411_hypocrisy

I thought to start out our talk, I'd have everyone come down here who has never stumbled & never struggles to live the life you want to live

Trust me, the only reason I'm down here is because I'm speaking --- I have stumbled and I struggle too --- I'm just being honest.

And by the look of things, since I'm the only one down here looks like we're ALL being honest. It looks like it's a level playing field --- we're all on the same level we all stumble and struggle.

Do you know what you call people who don't struggle to live the life they want to live? A liar or a corpse! ;-)

I remember back when I accepted Christ. I was in Southern California in a suburb of San Diego called Chula Vista it was in the dining room of my best friends parent's apartment

And for me it wasn't some, "OH MY GOSH!"---Room started spinning--- out-of-body experience! But the next day I did feel different. And the weeks after that I KNEW there was something different about me. And I started to be more aware that the language I used wasn't exactly kosher

I began to figure out what the heck prayer was I began to read and try to understand the Bible. I listened to tapes of pastors that helped me understand some foundational stuff of what being a Christian meant.

But after a while, things in Chula Vista weren't really working out, so I flew back to Indiana And I kind of picked up where I left off before I'd gone to Southern California --- I got back into the rock & roll band I had been in (Paint a pictureppt pic)

And I maintained the walk I started back in Chula Vista, FOR A WHILE And then little things started changing My language got that "colorful-ness" back to it

And if the band had a party, then perhaps I'd just have "A" drink "OK, well maybe one more what the heck, three won't kill me!"

And what happened was I slowly started going away from my new direction in life and reverting to my old lifestyle. Ppt Title slide

"Dude. You 'had some fun' when you were younger and now you're definitely at a place in your life where you've got it together you've got the God-thing goin' on so why can't I just have some fun like you did and I'll end up "good to go" on the God stuff like you did---but c'mon, for NOW, I'm young and I just want to enjoy it!"

So you don't go down that road, that line of thinking --- You need to know that as I look back, I can see that time of my life (slipping back to my old ways) was when I headed down the path to making decisions in my life that lead to a marriage that I never included God in and that ended in divorce and that will effect my 2 oldest sons, my ex-wife and me forever.

So now, "yes" thanks only to God I do have it goin' on today in my life --- but there are and will be effects from that time in my life when I stumbled.

And I can only guess that if we had a magic video camera and put a special cable in your ear that would allow us to record images in your brain that there are probably images of times in your life where you've done things you are not proud of.

But I bet we all have footage in our brains of things we've done things we've said things we're not proud of --- that when we think of them, maybe we shudder a little maybe tense up

Maybe there's things you've said or done to a friendto a brother, a sister, your mom, dad, step-mom, step-dad maybe to a teacher or a coach. And maybe there are some things you've done in private, that NOBODY knows about

And we wish we could just erase them, that we could make them go away, 'cause we are NOT proud of them. ("throw rock" story.)

And like that rock I couldn't get back, some of these things we've all done, we can't get them back either.

And you know what? Sometimes me and you just do stupid things sometimes we don't use common sense we just don't think before we act. And sometimes---sometimes, we KNOW what's right (repeat) but we do the wrong thing anyhow. Do you think that's true?

You know what else is true of all of us? We hate it when OTHER people ---people around us know what's right and do the wrong thing we hate itit drives us nuts!

And when we find out they took something of ours, we offer them some warm, affirming words of compassion like, "YOU are SUCH a BUTTHEAD!!"

Then what do you do? you plead your case to the court of mom and dad---you don't have Judge Judy--- you have Judge Daddy--- and you say:

And the deal is, that same dynamic gets inflated---it's like it get all hyped up on steroids when it comes to the church.

When we see someone who goes to church and then we see them at the mall or a party or a ball game and they're doing stuff that we think they shouldn't be doing or acting in a way we think they shouldn't act

Man, it's like, "Mom he took my shirt without asking!" x 10!! When we come to church, whether we're in a relationship with Christ or not it's kind of like people see this sign over our head as we walk around that says, "I'm into God now."

And it's just like in the drama people say, "Man, I can't believe 'so-n-so'--- they go to church and they act like THAT!--- What a hypocrite!"

