We Can Be Heroes (Modern Day Heroes) Series

Modern day heroes

What is the difference between a hero and a celebrity? (discuss)

Diff b/w heroes and celebs – celebs are famous, possibly not for anything good – eg paris hilton

Heroes – inspire you to be a better person, celebs want you to want their life (for the selfish spoils)

Heroes want you to seek to live like them – for the sake of the world - mother Teresa, nelson Mandela, bonhoffer

Time magazine persons of the year often has heroes – Gandhi, 2005 (bono etc), martin luther king jr

You'll never guess who it was in 2006 – YOU!

You can change cyber space, you could change Wikipedia

But more importantly – “you can be a hero, you can be a changer of history”

But where do I to start – recognition of dependence upon Christ – what he calls us to, same as ever – be disciples (not converts, pew sitters) - led by the Holy Spirit.

If we want to be like Jesus, and that’s what being a Christian is, a Christ follower – then lets listen to what he says, read it all, so imp – but the opening and closing sentence is important – like in rick warren ‘its not about you’ – core thought the rest of the book unpacks, check it out, not complex but really helpful in having a life with purpose.

Jesus too – what were the first and last things he said to his disciples, the team that would go on to pass on his legacy his message that would eventually lead to us here today.

What do disciples do – come, follow me, and i’ll make you fishers of men

Hang, be with him, follow – become like Jesus

From the start, he was honest with them that they would join him with his new growing movement of bringing about the kingdom – being people that fish.

Just in case you disciples missed what you were put here to do – great commission – make disciples, not converts

And take on his work – inland fishing club

How can you be a hero? Take jesus seriously, learn to listen and obey the HS, dare to share your faith,

Have you been through phases in your life when you were a skater/raver/hippy/yuppy/jock and now you look back and laugh. Well Jesus does not want following him to be another phase in your life

- Its more like being white or asian or black or white or whatever your racial / cultural background, its not just what scene you are a part of, but part of your whole being.

Phil 3

Pressing on Toward the Goal

12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

15All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

17Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. 18For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. 20But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Vs 12 – I’m not perfect either, he holds us

Vs 13 – ‘not there yet’ – my times of being humbled

Vs 14 – effort - Dallas Willard – 'grace isn’t opposed to effort, grace is opposed to earning'

Vs 16 - Let us live upto who we are – new creation, people of the spirit,

Vs 17 – join in with your small group in following jesus, you aren’t alone, you can be the first follower dancing with jesus - show youtube clip 'Leadership lessons from the dancing guy'

Vs 19 – don’t just live for yourself, party people (he who dies with the most toys wins)

Vs 20 our home in heaven, lifespan the blink of an eye – helps prioritise life – popularity doesn’t really matter, pleasing God does.