5 Keys for a Perfect Church/Youth Group

Opening Question

Why do you think that we meet together each week for church/youth group?

Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

The New International Version. 2011. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

This is a picture of the early church, immediately following the “Baptism of the Holy Spirit”

Pay attention to that opening word “Devoted”. This word means to commit by solemn act.

Devoted

Devoted = To commit by solemn act.

This is something that they took very seriously.

1. We use this word devotion when reading our Bible. It is almost like taking an oath. It is our life commitment to something or someone.

2. I am devoted, I am committed by solemn act to my wife in marriage.

3. We do devotions. We commitment by solemn act in worship. Devotion is an act of worship to God.

Worshiping the Lord and Relationship with other believers must be intentional.

They were devoted to the apostles teaching.

There were devoted to “fellowship.”

Hebrew = together; altogether; likewise; at the same time; be sweet, become sweet; taste sweet; keep close company; confidential discussion; secret, scheme; circle of confidants

Greek = fellowship; participation

They had an intentional solemn commitment to relationship with other believers. It was the most important thing to them.

They ate a lot of food together.

Tell me about the relationships that you have. Are your relationships intentional? Are they purposefully drawing each other closer to Jesus?

3. They were committed to serving each other and those in need.

What should church/youth group look like?

Hebrews 10:19–26 NIV

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left,

Boldly Come

We can boldly come into the most Holy Place. A place that was only reserved for the High Priest, once a year. Now we get to come boldly because of the work that Jesus did on the cross.

The Cross is everything.

Atonement: Jesus blood from dying on the cross atones (covers) our sins. Giving us complete forgiveness, once and for all. He doesn’t have to keep dying on the cross every time we sin. No, he did it once and for all.

We should draw near to God with sincere hearts.

We should hold “Unswervingly” to hope.

Spur each other on!

We should spur each other on to love.

We should spur each other on to good deeds.

1 Corinthians 3:13 NIV

their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.

We need to encourage each other in our faith. In growing our relationship with the Lord. To finish well.

Finish Well

Pastor Andrew , dying from stage 4 cancer, was asked last Sunday by Pastor Jeff, “What is it that we can pray for you?” To which Pastor Andrew replied, “Pray that I die well.”

Pastor Andrew does not just want to Finish, he wants to finish well.

After doing youth ministry for so many years, ministering to thousands of teenagers like yourself. Our priorities have shifted in what we think great youth ministry is. Our sole prayer now is that you finish well. That you cross the finish line running your best race.

1 Corinthians 9:24–26 NIV

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.

You get to choose what kind of race you are going to run.

To run a race well requires disciplined training. Every step has a purpose. There is an urgency to work hard and NOT be disqualified.

What should church and youth group look like?

We devote ourselves to worship the Lord Boldly

We devote ourselves to the teachings of the Word of God.

We devote ourselves to pray for each other.

We devote ourselves to serving each other.

We devote ourselves to “spurring each other on”. Help each other finish the race. Well.

Tanzanian runner came into the stadium more than an hour later than the winner. He fell and cut his knee, struggling to the finish line.

Bud Greenspan asked the runner, why didn’t you just drop out.

My country did not send me 7000 miles away to start the race, they sent me 7000 miles to finish it.

Hebrews 12:1–2 NIV

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

VIDEO: Last-place Finisher in Olympic Marathon delivers a first class…

How well are you doing at running your race?

How Well are you doing at helping others finish their race?

Are you devoted to growing in your relationship with the Lord?

Are you devoted to serving others and praying for others?

Are you devoted to “spurring each other on?”