Gospel Message
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“Follow me”
“Follow me”
We’ve hit the final main message of camp. Hopefully you have learned something new and been challenged in your face. We have covered a lot of ground over the last several days and we are going to leave you with some final challenges.
You live in a world that is constantly shaping you.
School
Friends
Social Media
Music
Trends
Story of playing the game at a nuggets basektball game
Following someone can sometimes be nerve-racking or even scary. We often talk about following Christ as Christians, but what does that mean? For some of you, you may not even be a christian and are wondering why does any of this matter to me?
Wherever you land, I encourage you to stay locked in on this message. Its an important one, because as we understand what it means to be shaped by God, we must understand what it means to follow someone.
in Matthew 4:18-20
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.
The phrase “come follow me” would have been somethign that every Jewish boy would have wanted to hear. Every Jewish boy (6-10 years old) was required to memorize the first 5 books of the bible. YES ALL 5, memorized.
but only the elite were selected to learn further and be religious leaders. The Rabbi’s who would select these boys to follow them would say, “Follow me”.
This was a call to abandon their old way of life and turn towards the role of learning under a Rabbi. So Jesus calling Peter and Andrew in this moment would have been exciting for them. They were being called to study under a Rabbi!
It feels good to be called to something right? Psychologist point out that two of the most important things in a persons life are to be needed and known.
That is the exact message of the gospel. It communicates that we are known by God and that we are utilized by his grace to go out and share the gospel.
I want you all to leave here knowing and understanding the gospel. When asking students what the gospel was I would get several answers.
“love god and love others”
“Serve God”
“Jesus dying for us”
“Jesus loving sinners”
etc.
It reminded me that we keeping telling people to share the gospel and the average person doesn’t even know what the gospel is.
G- God Created us to be with him (Gen 1:26
Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
O- Our sins separate us from God (Gen 3)
S- Sins cannot be removed by good deeds (Eph 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.
P- Paying the price for sins, Jesus died and rose again (Galatians 1:4
who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
E- Everyone who Trusts in him has eternal life (John 5:24
“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.
L- Life with Jesus starts now (Matthew 28:18-20
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Some of you are sitting here now and you have zero desire to pursue Christ. Some of you are content with the way life is going or feel as though God could never love you.
If that is you, can you focus just for the next few moments?
You must understand Jesus loves you!
John 3:16 tells me otherwise
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Love is a hard thing to understand because in our world love means many different things. For some of you, you hear that our Heavenly father loves you, but you have a earthly father who hurts you.
Sometimes we ignore or completely miss what is right in front of us. Story of Rae Rae and the drawer
In the same way, we often whine, and complain and only talk to God when we want or need something. Even then he still loves us.
But do you want to know what Jesus’ love looks like? Sometimes we hear the story of Jesus’ death so much that we become numb to the severity of it. but think about all that Jesus went through...
Jesus was betrayed by one of his best friends
Peter cuts off ear of soldier and Jesus puts it back on
Jesus’ Friend denies him
Jesus is put on trial
The people asked for the release of a robber and murder over Jesus
Jesus was flogged
made of leather, bone and metal
Two soldiers would beat a man to the edge of his life
The soliders mocked him tore his clothes
crown of thorns
struck him in the head with a staff
carried cross to be crucified
Was nailed to the cross feet and hands
usually dislocates elbows and shoulders
Would have to lift themselves up by pushing down
If you ever wondered if there was a God who loves you, look at the cross. The great potter has provided a way for you, the clay to be saved. He wants to be in relationship with you. he wants to save you, he wants to transform you.
One day you will stand before a Holy God and you will either be judged on your own accord or through the blood of Jesus.
My prayer is that you would turn from your sin. That you would seek Christ and that you would pursue him!