“A DO IT YOURSELF MESSAGE”
John 3:16
(For the accompanying powerpoint - http://www.hueytownbaptist.com/pastorspage/sermondownloads.html)
> Tonight we begin what should be one of the most exciting weeks in the year for the HBC family. The focus is children. We should be ready at all times to share Christ, lead them to faith, & help them begin their spiritual journey, but never any more than during VBS. Candidly, among God’s people, there should always be a “soul consciousness” because so many need Him.
> But the question which should be asked is “why.” Why do we need to be reminded to be conscious of souls? Why are we, the ones given the grace of God, not more aware of those who need the grace of God?
> Within any church family exist 3 different types of members. They are the;
> 1) Authentic: they are the “real deal”, they are saved, Sure, and Showing. They know they’re saved because they not only remember the day, but they have an intimate relationship with Christ. They walk and talk with Him every day. And you know what, “it shows”; in their attitude, lifestyle, talk, and life. They know 1st hand.
> 2) Almost: these have a 2nd hand type of faith. In our minds, they look like believers, act, talk like, and even give like believers, yet they have no first hand knowledge of a relationship with Jesus Christ. These are those who say, “I’ve been in church all my life”, “I stood on the piano bench while my mom played for services”, “my grandpa was pastor for 57 years”, or even “I was born in the church.” It is not my desire to be unkind, but this kind of “believerism” is so impersonal that there is no way it is authentic, because Jesus is so up-close and personal.
> 3) Astounding: (This is my word for these) to me, this group is truly astounding! They want their children to be married in the church, they want to be buried in the church, they are church members (in name only), they have been baptized, they attend Christmas, Easter, Mother’s & Father’s day, the Sunday after a family trauma, they want the church’s support, and (as that great theologian, my mom says) they want their church membership listed in their obituary. This is one of my many weaknesses; I believe this illogical and unreasonable thinking is “astounding.”
> The question is this; exactly what does it mean to be a believer? Is there something I can “hang my hat on and tell my story?” Yes. Today I want to give you an aid.
> We live in an era when we want to be “self-made.” The shelves at the bookstores a filled with “self-help” books. Yet, in the matter of getting to heaven, gaining eternal life and abundant life, Titus 2:4-5 (But when the goodness and love for man appeared from God our Savior, He saved us — not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy,) teaches us that HE SAVED US. We are not self-made, but God-made.
> This morning let’s begin with the one verse of scripture which may be the most familiar verse in the Bible. (text)
> I have entitled this message “A Do it yourself” message. So let’s see if we can follow instructions and walk out together ready to share our lives & Him with people
> (Give instructions about the bags and baggies)
> (Build the Power Band Bracelet)
> Please take the band of leather out. Now tie a knot in this leather about 1/3 of the way up the leather. The leather represents time, all of time, from creation to destruction.
> The knot represents your birth (Ecc 3:2).
> Now, take the black bead and put it on the long end of the band. When we are born the Bible says we are born into sin. (Romans 3:10, 23) For some, there never do anything about the blackness of their sin. Sin leads to death (Romans 6:23a). Since the payment for sin is death and this debt must be satisfied, you and I cannot take care of this debt by ourselves.
> Next, take the Red bead. This represents the blood that Jesus shed for you. Remember, sin (the black bead) is punishable by death, it is the Red bead (the blood which flowed from the death of Jesus) that atones, accounts, and pays your sin debt. This cleansing blood is available for every person. (Heb 9:22)
> Next, take the White Bead. Just as surely as my soul is black which sin and needs to have the cleansing power found in the blood of Jesus; that blood washes my soul as white I snow. I don’t understand how red blood can mix with black sin and wash me as white as snow. However, even though I don’t understand it, I still KNOW that it’s true. This is a 3 step process;
a. Repent of Sin – Acts 3:19. Repentance is the same as a “U-turn”.
b. Place faith in Jesus (Eph 2:8-9 & Romans 10:9-10). To place faith is not simply an attitude, it is an action. I may believe that a chair can hold me when I sit, but I never place my faith in that chair until I sit in it.
c. Surrender to Jesus as Lord. All through the New Testament, we read of people referring to Jesus as Lord. Lord means boss, manager, overseer, master, CEO, or even the one in control. This is similar to a car. A car’s engine can run, put it in gear it can move, all the part work right, but it has no direction or purpose until a driver (I.E. controller, master, Lord) takes the steering and acceleration.
> Next, comes the Blue Bead. This bead represents the water in which we are baptized. This symbolic act of obedience is expected of me by the Father to demonstrate my change in life. In fact, before the days of altar call, baptism was considered your “public declaration” of faith.
> Next, we’ll use the Green Bead. The life of a believer which develops into a Christian is not a one step process nor is it a “one stop” action. Peter ends his 2nd letter with this admonition; “Grown in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul tells us to “study” to show ourselves approved. Jesus says, “Let your light shine” and the only way for my light to shine is to grow into the likeness of Jesus.
> Finally, take the yellow bead and slip it on the band. The yellow represents the streets of gold which are being prepared for those who know Christ. In John 14 Jesus promises to come and take us to the place He’s preparing for His children. Consider this, the Apostle John who recorded John 14 was later given a first hand tour of this place Jesus described. In Revelation 21 John says, the walls are of Jasper and the city is pure gold.
> Now tie a knot as close to the yellow bead as possible.
> Consider this; this knot represents the security found in Christ. We are sealed by His Holy Spirit and are Kept by the Hand of God.
> Now take a moment of tie this on your wrist. When someone asks you why the band, be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in you.
> Why have I taken time today to do something which to some of you seem so juvenile? Several reasons;
> first, this needs to serve as a checkpoint for you personally
> This can serve as a resource to those who have trouble sharing about your faith in Christ.
> This can assist in beginning conversations with those who might wind up in hell without your help.
> Let me end with a true story told by Ed Young;
> A friend of mine was attending seminary, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, and while there he was pastoring a church in Taylorsville, Kentucky. He was asked one year to deliver the Baccalaureate address for the High School and after he had finished speaking, he was seated on the platform and by him was a young man who was president of the senior class, also valedictorian of the senior class, an outstanding basketball player who had just signed to play basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats. Full scholarship. When the pastor finished his words, this young man who also was a member of his church reached over and said, "Could I see you in the next few days? I ’d like to talk to you about exactly what it means to be a Christian." The pastor nodded and said, "Certainly, Bill." That night after the graduation exercise, Bill and some of his friends were going into Louisville for a party of celebration of their graduation. It was cold. The rain was falling. The roads were icy and they didn’t quite make a curve and the horror story that grips any parent that causes fear into the life of any parent became a reality as the car Bill was driving swerved and hit a telephone pole and ricocheted into some fences. All the young people in the car were rushed to the hospital there in Louisville. Bill’s folks were called and ultimately called the pastor of the little church and the pastor when he got to the hospital saw Bill’s dad walking out of the emergency room. He was broken, crying and he looked up at the preacher and said, "Bill’s dead." But then when he composed himself somewhat, he said, "That’s not the most difficult thing at this moment for me because he regained consciousness long enough with my standing at his side and he opened his eyes and looked at me and he said, ’Dad, what does it mean to be a Christian?"’ He said, "I’ve taken my family to church; I’ve served on the Deacon Board; we’ve been active in everything since Bill was born, but I’d never really shared with him what it meant to be a Christian and evidently he was not sure." And he said, "Before I could talk with him he lapsed back into unconsciousness and slipped away."
