Are you sharing your faith?

Four Questions from our Pastor

If you were at SIX33 this past week, you heard an amazing message from our pastor. He preached it at the Southern Baptist Convention in San Antonio last month. He was preaching to a lot of pastors, but every word of the sermon can apply to our youth group just as much as it applied to those he was preaching to. The first time I heard the sermon, I was thinking “wow! He’s preaching to us (the youth group) and to me all at the same time. It was amazing!

Basically, he was telling us that we need to be about the “business of evangelism” all the time. Sharing who Christ is should be in the front of our minds all the time. As I listened to the sermon, these four questions and what I like to call “the wrap-up question” all rose to the top. My challenge to you is to really consider these questions. Don’t just read them and answer a quick “yes” (or a quick “no” either). Really look at the question and as you answer the question, also ask “how” and “why” to each of them. Here they are:

When it comes to sharing my faith,
• Am I taking it seriously?
• Am I taking it personally?
• Am I enthusiastic about it?
• Am I being prayerful?

And the “Wrap-up Question”
Am I really involved in winning people to Christ?

If we all really commit to not only living a consistent Christian lifestyle, but also actively sharing our faith, then we’ll see changed lives. Not only our own, but the lives of our friends around us.

Who is God leading you to engage in a spiritual conversation with?

Are you sharing your faith?

Four Questions from our Pastor:

If you were at SIX33 this past week, you heard an amazing message from our pastor. He preached it at the Southern Baptist Convention in San Antonio last month. He was preaching to a lot of pastors, but every word of the sermon can apply to our youth group just as much as it applied to those he was preaching to. The first time I heard the sermon, I was thinking “wow! He’s preaching to us (the youth group) and to me all at the same time. It was amazing!

Basically, he was telling us that we need to be about the “business of evangelism” all the time. Sharing who Christ is should be in the front of our minds all the time. As I listened to the sermon, these four questions and what I like to call “the wrap-up question” all rose to the top. My challenge to you is to really consider these questions. Don’t just read them and answer a quick “yes” (or a quick “no” either). Really look at the question and as you answer the question, also ask “how” and “why” to each of them. Here they are:

When it comes to sharing my faith,
• Am I taking it seriously?
• Am I taking it personally?
• Am I enthusiastic about it?
• Am I being prayerful?

And the “Wrap-up Question”
Am I really involved in winning people to Christ?

If we all really commit to not only living a consistent Christian lifestyle, but also actively sharing our faith, then we’ll see changed lives. Not only our own, but the lives of our friends around us.

Who is God leading you to engage in a spiritual conversation with?

The {2 4 2} Scenario

So what does it mean to be a part of our youth group? What does the Bible teach about it? As we're moving forward, what's the next step?

Let's Grow!

That's what I want to see happening in our group. Growth is two things: inside and outside.
"Inside" we should all understand. We need to be reading the Bible and praying daily. We also need to be committed to being really involved in church.
"Outside" is a little more difficult. We have to be intentional in our efforts. We need to be thinking "how can I share what I have with my friends?"
Which brings us to 2 4 2.
If we're truly growing inside, the outside is a natural part of that. So what's the picture?

Read Acts 2:42-47 and you'll get a good picture of what we should look like. That's the profile the Bible gives us.
There are four things that should define the SIX33 Youth Group:

1. Teaching - this is pretty simple. When you're involved, you'll be learning what's in the Bible because teaching takes place on Sundays and Wednesdays, as well as other times.
* Bottom Line - Show up and be ready to learn.

2. Fellowship - Being a Disciple is more than just Sunday & Wednesday. It also includes Fourth Fridays, Second Saturdays, Beach trips, the (coming soon) game room, etc.
* Bottom Line - Let's hang out together. Take advantage of the times we're together and just enjoy each other's company.

3. Eating together - You might not be cooking a big meal every night, but you can always invite someone to join you.
* Bottom Line - Have meals together. When you're having a meal, invite someone along. Whether it's dinner at home, Niko Niko, Red Robin, or wherever. We all eat. Let's eat together more often.

4. Prayer - Let prayer be a continual part of your life. Don't just pray when you have your quiet time. And pray with others
* Bottom Line - Pray with each other often. If you're doing the three above this, you're already with other Christians so it's easy to just pray with them more.

When a group does all these things, then those outside the group will like what they see. The passage concludes with this: "They followed a daily discipline of worship... every meal a celebration, jubilant and joyful... People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were [being] saved" (The Message)

That's a great picture. That's what our youth group should look like.

* Bottom Line - read and re-read this passage regularly
and keep {2 4 2} in the front of your mind.
Ask yourself: How can I be {2 4 2} today?

So What Now?

