Example VS Expectation Part 2-Camp Themed

Introduction- Well if you were at outreach yesterday then you know that we went to Arby’s yesterday. Arby’s is infamous for one thing, what is it? Getting our names wrong. That has become the expectation for us when we go. We expect them to get our names wrong and it’s really not surprising anymore because it’s fast-food and it has happened so much. They also were yelling almost the whole time back and forth to each other.

But, what we were talking about at our table is that at CFA, the expectation is you get the guests names right, you aren’t really allowed to yell the guests names out super loud, you just go find them, you don’t yell orders to the back, you just ask in a nice way and it really sets CFA apart. They stand out, maybe not just for their food but almost more thna anything, for the way they treat their guests and the customer service that they have.

As teens you can either be like an Arby’s and just fall to everyone’s expectations of teens or you can be like a CFA and rise above and be the example as a teenager.

Word-

Our culture expects teenagers to not have control of their tongue, to say things that are not very wise, to talk back to their parents, they expect them to say bad things about others, always gossiping behind one another’s backs. Culture expect teens to say crude things, to cuss like everyone else does, or like I said last week, use all kinds of euphemisms. I don’t mean to be crude but I feel like I need to be honest this morning… We use phrases like, oh my gosh, or that sucks, dang it, or oh crap and that just isn’t respectful or becoming of a child of God and it is definitely not setting the example for what a Christian should be. I don’t want to hear any of those at camp this year.

-Not only do teens struggle with what they say but also what they post on social media. This is becoming one of biggest things that teenagers struggle with. It seems like there is some kind of disconnect between reality and social media because teens and adults alike will say things on social media and post things on social media that they would never say in person, or post pictures that they would never show in public. Listen, don’t treat social media like it is not a big deal. There are people who are getting fired or not hired or getting in huge trouble for things that they post on social media. The expectation is that teens will be right in the middle of it and that they will post whatever they want on TikTok and Snapchat and Instagram and it will never affect them in real life. Well it does and it can be HUGE issue. I grew up with teenagers that acted great on the outside, knew all the right things to say, but on social media they were a completely different person, and it was only a matter of time before it came out who they really were. There are some of you who will act one way at church or talk one way in person or at church and yet on your group text or chat with a friend then you are a COMPLETELY different person, and I bet we would be shocked at some of the things you message that you would never say in person. God sees that and He is not pleased when people are two-faced and act like they are all good infront of other people but turn in to someone else on their phones. Please treat social media and your phone use seriously. I believe how people use their words are one of the first ways you can tell that a teenager is falling to the expectations of others or rising to be an example of a Christian.

We already applied this to camp so I won’t rehash it too much but…

-When we are at camp, we need to make sure that our words are kind and God honoring to each to each other, even after a long bus ride.

-We need to make sure that we are encouraging to each other in the sports and cheering each other on when the other is playing a game.

-When we make mistakes we aren’t yelling at each other or at ourselves.

-We are respectful to the counselors from our church but also from other churches. We are respectful to other youth groups, to the refs.

-Let’s set the example in how we use our words at camp.

Conversation-

This isn’t referring to talking to people, this is referring to your actions, how you live you everyday life. The expectation is that teenagers are just going to act dumb, to act immature, and not to act in a wise way. It’s talking about our behavior.

Last week we talked about how our standard for our behavior is not the culture, it’s not other youth groups, it’s not each other, it’s not the older teenagers, our standard for our actions is Christ.

-So, just because an adult was able to get away with this certain action or they did something doesn’t mean that you can or should do it. You example is not them, it is Jesus Christ.

-Just because an older kid in the youth group does something wrong or inappropriate, doesn’t make it right. Your example for your behavior is not them, it’s Christ.

Charity-

This is referring to your love. Love is doing what is best for others no matter what. People expect teenagers to act out of selfishness, to act in their own self interest, they expect teens to make decisions based on what they want and how they feel. People expect teenagers to just act based on their love for themselves. The expectation is that teens don’t give of their time for others, they don’t give to the Lord. The expectation is a teen will always do what they want to the exclusion of all else. Listen teens that does not have to be the case! Instead of living down to the cultures expectations, live up to be an example in how you treat and care for others.

This is a little sneak peak into our theme for the year, but surrender your own feelings, put your own thoughts and desires to the side and think about others. Be the teen that is a help and a blessing to others.

