OneLife Youth

#nothingwill: Week 1

We are starting another summer series, #nothingwill. This 3-week series focuses on Romans 8:38-39, explaining that nothing will separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Text: 

• Romans 8:38-39
• Acts 6:3-11;  7:54-60
• Luke 6:27-31, 32
• Ephesians 6:12

Main Points:

Even when faced with intense persecution, we can show love for our enemies because God’s love has been shown to us. Mark will be walking through the story/martyr of Stephen. 

It is HIGHLY unlikely in modern culture that you or I will be physically stoned or physically crucified for our faith in Christ.  It is more likely that you and I will be socially canceled or socially crucified. 

What do we do with that?  We love:

• No matter what happens to you, you will ALWAYS be loved by God.  Even if they kill you.
• No matter what you choose to do, you will ALWAYS be loved by God.
• There is nothing you can do that can make Him love you more.
• There is nothing you can do that can make Him love you less.

Response:

• Are you thinking of someone right now who you need to show love and forgiveness?
• Do you feel like you’re being persecuted for your faith?
• Do you feel like you’ve done something and God does not love you anymore?

YOU ARE LOVED…FOREVER!

Main Points:

1. Experiencing Faith Leads to an Understanding of Faith
2. Difficulties Come so Faith Can Run
3. A  Divided Mind will Choke Faith all the Time
4. An Obedient Faith Produces an Audacious Faith

Mark 4:13-20

13 And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. 16 And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. 17 And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. 18 And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, 19 but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 20 But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”

Each morning session was to build upon on how we are called to Audacious Faith in Jesus that can transform our lives, this next session is Kenan’s talk on Pushing Past Fear to Faith.

We’re talking about audacious faith this week - faith that is confident in Jesus that it takes risks, boldness. The truth is that there is a battle to be fought to live a life of audacious faith. What do we do with anxiety in our lives? God has instructions for us about what to do with anxiety in His Word, and if we will believe Him at his Word, He will deliver us from anxiety, fear, stress - all of these things that kill audacious faith

Philippians 4:6

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

• This is such a powerful verse! If you struggle with anxiety, fear, stress - memorize this verse!
• Paul gives us very clear instructions here about how to fight anxiety in our lives, lets lay it out for you in 3 steps:

Step 1) Believe

6 Don’t worry about anything

• If you trust in Jesus as your savior, there is power for you to chose not to be anxious
• The call of this passage is to take a step of audacious faith and believe that Jesus is able to set you free from anxiety in your life
• Believe God has a path to freedom for you

Step 2) Pray

instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need

• Paul’s instructions aren’t “don’t worry be happy” it’s “don’t worry, pray!”
• Don’t be silent! We get so tangled in the webs of anxiety when we are silent.
• When you feel worried about anything - talk to God about it
• Step of audacious faith - believe Jesus is able to do something about your troubles

Step 3) Thank

and thank him for all he has done.

• Live in awareness of God’s power at work in you, and thank Him every day!
• Audacious faith - believe that Jesus is responsible for every victory

The result = PEACE

Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

• God’s peace, not the peace you provide
• Peace that guards
• God’s peace is more powerful than anxiety

Response - ask for Peace

• Exercise - close eyes and walk through steps
• Pray for peace

Each morning session was to build upon on how we are called to Audacious Faith in Jesus that can transform our lives, this next session is Joshua's talk on Steps to Building Faith.

Each morning session was to build upon on how we are called to Audacious Faith in Jesus that can transform our lives, this first session is Grace’s talk on Habits to Building Faith.

Last night we talked about the faith killer - anxiety, stress, fear. To live a life of audacious faith we need our soul anchored and guarded by God’s peace!

Tonight we’re going to talk about building audacious faith! How do we build audacious faith? Audacious faith is not something we conjure up, it is built in us by Jesus Himself when we engage in relationship with Him

Example 1: Calling the disciples

Matthew 4:16-20

16 Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.

We build audacious faith by first accepting Jesus’ invitation to follow Him

Example 2: Sending the 72

Luke 10:1-12

10 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. 9 Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ 12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

We build audacious faith by stepping into Jesus’ invitation to do the things He does

John 14:12-14

12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

Example 3: Great Commission

Matthew 28:16-20

16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

We build audacious by acting on Jesus’ invitation to do even greater things

Conclusion

• We build audacious faith through relationship with Jesus - who invites us on the adventure of a lifetime!

Respond

• Audacious faith comes from relationship with Jesus! He has a better life, a better adventure, a better hope, a better security, a better happiness, a better joy than living for yourself will ever accomplish!

Each morning session was to build upon on how we are called to Audacious Faith in Jesus that can transform our lives, this next session is Karenna’s talk on Keys to Keeping Faith Active.

Each morning session was to build upon on how we are called to Audacious Faith in Jesus that can transform our lives, this first session is Si’s talk on Keys to Sustaining Faith For the Year Ahead.

Main Points:

1. Experiencing Faith Leads to an Understanding of Faith
2. Difficulties Come so Faith Can Run
3. A  Divided Mind will Choke Faith all the Time

Mark 4:13-20

13 And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. 16 And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. 17 And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. 18 And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, 19 but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 20 But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”