My Epic Journey

Every year our High School ministry does a winter retreat called The CHILL.  Last year was a tough year.  We talked about Purity and how to remain pure in today’s sex-inundated culture.  This time last year our high school staff was deep in research and development on the topics of sexting, sex, masturbation, dating, etc.  I say all that to say that this year it is so much more refreshing. 

This year our focus is on becoming ONE with God, the Holy Spirit, Yourself, and Others.  No more weird and awkward internet searches or talks at the brainstorming table with our volunteer staff.  This year it is wonderful to talk about how we are or are not connecting with God.  We have already had great conversations about the Holy Spirit’s role in our lives and what that mean not only personally but in the context of community as well.

Perhaps all of this is why I am so EXTREMELY excited about this year’s CHILL.  On February 12th-14th, we will embark on an exciting journey in search of connectedness and fullness with the God, ourselves and others.

In preparation for this year’s CHILL I have been engrossed in Francis Chan’s newest book, Forgotten God.  It is a look at the Holy Spirit’s role in our life and how we often if not always forgot about His presence, role and work in us as children of God.

I am excited about not only what the re-introduction of the Holy Spirit is doing in my life but what He may do in the lives of our High School students at and after The CHILL.

Please be praying about what God will do at this year’s CHILL and what He is doing in preparation for it. 

BOTTOM LINE: At some point in your life, you were invisible—but Jesus saw you.

INTRODUCTION

There are people all around us who go unseen.

TENSION

Some of you have felt invisible before.

At some point in our lives, each one of us will experience what it’s like to be invisible.

TRUTH

“Do you want to get well?” (John 5:6 NIV).

“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” Then Jesus said to him: “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked (John 5:7-9 NIV).

Jesus saw those others overlooked. He paid attention to those others thought invisible. He stopped. He took notice. And then He did something.

APPLICATION

Every one of us has actually been the man at the pool.

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners (Romans 5:6 NLT).

Just like the man at the pool—we are without hope, without strength, without assistance—until Jesus took notice of us.

God didn’t ignore us. He sent His Son to die for us. When we had no one, God sent Jesus so we could have Someone.

Jesus sees the invisibles. He sees us when we’re so desperate and we want to be seen. He sees us when we’re completely unaware of how impossible and hopeless our situation is.

Jesus not only saw the invisibles then, He sees the invisibles now.

LANDING

Everyone could use a connection—if only someone would stop long enough to reach out.

Because of Jesus’ love, because of His actions, we never have to be invisible again.

Here is the outline for our first week of our series Can You Hear Me Now?

Can You Hear Me Now? (1): CUL8R (see you later)

Bottom Line: Intentional prayer paves the way for intimacy and relationship

TEACHING OUTLINE

INTRODUCTION:

Most formula prayers center on the idea of asking God for something.

TENSION:

From our perspective, we don’t get why God answers some prayers one way, and other prayers a different way.

Some of us decide prayer is just one big flip of a coin.

TRUTH:

There was something different about how Jesus prayed.

“Don’t be like the hypocrites, for they love standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men” (Matthew 6:5 NIV).

“Don’t be like the hypocrites, for they love standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full” (Matthew 6:5 NIV).

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen (Matthew 6:6 NIV).

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then, your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matthew 6:6 NIV).

The reward is the relationship. God invented prayer for you to cultivate a relationship with Him.

APPLICATION:

We can talk to God the rest of our lives and never feel connected to Him.

God wants us to understand the fullness of who He is and what He wants for us.

Where is that place? When is that time?

Find a place with few distractions where you can get alone, just you and God.

CONCLUSION:

I don’t want you to think that prayer is simply asking and waiting.

Where can you carve out time this week to get alone with Him?