Be the teenager that when there is work to be done be the first one that gets up and helps. Teen guys, when it’s time to clean up for Men’s Prayer meeting don’t just go do what you want to do, stay and help clean up. Girls and boys alike, when your mom or dad needs help with something at home, the culture expects you to go to your room or the living room and play video games, do your own thing, don’t live that way, get up and help your parents, don’t be self absorbed, be a help and a blessing to others!

Be the teen that invests in others. Be the teen who reaches out to those with physical needs but also spiritual needs. Most people don’t expect teens to have a desire to see people won to the Lord, be a teen that is an example in soul winning. Come to outreach on Saturdays wether or not we have sports practice. Part of loving others is loving them enough to help them change. If you know your friends are doing wrong or they are not living how they ought to be and you don’t say anything to them, that is selfish, that is not being an example in charity.

-When we load the trailer, be a young person that is more concerned about others than yourself and just get involved and help load the trailer. It’s even harder when we get back, but guys no matter what trip we are on, be the first one off the bus and help others unload their things before your own.

-At camp, when we are on the road, instead of pushing to have your way and sit where you want, be willing to surrender your own desires for the good of someone else. Younger ones, you probably won’t get to sit where you want, and that’s okay, be an example in your love for others and defer, God will bless you for it.

-Be an example in your love for others when it comes time for cabin clean up. Instead of pushing to get your bed done and then get out of the cabin, and help clean, help someone else do their bunk, even though it’s gross and your least favorite thing, clean a toilet because it’s not about you, it’s about your love for others and being a blessing to them. Like our theme last year, it’s not about me. It’s not about you, make the week about loving others.

-When it comes time for the preaching, put your love for others above yourself and pay attention. Don’t write notes to each other, don’t talk to one another, just pay attention and encourage one another to pay attention.

-When it comes time for the invitation the tendency is to be concerned only for yourself and not want to move and just make a decision in your pew but it’s not always about you. There may be someone wanting to respond but is waiting for you to respond too. Maybe you know God is speaking to your friend or even a younger one in the youth group, prove your love for others and ask if they want to go up and respond with you.

-Younger teens, I would love to see y’all respond at invitation. I think right now the habit is that the older kids respond and the younger kids stay back and stand there but listen it doesn’t have to be that way. Older ones, be an example in your love for them and respond with them.

Spirit-

-People expect teens to always have a bad attitude about something, they expect teens to never be happy with the decisions that their authorities make. People expect teens to be depressed, discontent, struggle with self worth and anxiety and all kinds of mental disorders, that is the norm, that is the expectation. Instead, you can be the teen that is always enjoyable to be around, the teen that is always an encouragement, a teen that has a relationship with the Lord who finds their worth and contentment in the Lord. I want to go back to Proverbs because this is so helpful and key to understanding this part of being an example in our spirit.

Proverbs 17:22 “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: But a broken spirit drieth the bones.” Viewing life through God's lens will bring true joy but viewing it through our lens of brokenness will always bring discouragement.

-Our tendency is to always view things as the worst. My parents are awful. My job is bad because I don't get treated fairly. Things didn’t go my way. This is the absolute worst…etc…

We can get so discouraged and worked up about all the things that don't seem to be going right in our life. And honestly it can dry you out. It can be painful and it can make life pretty miserable. Nothing seems good, nothing seems right, and life is just awful. That’s what drieth the bones is talking about. I’m sure you have all been there where life is just hard, nothing seems to be going your way and it just feels like you are just broken and dry.

I am in no way trying to diminish the things that you are going through because we all have some pretty stinky things that we go through on a daily basis. The temptation is to always be discouraged, anxious, and negative because all we see are the problems. Whether you are an Eeyore personality or not, we can all find ourselves looking only at the negative and problems in life. If you are not careful, this will define your teenage years because it’s hard and the culture expects you to have a bad attitude about it. If we are not careful, this could also ruin a good week of camp too…

-A lot of the week could be ruined for several people even if one girl or one guy just has an awful attitude about everything...

-If you are not careful, everything becomes something to be negative about…

-The bus is hot

-The person next to you didn’t put on deodorant

-The person next to you is not the person you wanted to sit by…

-The place we stopped to eat wasn’t where you wanted to go

-You miss having your phone

-Your bunk is uncomfy

-Your cleaning job is gross

-The John R is cold

-They ran out of Bosco Sticks again…

-It’s hot…

-We lost in sports so now we have to watch everyone else

-We didn’t win this or that.

