A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR:
Dear Pastor,
I want to thank you for taking the time to teach the Pray21 principles of Believe, Belong, Become, and Be from your pulpit during the next few weeks. As a pastor myself, I know how dedicated you are to accurately teaching God’s Word, so I have worked hard to make sure these outlines are biblically correct and culturally relevant to the battle your church faces today. At the same time, I admit that I do not know your congregation, so please make adjustments as needed to feed the flock entrusted to your care.
There are a couple points I would like to discuss with you briefly that are crucial. Honestly, I didn’t know how to address them in the outlines without having an intimate knowledge of your congregation. I was concerned that if I made these points, I might weaken the primary purpose of the four messages; therefore, I simply want to highlight them for your prayerful consideration and implementation.
You are going to find that Pray21 sermons deal primarily with the young people and youth ministry in your church. These messages place the emphasis on adults learning to see youth differently; but truthfully, many of the adults in your church are going to see themselves in the content and context of Pray21. This campaign is about helping followers of Jesus Christ (regardless of age) find their place in his cause and their role in his church. You know as well as I do that too many believers still do not know who they are even after decades of being in the church. Pray21 is an opportunity for the church to help youth and adults recognize and respond to God’s voice in their life.
While it is my fervent hope that your congregation will learn to see young people in a new light and embrace the mentality of youth in ministry, there is mutual benefit for all ages from this mission. As you and the adults in your church begin to believe in young people, they will begin to believe in themselves. At the same time, adults are going to be learning more about themselves. Be prepared to make this point in each sermon.
The need is great and the time is now. Take the time to make these messages personal to all ages. I already believe they are, but again, I want to leave those additional teaching points to your prayerful discernment and pastoral discretion. Apply this message to all generations – everyone is looking for a breakthrough.
Because of Jesus,
Timothy Eldred
Executive Director
Christian Endeavor International
Feel free to call me personally. I can’t wait to hear your wisdom! 800-260-3234.
Pray21 Week 4: Be
Message: Jesus doesn’t intend for us to be disciples forever. One day soon he will call us friends, and we will take on disciples.
Notes:
1. Focus – Jesus becomes our friend once we have completed training. Then, he asks us to take the lead and pick up where he left off.
2. Main point – just like Samuel with David and Jesus with Peter, it was the chance to BE with Jesus that changed their lives. Jesus wants you to BE with him a while, learn from him until you know what he knows and can do what he does. He will set the agenda. So don’t worry about what you will do or say. Just start the journey and BE.
3. The Pray21 Discovery Guide gives many examples that can be used for the sermon. Read and choose the one or two examples throughout the book that speak the most to your heart to use in the message.
4. Combine these with examples from your life about how you spend time with Jesus and when you learned to BE his friend.
5. Have others give similar short testimonies—both youth and adults.
6. Leave time for a ‘blessing service’ with the young people at the end of the sermon.
Outline:
1. Introduction
a. You have learned a new habit.
b. It takes 21 days to put something into your routine. You did it! You learned how to listen and pray—youth and adults together.
c. Jesus was working on the prayer discipline right up to the crucifixion and even before he left for his seat on the heavenly throne!
d. We will never stop working on new and different ways to pray together as a church.
e. It’s just the beginning of something amazing.
f. Who knows where God will lead? God knows! So keep praying and listening.
2. Body
Today we will make an official commitment, as a church, and promise to continue to pray with youth.
a. At the end of the service, we will hang these dog tags around your neck and speak a blessing over your lives.
b. These dog tags are symbolic of a number of things:
i. We are in a battle. In a battle we must stay in constant communication with our commander.
ii. We need each other. Without watching each other’s backs, we will be lost.
iii. We don’t belong to ourselves. In boot camp you learn that you are 100% government property. These dog tags symbolize that you are 100% children of God. He is looking out for you.
iv. An enemy is trying to kill us. In prayer, we arm ourselves and put up a guard around our heart. We must learn to pray constantly. These tags are a reminder.
v. No greater love is there than laying down our lives for our friends. Jesus loves you—he died for you. These are to remind you that he took a fall for you. But even better—he rose from the dead and made a promise that anyone who believed him, followed him, and told others about it, would have a place with him forever.
c. Jesus took three years to carefully lead his disciples through experiences in which they would discover their calling and purpose.
i. Amazed, seventy-two returned from a short-term mission’s trip through Judea and all came back and reported the same things. The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” Jesus replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:17–20, NIV)
ii. There is always something better, something more amazing just around the corner with Jesus. But heaven is the best of all.
iii. On his final day before his death, he said, “I no longer call you servants. Now, I call you friends because you know everything I know.”
iv. One day soon, when you know what Jesus knows, Jesus will call you FRIEND.
3. Commissioning Service
a. Bring all the youth to the front.
b. Acknowledge those who have given their hearts to Jesus and asked for forgiveness.
c. Acknowledge those who have been set free from debilitating fears, sin, sickness, or the trauma of past experiences.
d. Acknowledge those who have said they want to follow Jesus and learn more.
e. Acknowledge those who have found their calling and are ready to go into training.
f. Acknowledge God’s leading to confront ‘Goliaths’ in the community.
g. Acknowledge those who are still waiting and affirm their patience and commitment to wait on Jesus to speak.
h. Give time for testimonies from all who are hearing God and experiencing his blessings through prayer.
i. Ask the adult partners to place ‘dog tags’ around the necks of all the youth as a symbol of the church’s commitment to keep track of them in the battle so that no one goes missing.
j. As Jesus said in his final prayer, “Thank you Father for helping me keep all of them safe—except the one.” (Scripture)
k. Worship together in song and linger—spend a little extra time at church today to celebrate what God is doing.
4. Conclusion
After a time of prayer and celebration, conclude with this:
a. You may be asking, “Now what?”
b. In the next month, we will continue in prayer.
c. During that time, I will be asking people to step forward and take on disciples as Jesus did.
d. There is no age limit.
e. You must simply be ready to lead as Christ would.
f. You will:
i. Dedicate yourself to a cause of Christ,
ii. Make disciples,
iii. Baptize those who are not yet baptized,
iv. Teach them to obey everything Jesus commanded, and
v. Slay a giant (or meet a need!) in the community.
vi. If your heart is ready for this task, come talk to me.
