What I learned at Centrikid 22

What is 43 miles long, full of twists and turns and extremely wet?

Centrikid camp.

My watch recorded 89,805 steps and 36 flights of stairs from Monday morning until Friday evening.

And I suspect the kids walked more than we did.

I can’t remember if it rained Monday evening but it certainly rained Tuesday and Wednesday.

And of course, that impacted all of the outside recreation and we got wet going everywhere we went.

The girls dorms were haunted.

That’s what the girls believed anyway - seriously believed.

It was probably a touch of homesickness and the unfamiliarity of their surroundings that made them believe that.

Water fountains turned themselves on and off.

That flickering lights and rumble-ly noises were haints.

It caused some sleepless nights for a number of girls and chaperones.

But God is good and Wednesday night’s topic addressed that - and it fixed it.

The food wasn’t bad - it was just the same.

We were at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee.

Lee is a private Pentecostal college that Lifeway rents space from for Centrikid.

It’s a long and narrow campus - very well maintained grounds.

And the cafeteria has a vast variety of food.

There is Pizza, and hamburgers and chicken sandwiches with fries, a baked potato bar with toppings.

A pasta bar with one type of pasta and white or red sauce.

There is a sandwich bar with ham or turkey with 4 types of cheeses, lettuce, tomato and onion.

A salad bar with lettuce, cherry tomatoes, carrot slivers and cucumber or onions with 3 options for dressing.

There is a food allergy bar with a variety of foods that are prepped separately from the other food.

They had Popsicles, cookies, the ubiquitous Jello, and puddings.

Sounds great.

Every meal.

The same options.

All week.

I believe the Chick Fil A sandwich on the way home was the best meal of the week simply because it was different.

Oh - and a reminder to me about kids - when giving directions, be very specific.

I was asked how many soft drinks they could have.

We told all of our groups they had to drink a full glass of water first, then they could have as many drinks as they wished.

So one meal, I look over and a certain young person had four drinks in front of them.

I asked, “What are you doing?”

They said, “You said we could have as many soft drinks as we wanted.”

To which I replied, “But I meant one at a time.”

If you had a kid go to camp, don’t go home and ask, “Was that you?”

First off, you probably know already.

And second of all, it doesn’t matter, we had a lot of fun.

Our chaperones were spectacular.

Robyn Waters, April Nasworthy, Judy Morgan, and Evan Stone never missed a beat all week.

They counted to 15 - that’s how many kids we had - 11 girls, 4 guys - at least a thousand time.

They kept them together, made sure they showered and had clothes on when they left the room

And they picked up 10,000 things the kids left behind.

In fact, that might be the kids greatest skill, getting in the moment and forgetting everything they brought with them.

And they loved on our kids and they taught our kids well.

I enjoyed every minute with them.

Our Children’s Minister - technically she’s our children’s director - but Hannah is absolutely a minister.

Hannah was incredible.

She was so very organized.

She knew where we were to go when.

She brought four cases of supplies for - everything.

I believe if we had had a tornado, she would have had a pop up shelter - it was kind of amazing.

If you said, “I need a....” Hannah would say, “Wait, I have one.”

She listened to kids.

She loved on kids.

She cried with your kids.

She prayed with your kids.

Hannah is all about getting your kids to know they are loved and that Jesus is the reason for that love.

I can’t thank God enough for Hannah and you should be both grateful that the Lord led her to us.

And proud that we had the good sense to follow Him by calling her as a minister at the First Baptist Church of Gray.

So, I had a message James 2:14-26 ready for today but that became next week’s message.

I even edited it Wednesday night after we got the urchins in their spots.

But I couldn’t get one question off my mind and I had the overwhelming sense that we needed to talk about it.

So, here we are - What Did I Learn at Centrikid Camp?

There are 4 things we’ll talk about this morning - but really, it was much more than 4.

First, I am hopelessly old fashioned and I refuse to change.

When we load and unload buses, I required the boys to help the girls.

I don’t think he meant for me to hear it, but one boy said, “Pastor Randy is old-fashioned.”

I’m guilty.

I’m unrepentant.

In fact, I’m proud and here’s why.

I understand all that society has said and what all the myriad experts have taught about men and women and equality and equity.

And while some will call me uninformed or bigoted, let me remind you that I have lived a long time and I’ve seen a lot.

And a lot of what experts have said will not stand the test of time.

New experts and new fads and new trends will come and go.

But as the prophet Isaiah said, Isaiah 40:8

Isaiah 40:8 ESV

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.