It was easy --- I just had to rewind my mind to when I was younger because those were just pages of dialogue that I'd said in my life -bunches of times, before I came into a relationship with Christ.

And as I talk with you guys, one of the things I've heard over and over again from a lot of you is how much it ticks you off when someone you know comes here on Sunday night and then you see how they act during the week at your school it just drives you guys nuts.

When you and I see people who are hypocrites---who on one hand are into God, and on another are not living their life like they're into God---it ticks us off we get bent out of shape To us, it's NOT OK for people to be hypocrites! (little pause)

"Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. For others will treat you as you treat them. Whatever measure you use in judging others, it will be used to measure how you are judged. And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying, 'Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye, when you can't see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log from your own eye; then perhaps you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye.'"

Jesus is telling us, "Look, don't be the Jesus police! Deal with the things in your life that you & I know that YOU need to work on. Deal with yourself first & then later, maybe you can help your friend---don't YOU be a hypocrite!"

Because remember what we agreed to at the beginning of this message? We said all of us struggle and all of us stumble. It's just that sometimes when it happens to us, there's nobody around.

Jesus knows that too. That's why He said in Matthew 7:1-5, "I don't need you to be the Jesus police. I just want people to first deal with their own stuff."

And that's why in the story of the Adulterous woman--- when everyone wanted to stone her to death --- Jesus said,

When you and I dog people out when they struggle---then (surprise) then it's us who are the hypocrites. Because sooner or later, we all struggle and we all stumble. ///

So who is church for? I mean if I come here on Sunday, but then screw up during the week, should I stay home next Sunday so I won't be a hypocrite??

Church is for screw-ups ppt like me and like you. I don't know if I can say it any clearer. Church is not for perfect people. It's for people like you and me who are just TRYING. Some of you are trying to figure out Jesus and if you can trust Him.

Some of you are like me and you're trying to live with Christ today, just a little bit better than you did yesterday ---- you're just trying to figure out this thing that we call a "relationship with Christ." Anyone who physically gets their butt in a seat for a service is trying.

Am I saying I think it's great that somebody comes here for a service and then really blows it big time when they get to school? No way.

But if that person who blows it at school, comes here at least you and me have a chance to help them understand grace to help them NOT blow it next week.

Early in the year we said that Christianity is a _________. If Christianity is a relationship, then what is the church???

The church isn't this room. It's not this building. This church is YOU and me. We are the church! Ppt (say that)

So if you and I are the church and then one of your friends comes in here who blew it last week at school and we call them a hypocritethen we are a church that needs a serious dose of grace.

This relationship with Christ that some of us are in, was made possible because He dumped a ton of grace (forgiveness) on us. He said, "I don't care how badly you've blown it --- you can be with me for eternity if you'll just let me fill you full of grace (forgiveness).

And that means that you and me "the church" need to keep passing on grace (forgiveness) to our friends that blow it. You and I don't need to judge or call out hypocrites. /// (drink)

I told you a few minutes go that the drama script was out of things in my mind that I had said. But now, you don't doubt that I believe in Jesus Christ with all that am--- so what happened?

OK, now imagine (this will be a stretch) that you've never heard of the Dave Matthews Band And a friend is trying to tell you how good they are (friends goes on)

But so far you haven't heard them for yourself then later that day there's a special program at your school and the jr. high band is there and the conductor steps up to a mic (feedback)and he says,

"Uh students, we have a "special" treat for you these fine young musicians have been working for weeks and we'd like to play for you the song, _________________ by the "David" Matthews Band.

And then the jr. high band starts playing and what you hear is, "Squeek, squawk, wrong note" --- there's no cool violin player, no cool guitar player who dances kind of silly while he plays and after all of about 14 seconds you're like,

"I HATE the Dave Matthews Band! They SUCK. Alright?! Hello?! This is doesn't match up with what I was toldthis is NOT cool ("kewl") If this is what the Dave Matthews Band is like, then I don't want ANY part of it!"

So when I was younger and hung up on hypocrites in the church what I was doing was watching people, I was watching the jr. high band and I said, "THIS GUY is what it is to be a Christian?! This doesn't match up with what I was told this is not cool if this is what Christianity is like, then I don't want ANY part of it!"

