I'm preaching for the first time at my youth group soon.

[GWH]

I completely agree! The most important question in life is that will you accept Jesus as Lord and trust in Him alone for salvation? That will surely be a part I will try to impute into my little recap sermon. It's a recap sermon reinforcing the main points. I'll also watch how our pastor does it.

Of course you won't want to dump the whole load in one sermon, but it might also be helpful to keep in mind that the main points of Christian orthodoxy implicit in this statement ""accept Jesus as Christ the Lord" can be explained or elaborated as follows:

1. There is a/one all-loving and just Lord or God (DT 6:4, JN 3:16, 2THS 1:6), who is both able (2TM 1:12) and willing (1TM 2:3-4) to provide all morally accountable human beings salvation or heaven—a wonderful life full of love, joy and peace forever.
2. Human beings are selfish or sinful (RM 3:23, 2TM 3:2-4, CL 3:5), miserable (GL 5:19-21), and hopeless (EPH 2:12) when they reject God’s salvation or DOD (JN 3:18).
3. Jesus is God’s Messiah/Christ or the way (means of providing salvation) that God has chosen (JN 3:16, ACTS 16:30-31, PHP 2:9-11), although pre-NT truthseekers could/can learn a proto-gospel via general revelation combined with conscience.
4. Thus, every person who hears the NT Gospel needs to repent and accept God in Jesus as Christ/Messiah the Lord or Supreme Commander (LK 2:11, JN 14:6, ACTS 16:31), which means trying to obey His commandment to love one another (MT 22:37-40, JN 13:35, RM 13:9)—forever (MT 10:22, PS 113:2).
5. Then God’s Holy Spirit will establish a saving relationship with those who freely accept Him (RV 3:20) that will eventually achieve heaven when by means of persevering in learning God’s Word everyone cooperates fully with His will (RM 8:6-17, GL 6:7-9, EPH 1:13-14, HB 10:36, 12:1, JM 1:2-4).

Although perfection is not achieved in this life, the necessity of learning the didache in order to strive for perfection indicates the need for perseverance or to keep on learning and growing spiritually until we die physically.

This part (#5) was rarely preached in the sermons I heard when I was young in my Baptist church, but thankfully I realized my need to read GW and fill in gaps that would answer the doubts that atheists may put in an immature Christian's head, so that I did not do what a church friend did and become an atheist or what my favorite HS teacher did and become an "agnostic".

 

[studentoftheword]

JesusIsSovereign-------------My contribution about the passage you seemed to have picked -----

Here is the thing ----You yourself have no idea who's heart God has changed and who's ears He has opened to hear and Spiritually understand the message you are going to be delivering ----

The Holy Spirit does know this already ----the teenagers who have not had their heart changed and ears open by God to your message will not get the Spiritual message behind your words ---

So you need to Relay on the Holy Spirit to help you draft your Sermon for your audience that your speaking to --

This Scripture you choose here is about God's Faith -----do they know what God's faith is -----God's faith believes in the unseen realm ---God's Faith Produces what it says ---God's Faith is inbirthed in a person through hearing His word and trusting it --

This passage is really not about why bad things happen to us at all --Death is a reality that we will all face ----the family of Lazarus were in morning --Lazarus had been a sick man and died ---the family were angry at Jesus because didn't come and heal his sickness as Jesus had healed many ----they were perplexed as why He stayed away until the 4 day ---and there is a reason for that ----it was a jewish custom ---to leave the person in the grave for 3 days -----and the family should have known that but their anger clouded their judgment ----

if you want to talk --- why bad things happen you should do the Book of Job -----that passage teach us why God allows bad things to happen to His Children -----

This passage is about a foreshadowing of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ --

Jesus was divine and human ----this passage shows His Divine Nature and Prepared People to Have Faith in His Death and Resurrection ----it is about eternal life after death ----

So was God with the Family in their grief and anger Yes---We are the ones who abandon God ---God never abandons us ----but our hurt --judgment and anger can Block God from being able to comfort us in our time of need ---that is part of the lesson from this passage -----

 

[keepingthingsreal]

JIS.