-I can’t believe I have to tuck my shirt in

-I can’t believe Mrs. Brielle is making me change my dress…

-The preaching is long and the pews are hard

-And we get SOOO consumed with the negative things at camp and really life in general. It all becomes the worst, life is just the worst…

Matthew 9:2 “And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.” This text talks about the man with palsy who couldn't walk. This guy's circumstances couldn't get much worse. He was probably very discouraged because he couldn't walk, he couldn't do the things that normal people do. And when Jesus encountered him, He gave this discouraged man a principle that he could live by.

Cheer and joy can be found when you realize what Christ has done for you. What Jesus wanted him to get and us to get is that our situation does not have to change to find joy. Jesus told this man to be of good cheer before the problem went away. Why? Because the man's sins were forgiven, his eternity was changed, he had been given a great gift! What that means is that your situation that you find so discouraging...

-Lack of friends

-Contentment with where God has you right now.

-The parents you have

-Wondering if you are enough

Whatever the struggle is, know that God has already taken care of your biggest problem, and even if nothing else changes, nothing, you can have joy and cheer because your sins are forgiven, you now have Jesus Christ in your life, and you get to spend eternity in a perfect place, Heaven, face to face with God. When you view your situation through that lens, you can always find joy. No matter what situation is that you find yourself in, you can have joy because of what Christ has done for you.

So, when we get to camp, no matter what goes wrong, no matter what doesn't go your way, no matter the situation, you can find joy and encouragement and it can be like medicine to your spirit but also to the spirit of those around you.

Be the example and not the expectation in your spirit.

Faith-

People don’t expect teens to have a relationship with the Lord, read their bibles, have a prayer life. People expect that teens will not pay attention to preaching, never keep their spiritual decisions, never enjoy anything related to church.

When you think of faith, another word for it could be religion. There are many things that are a religion to teens. If you look a their priorities, many times you’ll see what their religion is! A religion is a system of beliefs that is meant to govern your life and if you look at the typical teen, their faith in God isn’t their religion, it is sports, school, social life, and basically anything but church…

I look at it like you are packing a suitcase for a big trip. You will start with the essentials, we won’t list all of those, but you know what they are!…

You start with the most important things, and then everything else gets stuffed in where it will fit…

Teenagers these days are busy with school, friends, social life, sports, sleeping and they pack their suitcase full of their most important items. If you aren’t careful, if a relationship with God isn’t first, if He doesn’t have FirstClaim in your life, then you are going to find that you are stuffing Him in last minute trying to fit Him in with all your other essential items in life and that doesn’t work. It’s time for teens to be serious about a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Camp is a great week to get serious about your faith, about your relationship with the Lord. It is also a week that can be full of distractions and you can pack your week of camp and do it without the Lord.

-You get more focused on spending time with your friends instead of hearing from God.

-You get more focused on the sports instead of listening to the preaching.

-You get more focused on the music competitions than the opportunity to hear from the Lord.

-You get so focused on this girl or guy maybe even that you just met that you can’t focus on the Lord.

Instead of making the week about all the fun we will have, even though I can’t wait for that part, make the week all about your faith, all about the Lord.

-Let Him do WHATEVER He wants in your life. Say yes to everything.

-Make the preaching the most important part.

-Keep each other accountable and ask each other about the decisions you made.

-If you can play sports together or do stupid stuff together then you can respond to the preaching together. Obviously I am not trying to manufacture anything here but I would absolutely think it is the best week of camp ever if every single one of you responded at invitation at some point at camp. It doesn’t have to be every service but at least once. I would think that if you are striving to be an example in your faith and you are putting Christ and hearing from Him first in your week at camp then at least ONE message will speak to you enough to respond.

If we lose every sport in the first day, if we lose cabin clean up, if we lose sportsmanship even though we had god attitudes, if we place last in every music competition, if all of those things happen but every one of you decides to respond to the Lord speaking to your heart and you come forward and make a decision, it will be the best week of camp I’ve had.

Conclusion-Listen, it is really easy to go through the motions and just find yourself falling to people’s expectations. But, it doesn’t have to be that way, God doesn’t want it to be that way. You can be an example of the believer in the way you talk, in the way you act, in the love you have for others, in the spirit you have towards life and towards other people, and in the faith you have in the Lord. Don’t settle for the culture’s expectations, rise to be an example of the believer. If you will that at camp, there is not telling what kind of week we can have. If you will strive to be an example of the believer in your life, there is no telling what God will do with you!