Untitled Sermon (7)

about what it would be like to hear Jesus himself invited to give some words of encouragement to give you hopeWho would introduce him?Would it be john the baptist who says the man I am no unfit to tie his sandles.Would it be his mother - who told of the time she knew he was specialHow would he be introduced? Would they introduce him as the author of the number one selling book of all time. Would he get up after introduction and knock some dust off of his shoes and

So 8 words from a church family who loves you deeply, from a God who cares for you even more.

Get ready for tough times The wiseman built his house upon the RockRemain in relationshipJohn says remain in me, and I will remain in you….. remain in my love. Jesus goal for us was never to make a list of do’s and don’ts. Show me something in the bible that God is trying to keep you from having a good time and I will show you in the same passage what God is trying to protect or prevent you from. Rules change what you do. Relationship changes who you are. You can view God as someone who says that is not what you are suppose to do, or as someone who says that is not who you are. It is only those who remain whom are able to bear fruit. How do I know if I am in relationship? I bear fruit.Ask often; Admit when you are wrongMatthew 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. {. . .} If you who are evil know how to give good gifts how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts. Seek God through prayer for direction and guidance. Delight in God’s wordAs part of your gift for graduating we are giving you a bible. Psalm 119:105 - Thy word is a lamp unto my feet; and a light unto my pathUse the Bible as a place of refuge of refuel where you get to meet the creator intimately. We often ask what God’s will for our life is. The truth is, his will for our life is laid out pretty clearly. Earlier we said build your house on the rock. How do we know what that looks like if we aren’t in the word. VIII.Use Your gifts 1 Peter 4:10 - “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”Continue to be like a child. Its one of the things I see you in that is remarkable. You are so good with kids, probably has something to do with having a little brother so young. But I was amazed at camp at how those kids looked up to you. You were often seen giving piggy back rides. Taking care of the kid who gets ignored. You have even done so with my girls within this last year. (Show picture)You are a role model to these kids. And to you its just another day, but to them its someone who they think the world of stooping down to be on their levelDont ever think you are to old or to cool to be the friend of a child. It is one of the attributes I admire most in you. You are an encourager - Several times I have seen you take time be a part of something maybe you weren’t particularly in love with in order to bless someone.Five Guys Abstain from sinful desires and behaving like the world1 Peter 2:11 - “I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Sin is nothing more than being momentarily deceived that there is life outside the heart of God. Like a lot of teenagers you behave in a certain way because you know it is what your parents ask of you and there will be consequences if you don’t. You are now at a point where you are going to have to make those choices for yourself. Your parent’s faith isn’t going to carry you through, it is going to have to be something you want to do because you want to maintain that relationship. And when you fail remember God gives grace upon grace.Throw yourself into the lives of othersI wish I would have taken my own advice here when y’all moved back from Germany. I kinda waited to see how you would react and went off that. You said it in your little questionnaire don’t be shy like I was. And you were shy, but the truth is so was I. And I have found that I have missed out on really getting to know you, at least up until this last year. You have so much to offer and are such a great guy, dont hold back getting to know others when you get to college and when you find yourself in different/new circles. Throw yourself into the middle of people’s life and be a blessing. When you are a blessing you find that you really are the one who is blessed. 1 Thessalonians 1:8 “We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.” Expect adventure -Romans 8:15-17 “ This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with him!