I cannot tell you what to say, but I will say a prayer that God leads you by his Spirit and puts his words in your mouth.

Thank you for trying to reach this nation's youth with the gospel message.

 

[homwardbound]

That's not what I'm hoping for. I trust God to lead me through and not go through this in my own strength, for I would stumble all over my words. I've been requested to preach that Sunday by the guy who is leading the youth group. I want people to hear Christ, not the Word of man but the Word of God.

So, sorry you are not seeing the word of God able to work through you
You are worried okay, maybe read Matt 6 where Jesus asks the ?
Will worry add even a moment to your life?
It seems to me worry takes away, never adds, it steals, kills and destroys, you will eventually see it one day, since not yet seeing it yet

 

[JesusIsSovereign]

JesusIsSovereign-------------My contribution about the passage you seemed to have picked -----

Here is the thing ----You yourself have no idea who's heart God has changed and who's ears He has opened to hear and Spiritually understand the message you are going to be delivering ----

The Holy Spirit does know this already ----the teenagers who have not had their heart changed and ears open by God to your message will not get the Spiritual message behind your words ---

So you need to Relay on the Holy Spirit to help you draft your Sermon for your audience that your speaking to --

This Scripture you choose here is about God's Faith -----do they know what God's faith is -----God's faith believes in the unseen realm ---God's Faith Produces what it says ---God's Faith is inbirthed in a person through hearing His word and trusting it --

This passage is really not about why bad things happen to us at all --Death is a reality that we will all face ----the family of Lazarus were in morning --Lazarus had been a sick man and died ---the family were angry at Jesus because didn't come and heal his sickness as Jesus had healed many ----they were perplexed as why He stayed away until the 4 day ---and there is a reason for that ----it was a jewish custom ---to leave the person in the grave for 3 days -----and the family should have known that but their anger clouded their judgment ----

if you want to talk --- why bad things happen you should do the Book of Job -----that passage teach us why God allows bad things to happen to His Children -----

This passage is about a foreshadowing of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ --

Jesus was divine and human ----this passage shows His Divine Nature and Prepared People to Have Faith in His Death and Resurrection ----it is about eternal life after death ----

So was God with the Family in their grief and anger Yes---We are the ones who abandon God ---God never abandons us ----but our hurt --judgment and anger can Block God from being able to comfort us in our time of need ---that is part of the lesson from this passage -----

I agree with most of what you are saying, but it is true though, that ultimately God uses all for His glory. Can we really block God from His comfort us? And we always need God. By the Holy Spirit, God can soften our hearts even in our most angry moments. So I'm curious what you mean.

 

[JesusIsSovereign]

So, sorry you are not seeing the word of God able to work through you
You are worried okay, maybe read Matt 6 where Jesus asks the ?
Will worry add even a moment to your life?
It seems to me worry takes away, never adds, it steals, kills and destroys, you will eventually see it one day, since not yet seeing it yet

That's not what I was saying.

 

[Aaron56]

So, sorry you are not seeing the word of God able to work through you
You are worried okay, maybe read Matt 6 where Jesus asks the ?
Will worry add even a moment to your life?
It seems to me worry takes away, never adds, it steals, kills and destroys, you will eventually see it one day, since not yet seeing it yet

For someone just starting to teach they need encouragement. Any teacher worth his or her salt starts at the beginning. Learning to trust the Lord, when teaching, is something that takes maturity and growth. When I first started I had copious notes and references and I stuck to them. As I matured, and my knowledge of the scriptures increased, the Spirit would lead me where I did not plan to go. I learned to trust Him by continuing to teach even when I was awkward.

It was the Lord who helped me become a better teacher. He honored the fact that I never gave up.

 

[studentoftheword]

Can we really block God from His comfort us?

