The Journey (Part 3) - If You Seek...

MY JOURNEY IS MY JOURNEY!!!

What does that mean?
NOONE can make decisions for me.
NOONE can force me to believe anything I don’t want to.
NOONE is responsible for my journey except for ME.

There is no SHAME in the journey.

BUT there is URGENCY in the journey.

I need 5 volunteers:
1 – Say, “Pfft”
2 – Say, “Excuse me”
3 – Say, “Ah man”
4 – Say, “Ahhhhhhhhh”
5 – Say, “gurgle, gurgle, gurgle”
There once was a boy named Billy. Billy was about 14 years old when a terrible thing happened to him. Billy had just been to 7-eleven. He bought a pack of ‘Big League Chew’ bubble gum (original flavor), a pack of 2 slim-jims (the spicy kind), and a 72oz. Big Gulp of Mountain Dew (for 50 cents). Billy finished the pop in about 5 minutes. He ate the slim-jims in 2 minutes. Then he went to the theater to watch X-men 2.
½ way through the movie he felt something move (5), and then he felt a huge pain in his gut. He was really into the movie and didn’t want to leave, but he knew that he must. He began curiously seeking for the nearest exit. He stood up and as he stood up he made a noise (1). He said (2). People didn’t know whether he needed to get by or he was being polite after making his noise. He ran out of the theater (1) (1) (1) (2) (1) (1) (1) (2) (2). That’s when he noticed that the girl he wanted to ask to the dance was walking out at the same time and heard it all. (3) he thought, but that wasn’t that important to him right now. He knew what he needed help. He ran through the theater to the ticket window. He said (2) (1) I have a problem. My body is making funny noises and my gut hurts (1). I need help. The girl said, “No. You need a bathroom.” He said, “Where do I (1) find one of those?” “Go Inside.” He headed into the lobby. He found the old guy with tattoos taking tickets. He ran up to him (1) (2) (1) (1) (1……) (2). He said (2), My body is making funny noises and my gut hurts (1). The girl outside said that I need a bathroom. Where is (1) that? (2)? He said, “It’s over there.” Billy asked, “What do I do when I get there?” The man said, “Just sit down and relax.” Thanks. Billy didn’t know what to do, “Do I finish the movie or do I go to the bathroom.” I paid 9 bucks for this movie, “I’m watching it. I can take the pain. Besides it will go away eventually.” So he ran back into the theater (1) (1) (1). And then he heard the grossest noise he had ever heard, “#1 (1) became a real nasty #2 (3).

Alternative ending:
Billy asked, “What do I do when I get there?” The man said, “Just sit down and relax.” Thanks. Billy didn’t know what to do, “Do I finish the movie or do I go to the bathroom.” I paid 9 bucks for this movie, but if I don’t go now, there’s no telling what might happen. So Billy ran to the bathroom (1) (1) (1) (1). He found a seat, sat down, and relaxed (4).

Questions are OK.
People are always looking for answers.
Why do I have to go back to school? How can that guy be such a jerk, and still have girls like him? Who am I? Why is the grass green? How could God allow my dad to abuse me? Why is life so hard? If everyone says I’m pretty, then why do I feel so ugly? If God is love, then why do I have to hear my parents fight all the time? Why can’t I see God? Why would God make me? Is Jesus really God, like He said?
Can I really have a relationship with Him?

Luke 11:9-10
I say to you, “ASK and it will given to you; SEEK and you will find; KNOCK and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, RECEIVES; and he who seeks, FINDS; and to him who knocks, IT WILL BE OPENED.”

Here’s a ‘what if’ to think about.
What if all of the things that the Bible says aren’t true? Then what?
What if the Bible is really what it claims to be. In 2 Timothy 2:15, it says, “…handling accurately the WORD OF TRUTH”.
What if it’s true that there really is a Heaven and there really is a Hell.
What if it’s true that you have absolutely no idea of when Jesus is coming back? 1 Thessalonians 5:2 “…thief in the night…” The Bible says that no one knows the day or the hour that Jesus will come back for those who have a relationship with Him.

If you want to find it, then you have to SEEK
If you want to receive it, then you have to ASK
The Grip is where real life and reality meet. It is where the real stuff and junk of your life meet up with the reality of a relationship with Jesus Christ. If you want to life your life the way it was meant to be lived, then step up to the plate and find your answers. Don’t stop there, though. Life’s a journey. You’re going to have to make a decision.
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Breakout Session Guide D.L. stands for discussion leader –
1. What are some of the questions that you have right now about God, or about Jesus? Do you have any questions about life in general?
D.L. notes – This isn’t so much a time for answering their questions as it is for
validating them. They need to know that there is nothing wrong about having
questions. You can respond by saying things like, “I’ve wondered about that too.
That’s a really good question. What do you think the answer is for that?” Be
prepared to give some examples of questions that you have had. Ex. If God loves
me then why would he allow me to be abused by my mom or dad? If God is real,
then why doesn’t He come back now? Is God real? Is the Bible really true?

2. Have you ever had any of your questions answered? How? What did you do to get them answered?
D.L. notes – The idea here is to provide them with resources for getting questions
answered. You can throw out examples from your own life – Is there someone
you trusted to give you straight answers? If you want to know something about
God, then ask someone who is close to God. Ask God Himself. Read the Bible.
Spend some time thinking about it.

