CCF at Western

John 1:37-49Following Jesus has to be done together. Jesus didn’t just teach, he made disciples in the context of relationships.

Most students come to college because they believe somehow it will help them to gain the life they are hoping for. But what exactly is the life we really want? And how do we get it? The culture has lots of ideas and assumptions about this, most of which are dead ends. But Jesus says that he has come that we might have life and have it in abundance (John 10:10)

s our life is hidden in Christ it will show by what we “put off” and “put on” as God’s chosen people. God doesn’t want us to remain who we are. - All old identities fade away as Christ is all and is in all in a community marked by love.

College is a time when students hear and learn a lot of “fine-sounding arguments” which promote a “hollow and deceptive philosophy which depends on human tradition.” But we already have all the fullness in Christ and that he is to be our authority.

Paul’s commitment to and effort on behalf of God’s people – giving us a picture of what ours should be. Confronts the individualism of our culture, emphasizes how a mature person in Christ cares for God’s people

What does it mean to “grow up in Christ”? It means placing Jesus at the center of everything we do, and putting our entire trust in what He has done.

Intro to Spring Sermon Series

Living sacrifices means we need transformed and renewed minds about money. Who’s money is it? Living sacrifices have no claim on their money - we’re dead to our own claims! So what’s it look like to live as if (1) every penny of “yours” was God’s, and (2) everything God calls you to, He promises to also provide for?

Living sacrifices means we ignore the cultural pressure to stick to “our people” and instead, reach out to new people all the time.

We’re talking about living sacrifices. And how living sacrificed to Jesus flies in the face of so many of our cultural assumptions, doesn’t it? So here’s another tender spot: Where do living sacrifices live?

“…offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. This is your spiritual act of worship.” The right response to the mercy of God is doing what Jesus did: laying down His life for the cause of God. Offering ourselves as sacrifices that are still alive, in service to the God who made us, rescued us, and now wants to lead us in joining the rescue movement. But this is counter-cultural. Nothing about American society will teach you to do this. American culture says, “You’re #1. Your safety, your comfort, your fun, and your future are the most important thing for you to build your life on, and should be the #1 factor in decisions you make in life.” But verse 2 says, “Do NOT be conformed to the patter of this world [the culture that you’re in], but be transformed by the renewing of your mind [let God change your mind to what HE says is important].” And how many of you want to know what God’s will is for your life? THIS is how. “Then [only when you have crawled up on the altar, said, ‘Jesus, I am yours. This life isn’t even mine anymore. What would you have me do?’] can we “know the God’s will - His good, pleasing, and perfect will for our lives.” Have you experienced God’s mercy? In light of His goodness to you, offer yourself to Him as a sacrifice that’s still alive - 100% available to His call, at whatever cost to yourself. Let Him change your mind from a “me-first” culture, to a “Jesus-obedience-first” culture of His kingdom, of Him as King. Then you’ll know what God wants you to do with your life.

The Psalms say, "Your praise will ever be on my lips." God's people have always been a people of worship, so get ready to worship and be ministered to by the Lord.

God's heroes were always "empowered by the Spirit" to do mighty things. The great hope of God's people has always been that God would pour out His Spirit on everyone - and from the early church until today, He has.

Some people think God plays favorites, but there are no outsiders in God's kingdom. Everyone has a place close to Him.

In the original creation story, God creates light, order, and life out of darkness, chaos and no life. And because God doesn't change we see Jesus doing the same thing. Where do you need Jesus to bring light, order, or life into your experience?

God reveals Himself in the entire Bible - His “I AM” answer to Moses is “I’m not like other gods - let me show you!”  And the whole of Scripture is God’s demonstration.  But many people see the Bible as the story of a bipolar God - wrath and law in the OT, grace in the NT.  But it has always been grace.

Senior Christina Rogers shares some of her experiences with God’s Word.

There are three voices we could be hearing: the enemy’s voice (lies, accusations, etc), the voice of our own desires, and God’s voice. So how do we discern who’s voice we are listening to?

Maybe you’re the one who needs to hear God’s voice through someone else, or maybe you’re the someone else God wants to speak through.

To hear from God we need to push out distractions and make space to hear from Him. Treat yo self!

What’s Your Posture? God is Eager to Confide – His posture is open – with the person who offers himself or herself to Him. The thoughts, commands, and dreams of God’s heart are so precious that He’s not going to share them with a closed, distracted heart.

John 1 & Hebrews 4:12 By the way we live, we believe that God doesn’t speak any more. We are practical atheists. God wants to speak to us and He IS speaking to us. The Word IS ALIVE!!!

Exodus 20:4-5, Ezekiel 14:3, Hosea 14:1-3, Romans 1:24,25, I John 5:21 We think of idolatry as something of another age or of primitive cultures. Certainly we moderns are beyond such archaic notions. But our hearts can turn anything into an idol when we treat something else as an ultimate end, other than God. But our counterfeit gods ultimately enslave us and cannot deliver what they promise. The message and work of Christ is to rescue us from our idols and to bring us back to a place of love and trust and obedience to the only true God who loves us deeply and alone can give us what we really want–what we really need.

I get the Christian worldview, but what if it doesn’t match my experience? This sermon is a place to recognize that everyone’s story with sex is messed up. So if you have had sex outside of marriage, have gotten pregnant, have had an abortion, are addicted to pornography, are same-sex attracted, are deeply discontent being single and celibate, or any other manner of sexual brokenness...Jesus’ community is for you. Offer the hope and healing and forgiveness of Christ for our sexual brokenness and regret.

The Spirit has always been God’s empowering presence in the lives of His people. He’s all over the Old Testament, and enjoys an empowering relationship with Jesus, too. So when Jesus says, “I’m leaving,” He can also say, “But I will never leave you, because One just like me will be in you.”

Mark 4:35-41 The disciples thought they knew Jesus, but this story reveals his unexpected identity as the One who has power over the wind and the waves. No matter where you’re coming from, Jesus wants to expand your vision of who he is during your time at Western. Are you willing to let him reveal himself to you? Let him show you something unexpected!

A missionary knows that the only hope for change in the people they’re reaching out to around them is by the power of God. Prayer is the language of dependence. Missionaries pray because they know they can’t change people. Praying like a missionary often means praying for a long time, faithfully, being a steadfast pray-er. Praying like a missionary also means praying radically! Being risky in your prayers – praying for healing in front of the people you’re reaching, sharing visions for their life with them, praying boldly for the people you’re trying to reach.

Some may think of the Holy Spirit and be curious, nervous, feel stuck, or that they do no need him. To all these people, the message of the first sermon is the same: the Holy Spirit is God himself, and the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus. John 14:16-18 & Acts 16:7