Sermons

Introduction: Ten of the youth attended the DCLA youth evangelism training conference in June, 2000. The theme passage was from John 20:30-31. In reflecting on this passage, we can see that a quality life is not found in anything but a faith-based relationship with God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.

Scripture Reading

The passage I would like to look at was the theme passage from the conference. We can find it in John 20:30-31. In essence, these verses give us the purpose and reason why the Apostle John, one of Jesus' followers, wrote his book. Let's read it together:

John 20:30-31
30 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.
31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Life in Jesus

Meaning of "Life"
During the trip, I thought about the 5 new high school graduates. When I was in my freshman year at UC Davis I really didn't know what I was doing there. I lacked direction, motivation, and joy in my life. My friends and family were elsewhere, and I was lonely. So I joined a Christian fellowship on campus. The college group leader I had there spoke about having life. I wanted whatever that was--what I had was really not very fulfilling. But I was not all too sure exactly what LIFE meant.

When we read verse 31, we may also have some question what LIFE meant to the author, the Apostle John. He says that the 20 chapters he has written were for a purpose. What is that purpose? Ultimately it is that BY BELIEVING YOU MIGHT HAVE LIFE IN HIS NAME.

This life cannot mean just living, or existence. We all breath oxygen, drink H2O and eat food to live. There is no reason to stress this kind of life.
It must point beyond existence to the kind of existence we have--the Quality of our Life. 

LIFE AS RESOURCE: As I thought about going on this DCLA trip, I felt that it would take away life from me. I tend to think of life as resource. The more resource I have, the more time and energy I have to make my life quality or excellent. At DCLA I knew we would be signing up for 15-20 hours of activity, little sleep, and 8000 screaming, wild students in a relatively small area. This trip was going to take up my resources, and I didn't want anything to do with it.

But a Quality Life is not about our Health or our Wealth. It is about having the right kind of RELATIONSHIP. Let's look at John 17:1-3:

John 17:1-3
1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.
2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him.
3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

What is Life? It is a KNOWLEDGE of GOD the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. 
This is not Knowledge in our heads--that I only know ABOUT Him, but a relational knowledge--knowledge of persons. Like I know my wife, like I know my best friend. Like I know my parents. When we know someone, we know their desires, dreams, likes, dislikes, idiosyncrasies, hobbies, and personality. God knows us in all these ways and more, and wants us to know Him in His character and works as well.

There was a man who knew Jesus. He was one of Jesus' disciples. A man who walked the earth with Jesus. His name was Thomas. Many of us call him "Doubting Thomas."

DOUBTING THOMAS
The story that precedes the verses we read in chapter 20 is about this Doubting Thomas. Why do we call him "Doubting?" Let's set up the scene. Jesus Christ has just been Crucified. His death was a despicable death. Why hadn't he called down the angels to help him? Why hadn't he showed himself to be King and Master and save himself?
But he did--just not the way they thought. Jesus Christ rose from the dead. He is resurrected. Let's read about Thomas' story:

John 20:25-28
25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."
26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"
27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
28 Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"

To Thomas, Jesus was dead. There was no more relationship. No more hope in Jesus. Saying Jesus was alive was only a cruel trick. Yeah, he said, show me. Show me the nail marks and the scars. Then I will believe! 



Faith in Jesus
I love to read stories like Thomas'. Earlier we talked about being REAL, or having a Genuine Faith. Thomas is real. I now he is because it is in our nature to doubt.

When I started serving at this church I had one very strong conviction--I would not be a youth minister. That was neither my gift nor my calling. But last year we did not have enough helpers to have a youth fellowship. So I decided I would give it a shot. But again youth ministry was RESOURCE drain. I had enough things to do. This coming year I was thinking about relieving some of my responsibilities with the student ministry.

Then came Monday night at DCLA. The speaker talked about how most of her generation were not professing Christians. She wanted this youth generation to make a difference, to not let it happen to their generation. I was deeply moved, because I felt God was calling on me to love them. As the students stood up to say, "I will commit to be a campus missionary," I went to my knees and tears began streaming to the ground. I kind of turned to the side so the students couldn't see me crying.
God wanted me to continue to give of my life to these students.

I told God, "I don't have the resources. I don't have the time, I don't have the energy."
God said, "I will give you strength."
Then I said, "But I am so weak." I just said it over and over again.
God said, "My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in your weakness."
I repented there and then of my unbelief.

Continual Belief: Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God (v. 31)
John says in verse 31 that we are to believe. Many times when we come to this verse we may think that belief is a one-time event or act. We believe, we will go to heaven. But the verb BELIEVE is telling us that it is not only a one time act, but a continual act. LIFE begins when we believe in this LIFE. The Bible teaches us that ETERNAL LIFE is not just to live forever. It is to have a quality of life we could not otherwise experience. And it starts in the here and now.

What are we to believe? That Jesus is the Christ, or the Messiah. Israel waited for hundreds of years for the Messiah. He would fulfill the dreams and desires of not only a nation, but of all humanity. He would bring God's rule and reign. He would fill hearts with joy.

We are to believe that Jesus is the Messiah. He is our Savior from our sins. He fulfills all our dreams, aspirations, and desires in Himself. He is the LIFE we are all longing for in our hearts.

THOMAS' Crisis of Faith: 
Thomas couldn't let himself go to believe that Jesus was the Messiah. His dreams of a political ruler in Jesus had died with Jesus on the Cross-. He did once believe. Each of the disciples had made a decision to follow Jesus. The affirmed he had the words of life. They affirmed he was the Messiah. He believed.
But his faith wavered when a crisis came. He had a crisis of faith. 

My Crisis of Faith
As I bowed on my knees, the music playing, all I could hear in my head was the dialogue I was having with God. I had a crisis of faith. Was God faithful and loving enough to meet my deepest needs as I stepped out to serve with the Youth? Could God give me RESOURCE to give of myself?

Students' Crisis of Faith
These students just came back from a conference. They want to witness to everyone about what they know about Jesus. They want to be campus missionaries. The want to serve in the church. They want to grow.

That is right now. But what happens when the classes start? Or temptations come wave after wave from their friends? Or when the new college graduates have freedom they never knew before? How will they use it? 

They too will face crises of faith.

Triumph of Faith
It wasn't until Thomas actually saw Jesus and touched him that his faith was renewed. Jesus was alive and real to him once again.
It wasn't until I surrendered my time and energy to God that I knew I would have Life in Knowing He would pull me through.

Conclusion: Life in Christ
How do I know these students have LIFE IN HIS NAME? I can see it in their thinking, in their actions, in their desire to please God. They have more joy, more energy, more courage and boldness. 
They have the life of Christ in them.
And I'll know when they, and each one of us, begin to look for fulfillment in life outside of our intimate relationship and knowledge of Christ. They will lose their inner passion to see their friends have life in Christ, they will stop serving, and they will struggle with their prayer life.

For the only Quality Life is in Jesus Christ--loving Him, obeying Him, serving Him, and becoming like Him.

Philippians 1:21
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.