I am note sure how many of you had the opportunity to see “A Walk To Remember” this summer, but it is based on the book written by Nicholas Sparks, the same author of “Message In A Bottle” … anyway … if you are a hopeless romantic, like me, then this movie is for you …
So let’s kind of review the movie and if you haven’t seen it … this will be your ‘sneak peak’ …
Each Spring in the little port town of Beaufort, North Carolina, when the wind smells of pine and salt and the sea, Landon Carter remembers his senior year at Beaufort High and Jamie Sullivan (Mandy Moore), the girl who changed his life.
Jamie was the last person Landon was likely to fall for. Serious and conservative, she was as far from cool as she could possibly be, and didn’t care. The daughter of the town’s Baptist minister, Jamie was not afraid of letting people know that her faith was the most important part of her life, even if it cost her some friends.
Landon hung with the in-crowd -- an aimless, moody, reckless guy who breezed through school on looks and bravado. He had no plans, no future and no faith in himself or anyone else.
One night a prank that he and his buddies set up goes terribly wrong and lands a kid in the hospital. As punishment, Landon must tutor a young student at a poor school and participate in the Drama Club’s Spring play;¬ two activities the principal hopes will teach him some humility. They also happen to throw him into close contact with Jamie.
Clearly in over his head, Landon is forced to ask her for help. Soon, against his own expectations, Landon finds himself falling in love with this outwardly plain girl who possesses a passion for life he never imagined possible. But it isn’t easy. For reasons of her own, Jamie does everything she can to run away from romance until it becomes impossible to deny.
Being together will test everything that they believe in. Most of all, it will test the power of love and faith to transform a life into something worth living.
There are a number of scenes that have stuck in my head … the first is when Jamie and Landon are on the bus headed to poor school to help tutor some of the kids … Jamie gets up from her seat and sits with Landon … with a Bible in her lap, Landon asks, “So, what’s your deal? You don’t care what anyone thinks about you? Jamie quickly replies, with a sweet smile on her face, “No.”
Man, I pray that we get some young people in this group this year that will be just like Jamie … not caring what anyone else thinks about us or our faith in Jesus Christ … c’mon now!!!
But many of us are more like Landon Carter … wanting a “secret friendship” … not wanting anyone to know who we are or what we believe in … until one day … faith comes alive in our hearts!
The second scene that sticks out in my mind is when Landon tells Jamie that he loves her and she says, “Prove it” and then walks away.
Friend, I think that some of us need to “prove” that we belong to Jesus … that we love Him … we say we love Jesus here on Wednesday Nights … and I am telling you to PROVE IT when you are in school and at home!
And the other scene that touched me … is when she told Landon that she had Leukemia … and it was at that moment that this young girl changed her school … and restored Landon’s relationship with his father … believe it or not … Mary and I cried numerous times throughout this movie …
Jamie did not belong … she was misunderstood, but she would change Landon Carter forever!
Young person, my prayer tonight is that each of you would have A WALK with God TO REMEMBER … A WALK with God that changes those around you!!!
I want everyone in this youth ministry to live A WALK TO REMEMBER … and a WALK TO BE REMEMBERED!!
As you read through the life of King David, he had A WALK with God TO REMEMBER!!!
A WALK that he desired to give to his son, Solomon!
What was his advice to Solomon? “… my son, get to know God … worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind … take this seriously … be strong and do the work.” (1 Chronicles 28:9-10)
David wanted his son to also have A WALK TO REMEMBER!!!
I want you to have A WALK that is so close to God that it will be REMEMBERED!!!
Today was the 1st day back in school … live A WALK TO REMEMBER and one to be REMEMBERED!!
I want to share with you tonight A FEW WAYS THAT YOU CAN HAVE A WALK TO REMEMBER …
GET TO KNOW GOD IN A PERSONAL WAY
The first thing that David wanted to pass down to his son was to “get to know God” (1 Chronicles 28:9).
Friend, it is truly my prayer that everyone in this room would GET TO KNOW GOD!
You see, there are going to be a lot of people who are remembered in this life … actors, musicians, singers, and presidents …
But there are only a few that will have A WALK TO REMEMBER … and that “walk” can only be found in a rich relationship with Jesus Christ!
Do not rely on a youth service … or a youth leader … to give you A WALK TO REMEMBER … you will only get that when you GET TO KNOW GOD!!!
Jeremiah 29:13 reads, “If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me.”
Why is it important to GET TO KNOW GOD? Because life is empty without Him … because life is too crazy without Him … because nothing else in this world satisfies like Jesus does!!!
How can we get to know God?