So how do you know what the Dave Matthews Band is really like? (pause) You have to listen to the Dave Matthews Band (CD snipit)

I got from being seeker hung-up on hypocrites, to a sold-out Christ follower by listening to the real deal By looking at Christ, not a jr. high band by looking at Christ, not hypocrites.

"As He walked along, He saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector's booth. 'Follow Me,' Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him." ppt

Jesus said, "Follow ME." He didn't say follow the jr. high band. The truth is some of us have times in our walk when we don't play Jesus music very well sometimes our walk is more like a jr. high band than the Dave Matthews Band.

And I want you to know that if right now you're still not sure that you're in a relationship with Christ That I'll do everything I can do to live a life that honors God and I hope and I pray that my life is an example to you

But you can't base your faith on me, or ANYONE ELSE. The only way you can really tell what Christianity sounds like is to put your focus on Jesus. Jesus was the only example of someone who didn't stumbledidn't fall the rest of us sooner or later are hypocrites. (pause)

ppt What's the 411 on hypocrisy? We're all hypocrites. ppt We follow Jesus but we stumble and we fall. We say one thing and then do another



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		The 411 on Hypocrisy (youth ministry message) Morgan Young 4.21.02 I thought to start out our talk, I'd have everyone come down here who has never stumbled & never struggles to live the life you want to live Trust me, the only reason I'm down here is because I'm speaking --- I have stumbled and I struggle too --- I'm just being honest. And by the look of things, since I'm the only one down here looks like we're ALL being honest. It looks like it's a level playing field --- we're all on the same level we all stumble and struggle. Do you know what you call people who don't struggle to live the life they want to live? A liar or a corpse! ;-) I remember back when I accepted Christ. I was in Southern California in a suburb of San Diego called Chula Vista it was in the dining room of my best friends parent's apartment And for me it wasn't some, "OH MY GOSH!"---Room started spinning--- out-of-body experience! But the next day I did feel different. And the weeks after that I KNEW there was something different about me. And I started to be more aware that the language I used wasn't exactly kosher I began to figure out what the heck prayer was I began to read and try to understand the Bible. I listened to tapes of pastors that helped me understand some foundational stuff of what being a Christian meant. I was basically just starting out in the whole Christian walk kind of thing ---BABY steps! But after a while, things in Chula Vista weren't really working out, so I flew back to Indiana And I kind of picked up where I left off before I'd gone to Southern California --- I got back into the rock & roll band I had been in (Paint a pictureppt pic) And I maintained the walk I started back in Chula Vista, FOR A WHILE And then little things started changing My language got that "colorful-ness" back to it And if the band had a party, then perhaps I'd just have "A" drink "OK, well maybe one more what the heck, three won't kill me!" And what happened was I slowly started going away from my new direction in life and reverting to my old lifestyle. Ppt Title slide Now before you make the mistake of thinking something about me like: "Dude. You 'had some fun' when you were younger and now you're definitely at a place in your life where you've got it together you've got the God-thing goin' on so why can't I just have some fun like you did and I'll end up "good to go" on the God stuff like you did---but c'mon, for NOW, I'm young and I just want to enjoy it!" So you don't go down that road, that line of thinking --- You need to know that as I look back, I can see that time of my life (slipping back to my old ways) was when I headed down the path to making decisions in my life that lead to a marriage that I never included God in and that ended in divorce and that will effect my 2 oldest sons, my ex-wife and me forever. So now, "yes" thanks only to God I do have it goin' on today in my life --- but there are and will be effects from that time in my life when I stumbled. And I can only guess that if we had a magic video camera and put a special cable in your ear that would allow us to record images in your brain that there are probably images of times in your life where you've done things you are not proud of. Right now some us are just thankful we don't have one of those magic camera!! But I bet we all have footage in our brains of things we've done things we've said things we're not proud of --- that when we think of them, maybe we shudder a little maybe tense up Maybe there's things you've said or done to a friendto a brother, a sister, your mom, dad, step-mom, step-dad maybe to a teacher or a coach. And maybe there are some