I don't know how Mature you are in your Faith walk with Christ ----but yes we can Block or Hinder God from Comforting us -----

We have an enemy loose in this world Satan who is the god of this world still ----he has God's Ok to infiltrate our minds with anger which comes from Fear even as we Have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit -- Satan's job is to keep you away from God's comfort ---by doing what he did to Lazarus's family ---he instilled anger in their minds toward Jesus -----and this Hinders God to comfort them -----You cannot be in anger and feel God's Agape and be in peace and comfort from God in your mourning so your Blocking God to help you in feeling God's comfort -----

I agree that God works through His Children for His Glory -----

And we always need God. By the Holy Spirit, God can soften our hearts even in our most angry moments. So I'm curious what you mean.

God is always there for His Adapted Children --but we are not always there for God ----we are in this world and again Satan has full access to God's Children ===so it is our job to keep Satan's infiltration of instilling Fear ---anger ---unbelief --doubt --anxiety etc which keeps God away from helping us in our time of need --You cannot be in Fear and be in Faith at the same time -----your either in Fear or your in Faith ----Fear tolerated is God's Faith contaminated -----

You make this statement ------
God can soften our hearts even in our most angry moments.

That is False ---Anger comes from Satan --not God ----and Fear again will block God from your heart and mind ------Fear contaminates your heart and mind and keeps God away from working for you

2 Timothy 1:7

Amplified Bible
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear,
but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].


Note
We are to Rightly divide the Word of God -----and it is so important for anyone preaching to do just that so the people hearing the message are being FED Rightly ---their eternal life depends on it -----

People preaching God's word need Spiritual understanding of His Word ----and not many Preachers have that understanding today ----in my view -----

 

[John146]

I'm just asking for any help, tips, or hints for John 11:17-27 (which is what I'm probably going to be preaching on) on how to make this applicable to teenage students. Here it is: 17 When Jesus arrived, He found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem (about two miles away). 19 Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother. 20 As soon as Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet Him. But Mary remained seated in the house.
21 Then Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died. 22 Yet even now I know that whatever You ask from God, God will give You.”
23 “Your brother will rise again,” Jesus told her.
24 Martha said, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live. 26 Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die—ever. Do you believe this?”
27 “Yes, Lord,” she told Him, "I believe You are the Messiah, the Son of God, who comes into the world.". After reading this, I kind of thought that maybe I could say something like, "have you ever felt this way? Have you ever felt or thought that, 'if God, you had been with me, this bad thing wouldn't of happened?'. Actually, God is always with us, but He allows bad things for His glory and your good. (Earlier someone else preach on John 9, which was about the blind man being healed of his blindness) Remember the man born blind? Jesus said in verse 3, "neither this man nor his parents sinned," Jesus answered. "This came about so that the works of God might be displayed in him.". So, the reason why bad things happen is not always the result of sin and is ultimately because God allowed it for His own glory. And Romans 8:28 tells us that it's for our own good as well.". So, if you have any other thoughts or ideas I may add to this or something that should be taken out or replaced with, please let me know. Thanks! To God alone be the Glory! Praise the Lord!

Just a thought, you don't always have to make things applicable, but teach them the truth of what's taking place in the scripture. Let them see how God was working in the past. It can get sketchy if you try apply the same thing happening to today.

 

[Aaron56]

Just a thought, you don't always have to make things applicable, but teach them the truth of what's taking place in the scripture. Let them see how God was working in the past. It can get sketchy if you try apply the same thing happening to today.

Yes, I think you said that more eloquent than I.

Jr. High and High School students are able to hear the deep things of the Lord and some are able to appreciate them.