1. Through reading the Bible.
2. Through praying to Him.
3. Through worshipping Him.
4. Through listening silence.
If you want A WALK TO REMEMBER, then you must get to know God!!!
NEVER LOSE FAITH … EVEN WHEN PROBLEMS COME
In the middle of this best selling love story … Jamie tells Landon that she has Leukemia … but she has had it for 2 years … and she never lost her faith … she never lost her way!
Young person, you must hang in there no matter what comes your way … problems will come … tragedy will strike you … pain will be a part of your life, but NEVER LOSE FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST!
2 Thessalonians 3:13 declares, “ … never get tired of doing good.”
Over the years of my life I can honestly say that the only thing that has kept me is my FAITH in Jesus Christ … I have had friends commit suicide (too many to count) … I have had friend killed in drunk driving accidents … I had a friend shot in the head with a shotgun and killed … I saw the effects of cancer on my mother (thank God He spared her life) … I have felt the pain of death … I have felt the pain of abuse in my life and in friends close to me … I have talked with friends messed up after an abortion …
But through all that and so much more I have NEVER LOST FAITH in Jesus Christ!!!
Luke 18:1 says that we should “always pray and not give up.”
I know someone in this room may be thinking, “How can I not lose faith when my world is falling apart?”
My suggestion is to do what I have done for the last 11 years … be honest with God, but also make a decision about what is the one thing in life that holds you together … and you will find Jesus there!!!
Those who want to have A WALK TO REMEMBER you must NEVER LOSE FAITH IN CHRIST!
DARE TO BELIEVE THAT ONE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
I want you to truly, honestly know that I BELIEVE that in this room is the potential to make a difference in the lives of people!
I also believe that YOU have the ability to make a difference!
How can I say that? Easily … Christ … one person … made a difference in my life … and many of yours!
And I have been allowed by God … me, one person … to make differences in your lives and the others that I have ministered to over the years!
And if God can use me, friend, He will definitely use you even more than me!!!
I believe that a person can make a difference in the following practical ways …
Be nice to everyone … not just the cool and accepted.
Share your faith with anyone that is willing to listen.
Stand up for what you believe in … even if you are alone.
Focus on the positives in peoples lives.
Stay humble and never think that you are better than anyone else.
Realize that everyone needs someone.
Believe in people.
Keep your eyes on Jesus at all times!
If you want A WALK TO REMEMBER you must believe that ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
STAND FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN … EVEN WHEN EVERYTHING
AND EVERYONE AROUND YOU FALLING
God is looking for some young people that are going to STAND FOR SOMETHING … that are going to care about something so much that no matter what is happening around them they will not cave in …
In the movie, “A Walk To Remember,” Jamie’s world was falling apart … everyone around her saw her as the “unpopular kid,” but she was still not afraid to stand up for what she believed in …
Are you willing to stand for your purity? When those in your school are having sex!
Are you willing to stand for your beliefs? When those in your school are cursing God!
Are you willing to stand for your faith? When students all around are making fun of you!
Are you willing to stand for your convictions? When your Christian friends are compromising their standards all around you!
Friend, if there is ever a time when we should be standing for what we believe in it is now!!!
Don’t be ashamed to call yourself a Christian … don’t be ashamed to say “no” to what everyone else is doing … don’t be afraid to do what is right, even when everyone else is doing the wrong thing!
When you are feeling tempted look for the escape hatch … the way out … I Corinthians 10:13 reads, “When you are tempted, he will show a way out so that you will not give in to it.”
Do you know what the best cure for peer pressure is? An undying love for Jesus Christ!!! Where you love Him so much that you do not want to break his heart with your words or actions.
Someone who wants A WALK TO REMEMBER must always STAND FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN.
CONCLUSION
Young person, I want all us to live A WALK TO REMEMBER, but it only comes when we first GET TO KNOW GOD AS OUR ONLY HOPE …
ONLY HOPE by Mandy Moore
There’s a song that’s inside of my soul
It’s the one that I’ve tried to write over and over again
I’m awake and in the infinite cold
But you sing to me over and over and over again
So I lay my head back down … And I lift my hands
And pray to be only yours
I pray to be only yours … I know now you’re my only hope
Sing to me of the song of the stars
Of Your galaxy dancing and laughing and laughing again
When it feels like my dreams are so far
Sing to me of the plans that you have for me over again
So I lay my head back down … And I lift my hands … And pray to be only yours
I pray to be only yours … I know now you’re my only hope
I give you my destiny … I’m giving you all of me … I want your symphony … Singing in all that I am
At the top of my lungs I’m giving it back
So I lay my head back down … And I lift my hands … And pray to be only yours
I pray to be only yours … I pray to be only yours … I know now you’re my only hope
