found was a kind and gentle old man…, and a warm welcome.

After their business was finished, the farmer said, “Come back and see me again.

You know…, For some reason, I don’t get very many visitors.”