things you've done in private, that NOBODY knows about And we wish we could just erase them, that we could make them go away, 'cause we are NOT proud of them. ("throw rock" story.) And like that rock I couldn't get back, some of these things we've all done, we can't get them back either. And you know what? Sometimes me and you just do stupid things sometimes we don't use common sense we just don't think before we act. And sometimes---sometimes, we KNOW what's right (repeat) but we do the wrong thing anyhow. Do you think that's true? You know what else is true of all of us? We hate it when OTHER people ---people around us know what's right and do the wrong thing we hate itit drives us nuts! Like when your little brother or sister takes something of YOURS WITHOUT ASKING!! Oh m'gosh! How dare they borrow- WITHOUT ASKING: MY shirt MY video game MY makeup MY baseball glove MY bike better not even THINK about TOUCHING MY car! And when we find out they took something of ours, we offer them some warm, affirming words of compassion like, "YOU are SUCH a BUTTHEAD!!" Then what do you do? you plead your case to the court of mom and dad---you don't have Judge Judy--- you have Judge Daddy--- and you say: "Dadhe KNEW it was mine and he knows how I feel about it, but he took it ANYWAY WITHOUT asking!!" We just don't like it when people do stuff they know they shouldn't do. And the deal is, that same dynamic gets inflated---it's like it get all hyped up on steroids when it comes to the church. When we see someone who goes to church and then we see them at the mall or a party or a ball game and they're doing stuff that we think they shouldn't be doing or acting in a way we think they shouldn't act Man, it's like, "Mom he took my shirt without asking!" x 10!! When we come to church, whether we're in a relationship with Christ or not it's kind of like people see this sign over our head as we walk around that says, "I'm into God now." And it's just like in the drama people say, "Man, I can't believe 'so-n-so'--- they go to church and they act like THAT!--- What a hypocrite!" I wrote that drama. And I think I wrote it quicker than any other drama I've ever written. You know why? It was easy --- I just had to rewind my mind to when I was younger because those were just pages of dialogue that I'd said in my life -bunches of times, before I came into a relationship with Christ. And as I talk with you guys, one of the things I've heard over and over again from a lot of you is how much it ticks you off when someone you know comes here on Sunday night and then you see how they act during the week at your school it just drives you guys nuts. When you and I see people who are hypocrites---who on one hand are into God, and on another are not living their life like they're into God---it ticks us off we get bent out of shape To us, it's NOT OK for people to be hypocrites! (little pause) But let's look at this Scripture that are Jesus' words: ppt "Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. For others will treat you as you treat them. Whatever measure you use in judging others, it will be used to measure how you are judged. And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying, 'Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye, when you can't see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log from your own eye; then perhaps you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye.'" Matthew 7:1-5 nlt Jesus is telling us, "Look, don't be the Jesus police! Deal with the things in your life that you & I know that YOU need to work on. Deal with yourself first & then later, maybe you can help your friend---don't YOU be a hypocrite!" (water in glass analogy: glass [represents] your life // water level = how good your walk is) Because remember what we agreed to at the beginning of this message? We said all of us struggle and all of us stumble. It's just that sometimes when it happens to us, there's nobody around. Jesus knows that too. That's why He said in Matthew 7:1-5, "I don't need you to be the Jesus police. I just want people to first deal with their own stuff." And that's why in the story of the Adulterous woman--- when everyone wanted to stone her to death --- Jesus said, (Fine) "But let those who have never sinned throw the first stones." John 8:7 nlt ppt When you and I dog people out when they struggle---then (surprise) then it's us who are the hypocrites. Because sooner or later, we all struggle and we all stumble. /// So who is church for? I mean if I come here on Sunday, but then screw up during the week, should I stay home next Sunday so I won't be a hypocrite?? Church is for screw-ups ppt like me and like you. I don't know if I can say it any clearer. Church is not for perfect people. It's for people like you and me who are just TRYING. Some of you are trying to figure out Jesus and if you can trust Him. Some of you are like me and you're trying to live with Christ today, just a little bit better than you did yesterday ---- you're just trying to figure out this thing that we