Wide Awake
This weekend is about Seeing - eyes open while everyone else is asleep
Not fooled into thinking that this is all there is...there is a reality to our lives that not everyone experiences
the complete world is understood when our 6th sense is awakened - when we see what others cannot see - physical + spiritual
How Do We Know God?
1 We Have to See
Matthew 13:11-17
“blessed are your eyes, for they see...”
what is there to see?
go back to the beginning
God
creator
sin
chosen
Redeemer Gal 3:13-14
how was it that their spiritual eyes were opened?
Faith
See it again in Paul’s testimony: Acts 26:18
Paul - spiritual eyes closed until he met Jesus
he was a law breaker
(Eph 1:18)
Are your eyes open?
Conversion / Born Again / New Life / Made Alive
A question everyone must deal with...
What do I do with the invitation?
if you aren’t sure now, you won’t be sure tomorrow - deal with it today!
Many people say Yes, and have a testimony as a witness of the power of God
John 5:24 - moved from death to life
How Do We Know God?
2 We Identify with Him - this is my new life!
Life of obedience - that’s what the rest of this weekend will be about
We don’t always use our new ability to see
Obedience begin with baptism
baptism isn’t necessary for salvation but it is necessary for Christian growth and maturity
why? it is given to us as a next step (I didn’t make it up, Jesus did, he thinks it’s important)
It is important
Matthew 28:19
1 people follow Jesus
2 people are baptized
3 people begin to learn what following means
•Identifying with the Death and Life of Jesus
•encouragement to the Church
•it sets you in the right direction
•it is all about Jesus
•my life will be one of obedience
3 We walk with Him
restored Relationship with the creator
what was broken in the garden is fixed
No more hiding - but rather intimacy with God
Made possible in Jesus
Cultivated through the Word
It’s time
“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” CS Lewis
Are you settling for less than the fullness that God has planned for you?
There is an invitation to everyone of us - to taste and see that the Lord is good!
Come in!
Stop fooling about with things that will leave you empty
Hebrews 12:1-2
now is the time to evaluate what is holding us back from godliness - must be a personal pursuit as we take personal responsibility for our futures
The Anchor lines (family, friends, familiarity, fun) that hold you to faith and keep you involved with a body of believers are going to be cut (sooner for some of you than others = Graduates) What happens then? Is your relationship with Jesus enough for you?
What kind of college student will you be? what kind of young adult will you be? What kind of parent will you be? What kind of old dude will you be?
The choices you make today affect the kind of person you will be in the future
So set your eyes on Jesus
Colossians 3:1-4
Climb the mountain
Taste the drink
Open your spiritual eyes, fill them with the goodness of The Lord
Small Group Questions:
1 What does darkness look like in today’s world?
What “mud pies” have you fooled about with?
(referencing the CS Lewis quote)
(maybe...selfishness, self-promotion, worry, laziness, wasting time, normalization of sexuality immorality, negativity, discontentment...its more subtle and tricky than just like “murder” or “drugs”)
2 When did you come to know the Lord? (see if some of the students would share their testimony, be ready to share some of yours)
3 What have you been learning about the Lord lately? What aspects of God’s character or presence in your life are you seeing more clearly?
(referencing the 6th sense of seeing spiritual realities and growth in the knowledge of God)
4 What have you had to change recently that is now helping you see the goodness of the Lord (referencing Hebrews 12)
5 What next step in following Jesus do you need to take as someone who has chosen to Identify with Him? (maybe...make some changes? add some discipline? start new habits? strengthen some friendships)
6 What are some of your favorite passages of Scripture? (have some ready)