3. What is a story of urgency that you have? You had to get somewhere or you had to get something done fast. You were almost there and you didn’t make it, or you made it just in time, but you needed help to get there.
D.L. notes – This is really a time for embarrassing stories or hero stories. Let
them relax and tell stories. I had to catch a plane… I had to finish my Englisht
test before the bell rang… You can throw in your own story here too. Just make it
a good one.

The Journey (Part 2) - What Will it Take?

Maze (a 3 way maze) – 3 Options
1 – Don’t bother doing the maze. There’s really no point to it.
2 – Try doing the maze. Give up if you don’t feel like going any further.
3 – Complete the maze.

The journey that we are on is like the maze. You can never start, quit at any time, or follow through to the end.

Story time:
Once upon a time, there was an Ogre and a donkey sent on a journey by a king to rescue a beautiful princess from a dragon’s castle where she was being held captive.

Once upon a time, there were three Hobbit’s sent on a journey by a wizard to destroy a ring for the preservation of ‘Middle Earth’.

Once upon a time, there were three movie stars who were recruited by a small village in Mexico to rescue them from a band of evil men. The three movie stars were known as The Three Amigos.

Most of our movies and TV shows are centered around some sort of journey. There are decisions to be made, and actions that have to happen.
What happens if the wrong decision is made?
The Matrix – Neo chooses the green pill.
XXX – Vin Diesel doesn’t take the secret agent job.
Lord of the Ring – Froto leaves the ring on too long
The Wedding Planner – Jennifer Lopez marries the English guy

What happens if actions aren’t taken?
I want my money back
Nottinghill – Julia Roberts doesn’t come back to the store
Father of the Bride – The rehearsal dinner is done at the BBQ pit

In most movies, there is a point where the main character doubts. They toy with the question: Is this really worth it? Do I really want it that bad? Do I care about the person enough?

They always answer, “Yes.” If they didn’t answer, “Yes”, then we would be disappointed. We would say, “What a terrible movie. I can’t believe I wasted $9”.

That’s all fiction. It isn’t real.
In life there are several different journeys:
-Elementary, Jr. High, Sr. High, College, Career
-School’s out, Summer’s here, Disney brochure, Travel agent, airplane, hotel, Mickey
-Meet a girl/boy, Hang out, Fall in love, Get married

Then there’s the spiritual journey –
Do you know that you are on it? Have you taken responsibility for your journey?

What did you do last week on your journey?
Did you read a Bible? Did you ask someone a question? Did you talk to God?
How about the last month?
How about the last year?

On a scale of one to ten, how important is your spiritual journey to you?

What will it take for you to get interested and begin to take steps on your journey?
For some people it’s a question of value vs. effort: What will I get out of it. Is it worth my time?

If you are at the beginning of your journey –
Is the journey even real?
If it is real, then what is the consequence of not engaging the journey?
Boat illustration:

The Bible says that everyone has sinned, and continues to fall short of God’s standard of ‘good enough’. The Bible also says, that the consequence of that sin is an eternity separated from God (Hell).

Actions have consequences:
Someone who does not find it worth their time to begin to check out their spiritual journey will inevitably experience the consequence of an eternity separated from God when they die. (No decision will be made)

If you are on the journey (and have lost interest) –

The journey is full of questions and choices. It is exciting, but it takes a commitment on your part to discover the things that God has for you.

The Journey (Part 1) - Everyone's Doing it, Are You?

We live in a world of expectations
What are some things that are expected of you (at school, home, friends…)
Answer the following statements: I expect you to…; I expect you not to…

Met expectations lead to praise.
Good job. I’m so proud of you.
Senior year of track – 1:57 in the ½ mile. Our ¼ mile relay team ran a 3:31.
I would love to hear my name over the speaker at school the next day when scores and times were announced. Everyone would pat me on the back…
Failed expectations lead to shame. What’s wrong with you? You can’t do anything. This is so simple, why can’t you get it, are you stupid?

That’s not the way God works. God isn’t about shame. He doesn’t shame you for doing wrong. He doesn’t approve of it, but he doesn’t look down on you for it. That’s not what the journey is about. God says, “Be holy, for I am holy.” But, when you fail, He doesn’t say, “Shame on you.” God loves you. He made you.

The journey is not about achievement or stature.

Your journey is your journey (Repeat after me, “My journey is my journey.”)
Everyone is on a journey – a spiritual journey
No one can make your decisions for you. (Why? Because, it’s not their journey)
No one can force you to believe in something. No one can force you to trust in Christ.

Where are you on your spiritual journey?
Not interested? – That’s great. Get curious.
Curiously Seeking? – That’s great. Start applying yourself.
Assertively Seeking? – That’s great. Find the answer.
Faith Commitment? – That’s great. Learn about your faith (Sunday nights @ 6pm)
Actively following? That’s great. Keep growing.
Growing in Fellowship? That’s great. Start making an impact.
Making an Impact? That’s great. Make a bigger one.

It’s your journey, and you have to take responsibility for it.
Recognize the reality of your spiritual journey.
Recognize where you are on your spiritual journey.
Identify the next step on your spiritual journey.
Take the next step on your spiritual journey.