BE REAL WEEK 1

Summer Lessons Week 1

What was your team’s strategy and what would you have changed about your strategy if you were to do it again?

It’s difficult to navigate that course when you have a lot of voices and opinions coming at you isn’t it?

What would that game have been like if there was no one telling you the correct way to go?

Honestly guys, I feel like life now days is a lot like that game.

There’s just so many voices fighting for your attention.

What are some voices that want your attention right now?

youtube, BeReal, tik tok, instagram, friends, sports, parents, church.

How do all of these different voices affect us?

Are there any we shouldn’t listen to?

Social media specifically is affecting all of us.

For those that weren’t here at Gameday Tuesday the first week, John could you share about how social media affected you with working out?

Social media isn’t all bad though.

What is an example of content that’s had a positive influence on you?

I don’t know how I’d make it as an adult without youtube.

I have fixed so many things just from watching videos about how to do it.

I’ve built things, changed the oil in things, replaced parts on my mower and cars.

Now just consider this...

What if my posts on social media could have a positive effect on others?

In other words, just as there is bad content out there and good content...

What if as helpful content affects us, what if we posted things that impacted others in a positive way too?

We all know that if I say an encouraging word to someone at school, then I used my voice as a means for good.

Right?

I mean that’s obvious.

However, I don’t think we place the same weight on our voice on social media.

In John 6, Jesus says some difficult things in verses 25-59.

He talks about eating his flesh and drinking his blood.

Uh… since when is Jesus a cannibal?

Good news… He’s not.

But Jesus is speaking of who we are as humans.

We are Body, Soul, and Spirit.

If we rely on our self-efforts (Our flesh) to bring about life, then we will be left empty on the inside.

It’s only through Jesus reviving our Spirits that our Soul and Flesh can be renewed.

Without getting too deep into that this morning, that’s the essence of what Jesus is saying in the first verses of John 6.

Then He gets to this next part.

I need a few volunteers to read.

John 6:60-71.

Can we focus specifically on verse 63 for a moment.

John 6:63 “63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.”

“The words I have spoken to you...” The words…

What are those words full of?

Spirit and Life.

Another way to say this is what John 1:14 says about Jesus.

John 1:14 “14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

“Jesus was full of Grace and Truth”

If we have Jesus in us guys, we have grace, truth, the Spirit of God (Holy Spirit) and we have life.

IF we do not have Jesus, then we do not have these things.

For people who do not have Jesus, how can their voice be dangerous on social media?

There voices are not speaking truth and life into us.

Now does that mean for the guy who helps me with my car, if he doesn’t love Jesus, what he says isn’t truthful?

No

But what about the person who is speaking about ethical issues, giving you advice on sexuality or otherwise.

Is that person one we can trust to speak truth and life to us?

No.

So here’s what that means.

There are literally infinite examples of people with opinions about how you should live your life online.

You can find an answer to any question you have and you can find any answer you want.

The problem is that truth may not be full of grace, truth, and life.

It might be slavery, lies, and death.

But if you believe in Jesus. You have an opportunity every time you enter into those spaces to speak life to people.

To bring the truth of Jesus to those places.

But here’s the deal too guys.

You can’t share what you don’t know.

You know why you won’t ever hear me talk about how to sew.

If your shirt rips and you want to sew it up, guess who can’t tell you how to do it.

This guy.

Cause I’m confident whatever advice I gave you would be wrong.

Perhaps even the opposite of what you should do.

The reason is because I know NOTHING about sewing!

In the same way, If we aren’t walking with Jesus and we don’t know what Jesus says, then I can’t bring Jesus into the places where I am.

One of the best perks of walking with Jesus then is that I can bring Jesus with me into those spaces.

And then it’s not even me speaking, but I can let Jesus speak life through me to others.

What are some ways we can speak Jesus on social media or in other places?

This is the gospel today guys.

God created us to be with Him.

Our sins separate us from God.

Sins cannot be removed by good deeds.

Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again.

Everyone who trusts in Him alone has eternal life.

Life with Jesus starts now and lasts forever.

Which of those sentences stands out to you the most?

You can’t share that online, in person, or anywhere, if we don’t know that.

This is what it all comes down to this morning honestly.

God created us to be with Him.

Without Him we don’t have life.

In John 6:66 “66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.”

Lot’s of people wanted to follow their own way. They thought life was found in themselves.

They wanted to follow their own truth.

They wanted to follow others who didn’t tell them the truth, they just confirmed what they already were thinking.

That’s always a dangerous place to be.

But Peter tells Jesus.

John 6:68–69 “68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.””

Lord. You are life.

Is that you?

Is that me?

Are we confident life is with Jesus?

Are we letting our life in Christ affect us everywhere we are?