Sermon Tone Analysis

Session 3

Personal Story: Being in ministry with young adults and students I have seen a lot of interesting things in my life time.

Let me tell you a story about Robert.

Robert was the kid that would come to church, sit in small groups, and talk about how much God loved him.

How he devoted his whole life to Christ.

He did not care if people picked on him, or teased him, he was going to tell anyone and everyone about Jesus.

One day, I happened to be in the High School that Robert was in, and as I was coming around the corner, I heard this guy yelling and cussing, and saying things that I would be ashamed to say in front of my wife, much less anyone else.

As this person rounded the corner, guess who it was?

It was Robert.

I looked at him with such shock.

I couldn’t believe the same Robert that I thought was so on fire for God, was here cussing and fighting with someone like that.

I remember having a conversation with Robert to talk about it.

I mentioned that if he was acting like this, I was going to have to take him off our student leadership program because we cannot be represented like that.

Well, 3 weeks later, Robert quit coming to church, is apparently now trans, he said he wanted to worship satan, and Pastor Josh at the church was a racist bigot and everyone needed to stay away from him.

I share this story, because in this session we are going to talk about something that every Christ follower should desire in they are truly discovering their purpose.

IF YOU FOLLOW CHRIST, YOU SHOULD DESIRE TO BE DISCIPLED AND TO DISCIPLE.

1 John 2:6

“Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.”

God’s original intention for all of us, was to serve and life for him.

We see that in the book or Romans.

Romans 8:29

“For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”

God created us, in advance, to become like his son.

Who was his son?

What was he like?

We know his son was Jesus.

And his design was for us to live in perfect harmony with him.

As we saw previously, that was impossible because of Adam and Eve.

These Purposes that we have been talking about this weekend are important.

They are the fundamental faiths that our Church is built on.

Whether you are in college, about to finish High school, or maybe just starting high school, this statement is for you.

IN YOUR LIFE, YOU SHOULD WANT TO BECOME COMPELLING PEOPLE MORE THAN CREATING COMPELLING EXPERIENCES.

You may be asking, Josh, What does that mean?

Remember my story about Robert?

He was more concerned with people thinking his life was compelling, then proving to himself that Christ loves him.

We may not have all experienced this changing salvation of Christ.

We think we have.

We may want to believe we have.

But we have never stopped and really opened our lives to the complete salvation of Christ.

If you haven’t done that, how can we expect to be disciples?

Romans 3:23

“For INSERT NAME has sinned; INSERT NAME falls short of God’s glorious standard.”

Take a minute and write your salvation story.

How did it happen?

What led up to you deciding to live for Christ?

If you do not have a story, or you have no commited your life to Christ, that is ok.

Write down that you want to talk to someone, and when we are finished, find a leader.

Has anyone ever told you that you are not mature?

Were they right or wrong?(discuss)

Immaturity makes us do some pretty dumb things.

I have done some pretty dumb things in my life that I wonder why I even did them.

Drinking and driving, Drugs, Sex before marriage, dares, skipped school, acted childish in mature environments, all of these are examples of immature things.

Immaturity can also create bitterness.

Bitterness leads to emptiness, which leads to walking away from anything that is good for you.

Include being mad at God.

Mrs. Adrienne has a personal story that she wants to share with you regarding this.

Listen, it happens.

We are all going to walk through a season of immaturity and bad decisions.

If we are saved by the grace of God, we have to learn the very important piece of this third purpose.

The Third Step In Discovering Our Purpose Is In Life, We Must Always Be Growing to Maturity.

Mainly spiritual maturity, especially as it pertains to discipleship.

But also physical maturity as well.

It is important to remember that:

GOD CREATED YOU TO BECOME LIKE CHRIST!

When we do this, and we become like Christ,

THE BIBLE THEN, CALLS THIS DISCIPLESHIP.

APPLICATION

Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? ( Y / N ) Circle One

What in your life stands out when you hear the word maturity?

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Have you been baptized?

( Y / N ) If not, would you like to be?

What questions do you have about discipleship?