Okay, I'm focused and truly passionately seeking God and consistently in the Word and involved in church. Now what?

The answer is simple. A little scary, but still pretty simple.
You've got to let it overflow. If you're truly focused God & it's not just been a "quick fill" (like what so many of us get at camp) then it will spill over into the lives of others around you.

So the question to ask yourself isn't just "what is God doing in my life." You must also ask the question "what is God doing through my life?"

Start A Fire

The song that we've just started singing the last few weeks is my own personal prayer for not only myself, but also for our youth group.

Start A Fire
Start a fire in me,
Let the flames run free,
Burn away the dross,
Holy fire of God

Let it begin, let it be new,
Let me be used for Your sake,
Bringing glory to Your Name.
I can live knowing that You
Reside in my heart.
Oh Lord, You are the fire.

When something's on fire, people watch it. I remember when I was young and the house around the corner caught on fire, the whole neighborhood went and just watched it burn. It was crazy to watch.
Remember the fires a couple years back? The sparks would jump from house to house and entire neighborhoods went up in flames. Now when it's someone's home burning, it's a tragedy. But when it's us - when you look at it spiritually, it's a whole other thing.

I want my spiritual life to be like that. On fire. Something that people can see right away, even from a distance. You shouldn't have to be one of my close personal friends to see my passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I want the flames to run free in my life. I want that to spread from me to others. I want to see the flames in the kids in our youth group. I want to see it spreading from person to person.

It has to start somewhere. I'm praying that it truly is starting in me. It has to start in us personally. Then it can spread. I'm praying that individual kids in our youth group become so passionate about the Gospel of Jesus Christ that everyone around them can see it, and that it spreads.

Read the lyrics of the song again. Then, the next time we sing it. Don't just sing the words - let them be your own personal prayer to God for your life.

You can get "Start A Fire" on iTunes. My favorite version of the song is on the album "Window to the Inner Court" by Shane Everett. While you're at it, just get the whole album. I just can't stop listening to this album.
("Start a Fire" by Darrin Sasser and Jason Harrison - copyright 1998 Shadow Rock Music)

The 50

So I'm very encouraged after last night. I'm still done with all the games and lunacy, but I think we're ready to really start moving forward. 50 people came forward and signed their name to the "SIX33 Fellowship." See my previous blog (below) for what that is.

So what now? Where to? What's the plan? Well it's simple:

Seek God First.

That's it. Nothing fancy or complicated. Just seek God first.

Here's our new "purpose statement" for the SIX33 HSM:
"Our desire is to be passionate about seeking God first in everything. 24.7.365"

So the challenge to the 50 is to let it begin now. Give God complete control of every area of your life.
"Read the Word and put to test the things you've heard until your heart and soul are stirred and rocked and broken."

We're moving forward.
I'm done.
The question is - are you coming with us?

P.S. - Music you need to get: First is "Clear the Stage" by Ross King. It's a song on his Album titled "And All the Decorations Too." Next, get Shane Everett's new Album "Window to the Inner Court." They're both available on iTunes. If you can't get them that way, talk to me and I can get you a copy of them.

The SIX33 Fellowship

I'm done with the fooling around.
I'm done with the distractions.
I'm done with the games.
I'm done with the double-lives.
I'm done with the passion-less worship.
I'm done with the lack of focus.
I'm done.

We're moving forward. We're stepping it up. No more messing around.

I’m a part of the Fellowship of the Unashamed.
I am a Follower of The Way. I have the power of God behind me.
The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line.
The decision has been made. I am a Disciple of Jesus Christ.
I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.
My past is forgotten, my present makes sense, my future is decided.
I’m done living without passion, walking by sight, making worthless plans, having smooth knees, talking about nothing, and having no true focus.

I do not need prosperity, position, promotions, or popularity.
I don't have to be first, the best, praised, or rewarded.
I now live in His presence, learn by faith, love with patience, lift others in prayer, and labor in His power.

My pace is set, my path is His path, my goal is passion for His name, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable, my focus is clear.

I cannot be bought, compromised, beat down, lured away, turned back, or delayed. I will not flinch when I am called to sacrifice, hesitate when things get tough, negotiate with the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, back up, let up, or shut up until I've preached up, prayed up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ.
I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I will go until He returns, give until I drop, preach until everybody knows, and work until He comes.

And when He comes to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My colors will be clear for "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.." (Romans 1:16)

Read Jeremiah 29:11 - we're praying for God to move!
Hebrews 12:1-3 - We're going to focus on Jesus.

Because I'm done!


* This is our version of "The Fellowship of the Unashamed." It was written by a pastor shortly before he was martyred. I've "tweaked" it a bit to fit who we are and where we're going.