The super hero principle
Notes
Transcript
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Intro
Intro
Who I am. Talk briefly about 70’s super heroes. Loved the original super heroes. Captain America, Iron Man, Spider-man. Those guys were legit super heroes.
Knock on Dead-pool and Suicide Squad a bit. Not a real super hero and won’t be applicable to our talk.
Hero/Villain Characteristics
Hero/Villain Characteristics
Get a dry erase. Have the students list qualities that they think are important for someone who is good (super hero). Have them assign values to these qualities between 1 (low) and 5(high). Then list out characteristics for a bad person (villain) but don't give these a numeric value.
Good qualities: Self-sacrifice, dependable, trustworthy, honesty, disciplined, respectful, courage to do the right thing, motivation, caring, humility, patience, compassionate
Bad characteristics: liar, hater, cheat, thief, lack of compassion, vengeful, deceitful, greedy, untrustworthy, coward, abusive, angry, unfair, impatient, manipulative, arrogant, bitter, unemotional (cold).
Getting to the finish line (Illustration)
Getting to the finish line (Illustration)
Then have two lines on the floor at least 30 feet apart. You need a stop watch, students will have 10 minutes to reach the finish line. Have all the students stand on one side. The goal is to get across the finish line. Give these instructions, if any student has the first quality then step forward however many steps are listed for the value. Do this until the students are getting close to the finish line. Then ask if anyone has ever done the first bad characteristic. If so then they have to start over on the line. Do this until everyone is back on the starting line. Then pick one person to cross the finish line. That person has to recognize that they have not done anything to deserve getting across the finish line. Call out another good quality and let the students move forward. Then allow the one at the finish line to pick two people to cross but they also have to decide if they think they can get to the finish line on their own or if they will take the offer. After they decide, call out a bad quality and send everybody back to the start. Call a good characteristic and then let the two that came forward pick two more friends. Do this till time runs out.
What’s the point?
What’s the point?
We had ten minutes to reach the finish line. Doesn’t sound like a lot but we are talking about 30 feet. We’re talking about 600 seconds. Nowadays the average American lives 78 years.
How many seconds do you think that is? 2,461,492,800. And it only takes one to change the course of your life. Don’t wait.
The real Super Hero
The real Super Hero
15 They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right.
19 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.
Point to the super hero qualities.
Romans 1:
“God has given us a natural ability to understand right from wrong. And yet we have all failed at some point to do the right thing. We have all been taken back to the starting line.
Romans 2:Point to the super hero qualities. “God has given us an natural ability to understand right from wrong. And yet we have all been stuck at the starting line.
23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
10 As the Scriptures say,
“No one is righteous—
not even one.
If we are honest, most people, even many that claim to be Christian, will spend their entire life at the starting line!
rIf we are honest, most people, many that claim to be Christian, will spend their entire life at the starting line!”
But we don’t have to:
6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him
the sins of us all.
8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
, .
, .
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Just like in our demonstration, you can’t get to the finish line on your own. But God has provided a way through the sacrifice of His Son on the cross. And Christ laid down His life for you. He’s the real super hero.
9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.
By accepting Christ as our Lord and Savior, we put on His righteousness and His glory and we move into saving grace and, at the finish line, eternal life.
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13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Please don’t put this off. Isaiah says in
You can’t get there on your own. But God has provided a way through the sacrifice of His Son on the cross. So, there’s your real super hero.
By accepting Christ as our Lord and Savior, we put on His righteousness and His glory. ()
By accepting Christ as our Lord and Savior, we put on His righteousness and His glory. ()
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
Please don’t put this off. Isaiah says in
6 Seek the Lord while you can find him.
Call on him now while he is near.
There will come a day when it will be too late to respond to God’s call. Just the other day my dad was telling me of a youth pastor who was my age that died suddenly of a heart attack. I have been to the funerals of kids no older than anyone in this room. The bible says that your life is a vapor, you are only here for a moment. You don’t want to be sitting at the starting line when it ends.
If you feel God tugging at your heart this weekend. Maybe for the first time or maybe it’s time to rededicate your life to Him. Please speak with one of your leaders or with Pastor Jimmy. Don’t let this opportunity slip past.
38 If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.
Christian duty
Christian duty
Christian duty
Christian duty
Now, if you are a Christian, you are still not off the hook. Just because you have made the decision to move into God’s saving grace does not mean that you can kick it on easy street.
Jimmy likes to talk about the two greatest commandments, “Love God and love others.”
Accepting God’s sacrifice will put you back in a right relationship with Him and, over time, you will come to love Him more deeply as you read His word and hang out with fellow believers.
But, what about loving others. I’m not talking about being nice and respectful to people, though that is important.
When was the last time you told someone about Jesus? We all know someone who isn’t a believer. Maybe a friend, teacher, family member....parent? And why haven’t you shared your faith? Was it because you were too worried about offending them? Or was it a fear of rejection?
I once was asked why I was so passionate about telling people about Jesus. My answer: watching someone live their life without God is like watching someone drown in front of me. I have to do something.
Jesus said:
19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
MaWe have a sacred responsibility to try to bring as many people with us to heaven as we can. And we should be actively seeking to bring others to Him because that is the call of every hero. If we only have a few moments of life on this earth then we need to get started. Lives are at stake!
I once heard a story of a church member that walked up to their pastor and said, “Pastor, I was at work the other day and got to share Jesus with one of my coworkers. When we were done talking he asked me to led him in the sinner’s prayer and I did. And then I invited him to start coming to a men’s bible study that I go to and he said he would. He even came to church today for the first time and he wants to get baptized!” The pastor’s response was, “That’s great, now go get another!”
We are on a rescue mission from the moment we accept Christ into our lives.
Gentlemen, it’s not difficult. Find someone you know and tell them about Jesus.
We have a sacred responsibility to try to bring as many people with us to heaven as we can. And we should be actively seeking to bring others to Him because that is the call of every Christian. If we only have a few moments of life on this earth then we need to get started. Lives are at stake!
Wrap up
Wrap up
I’d like to end with the words to a one of my favorite songs that really seems to embody the Christian life:
Live like I’m not scared
Give when it’s not fair
Live life for another
Take time for a brother
Fight for the weak ones
Speak out for freedom
Find faith in the battle
Stand tall and above it all
Fix my eyes on you (point to sky).
Prayer time (If you have a few extra minutes then have the students go pray individually and get alone with God, then end with corporate prayer)
Roman Road of Salvation
Roman Road of Salvation
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Q & A (if time)
Q & A (if time)