Sunday Morning Message Notes
On Sunday, I got to share a bit of my story with my students, which thrills the closet teacher in me. Some of you have asked what I shared on, so I figured I'd just post my notes. Enjoy!
Message Notes 2.20.2011
Get to know me- born in CA, went to church regularly
Moved to OR, ended up at RHCC because Liz was invited by a friend
Age 9- parents divorced, brother went to college -> Jesus’ love was the constant in a shattered world
DC/LA 6th grade- a whole new world- decided that following Jesus was worth it, and more than just a Sunday morning thing. Became the token youth group kid- serving, leading, missions trips, camps etc
Literally grew up IN the church- summers, mom worked there
Godview- God wants us to be good. God wants us to be happy. Therefore IF we are good THAN we are happy.
Since my childhood wasn’t happy anymore, I’d decided that if I was good, I’d be happy.
Continued through high school, where I became the poster child for youth ministry- spent literally all weekend at church. Sat Night- nursery, Sun 9am- prep, Sun 11am- user/run HS service, Sunday afternoon/evening- middle school small group leader. Missions, camps, leadership roles, FCA leader etc.
There are 2 problems with this Godview:
1. No real relationship- coasting through on a formula faith. As long as I was doing my part, I expected God to do the same. Jesus isn’t Santa.
2. Easily shattered- unexpected events or situations can ruin faith. When bad things happen, people have a tendency to say “this isn’t the God I know” and walk away.
Scripture- Matthew 11:1-4 JtB was expecting the Messiah to mean that life wouldn’t be hard anymore, that saving the world meant no longer being prosecuted. Jesus replies with -I am who I am, and blessed is the person who does not turn away because of that.
Biblically, there is no guarantee that good = happy (Paul, disciples etc)
Job is where I fell in love with Jesus. He shared it ALL with God- his frustrations and pain, how unfair he thought his circumstances were. And God responds… with sass! “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!”
My senior year of high school, despite how “good” I had been, my father was diagnosed with cancer…
It was Job who taught me that it’s okay to be angry with God- but I have to be willing to enter into a genuine relationship with Him. That relationship will be what saves your faith when your expectations of God are shattered. Something WILL rock your world.
So I left for college, around the time my dad had been diagnosed cancer- free. I found out that when you grow up in a church- stepping outside of it can really be eye opening. I went to a Christian school, but met people who had a different view of God than I did- and I had to decide what to do about that.
I’ve noticed that my friends have walked away from Jesus for one of two reasons- either church was just something they “did” even if they did it a lot and the relationship wasn’t real, or something bad happened and they couldn’t imagine a God that would let it, so they walked away.
Like Job, we have a tendency to want to BE God, instead of letting God be God. We are only disappointed when He acts outside of our expectations. But THANK GOD that we serve someone bigger than we can imagine.
Even making this realization doesn’t mean you’ll be happy, or that everything will go well. 6 weeks ago my dad died, after a five year battle with cancer. He won’t be around for my wedding, or my children, but luckily, because I’ve learned that it’s okay to be angry with God, I’ve turned towards Him, instead of walking away. I’ve given up trying to be God, or “good enough”- I’ve learned that the relationship with Him is so much better, and so much more rewarding.
Message Notes 2.20.2011
Get to know me- born in CA, went to church regularly
Moved to OR, ended up at RHCC because Liz was invited by a friend
Age 9- parents divorced, brother went to college -> Jesus’ love was the constant in a shattered world
DC/LA 6th grade- a whole new world- decided that following Jesus was worth it, and more than just a Sunday morning thing. Became the token youth group kid- serving, leading, missions trips, camps etc
Literally grew up IN the church- summers, mom worked there
Godview- God wants us to be good. God wants us to be happy. Therefore IF we are good THAN we are happy.
Since my childhood wasn’t happy anymore, I’d decided that if I was good, I’d be happy.
Continued through high school, where I became the poster child for youth ministry- spent literally all weekend at church. Sat Night- nursery, Sun 9am- prep, Sun 11am- user/run HS service, Sunday afternoon/evening- middle school small group leader. Missions, camps, leadership roles, FCA leader etc.
There are 2 problems with this Godview:
1. No real relationship- coasting through on a formula faith. As long as I was doing my part, I expected God to do the same. Jesus isn’t Santa.
2. Easily shattered- unexpected events or situations can ruin faith. When bad things happen, people have a tendency to say “this isn’t the God I know” and walk away.
Scripture- Matthew 11:1-4 JtB was expecting the Messiah to mean that life wouldn’t be hard anymore, that saving the world meant no longer being prosecuted. Jesus replies with -I am who I am, and blessed is the person who does not turn away because of that.
Biblically, there is no guarantee that good = happy (Paul, disciples etc)
Job is where I fell in love with Jesus. He shared it ALL with God- his frustrations and pain, how unfair he thought his circumstances were. And God responds… with sass! “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!”
My senior year of high school, despite how “good” I had been, my father was diagnosed with cancer…
It was Job who taught me that it’s okay to be angry with God- but I have to be willing to enter into a genuine relationship with Him. That relationship will be what saves your faith when your expectations of God are shattered. Something WILL rock your world.
So I left for college, around the time my dad had been diagnosed cancer- free. I found out that when you grow up in a church- stepping outside of it can really be eye opening. I went to a Christian school, but met people who had a different view of God than I did- and I had to decide what to do about that.
I’ve noticed that my friends have walked away from Jesus for one of two reasons- either church was just something they “did” even if they did it a lot and the relationship wasn’t real, or something bad happened and they couldn’t imagine a God that would let it, so they walked away.
Like Job, we have a tendency to want to BE God, instead of letting God be God. We are only disappointed when He acts outside of our expectations. But THANK GOD that we serve someone bigger than we can imagine.
Even making this realization doesn’t mean you’ll be happy, or that everything will go well. 6 weeks ago my dad died, after a five year battle with cancer. He won’t be around for my wedding, or my children, but luckily, because I’ve learned that it’s okay to be angry with God, I’ve turned towards Him, instead of walking away. I’ve given up trying to be God, or “good enough”- I’ve learned that the relationship with Him is so much better, and so much more rewarding.
Vickie, this is amazing. Thank you for sharing. Even though I am older than you, you have taught me so much over the last year, and for that, I thank you. You are an extremely strong woman - I admire that so much.
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