 

[JesusIsSovereign]

I don't know how Mature you are in your Faith walk with Christ ----but yes we can Block or Hinder God from Comforting us -----

We have an enemy loose in this world Satan who is the god of this world still ----he has God's Ok to infiltrate our minds with anger which comes from Fear even as we Have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit -- Satan's job is to keep you away from God's comfort ---by doing what he did to Lazarus's family ---he instilled anger in their minds toward Jesus -----and this Hinders God to comfort them -----You cannot be in anger and feel God's Agape and be in peace and comfort from God in your mourning so your Blocking God to help you in feeling God's comfort -----

I agree that God works through His Children for His Glory -----




God is always there for His Adapted Children --but we are not always there for God ----we are in this world and again Satan has full access to God's Children ===so it is our job to keep Satan's infiltration of instilling Fear ---anger ---unbelief --doubt --anxiety etc which keeps God away from helping us in our time of need --You cannot be in Fear and be in Faith at the same time -----your either in Fear or your in Faith ----Fear tolerated is God's Faith contaminated -----

You make this statement ------
God can soften our hearts even in our most angry moments.

That is False ---Anger comes from Satan --not God ----and Fear again will block God from your heart and mind ------Fear contaminates your heart and mind and keeps God away from working for you

2 Timothy 1:7

Amplified Bible
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear,
but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].


Note
We are to Rightly divide the Word of God -----and it is so important for anyone preaching to do just that so the people hearing the message are being FED Rightly ---their eternal life depends on it -----

People preaching God's word need Spiritual understanding of His Word ----and not many Preachers have that understanding today ----in my view -----

Anger doesn't come from God, but God can take away that anger by the power of the Spirit. Can you give me a verse that supports your claim, "we can Block or Hinder God from Comforting us"?

 

[JesusIsSovereign]

Just a thought, you don't always have to make things applicable, but teach them the truth of what's taking place in the scripture. Let them see how God was working in the past. It can get sketchy if you try apply the same thing happening to today.

Well, that's the aim for the leaders of the youth group.

 

[birdie]

Thanks for helping teenagers! I did notice that you had a very very loose translation, which does really make a difference in the meaning of the scripture you are asking the Lord to help you to teach.

"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:"

This is the King James translation, which contains the correct meaning.

You wrote some other translation which changes the meaning by changing the words. You wrote: " Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live. "

This second translation makes it sound as if later on, after believing in Jesus, a person will die a natural death, and then will live. However, the King James translation is talking about being born again to believe in Jesus. That is why it uses the term "WERE DEAD". The verse is talking about a fallen person of humanity who WAS dead in trespasses and sins but then believes on Christ. From the moment they are born again and believe on Christ, they will never die again. That is why the scripture continues, in the King James version, to say, "
And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"

Of course, the natural body will often die but the person who is in Christ will never die from the point of conversion of being a true believer, believing the gospel. Notice the phrase "WERE DEAD" and how it is used to describe persons who come to believe. The Bible repeats this in the following verse:

"And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; "

Can you see how this is talking about a person who was spiritually dead and then God gave them life to believe on him for salvation? Can you see how this is not talking about death after believing in Christ.

My advice would be to let teenagers know that they can have life right now and forever just by believing on the Christ as their savior.

 

[studentoftheword]

Anger doesn't come from God, but God can take away that anger by the power of the Spirit. Can you give me a verse that supports your claim, "we can Block or Hinder God from Comforting us"?

The only way God can comfort True Christians who get angry is if the person is willing to Pray and ask God to help them with their anger -----God does not just show up like a magician and change peoples anger ---we have free will to choose to be angry or not to be ----God will only work to help a person deal with bad emotions if they ask God to help them ---and the person had to be willing to let God comfort them ----

When we are angry we are pushing God away from comforting us ----you harden your heart against the comfort -----When your angry you do not want comfort ----your wanting to stir up bad emotions -----God will not stop you from what you want to stir up ===you need to realize your angry and Pray to be free of the anger -----

Ephesians 4:31
Amplified Bible
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor [perpetual animosity, resentment, strife, fault-finding] and slander be put away from you, along with every kind of malice [all spitefulness, verbal abuse, malevolence]


2 Chronicles 7:14

Amplified Bible

14 and My people, who are called by My Name, humble themselves, and pray and seek (crave, require as a necessity) My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear [them] from heaven, and forgive their sin and heal their land.
Read full chapter


Matthew 5:21-22

Amplified Bible

Personal Relationships
21 “You have heard that it was said to the men of old, ‘You shall not murder,’ and ‘Whoever murders shall be [a]guilty before the court.’

