With all the negative media coverage lately, I thought it would be good to share something positive for a change. The following link is to a video about a high school homecoming court from Middle Tennessee who placed the interest of another student above their own. Take a few minutes and watch this video, you will be glad you did.
http://www.wkrn.com/story/20652447/homecoming-king-gives-up-crown-to-another-student
This past weekend several of our high school students, along with myself and a couple other adults, traveled to Savannah, Tennessee for a youth conference totally devoted to evangelism. This was the 14th year of this conference and it continues to get better each year. It is the one event I always look forward to attending.
Over the course of this weekend, I watched as over 1,400 students spent time learning and discussing ways they can be more evangelistic in their schools, communities and youth groups. It never fails, everyone always leaves Evangelism University (EU) excited to implement the things they have learned over the weekend. This year was no different. I am excited to see what happens as the students and adults begin to put into practice the ideas that were discussed.
However, as I walked away from EU this year, perhaps for the first time in all my years of attending and teaching at this conference, my heart and mind were truly opened to how many people in the world around me are lost and dying in sin because they have never come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and acted upon their faith in Him.
Jesus said, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” (Matthew 7:13-14).
Did you catch what Jesus said? There are many people in life who are walking down an easy path but the problem is this path leads to destruction. Only a few people have chosen to walk down the hard, narrow path that leads to life.
I don’t know about you, but this verse disturbs me and it should. It should disturb me to know that more people will spend eternity in hell than in heaven. It should disturb me to know that some of the people I love most, may be some of the very people who are walking down a path to destruction. Friends, it should disturb us to the point we are willing to do something about those who are lost and dying in sin. It’s time we acted upon the command left behind by Jesus before He returned back home to the Father. “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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). It’s time we did our part in making disciples of Christ.
If those of us who claimed to be Christians were half as passionate about evangelism as we are our favorite sports team, band or movie star, perhaps we would make more of an effort to bring people to Jesus. It’s time we developed a passion for something that truly matters in life! It’s time we took Jesus’ command seriously.
Take a good look at the people around you today. How many of those people are you willing to ignore and allow to continue down a path that leads to destruction? My hope and prayer is that it’s not many!
QUESTION: What can YOU and the congregation you attend do to make 2013 the year you reach out and evangelize those who are lost in sin? I’d love to hear your ideas. Please leave your comments below.
This year our Student Ministry program at Karns has decided to take a challenge to help make 2013 the best year it can be. The challenge that has been placed before our students, as well as some of the parents, is to allow God to work in and through us to mold us into the image of His son.
As children of God, our desire should be to walk, talk and represent Christ in the same way He would if He still walked the earth today. We want our level of discipleship to deepen to the point our family, friends and neighbors notice we are different people. Our desire is for others to see the image of Jesus in our lives.
In order for this to be accomplished, our students are going to try and do things they have never done before. Thomas Jefferson said, “If you want something you’ve never had, you must be willing to do something you’ve never done.” This is what we are going to do in 2013. This year we are accepting the challenge to be who God has called us to be, both in and out of the church building.
Last night each student was given details of this challenge. After going over what the challenge consisted of, each student spent a few minutes in prayer and then decided whether or not they wanted to participate. I explained by accepting the challenge each student would be accountable to the others. We are going to have one another’s backs throughout this challenge. I am thrilled to say every student prayerfully considered and decided to accept the challenge.
Here are a just a few things our challenge will consist of…
I am super excited to see what God will do in our lives through this challenge. Each student understands the impact participating in this challenge could have. My prayer is that the impact will be far greater than anything even I have dreamed of.
Please take a moment and pray for all the students and parents who have accepted this challenge. Ask God to do incredible things in the lives of all those who are participating so their relationship with Jesus is deepened.
What are you doing this year to deepen your relationship with God? I’d love to hear from you on this. Leave your comments below.
Miranda, Caden and I just got back last night from Colorado Springs, Colorado. This was the second year Miranda and I have been to Colorado Springs and Caden’s first trip. I was invited back to be the keynote speaker for a youth conference at the Mountain View Church of Christ. As we boarded the plane to fly out there, we left our home, our church family, our friends and many of the things that bring us comfort. Yet, when we arrived, we were greeted by family and friends. You see, although we were some 1,200 miles from Knoxville, in a totally different time zone, it still felt like home.
Pikes Peak
Friends, this is the great blessing of being a part of the family of God. No matter where you go, no matter how far away from home you are, you always have family around. The bond of Christ is so strong it cannot be overcome by distance, time or culture. When one is a part of the family of God, he or she has family all over the world.
Galatians 3:26-28 says, “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Now that’s Something to Think About!
Dear Father, thank you for the bond we share as your children through Jesus Christ your son. It is so comforting to know that no matter where we go, no matter how far we are from our native homeland, we have family who will make us feel as though we are at home. Thank you for your infinite wisdom in giving us such a powerful bond to share. In the name of Jesus I pray, AMEN!
Karns has a fantastic Student Ministry (Grades 6th – 12th) that I personally feel is blessed. It has nothing to do with me or what I do, but it has everything to do with the others who are involved in this ministry. If you will bear with me, I would like to give you a few reasons why I believed the Student Ministry at Karns is blessed.
What a blessing it is to be involved in the Karns’ Student Ministry! I thank God for this wonderful opportunity every day.
Now that’s Something to Think About!