Bigger Than Us (Part 1)

Announcements:

Welcome to MDWK!

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Brand new series: Bigger Than Us

The Gospel Project this Sunday: Guilt & Shame

In two weeks: New Unit!

The Life and Ministry of Christ

Open Gym this week

Not meeting next week on account of Meta

Speaking of Meta… It is not too late to sign up!

The best weekend of the year

Speaker: Lans Jones

Theme: Relationships (1 Corinthians 15:33)

Late night bowling

Overnight

Stuff all day at Ebenezer on Saturday

$50.00 registration fee includes t shirt, meals, bowling, etc.

New deadline is Friday!

Every participant will need to get their parents to fill out a form

We do still have a couple of spots left for camp

July 12-16

I am a BIG FUGE fan

Let me know if interested

Winter Jam THIS SATURDAY

Sign up online

$15.00 at the door

Meeting at the church at 2:00PM

We will grab dinner before getting in line.

We are proud to sponsor Estebon!

Get letters to me by next Wednesday.

Introduction

Attention:

Raise your hand if you like math

What is the number one thing that we wonder about math?

“Why am I doing this?”

Extends into other areas as well

This series: WHY we are doing this

Need:

God created us to be purposeful in what we do.

You were created ON PURPOSE FOR A PURPOSE

Getting on the same page

Body

The Big Idea: EBC|YOUTH is a “bigger than us” ministry.

The Question: What does it mean to be a “bigger than us” ministry?

9 Principles (1-3):

We realize that every student desires to live for something bigger than themselves.

Explanation:

Adolescence = “there’s more to life”

Life is hard

Longing for the big picture

During Jesus time

Matthew 22:34–40 (ESV)

34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

The Law = “bigger than us”

Means of relationship with God

Pharisees: “What sums up the law?”

Or “how is it that someone lives for something bigger than themselves?”

And you know what Jesus says?

Love God (worship).

Starts with loving God (AKA worship)

EBC|YOUTH: helping students love God

How?

Relevant biblical teaching and worship music

Colossians 3:16 (ESV)

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Let the Word dwell in you

How?

Through teaching and singing

Both help us to love God more

The second greatest commandment: “love your neighbor as yourself?”

Love God (worship).

Love others (ministry).

EBC|YOUTH: helping teens love others

How?

Serving-In and Serving-Out

Serving-In: Ministry opportunities in church

Serving-Out: Service projects outside the church

We want to help you do these things

In Summary: Every student desires something bigger than themselves

The only way to get there is through loving God and loving others

Illustration:

Looking at the stars at night

Application:

In what ways in your own life have you longed for something more?

Challenges in life

What’s it going to look like for you to get on board with God’s purposes of loving God and others?

What would it look like for you to to join in with our youth ministry in loving God and other people?

The Big Idea: EBC|YOUTH is a “bigger than us” ministry.

The Question: What does it mean to be a “bigger than us” ministry?

We realize that every student desires to live for something bigger than themselves.

We are passionate about making student disciples.

Matthew 28:18–20 (ESV)

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Explanation

Christ’s marching orders for the church

Some textual observations

Christ’s authority is bigger than us

“All authority.”

Jesus is God.

He created us and has the authority to give “bigger than us” commands

Christ’s authority is bigger than us.

Going is bigger than us.

Life principle: it is easier to stay than it is to go.

Otherwise, we wouldn’t have to be told to do this

Get out of our comfort zone and go

Christ’s authority is bigger than us.

Going is bigger than us.

Making disciples is bigger than us

That’s ultimately what this passage is all about

Our context: Helping students make disciples

But how?

Sharing the Gospel (The Cause Circle)

But more immediately, who?

Christ’s authority is bigger than us.

Going is bigger than us.

Making disciples is bigger than us

“All the nations” is bigger than us.

Hillsborough, Durham, and beyond

How?

Estebon

The Browns

Foreign missions

The point: This is a BIG task.

Now back to the question… how do we make disciples?

Christ’s authority is bigger than us.

Going is bigger than us.

Making disciples is bigger than us.

“All the nations” is bigger than us.

Next steps are bigger than us.

“Father, Son, Holy Spirit” (Trinitarian)

Baptism is a next step

Wedding ring analogy

The point: We are about helping students take their next steps

Other next steps:

Spending time with God (Bible reading & prayer)

Serving

One-on-One discipleship

Sharing your faith

Etc.

We want this for you, and we want to equip you to equip other teenagers to do this.

Christ’s authority is bigger than us.

Going is bigger than us.

Making disciples is bigger than us.

“All the nations” is bigger than us.

Next steps are bigger than us.

“Teaching them” is bigger than us.

Growing in our walk with Jesus

We want to measure it

Christ’s authority is bigger than us.

Going is bigger than us.

Making disciples is bigger than us.

“All the nations” is bigger than us.

Next steps are bigger than us.

“Teaching them” is bigger than us.

God’s presence is bigger than us.

Our “bigger than us” task has a “bigger than us” means.

EBC|YOUTH: Helping students make disciples

Not just inviting and creating youth group attenders

Illustration:

My conversation with Sam Nelson

Application:

2 questions:

1. Who is discipling you?

This is a place for you to be discipled

2. Who are you discipling?

This is a place for you to disciple others

Get on board with Christ’s mission for students

The Big Idea: EBC|YOUTH is a “bigger than us” ministry.

The Question: What does it mean to be a “bigger than us” ministry?

We realize that every teenager desires to live for something bigger than themselves.

We are passionate about making student disciples.

Our desire is to help students develop a faith of their own.

Explanation:

The path to adulthood

The “asking questions” stage of life

Knowing why you do what you do

Knowing why you believe what you believe.

Faith

Hebrews 11:6 (ESV)

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

What is “faith”?

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Faith, Faithfulness

Throughout the Scriptures faith is the trustful human response to God’s self-revelation via His words and His actions.

Without this, you can’t please God

Even more specific: Without making it your own, you can’t please God

Your parents’ faith will not save you.

You have to decide to follow Jesus YOURSELF

Talk about my youth group growing up

They never made their faith their own

THIS is what makes youth ministry important.

What does God reward the faithful with?

Assurance, confidence, passion, zeal

EBC|YOUTH exists to help students develop a faith of their own

But how?

Helping students understand why they believe that they believe

Asking questions (once a quarter; next is Match 29)

Problem of Evil (Easter)

Giving students an opportunity to PRACTICE their faith

Now is the time

Illustration:

Driving

Application:

Have you made your faith your own yet?

Not saved/saved

What is that going to take?

And what is it going to take for you to help other students develop their own faith?

Live for more

Conclusion

Visualization

Get the picture in your mind

This is where we are going

Get on board!

Reiteration

This vision requires YOU

What are you going to do to contribute to God’s purpose for EBC|YOUTH?

To start: commit to coming

Get excited about God’s mission

Be ready to get involved reach this community with the Gospel.

Small groups

PRAY

Small Group Questions

Matthew 22:34–40 (ESV)

34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 28:18–20 (ESV)

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Hebrews 11:6 (ESV)

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

1. What are some examples that you have seen of teens wanting to live for something that is bigger than themselves?

2. In what ways does Matthew 22:34-40 motivate and challenge you?

3. How is making disciples different than making youth group attenders?

4. What is the most challenging part about making student disciples in 2023?

5. Why is it so important for a teenager to make their faith their own?

6. What is one way that you are going to apply this message to your life tonight?