Hey guys, what are your thoughts on the following...
I love the idea of redemption of time, but its a bit broad and I feel like that's sort of the theme for the whole series, we just didn't cover free time. But something I'm not sure we covered was jobs in the future (correct me if I'm wrong). I could cover a bit of that... but then focus in on God being here and now and wanting to be part of our lives. He empowers and centers our lives. It sort of segues into "God is" as well. Let me know your thoughts
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i don't believe anyone touched on the idea of jobs. jobs may be something further away in the minds of the kids, although i guess some might work part-time jobs, but since you're saying "jobs in the future" thats like post-college/career type of jobs you're referring to? maybe something more in reference to college/schools (college for hs and then hs for jh) would hit closer and still could work w/ the point you are making.
ReplyDeleteI think its more of life in general.. sort of commenting on the mentality that the workplace is separate from the rest of life, especially religious life. But yeah, it may be a bit too much in the future and more of a college thing. I think I was focusing more on the job for money and success vs job as place of mission/worship
ReplyDeleteHmmm. it is a very broad range of people. Just to throw it out there, if you wanted to do the job thing. How about just work in general. Because I think that would be more applicable to a broader range of the students.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of focusing on the job as a place of mission/worship. I think that can be good and will give the kids an idea of what it means to live for Christ in whatever they do. You can explore the thought of God having them live in the world and work among unbelievers. Perhaps asking the question, "How can my life count for God in my secular vocation?" I think by addressing that sort of issue can open the doors for the kids to think about life in a different light. John Piper says, "Our aim is to enjoy making much of by the way we work." We don't all have to be pasors or missionaries to glorify God. God wants to make Himself known through us in all vocations. We are scattered like salt and light wherever we go and in all we do. We are not called to work like this world, to become richer. But to work and create redemptive relationships and share the Gospel.
ReplyDeleteThanks guys! here are some preliminary notes for my message. My preaching class taught us the handy tool of making of "focus" and "function" statement. focus is the big idea that you don't want to stray from. function is what the message aims to do for the audience
ReplyDeleteFocus: God is with us.
Function: To preach the good news that God does not leave us alone. He is not just a God up in the sky. He is a God down on the ground.
Text: Matthew 28.20 (18.20, 1.23, Hag 1.13, Gen 28:15; Exod 3:12; Josh 1:5, 9; Isa 41:10)
I. Text – Jesus (and God) is with us. (and surely I am with you til the end of the age…)
a. Additional thought: making disciples (redeemed work and future)
II. Views of God
a. NT Wright: don’t believe in a God far away and distant
b. God wants to be intimiately involved in every way
c. Part of God’s character
III. Jesus: The Kingdom is Near
a. God’s presence: available and immanent.
b. (This could be another place where I could tie in future and job and workplace as mission/worship)
IV. You are not alone (Chosen!) Gift that God has given us
V. Power to redeem because God is here.
looks fine to me thus far brett.
ReplyDeletei was sitting here thinking if it would flow better if you switched IV and V, but i can't come to a conclusion, haha. i think either way it flows from III. once you get more into it it'll be easier to determine.
also by "part of God's character" are you referring to Him wanting to be intimately involved?
I like it a lot Brett. Some thoughts:
ReplyDeleteI agree in principle with all that's been said about work/jobs, but I think we do need to ask the question of relevance. I'm not saying it's irrelevant, but do we think this is something that speaks to the kids present situation? If we are preparing them for the future, do we expect them to retain this? These are not rhetorical questions - they do need to be answered if we're going to cover it.
As usual, the question of focus comes up:
What exactly is 1a? How does making disciples fit in with the idea of God with us? A thought for all of you guys - "additional thoughts" can be dangerous to a tight message.
I like point V. Do you want to touch on the power of God's presence in establishing the power he has to redeem? That's a nice little three point message - God's presence is imminent, available, and powerful.
Looks good. Nice way of closing the series.
to eugene's question: yes, I mean part of his character is wanting to be with us. Part of his love, part of his grace, part of his compassion
ReplyDeleteto brandon. Yeah, I'll been mulling over job and while I love the topic... it may be more of a specific thing for each person. Hopefully they can make that conclusion without saying it or when they come to that they'll think about it.
1a: this would have been if I did a more textual focus on Matthew 28. I would have have tied the vocation to making disciples as part of our entire redeemed lives. But yeah, you're right, it probably does pull focus.
I think definitely the power of God's presence empowers us (personally and spiritually) to find redemption (that language is not meant to make it put all on us... its both us and God).
I. Text – Jesus (and God) is with us. (and surely I am with you til the end of the age…)
II. Views of God
a. NT Wright: don’t believe in a God far away and distant
b. God wants to be intimiately involved in every way
c. Part of God’s character
III. Jesus: The Kingdom is Near
a. God’s presence: available and immanent.
IV. You are not alone (Chosen!) Gift that God has given us
V. Power to redeem because God is here.
What do you think of switching II and III? I'm going back and forth on that one...
I think IV and V could be switched (Eugene's suggestion). I'll see how it flows when writing it. Other thoughts?
I'll make a new post with this as well