I know many think God’s word is old-fashioned and it is.

Real old.

About 4,000 years ago, the story of creation was recorded in the Bible.

And this was said about men and women.

Genesis 2:18 ESV

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”

Genesis 2:21–24 ESV

So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Written probably 4,000 years ago - it’s stood the test of time.

But, the word “helper” is the troubling word.

We think it implies lesser status - that while men get to do everything, women are relegated to some underling status.

But read the story again and realize a couple of things.

Notice that God points out to us that a man could not do the work the Lord assigned to him by himself.

A man has a role and a woman has a role and neither one can successfully accomplish God’s work in this this life alone, except in those rare cases where the Lord calls someone to remain single.

And again, if he calls you to remain single, it’s to do His work.

That’s the point - our goal is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

And it takes a man and a woman together for life in order to do that.

“A man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”

There are a lot of voices talking at your kids and a lot of self-described experts pouring into the media your children watch.

They have an agenda that is not old-fashioned.

However, their agenda will not stand the test of time.

I noticed at camp - the “harmless” media your children are watching, is de-sensitizing them to ungodliness.

It’s normalizing things God abhors.

I noticed that 3rd - 5th grade girls are starting to notice boys but 3rd - 5th grade boys don’t really know girls are alive yet.

If you’ll pay attention you’ll notice the same thing - and that reality will inform how you receive the “experts” opinions.

This I know for a fact, experts need parents in order to have a job.

Parent’s don’t need experts to raise their children.

We have raised children for thousands of centuries - and we are still standing.

Two quick points: One, Young people are not helplessly lazy and ignorant.

What we didn’t know until we got there was we almost didn’t have camp.

The week before we got there, half of the staff got Covid - absolutely nothing serious - but Covid.

Lifeway protocols to keep the kids and staff safe included quarantine and N-95 masks for the staff.

Half of Jonathan’s, our 24 year old camp director’s staff, was quarantined.

A few reinforcements were called in from other camps who arrived as late as 2 pm the day we arrived.

Everyone on staff did multiple jobs.

Jonathan was also the recreation director - he did two full time jobs.

Our speaker was Conner, a 22 year old 3rd grade teacher.

Normally he would only speak - but he was everywhere doing anything needed.

Ally was the person assigned to our group - she hung out with us, gave her testimony.

She was handed a script 5 minutes before stage time to pull off one of the biggest stage activities we had.

She did it seamlessly.

Are there snowflakes?

Every generation has had them and experts are glorifying them in this generation.

But there are some very smart, very Godly and very hard working young people out there.

And we need to be seriously careful about condemning Gen X, Z and whatever other generation that’s coming along.

Because some of them - like some of our generation - are pretty sharp.

Second quick point, There is no wonder online.

Our theme for the week was Wonder.

We want to experience and know the Wonder of God.

The James Webb Space Telescope is going to send back incredible pictures of the universe we’ll be able to see online.

The Hubble Space Telescope has already been doing that for years.

And they are beautiful and amazing and sometimes breathtaking.

But those pictures drive us outside to look up at the night sky and see it totally differently - with wonder.

Psalm 102:25 ESV

Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.

Psalm 139:14 ESV

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

My soul well knows it.

I had the privilege to hold Austin and Lauralee’s newborn baby Price.

And to feel the wonder of new life.

I don’t know if Ryan and Nicole Stewart have had their baby or not.

But shortly they will know the wonder too.

Pictures are but appetizers for the real thing.

Parents, grandparents - take your kids away from their their phones and tablets and put them in reality.

They may kick, scream, bite and yell - and let them - it’s good for them to learn they can’t have everything they want.

So they can learn that might just be something better, something that will fill them with Wonder.

Final thing I learned at Centrikid camp - and you’re going to need to listen or you’ll misunderstand me.

We need to quit telling kids to invite Jesus into their lives.

I listened a lot this week and I paid an awful lot of attention to just about everything I could pay attention to.

And I took the reality that I saw and I compared it to my theology - and I found a gap.

A glaring, painful, frightening gap.

We’ve made a lot of verses like Acts 16:31

Acts 16:31 ESV

And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

We want our children to believe in Jesus so they will be saved.

We say things like - they didn’t do this at camp and I was so proud of them - we say things like, “With every head bowed and every eye closed.

“If you want to accept Jesus as your personal savior, would you just lift your hand?

“Now pray this prayer - "Heavenly Father, I know that I am a sinner and that I deserve to go to hell.

I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins.

I do now receive him as my Lord and personal Savior.