call a "relationship with Christ." Anyone who physically gets their butt in a seat for a service is trying. Am I saying I think it's great that somebody comes here for a service and then really blows it big time when they get to school? No way. But if that person who blows it at school, comes here at least you and me have a chance to help them understand grace to help them NOT blow it next week. Early in the year we said that Christianity is a _________. If Christianity is a relationship, then what is the church??? The church isn't this room. It's not this building. This church is YOU and me. We are the church! Ppt (say that) So if you and I are the church and then one of your friends comes in here who blew it last week at school and we call them a hypocritethen we are a church that needs a serious dose of grace. This relationship with Christ that some of us are in, was made possible because He dumped a ton of grace (forgiveness) on us. He said, "I don't care how badly you've blown it --- you can be with me for eternity if you'll just let me fill you full of grace (forgiveness). And that means that you and me "the church" need to keep passing on grace (forgiveness) to our friends that blow it. You and I don't need to judge or call out hypocrites. /// (drink) Title ppt I told you a few minutes go that the drama script was out of things in my mind that I had said. But now, you don't doubt that I believe in Jesus Christ with all that am--- so what happened? Let me try to explain: OK, now imagine (this will be a stretch) that you've never heard of the Dave Matthews Band And a friend is trying to tell you how good they are (friends goes on) But so far you haven't heard them for yourself then later that day there's a special program at your school and the jr. high band is there and the conductor steps up to a mic (feedback)and he says, "Uh students, we have a "special" treat for you these fine young musicians have been working for weeks and we'd like to play for you the song, _________________ by the "David" Matthews Band. And so you're like, "Eeexcellent! Jenny was just telling me about Dave Matthews a little bit ago!" And then the jr. high band starts playing and what you hear is, "Squeek, squawk, wrong note" --- there's no cool violin player, no cool guitar player who dances kind of silly while he plays and after all of about 14 seconds you're like, "I HATE the Dave Matthews Band! They SUCK. Alright?! Hello?! This is doesn't match up with what I was toldthis is NOT cool ("kewl") If this is what the Dave Matthews Band is like, then I don't want ANY part of it!" So when I was younger and hung up on hypocrites in the church what I was doing was watching people, I was watching the jr. high band and I said, "THIS GUY is what it is to be a Christian?! This doesn't match up with what I was told this is not cool if this is what Christianity is like, then I don't want ANY part of it!" So how do you know what the Dave Matthews Band is really like? (pause) You have to listen to the Dave Matthews Band (CD snipit) So THAT'S what the Dave Matthews Band is! That's cool! I got from being seeker hung-up on hypocrites, to a sold-out Christ follower by listening to the real deal By looking at Christ, not a jr. high band by looking at Christ, not hypocrites. Let's look at this Scripture: "As He walked along, He saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector's booth. 'Follow Me,' Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him." ppt Mark 2:14 Jesus said, "Follow ME." He didn't say follow the jr. high band. The truth is some of us have times in our walk when we don't play Jesus music very well sometimes our walk is more like a jr. high band than the Dave Matthews Band. And I want you to know that if right now you're still not sure that you're in a relationship with Christ That I'll do everything I can do to live a life that honors God and I hope and I pray that my life is an example to you But you can't base your faith on me, or ANYONE ELSE. The only way you can really tell what Christianity sounds like is to put your focus on Jesus. Jesus was the only example of someone who didn't stumbledidn't fall the rest of us sooner or later are hypocrites. (pause) ppt What's the 411 on hypocrisy? We're all hypocrites. ppt We follow Jesus but we stumble and we fall. We say one thing and then do another But God loves us anyway. ppt Jesus the ONLY ONE who never stumbled loves us anyway accepts us anyway. (empty glass) Earlier I said this glass is your life. We can't do enough good stuff to fill it up (elaborate) pour in as do good things pour out when stumble & fall end empty Some of you feel like this now (soul is drymaybe seeker or maybe CFelaborate) Only Jesus can fill it full ppt Only a full glass gets us into Heaven ppt Right now, I need you to do something. (hold glass Setup "Oh Lead Me" ---prayer for God to do what only God can do --- seekers / believers Seal deal: 1. Know I fall short 2. Know Jesus, Your Son, died for me 3. As much as I know how, I want to follow You < back top o'page home page