Introduction (JARED)
Last year, we had Launch Day. On that day, we decided to change our identity from a youth group to a movement. We also launched a new mission statement. We said that we would strive to move towards God, with each other, and into the world. We also launched individual ministries. The senior high is Impact Ministries. We carry over the same mission statement, except we look to impact God, each other, and the world.
Every year, at the start of the school year, we are going to take time to remind us of our mission statement and to remember what we are all about. Today, we are taking a look at the first step of our mission statement, moving towards and impacting God
Moving Towards God (JOSH)
Acts 2:42
o The four ways we move towards God:
1. Devoting to the apostle’s teachings
· How does knowing the Bible move us towards God?
· Challenge: To download sermons, read commentaries, etc. to try and further your biblical knowledge.
2. Devoting ourselves to fellowship
· How does fellowshipping with one another move us towards God?
· Challenge: To get an accountability partner.
3. Devoting to the breaking of bread
· How does the breaking of bread, and all that entails move us towards God?
4. Devoting ourselves to prayer.
· This is probably the hardest part of moving towards God.
· How can we improve our prayer lives?
· How does prayer move us towards God?
· Challenge: Pray through each day
o Analyze your day to see what God showed you, where did you sin?, what blessings were given?
Impacting God (JARED)
Background:
- Hezekiah is the king from 2 Chronicles 29-32. He purified the temple, got rid of idols, brought tithes to God’s house. He dies, and his son Manasseh steps in to take his place.
o Verses 1-9
§ Basically all the good that his father did, Manasseh erases it.
§ He desecrates Solomon’s temple with idols, worshiped pagan gods, and sacrificed his children to them!
o Verses 10-20
§ This guy was despicable, but God forgave him.
§ Manasseh did a complete 180 and changed his life around. He tried to right all the wrongs that he did.
§ But that’s not what we are focusing on. Look at the fact that God was moved by Manasseh’s prayer. This is the God of all creation, the Lord of everything, omniscient, omnipotent, yet he was moved by this man’s prayer. Why?
· Because he saw the error and God saw his sincerity.
§ Manasseh turned his life around and was honest with God, surrendering all to him. God saw this and was moved, He was impacted by Manasseh.
· How do we impact God?
o Through prayer
o Through repentance
o By being real
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