Yes But

Introduction

It’s really amazing to be with you this evening and to be back in my home town - I lived just down the road here somewhere but have been up in Gauteng for the past 15 years and I live in Sandton in Joburg now.

It’s a bit of a funny story how I ended up being here. Mason posted a message on the worship group about his evening and asked who could make it to be part of the band, and being the hilarious guy that I am - I responded like this. (show photo of my private jet image from the group). As it turns out, the guys on the group didn’t realize it was a joke and that NOT everyone in Joburg has a Private jet. But anyway - here I am!

I know you don’t all think that everyone in Joburg has private jets - but there are some things that you may not realize about Joburg that I thought I’d share with you.

Joburg has more trees than any other city in the world. (photo of Garrett at FLAMES)

Joburg also has my family

What Joburg DOESN’T HAVE however - [Photo of Friesland]

Anyway - I’m not really here to speak about trees and my family - but Jesus.

PRAY

How many of you have heard that Jesus came to earth to die on the cross to buy your salvation so that you can live forever with Jesus? It’s a beautiful truth isn’t it?

I want you to keep that thought in mind as I ask this next question -

Question

Have you ever experienced a moment where someone tells a story - and at the end, because you already knew the story, you say “yes… but”

Your sibling starts a fight, punches you in the face, so you trip your sibling and he runs to tell your mom… so your mom says “did you trip your brother”… you say? YES BUT…. he punched me in the fact

Some liverpool fan gets up in your face - (it’s an example - it doesn’t have to be true!)“Messi hasn’t scored a goal in months.”Yes, but he’s been assisted more than any other player in the league.

You’re supposed to print out an assignment for school and you don’t get it in on time so your teacher calls you out, and you say Yes, but we didn’t have electricity so I couldn’t get onto my course

What a YES BUT does it this: It says “What you are saying is true - but you don’t have all the information” *or “*You’re not taking all the information into account.”

Yes but

Life is full of “Yes but” moments….

In fact - I started our conversation this evening with a “Yes but” comment.

I asked you if you believe that Jesus, the Son of God, came to earth, died on the cross for your sin, so that by believing in Him you can live forever.

The answer is a big resounding “YES - BUT”

Because there’s more to the story!

I want to take you to a passage in Galatians 4:4-7

READ GAL 4:4-7

TRANSITION

Here’s the ‘YES BUT’ of the Gospel story.

YES - Jesus Christ came and lived and died so that ultimately you would be able to spend eternity with Him. YES - BUT - Before you go to Heaven, Jesus death and resurrection has taken you from being a slave to sin, alone in the world, with no hope, no identity and no purpose - an orphan, really - and you have been adopted you into a family!

And that family is called THE CHURCH

Let’s quickly get something out the way - the building that you’re sitting in is not the church. The church is the sons and daughters of God who have been adopted into Christ’s family. These buildings just happen to be where the church meets.

Ok - so for the rest of the night when I speak about THE CHURCH - don’t think about the building, okay - we’re speaking about the people who have been saved from slavery and brought into the family of God.

So when we accept Jesus’ gift of salvation we are adopted into his family and there are a couple things that immediately change in our status.

1. We have an Identity

When we place our faith in Jesus, we’re not just saved from something—we’re saved into something. We’re no longer just a number, no longer a slave, no longer an orphan. We’ve been adopted by the Father.

Galatians 4:6 says, “Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’”

That word “Abba” is so personal—it’s like saying “Daddy.” It’s a word I’ve seen in scripture many times but a few years back I truly got to understand it when I was in a hotel pool in Jerusalem. There were families around and a little boy was jumping into the water so his dad could catch him and everytime as he was about to jump he would shout “Abba”…. “daddy”….

See so many of us are struggling to find our identity. Who am I? Where do I belong?

But here’s what Ephesians 2:10 says of you:

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Another version says it so beautifully - we are God’s masterpiece - He has created you and you find your identity in Him! Think of a famous painting - what makes the painting famous? Not necessarily it’s subject matter or how beautiful the painting is - no, it’s whose name is on the bottom right corner of the painting that gives it value.

