Faith is Loud. Silence is ....?

The guys in my small group and I are reading through one chapter of Romans a week.  This week we're on chapter 10.  It really is hitting me that Paul ties our faith to our talk.  Over and over he discusses how if we believe in Jesus, we will talk about Jesus.  It's assumed.  It's part of the DNA of faith to talk about what you are basing your life on.

So, obviously, I wonder, what about us?  What does that say about us?  I mean, check out these verses:

"The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”

Or what about these:

" for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”  How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

I mean, seriously, why do we think that I can have a faith that's "private"?  Is that even possible?  I'm not all up on the soapbox trying to beat anyone down.  I am just wondering.  If we believe, can we really be silent?  Or if we are always silent, do we really believe? I'm not sure.


I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Beyond - Senior High Youth Group in Review 11/21/2010

Lesson Series - "Live"

Lesson Title - "Unstoppable"

Big Idea - If Jesus is for us, who cares who is against us?

Bible Verses - Romans 8:26-39

Overview of the night

Gym game - We let the students hang out while the Colts lost on the big screen in the gym.  Some of the students played Bombardment (a dodgeball game), while others hung out, talked, and laughed.

Announcements -

1. We have a worship night next Sunday night from 6:30 - 8:30 pm.  Parents are invited to come as well as students.  The band will lead in some music, and we will have several interactive worship stations set up by students that everyone can take part in.

2. December 5th is our Christmas on the Circle trip.  Sign ups are due by next Sunday.

3. On December 12th we will be sending everyone out on service projects for Christmas.  Everyone will need a permission form, and if you'd like to drive, let us know.

4. We will not be meeting on December 19th or 26th.

5. We have Nerf Wars on Tuesday December 28th

6. We have a Video Game Challenge on Wednesday December 29th

7. We have cards students can fill out to turn in prayer requests each week.

8. We have One Minute Bibles available for $5.

Lesson - The lesson was taught by Vince Bradburn.  It's Vince, by the way, not Mr. Bradburn.  Just so we have that straight.  We showed a video called Iron Head.  You can see it here.  Vince did an amazing job of walking students through a section of Romans that was very, very packed. 

His points were:

1.God Helps Us All - God is not picky in who He loves or cares for.  None of us are outside of His passion and love.

2. God Wants to Complete Us  - God has amazing plans for us, and will see them through.  If we trust Him, He wants to make us the best we can be as we become more like Him.

3. Nothing Can Separate Us From God's Love - No matter what we may do, or how bad we may mess up, if we want His forgiveness, He gives it to us every time.

4. Knowing Him and His love for us changes how we face our problems - When we follow Him, we are not ruled by our fears and mistakes, but by His love and wisdom.  It makes all the difference in the world.

Everyone ended the night in small groups.

Follow Up - It was a great night, full of fun and truth.  Here are some questions to ask your students/friends about what they learned:

1. When you think about the four points Vince taught, which one is the easiest for you to believe?  Why?

2. Which of the four points is the toughest for you to believe?  Why?

3. How does knowing that God loves you forever change how you approach your problems?

4. What is one thing here at home we can do as a family to trust God more?

So, Who's It Gonna Be?

John 11:45-57 is one of the saddest passages I know of. Jesus raises a man from the dead, with witnesses. It is proof that He is who He claims. Some people believe Him. Some. Only some. Miracles can not convince everyone. It's not a lack of proof, it's a lack of humility and willingness to admit that we are wrong. Some did. Some didn't.

Instead, some ran to the Pharisee's and told on Jesus. It gives me that feeling I get around little kids who are just tattle tales, who enjoy getting messes stirred up. That's the vibe I feel here. The Pharisee's don't care that Lazarus is raised, that God's power is at work. They are more afraid of the Romans than God. It's understandable. But they have placed Jehovah under the rule of the Caesars. They have bought the propaganda. They believe Rome's claims to be more powerful than anyone or anything. God may be staring them in the face in power, but let's not forget about Rome. The solution, keep Rome happy and kill off God.

This honestly strikes fear in my heart. The audacity, the sheer blindness to cower under the power of a system and push God out in order to appease it. It's terrifying to consider the consequences of a life lived like this. It's a life of fear, no peace, uncertainty, and pain. It's destructive to the very core of the soul.

And I do it. I allow the influence of money, acceptance, power, and selfishness cripple me. I push God out and make room for them. Why? They are unforgiving. If I don't fold under their pressure, they will leave me. I'll miss out. But God, He's always there. I can abuse Him easier than I can abuse these false lovers I have around me. What a terrifying, destructive lifestyle!

The more time I'm spending with the Jesus in John, the more I realize how out of sync with Him I can be. Please forgive me Lord. Change me. Make me new. I don't want to fall under the power of these forces. I want to stand with You.