22 But I say to you that everyone who continues to be angry with his brother or harbors malice against him shall be guilty before the court; and whoever speaks [contemptuously and insultingly] to his brother, [b]‘Raca (You empty-headed idiot)!’ shall be guilty before the supreme court (Sanhedrin); and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of the [c]fiery hell.

I say -----Anger --keeps God from Comforting a person ------you need to realize your anger---humble yourself and ask God through prayer to help put your anger aside and give you comfort ----only then can God give you comfort -----

From Google

By seeking God's presence through prayer, Scripture, fellowship, worship, trust, professional help when needed, service, forgiveness, remembering God's promises, and resting in His love, Christians can experience and pursue God's comfort in times of adversity and need.

 

[studentoftheword]

Here are some Bible verses that mention Satan blocking prayers:

• 1 Thessalonians 2:18: "For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way"
  
  
  
• Daniel 10:10-14: Daniel's prayers were delayed by demonic powers

In Daniel 10:10-14, we learn that Daniel's ardent prayers were delayed by demonic powers. We should expect the same, and not be discouraged when we pray and don't see immediate answers. There are spiritual forces at work behind the scenes that we clearly don't understand.

 

[JesusIsSovereign]

Thanks for helping teenagers! I did notice that you had a very very loose translation, which does really make a difference in the meaning of the scripture you are asking the Lord to help you to teach.

"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:"

This is the King James translation, which contains the correct meaning.

You wrote some other translation which changes the meaning by changing the words. You wrote: " Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live. "

This second translation makes it sound as if later on, after believing in Jesus, a person will die a natural death, and then will live. However, the King James translation is talking about being born again to believe in Jesus. That is why it uses the term "WERE DEAD". The verse is talking about a fallen person of humanity who WAS dead in trespasses and sins but then believes on Christ. From the moment they are born again and believe on Christ, they will never die again. That is why the scripture continues, in the King James version, to say, "
And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"

Of course, the natural body will often die but the person who is in Christ will never die from the point of conversion of being a true believer, believing the gospel. Notice the phrase "WERE DEAD" and how it is used to describe persons who come to believe. The Bible repeats this in the following verse:

"And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; "

Can you see how this is talking about a person who was spiritually dead and then God gave them life to believe on him for salvation? Can you see how this is not talking about death after believing in Christ.

My advice would be to let teenagers know that they can have life right now and forever just by believing on the Christ as their savior.

That's definitely a good point! I've learned that no matter how mature or immature your group is, it is always good to preach the gospel. I do see that. I can also see that with the story of the blind man. It makes me think of that story. Thanks for your insight! May God bless you!

 

[JesusIsSovereign]

The only way God can comfort True Christians who get angry is if the person is willing to Pray and ask God to help them with their anger -----God does not just show up like a magician and change peoples anger ---we have free will to choose to be angry or not to be ----God will only work to help a person deal with bad emotions if they ask God to help them ---and the person had to be willing to let God comfort them ----

When we are angry we are pushing God away from comforting us ----you harden your heart against the comfort -----When your angry you do not want comfort ----your wanting to stir up bad emotions -----God will not stop you from what you want to stir up ===you need to realize your angry and Pray to be free of the anger -----

Ephesians 4:31
Amplified Bible
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor [perpetual animosity, resentment, strife, fault-finding] and slander be put away from you, along with every kind of malice [all spitefulness, verbal abuse, malevolence]


2 Chronicles 7:14

Amplified Bible

14 and My people, who are called by My Name, humble themselves, and pray and seek (crave, require as a necessity) My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear [them] from heaven, and forgive their sin and heal their land.
Read full chapter


Matthew 5:21-22

Amplified Bible

Personal Relationships
21 “You have heard that it was said to the men of old, ‘You shall not murder,’ and ‘Whoever murders shall be [a]guilty before the court.’