Your value doesn’t come from who you are! Your value comes from whose you are - and when you are adopted into the Church; into the family of God - your value is directly linked to that of Jesus Christ because Paul tells us in Galatians that we are co-heirs with Christ!

2. We have a family

When you’re adopted by God, you’re not adopted into isolation—you’re adopted into a family. And not just any family—a multi-generational, diverse, Spirit-filled, purpose-driven family called the Church.

That means you’re not meant to figure out life or faith on your own. God designed this family just like he’s designed our families so that the older generation would guide and model what it looks like to follow Jesus, and the younger generation would learn, grow, and one day do the same for those who come after them.

Paul writes to Titus in Titus 2 and tells him to make sure that the older men and older women are teaching the younger men and younger women. Why? Because that’s how family works.

In your school you might get graded. On your team you might get dropped. On social media you might get canceled.

But in the , you’re not just watched—you’re .family of Godwelcomed

You’re not dissed—you’re .discipled

You’re not isolated—you’re .included

So if you’re younger—listen and learn.

If you’re older—teach, lead, and love well.

This family works best when every generation shows up for the next.

This also means that each of us have a ROLE TO PLAY in the family. We aren’t just spectators watching everyone else do what needs to be done - but God has gifted each of us to play a significant role in the family of God.

So I want to encourage you - spend time together. Get to see the beautiful of family; get to know each other across generation and racial lines. Get involved in what God is doing - use your gift.

But the second thing I want to highlight is that - because we’re all family, we don’t compete with the next family.

Because we’re all part of one family, we don’t compete with the next family.

For a moment I want to speak about the local church, the gathering of Christ followers adopted into the family of God who meet in a particular place and a particular expression.

When it comes to the local church - Every local church is not a rival team—it’s a branch of the same household.

Analogy of Woolies - they dont care which woolies you shop at - just don’t want you shopping at Checkers.

That means the church down the road? They’re not competition—they’re cousins.

We’re not called to compare or compete; we’re called to celebrate, collaborate, and cheer each other on.

Scripture implies that the Church is the Bride of Christ - so when you criticise the bride of Christ, when you criticise another expression - another family of God - it’s like standing in front of Jesus and saying “daym…. your bride is UGLY!

3. We have a purpose

Teens, I know what it’s like. You’re sitting here trying to find your purpose in life, trying to figure out what you’re going to do with your life and it’s a tough decision.

But let me tell you that decision is much easier when you realize that what you’re going to do with your life - and your purpose in life - are actually two different things.

See when you are adopted into the family of God - when you’re adopted into the church - your purpose is made clear!

You might become a doctor. Or a teacher. Or an artist. Or a barista, a coder, a missionary, a worship leader, a plumber, a parent, a pastor…

But those are roles.

Your purpose?

Your purpose is to know God, to make Him known, and to build His Kingdom—no matter what role you find yourself in.

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:20,

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.”

You are an ambassador of Heaven.

You carry the name, the message, and the hope of Jesus wherever you go.

That means your school? Your sports team? Your part-time job? Your family?

Those aren’t just places you happen to be—those are places you’ve been sent.

You’re not just here to take up space—you’re here to make disciples.

You’re not just here to follow your dreams—you’re here to follow Jesus.

You’re not just here to find your place—you’re here to walk in your purpose.

And what’s beautiful is that you don’t walk that purpose out alone.

You walk it out with your identity rooted in Christ,

your family cheering you on,

and a clear mission to live for more than just yourself.

Conclusion

And that applies to every one of you who have given your lives to Jesus and been adopted into His family. If you have not done that yet - nothing of what I just said applies to you.

But all that can change in a moment.

Here’s a few things you need to believe.

1. God created you

You are not an accident. You were made on purpose, for a purpose, by a God who loves you deeply.

2. Sin separates us from God

We’ve all messed up. We’ve all done things our way instead of God’s way. That sin breaks the relationship between us and God.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

3. Jesus came to rescue us

Jesus, the Son of God, came to earth, lived a perfect life, and died on the cross to take the punishment for your sin and mine.

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

4. We must respond

Salvation isn’t automatic. You have to respond to Jesus’ invitation.

The Bible says:

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13)

SALVATION PRAYER