Sharing

William H. Banegas September 15, 2013

Introduction: I am so grateful to the Lord for this opportunity. Additionally, I am grateful that TBC has always had such an interest in young people and their relationship with Jesus Christ that they would conduct a program or programs like the ones we’re introducing today to help them build a solid foundation in the Scriptures that would carry them through the rest of their lives. My foundation for God’s Word was set in this place through the dedication and faithfulness of many of you in here today! Because of this heritage of rigorously training young people in the Word of God, we want to share with you the programs that God has led us to conduct this year to that end.

Transition: Because my wife and I work with the teens Sunday after Sunday, they’re pretty close to our hearts and we want to share with you the program that we’ve developed for them on Sunday nights, beginning this October.

T.O.U.G.H.

Scripture Theme: Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

In this passage, Paul has presented to the Corinthian church the overwhelming evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

In his concluding comments he makes a 2-fold emphasis on their commitment to their foundational belief in Jesus and encourages them to faithful service in the Lord.

That’s why we’ve developed the following acronym:

Trusting God: we want to encourage all teens who cross our path to put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone

Obeying God’s Word: we want to encourage devotion and obedience to the Word of God

Unshakeable faith: This world wants to undermine the Scriptures and it does so through the atheistic teachings of evolution; we want to do our best to provide Biblical answers to the questions and equip our young people to stand strong, firmly rooted in God’s Word, the Truth

Gracefully serving: we’re going to emphasize various activities to promote service within the church to prepare them for greater service in whatever church the Lord leads the young people to join themselves to

Honoring others: we want to encourage our teens to honor one another, honor their parents, honor their teachers, etc.

Kids 4 Truth:

For our young people ages 3 years through 6th grade, we’re going to be using a program called Kids 4 Truth. Developed by “Big” Bob Roberts, this program seeks to ground young people in the Word of God and teach them essential doctrinal truth. Big Bob is a regular speaker at the WILDS in the Jr. Camps and has a big heart for young people. We’re going to watch a quick video that helps us to get a better overview of the program ...

VIDEO

Administrative:

Program begins Sunday October 16 @ 5:30pm

Parents and adults, join us @ 5:30pm as we will conduct a song service to help prepare us for a great time of learning God’s Word ... and we’ll be finished by 5:45, so you’ll have plenty of time to get to the evening service with Pastor!

We’ve got a program just packed full because after we sing together in the opening assembly we’ll dismiss to our classes and from there the young people will recite what they’ve been memorizing from their Truthbook, have a formalized choir time where they’ll learn special music to share in ministry to the church, have a preaching time and a follow-up with their teacher to ensure that they are committing the teaching to their lives as well as a game time to teach them sportsmanship and teamwork.

Every Sunday night we will close our programs with a closing assembly beginning at 7pm and going until 7:15pm. During this time we’re going to sing some more songs and recognize those certain young people who’ve earned an award. We invite you to join us for this time as well to cheer the young people on to make a lifelong commitment to learning God’s Word and internalizing It!

Sharing God’s Word with the young people of this church is not only a big responsibility, but it’s a desire. And the passage that I want to share with you today, in closing, demonstrates what a great responsibility it is ...

Scripture Passage: Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

Theme: Share the Word!

Introduction: Sharing. A concept that, depending on the circumstances you like or dislike. Now here’s where I need some help ... What are some things that you think that we should share? This morning we’re going to look at a passage that calls our attention to a great Truth and identifies how we should respond personally to this Truth. Our passage doesn’t just stop there but further highlights what we should do with this Truth and then we’ll make some application. This morning I want to encourage us to: Share the Word!

Context: Moses, the great leader that God raised up to deliver the Israelites, has faithfully led them through the wilderness for 40 years and now the Israelites are about to enter the Promised Land. Because of disobedience, God has not permitted Moses to enter the Promised Land and now Moses is about to die. Out of care and concern for the people’s spiritual welfare, Moses takes up the challenge of encouraging the people to remember the Word of God and obey it as they enter a new phase of their lives.

The Call (v. 4a)

Jewish confession of Faith

They acknowledged the one-true God and His commandments for them

The core of their belief system

Authoritative Call

A Command

Moses authoritatively calls a whole nation together to hear his message

What gives Moses the authority to call a whole nation together to hear his message? - His message is God’s Word!

The Truth (v. 4b)

YHWH

This name for God identifies His self-Existence or that He’s eternal.

This is the same name that God used with the Israelites when He sent Moses to deliver them form the Egyptians.

It may have likely evoked images in their minds of their slavery in Egypt and God’s great deliverance.

God

This is the term that can refer in general to a deity to be worshiped.

Moses is identifying for the Israelites that the object of their worship is to be YHWH, the self-Existent one.

One

This term refers to the smallest whole number for the Hebrews, number 1, but also can refer to a single person or thing; alone.

He is the Absolute and the Infinite One, who alone is to be worshipped, on whom all depend, and to whose command all must yield obedience (cf. Zech. 14:9)

God is the only god! (Dt. 4:29; 10:12)

He has no rivals

He alone is the self-Existent One

The Living and True God

God is our only god! (Ex. 20:3-6)

Is God your god?

The Response (v. 5)

Command

Desire, or delight

Totality of one’s thoughts, feelings, intent and desires

Absolutely loyal and obedient to Him in every respect

What does this look like?

Undivided loyalty to God alone

Commitment to obeying His Word

Dedicated, whole-hearted service!

The Responsibility (v. 6-9)

Responsibility to Intimately connect (v. 6)

To a Jewish person reading this passage, they understood that the heart was the seat of the most intimate thought-life.

God’s Word is to be so intimately bound to our thought lives that we take it with us wherever we go.

How do you think that one can do this?

This is why we want to get God’s Word into our young people so early, train them to have God’s Word intimately connected in their thought lives!

Responsibility to Share (v. 7)

“Thou shalt teach them diligently”

Means to Whet, or sharpen; like sharpening a knife in order that it may be more useful

That’s what we are to do with God’s Word, purposefully take God’s Word and make our hearer sharper, more useful tools in the Hands of God for His Glory!

The Phrase also has both a formal and informal aspect.

This is something that we do during the course of life.

This is something that we do on purpose, “Now we’re going to spend some time in God’s Word.”

October 13, we’re supplying you with an additional time to help your young people in a formal setting to learn God’s Word to prepare them for a deeper relationship with Him and greater service to Him!

“Children”

Can mean a son, a daughter or grandchildren

Essentially, the responsibility to teach is generational, parents and grandparents, those of you who affirm that the God of the Bible, He is alone is the Self-Existent One Who depends on nothing, He alone is the God we worship - teach the generations of your family members this Truth and to respond in complete devotion to Him alone

Wherever you are and at all times!

You know where the best theological instruction takes place - it can take place not only in the church but it should also take place in your homes!

This really points out just how much we need your help this year.

Your young person needs help at home memorizing the Word.

The also need help internalizing the Word.

Make it easy for them.

Responsibility to Remind (v. 8-9)

Personal Signs

Physical signs on the person to remind them of the Word of the Lord

Make it easy to remember God’s Word, wherever you go

Public Signs

Home Signs

Set up Reminders wherever you are

The Relevance (Matt. 22:37; Mk. 12:29-30; Lk. 10:27)

Jesus affirms the OT!

Jesus commands us to make disciples (Matt. 28:19-20; Mk 16:15)

You see, this is more than just for our families.

We have a responsibility to share with everyone!

Conclusion: “God doesn’t have fans; He has players; Get in the Game!”