ANNOUNCEMENTS
Nerf War: Date changed to Friday, November 9th because of October Bash. This should give everyone more prep time.
Fall Festival: Wed., October 31. From 6pm to 8:30pm. INVITE FRIENDS.
October Bash: Sunday, October 28. Begins at 6pm. INVITE FRIENDS AND DRESS UP AS A SUPER HERO (Be creative).
THE MESSAGE
Sunday night was part 2 of the James Series. We began the night with watching a scene from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Indiana’s mission was to find the Holy Grail which gave eternal life because his father was dying. On this mission Indy has to make a “leap of faith” across a huge valley to get to the grail. When he finally makes the step across he finds that there is a seemingly invisible bridge that has been painted to match the cliff and valley. If Indy would not have had the faith to make the step his father would have died.
After watching the video we read James 2:14-19, 26. In this passage James lays before us two types of faith: one that is living and one that is dead. Verse 26 says, “Just as the body without spirit is dead, so is faith without deeds dead.” Spirit here is spirit, not Spirit. Spirit here means breath. In other words, like a living organism breathes so living faith breathes. Something that does not breathe has no life. Faith with actions is living faith that breathes. Faith without actions is dead. It has no breath.
A living faith breathes in God’s virtue, His character (love, joy, kindness, patience, etc.) and exhales activity. As we read God’s Word, pray, live in his presence and seek his face his character begins to form in us and when this happens his activities begin to flow out of us. This is living faith; a constant interaction with God.
After explaining living faith I went back to the video. During this video the Nazi who shot Indy’s father to force Indy to get the grail made a very important statement: “It’s time to ask yourself, Indy, what you believe.” Following this statement Indy’s faith is tested as he faces the choice of making the leap of faith across the “invisible bridge.” People watch this video and say, “Man, the bridge was already there!” But I don’t believe it was there UNTIL HE STEPPED OUT.
You have a world depending on you! Will you take the first step? But the bridge is not there until you take the first step! For example, when you have the choice to read your Bible or sleep in, the energy you long for is missing until you take the step of faith and start reading. When you are taking a test and the temptation is to cheat, you might not even have the ability to not cheat until you take the step of faith. When God tells you to witness to your friends you have the choice to speak to them or wait. The words will not be given to you until you speak. When you are faced with the choice of coming to church or staying home and doing homework and studying for tests, the knowledge of that material will not be given to you until you decide not to rely on your own strength but on God’s and take the step of faith and come to church.
THE BRIDGE MIGHT NOT EVEN BE THERE: the provision, the energy, the knowledge, the words UNTIL YOU TAKE THE STEP! That fear you have may be real (people making fun of you, being an outcast, looked at as stupid) until you take the step of faith.
God is calling you to step out of religion into relationship. Religion is comfortable. Relationship is faith. (It’s interaction). How do you step out of religion into relationship? You first must make Jesus your Savior and Lord. He must have complete control of your life. Secondly, you have to talk to Jesus all the time; in the halls of your school, when you wake up, at practice and in class. WILL YOU STEP OUT? DO YOU HAVE THE GUTS? DO YOU HAVE THE FAITH? IT’S TIME TO ASK YOURSELF WHAT YOU BELIEVE!
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Talking to your children I found that some of you are reading the book of James as a family. This is awesome and a perfect opportunity. The ultimate goal for the message that was spoken this week is for your children to learn to go beyond their abilities and completely rely on God. This living faith and the fortitude to take the leap of faith will come to your child as they place Jesus first in their lives. When they have the choice of coming to church or studying for a test, sleeping in or reading the Bible they must know to place God first and take the step of faith. They will know what the right choice is when they see what you believe the right choice is. Sports, computers, video games and school should never even come close to church and their relationship with God.
Ryan Austin
Element Jr. High Leader
