ANSWERING THE CALL
START MESSAGE OUT WITH SKIT:
SKIT FOR MESSAGE “ANSWERING THE CALL”
(Arrange with a high schooler before hand to call you on your cell phone and go through the script. Have your cell phone on the pulpit and make sure people in the audience hear it - THIS WILL REALLY GET THEIR ATTENTION!)
PREACHER: (Hears cell phone ringing and answers it, very confused…) Hello?
YOUTH: Hey, Preacher (Insert your name)!
PREACHER: Who is this?
YOUTH: It is me, Joe Schmoe (Insert youth’s name).
PREACHER: (Still confused…) Oh, hey Joe. This is a really odd time to be calling me on my cell phone.
YOUTH: Oh, I know that it is kind of a weird time. But, hey, some of us teens are getting together after church. We really want you to come along.
PREACHER: Me? I can’t believe you are asking me to join you! Why would you want me along?
YOUTH: Well, you are our youth pastor and all. Besides, you are a good guy – you’re not a goober. We like you and we want you to be there.
PREACHER: Well, I’m not real sure that it is convenient. You see, my wife gets tired easy right now and I should probably be home with her. (You can insert some other applicable excuse)
YOUTH: Are you driving?
PREACHER: Yes.
YOUTH: Then bring her along. She can come, too. Or you can take her home if she is too tired after church, then you can come and meet us. We really want you to be with us.
PREACHER: Well, I don’t know. I’m just not sure that I would have a good time or if I should be there.
YOUTH: Those sound like pretty sorry excuses to me. Come on, we really would like to have you along.
PREACHER: OK, you won me over. Where are we hooking up?
YOUTH: We’ll let you know after church. I know that right now you need to get on with the message…
EXCUSES FOR REJECTING OR REFLECTING THE CALL
I. DISBELIEF OR LACK OF ESTEEM – EXODUS 3:11, 4:1
Many times, we may react much like Moses did initially.
In Exodus 3:11, he cannot see the value that God has seen in him… In Exodus 4:1, he cannot see God’s people seeing that value…
We should rather realize the potential that God has placed in us…
“Whom He called, He has also justified…” Romans 8:30
We should also ask God to fulfil our shortcomings…
“And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?” 1 Kings 3:7-9
II. INCONVENIENCE OR CRIMPING OUR LIFESTYLE – JUDGES 13-16
In Judges 13:5, Samson was called to be a separate example – a Nazarite. He was not to drink strong drink (Numbers 6:3), nor was he to allow a razor to come upon his head (Num 6:5), neither was he to touch a dead body (Num. 6:6)
Samson wanted only what he wanted, and would serve God only when it suited his purposes, or was convenient for him to do so. He lusted after a Philistine woman and wanted her for his wife (Judges 13:3). He then has a marriage feast (Jud. 14:10), which would have included the drinking of strong drink. He killed a lion with his bare hands (Jud. 14:6). After a while, he discovered that a bee’s hive was in the carcass, and took honey from it (Jud. 14:8-9). Finally, he went in to a harlot and she later cut his hair.
We should rather be willing to sacrifice ourselves for Christ’s sake…
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Romans 12:1
III. WE WANT TO COME UP WITH PETTY EXCUSES – LUKE 14:17-20
We always want to come up with excuses that put our finances, possessions or family first.
The man in verse 18 had bought a piece of ground and used that as an excuse. This was a lame excuse since he claimed that he had not even seen it yet. Who buys property without checking it out?
The person in verse 19 used his new oxen as an excuse. This was a lame excuse since he said that he had not tried them yet. Who buys a car without test driving it?
In verse 20, the individual used his new wife as an excuse. “He pretends that he cannot, when the truth is he will not…” Matthew Henry. Our families can be involved in the call - Bring Them Along!
IV. WE SHOULD RATHER SUBMIT TO HIS CALLING – PSALMS 81:10-16