22 But I say to you that everyone who continues to be angry with his brother or harbors malice against him shall be guilty before the court; and whoever speaks [contemptuously and insultingly] to his brother, [b]‘Raca (You empty-headed idiot)!’ shall be guilty before the supreme court (Sanhedrin); and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of the [c]fiery hell.

I say -----Anger --keeps God from Comforting a person ------you need to realize your anger---humble yourself and ask God through prayer to help put your anger aside and give you comfort ----only then can God give you comfort -----

From Google

By seeking God's presence through prayer, Scripture, fellowship, worship, trust, professional help when needed, service, forgiveness, remembering God's promises, and resting in His love, Christians can experience and pursue God's comfort in times of adversity and need.

God makes them want to pray.

 

[studentoftheword]

God makes them want to pray.

God does not make us do anything ----if he did then we wouldn't have free will to choose to pray or not to pray --we would be doing what God made us do ----

True Christians want to Pray because we Agape God and praying is the only way to have access to God ====we want Him involved in our daily lives so we set aside prayer time in our day to communicate with God -----

God can lay an urge upon our heart to pray at times but we have the choice to either accept that urge or refuse it --

 

[JesusIsSovereign]

God does not make us do anything ----if he did then we wouldn't have free will to choose to pray or not to pray --we would be doing what God made us do ----

True Christians want to Pray because we Agape God and praying is the only way to have access to God ====we want Him involved in our daily lives so we set aside prayer time in our day to communicate with God -----

God can lay an urge upon our heart to pray at times but we have the choice to either accept that urge or refuse it --

We do have free will and at the same time God changes our desires, what we want. And we free willingly choose those desires God gives us.

 

[studentoftheword]

God changes our desires, what we want. And we free willingly choose those desires God gives us.

not exactly ----What we want is to feed our worldly desires -----our flesh is still corrupt even though we are Born Again in Spirit ---We are a tri part being ----We are First a Spirit Being ----we possess a Soul which is our mind --Will and Emotions --and our Spirit and Soul are housed in this Physical Body ----

So while our Spirit is Holy --our Soul still thinks like the world and wants to be fed like the world thinks -------so we have to Change our Soul to line up with our Holy Spirit -which is we have to train our mind to line up with God's ways of thinking and lay down our worldly ways of thinking -----

That is why God says ----


Romans 12:2

Amplified Bible

2 And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be [a]transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].

I say ---God has given us the tools we need ---His Word -----we have to apply them -----


Your Statement here ----
we free willingly choose those desires God gives us

I wish -----for instance --God says don't lie -----but we still lie even though we know it displeases God and what displeases God grieves the Holy Spirit ----and so we try not to lie but we still do -----so while we want to freely choose the desires God want for us --we still fail ===

Paul says it best


Romans 7:15-20

Amplified Bible



15 For I do not understand my own actions [I am baffled and bewildered by them]. I do not practice what I want to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate [and yielding to my human nature, my worldliness—my sinful capacity].

16 Now if I habitually do what I do not want to do, [that means] I agree with the Law, confessing that it is good (morally excellent).

17 So now [if that is the case, then] it is no longer I who do it [the disobedient thing which I despise], but the sin [nature] which lives in me.

18 For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh [my human nature, my worldliness—my sinful capacity]. For the willingness [to do good] is present in me, but the doing of good is not.

19 For the good that I want to do, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.

20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want to do, I am no longer the one doing it [that is, it is not me that acts], but the sin [nature] which lives in me.

I say -----We strive to live Holy and do God's will but we still miss the mark ---and will till we are fully Sanctified and that will be when we have our Glorified bodies in Heaven -----

Preach Truth not what you think -----