The Trouble of the Journey

Intro

Introduce myself

Name

Where you are from

Where you work

We might go short today because this week i have been doing things at my church as well as getting ready for this message for you

As well as i have traveled from Atlanta and back this week as well

But i tell we may go long because i am fires up from the purpose of me being down in Atlanta

Passion Conference question

Football question

Explain what passion is

we’ve been told that this generation is lost falling away from God

65000 going after God

online thousands more

next year 2 venues

Why am i telling you this far away conference

To tell you we have a generation whos yearning for truth but the presupposition of life has changed

It used to be - Be good

changed to - find truth

Is currently - create truth

This is the world and generation we are dealing with

They are looking for truth life and hope in a world that is so glim and bleak

you as a church and individuals are going through changes

expound on those

What must not change?

The gospel

What must change?

The presentation

Why?

The presupposition has changed

explain changes

Gospel counters

We cannot stay stuck in our old ways,

keep trying to reach the world with old methods

face reality

This isnt me saying this

Romans 12:1-2

We have to set our minds off of what makes us comfortable and on the things of God

We have to decide what that means and what God wants

I would propose that what God wants is for us to fufill our purpose and those are broken down into micro and macro purposes

explain macro- great commission

explain micro- how we carry this out

We’ve been so focused on the wrong micro purpose because the true micro purpose requires change

Can i be honest and tell you why we dont like change?

not gonna bash

its a just reason- change is hard

it pulls out of our comfort zone

and many of you have seen change and not much of it has been for the better

Mark 4:35–41 NASB95

On that day, when evening came, He said to them, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd, they took Him along with them in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him. And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? How is it that you have no faith?” They became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

Even though we go what from what God has called us from to what God is calling us to the storms will still come

Old to new/ renewing of our mind

But you don’t see that they were wrong for crossing to sea

they were going to where god has called them

and the enemy attacks

in the middle of your journey the enemy will attack you

What do we do? Jesus do you not care

In the middle of the journey it got hard

and had Jesus not been physically there, they probably would have turned back

to what is comfortable

what does Jesus say?

Get attention

WE have to be uncomfortable

1 John 1:9 NASB95

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

I tell you this to encourage you

what keeps us from changes?

Our past experiences of changes going poorly and biting us in the tail

where changes have either come out of or opened up dark places

but jesus is FAITHFUL and righteous to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, all evil

I tell you this because

we hide our brokenness behind a wall of shame and it comes into our lives as insecurities, and as a result it holds us back from the calling God has for our lives

we have bult up a wall of insecurities that we can hide behind because its safe, and behind this wall i can be safe and i dont have to change

and its comfortable

i get to come into church and sing some songs i like

i get to see the people i like

i get a nice lunch after

through the week i get to see my church friends i like

i get to pray my bedtime prayers

i dont have to have any uncomfortable converations

why would we change

Because the enemy has you comfortable and distracted

but let me tell you the gates of hell would rattle if we could get on mission with our purpose

Romans 12:1–2 NASB95

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

that i would give up my life, comfort, wants needs, for those who need Jesus

the key word is acceptable

expound

When we live our lives in such a way that is good and accepteble , we reflect the will of God to the world

How do we do this?

you know the answer

We have to find ourself in who jesus is

we have to give or wants styles, for those who dont have him

WHY

My generation

26% of reported people will struggle with anxiety and depression

not to mention the large number of those have been sexually assaulted

a large number of those were introduced to porn at such a young age

im talking 7 for boys, 9 for girls

a generation who dont know who they are

who struggle to find identity

you as a church are in the boat crossing the sea both as a church and individually

and maybe you feel like the waves are closing in

3 choices:

too many lives and eternities at stake to stay comfortable

earnestly pray and inwardly look

pray for brokenness

Gone are they days that my generation and the one below me goes to church because its what you're supposed to do or the fun things

Tell story of Relevant youth group