Unplugged Session 3-- ABIDE

Introduction

Alright y’all as you may have figured out, this is going to be our last session of camp. I hope y’all have enjoyed it and it’s been meaningful, but let’s stay locked in just a little while longer…

One of the things that I have noticed over my ~many~ years in student ministry, is the youth camp high. Camps are great, people feel something— they feel that God is close… But then something happens— We go home.

We go home and everyday life resumes — life is loud again. The reality of our busy schedules return. The stress and anxiety come back. We return to all the distractions that make us numb to all of this.

And it raises a really important question that we have to ask ourselves… How do bring this peace back home with us? How do we make sure that camp doesn’t just stay at camp?

I’ve gotten to talk about this phenomenon with other youth pastors at other churches and I have heard a few of them express this sentiment that wouldn’t it be great if every week was camp, where students were intentional and passionate about worship and praising the Lord… and yeah wouldn’t that be great?

But all we’ve done is mystify camp turning them into the 1,2,or 3 times a year where we allow ourselves to surrender and be in the presence of God… But Jesus never said “hey, just come and visit once in a while” —in John 15:4-11 Jesus actually says:

John 15:4–11 NIV

Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

Remain in me… abide… stay connected!

Branches that are separated from the vine cannot just try harder and produce some fruits — that’s not how any of this works. the branches bear fruit because they are connected to the vine. —> Why should we expect anything different for ourselves? — peace is not a feeling you get because we are at camp… peace is a feeling that we get because we are making the space to slow down to recognize the peace Jesus offers and we surrender our lives to Jesus.… and that’s what we get to do at camp — we are able to separate ourselves for a while from all the noise and the distractions and we can be present with God, but then we go home and the status quo resumes… we don’t make any changes— we go back to business as usual and we wonder why we feel so stressed and tired all over again.…

Because Peace is a person. Peace is Jesus. We feel peace when we are connected with him!

Being close to God has never been about the style or quality of the worship music, it’s never been about being at a beach house, or in the woods camping, or at a specific retreat center… it’s just connection

Isaiah 26:3 says

Isaiah 26:3 NIV

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

steadfast means firm, unwavering, locked in, anchored.… connected.…

the emotional highs that may come with a camp fades away, feelings can fade away, moments like this weekend come and go, but connections that we are intentional about only grow deeper as time passes.

But again, here’s another super common Christian phrase people love to throw around “Spending time with God” “or be intentional about spending time with God” or some variation of that … But what does it mean to actually do that?

—> Well it means talking to God honestly throughout the day (God I’m afraid, or I don’t know why this is happening, or I can’t keep carrying all the things I have been trying to carry— It’s not about being buttoned up or knowing the right things to say, it’s just coming to God as you are with whatever you are feeling and having your guard down!)

—> But connecting is also making sure you spend time in God’s word reading scripture, even when you don’t feel spiritual or even if you could be doing something else instead.

—> It can also look like learning develop the habit of turning to God first instead of last when things are bad AND when things are good. — — when things are tense and we’re feeling worn down turn to God for strength, perseverance, and peace. — When things are good turn to God and praise him for blessing your life!

And you’d be amazed because peace becomes a fruit that naturally is growing in your life. All because you remain connected to Jesus.

And it’s not fake peace… It’s not some forced and manufactured calm… But it’s the real peace that comes from knowing you don’t face life alone.

And we don’t do life alone! John Wesley once said that “there is no such thing as a solitary Christian.” — How can we ever think we’re alone when Christ walks along side us offering true and ever lasting peace… How could we ever be alone when we are apart of the unified body of Christ along side all of our brothers and sisters who are filled with the same Holy Spirit that empowers us to live for the Kingdom of Heaven!

So here’s the truth I hold on to it when we clean up here in a bit and load up on the bus:

Camp didn’t create God’s presence.

Camp just removed some of the noise— so you could notice the God who has been with you the whole time.

It’s not about being in the woods, sleeping in tents

It’s not even about disappearing off the grid so our responsibilities can’t find us...

You just have to stay connected.

Because peace is not a place. Peace is not a playlist. Peace is not a feeling.

Peace is a Person.

And His name is Jesus.

And when your mind stays anchored to Him… when your life stays connected to Him… Isaiah says He keeps you in perfect peace.

Not because life gets easier. But because you’re not carrying it alone.

So camp may be ending this evening, but we don’t have to leave our peace here… just because camp ends does not mean that our connection with Jesus has to end.

So here’s your challenge when you go home:

Before you grab your phone in the morning — talk to Jesus.

It doesn’t have to be long. It doesn’t have to be impressive.

“Jesus, help me stay connected to You today.” “Jesus, I give You my stress before it piles up.” “Jesus, help me notice You with me today.”

That’s abiding.

And peace grows from there.