I promise to serve you to the best of my ability.

Please save me.

In Jesus' name, Amen."

Notice some things about that prayer.

First, it’s full of “I’s” - this is what I’m doing and going to do.

Second, that prayer - that formula to become a Christian is no where in the Bible.

It is not a magical incantation that will obligate the deity to do anything.

Follow me.

Number 1 - We don’t invite Jesus into our lives, He’s already here.

Look through the gospels and show me any place anyone invited Jesus into their life.

You’ll show me several places where dads and moms went to Jesus to ask him to come help.

But here’s the point - Jesus was already there.

He was already in their life.

If they invited Jesus to come heal their daughter, they did it because they already knew about Jesus.

They already knew what Jesus could do.

Because Jesus had already come to them first.

While we were yet sinners, right?

While we were of no use for God at all - Jesus came and died.

Jesus always initiates the relationship - He’s always the first one to say “I love you.”

We respond to His invitation.

Number 2 - We don’t want our kids to receive Jesus as their Savior, we want them to abandon their lives and follow Him.

Listen closely, I don’t want you to walk away saying I’m a heretic.

No where in the gospels do I read Jesus saying, “Receive me as your savior.”

Jesus says, “Follow me.”

Peter knew this.

1 Peter 2:21–25 ESV

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Jesus said, Matthew 10:38

Matthew 10:38 ESV

And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

The cross is not an ornament, it’s an instrument of death - the most brutal, final instrument of death around.

And Jesus is asking you not to receive it.

He’s not asking you to invite it into your heart.

He’s asking you to die to your hopes and dreams and fears and follow him anywhere He leads you.

That’s what I’m asking you and your kids to do because that is what Jesus is asking us to do.

You know what I heard at camp?

I heard one of our girls that was saved say, after hearing one of the worship songs, that she suddenly realized God was so good to her and she didn’t deserve it.

I saw both of our girls that were saved in tears.

And we were in tears.

When’s the last time you saw someone saved in tears?

“Well, Randy, you were at camp and you were dealing with pre-pubescent children.”

Yeah, that could have been it.

Or it could have been, when they realized the wonder of the Lord and His immeasurable love for them, that they were overwhelmed.

Mark 10:15

Mark 10:15 ESV

Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”

“There’s the word ‘receive’ Randy!”

Yes it is.

How does a child ‘receive’ your instruction?

They believe in you - and then they follow you wherever you lead.

Let me invite you right this minute to do something you may have never done.

Will you surrender your life to Jesus?

Will you place yourself in His hands and follow Him wherever He leads you?

Will you die to all of your hopes and dreams and fears and follow Jesus anywhere He pleases?

If you can do that this morning, pray and tell that to the Lord.

“Randy, you told me not to pray the sinner’s prayer - what do I pray?

Maybe something like this.

Will you bow your heads with me?

Dear Lord,

It’s hard being us and you know it.

There are so many people telling us so many things.

But Lord, when one of those rare moments happen where you cause us to stop.

And look.

And listen.

We begin to be filled with wonder of you.

I know you have always been and you will always be.

I know you created all that is - that you created me.

I know - even though I rarely feel like it - that I am fearfully and wonderfully made by you.

I know you loved me before I knew what love and life was.

I know you died for my sins because of your great love for me.

And I didn’t deserve it.

I know that you love me and I want to follow you now.

It’s hard for me Lord.

I have so much I want.

But right now, this moment, I declare as strongly as I know how, that you are Lord and I will follow you all the days of my life.

That you and you alone know what is right and I’ve not followed you and I’m sorry.

I mourn because I haven’t followed you and I’ve made such messes.

Thank you for loving me and forgiving me and for making me right with the Father.

Show me the next step to take - and the one after that and the one after that.

For you are my savior and my God.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

If you prayed something like that and you mean if from the bottom of your heart, I invite you to come down as we sing.

x

x

Every couple of months we stop what we are doing to remember.

We prepare the cup and the bread and we sit them in a special place.

So that we can remember what Jesus did.

And wonder.

And pray.

And be still and know what love the Father has for us.

If you are a born again believer of Jesus Christ, you are invited to join us at His table.

When you are invited, come forward, around the outside of the sanctuary, take and eat, then return to your seat by the inside.

Hear now the word of the Lord

1 Corinthians 11:23–32 ESV

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

Our Deacons are serving us today and I’ll ask (1st Service) Jeff Pruitt (2nd service) Donald Greene to thank the Lord for saving us.

(after prayer)

Please come forward to the Lord’s table.