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Introduction: A. One of a child’s first Bible stories is the wise man and foolish man building the house… Not often do we tell them that story is parallel to their life… B. At school is where some of life’s biggest tests are experienced… Do you know what it is like being at school in this day and time? Rebellion, immodesty, ungrateful, violence, cheating, etc. It’s a challenge!!! C. Usually young people like a challenge... In any sport, game, XBOX, Playstation, etc., young people are very competitive, and if you place a challenge in front of them, it is an incentive to move them… D. One thing that challenges young people at school is LIFESTYLE… Young people are looking for a Lifestyle. School exposes them to so many “ways of life”, and they often want to pick out their friends lifestyle to be theirs, rather than picking out a scriptural lifestyle and using it…. E. What young people need in school is a LIFESTYLE few in school pick, it is the pattern in the sermon-on-the-mount… Instead of “experimentation” to see what something is like, how it feels, and face the dangers of “experimentation”, look at and apply this lifestyle laid out which stands the test of life… Discussion: I.
Hope Among Those
Without Hope A. Several people at school are dealing with drug problems, abusive parents, divorce parents, and worldly parents who make very little time for them. Many talk about being lonely, empty, and meaningless. Their actions involve cursing, disgust, jealousy, ungrateful, laziness, rebellious, independent, and arrogance.. B. All many of them look forward to is a night out to “conquer” a girl, Friday night football, “hanging” at the mall, or another basketball practice… They will make it through school with perfect attendance, a championship, first chair in the trumpet section, secretary of the class, and a diploma and wonder what have I done? What difference have I made?? Why am I not happy?? C. Where happiness should be is Matt 5:1-12… It is a lifestyle counter to what you see in school. It is not dependent upon what happens to you to make you happy. It is how you handle what happens to you… D. Happiness is being at the end of your rope, not at the top of the ladder (v.3)… It is losing what means most, not having all you want (v.4)… It is being content with what you have, not always gaining more (v.5)… It is a good appetite for God, not satisfying your own lust (v.6).. It is genuine care for others, not looking out for # 1 (v.7)… It is a heart right with God, not pleasing self (v.8)… It is being right with God, not everybody liking them (v.9,10)… E. These qualities laid the foundation for application to the remainder of the sermon. Note how the rest of the sermon applies to you and school. II.
Making an Impression (Matt
6:1-18) A. There are people at school who are daily trying to make an impression on you as to who they want you to think they are. Some act religious, but have no motivation to live spiritual lives. B. It has been said that young people are impressionable people. Therefore why can you be the one who makes the impression… Not all in outward formality to impress everyone that you are religious, but give, pray, or fast because you know it makes you better before God… C. Josiah was young man who made a difference (2 Chron 34).. He was impressionable and an impressionist. He found in the law something he needed to do, then encouraged others to do the same… D. Do not pretend… Live authentically, genuinely (1 Tim 1:5)… Become the same inwardly that you outwardly show or tell about yourself religiously… III.
Keep Yourself Pure (Matt
5:27-32) A.
Teachers are awe
struck by the immoral behavior of students & “can’t
understand why they would….” B. Teen pregnancy and who is doing what is heard about more than who won the soccer game or who the player of the game was…. C. People at school will talk about how bad teen pregnancy, adultery, & divorce are, & they declare “I’m not going to do it”, but fail to remove the influence which leads to it… That’s the message here… D. Mental adultery, fornication, etc. are the games people are playing at school on the internet, TV, movies, print, conversation, etc… It is one thing to do it. It is another thing to think about doing it. That is the problem. Those at school who say they “won’t do it” are the ones reading & watching it… E. Purity is natural. It is not just a “girl problem”. It is not an ancient concept. To avoid impurity you not only say “NO” & despise impurity, you respect yourself. Exercise self-control as v.28-30 says… Cut off what is causing the indecency, teen pregnancy, and adultery… F. You have to take some radical steps. It is a bloody battle. Stay away from the movies, stop wearing the clothes, sell the TV, give up the cable, pick better friends, refuse to go to the dance, walk the other way… G. Too many lives are broken at school for failing to exercise purity… Don’t sell your purity for a minute, In mind or body… Keep relationships pure… While everyone else is telling you what they want in a date or marriage, you be the one who looks first at purity in yourself, then keep it in your date and mate… IV.
My Language
(Matt
5:21-26; 33-37; 7:1-6) A. Most people will not talk about murder, but they will talk about who & how much they “hate” someone… Matt 5:21-26 speaks about those who have so much anger they call people names have a deep hatred. That is the root of murder. Killing would be the next step… B. This is why so much violence at school exists… What happens to teenagers with anger is the same thing that happens to adults with anger… People have this “attitude” as if looks could kill. They belittle you, call you a fool, make you feel worthless, and that is not far for murder… Stop the words and avoid the bitterness in order to stop the murder and revenge… Notice what Matt 5:43-48 says about enemies… C. Matt 5:33-37.. There is a lot of swearing in school, a lot of promising, but how many keep their word. How many will be responsible to follow through with their promises… Honor your word. Keep your promises. Be truthful in your conversation. Do not commit to something you’ll not do. Do not say “I will”, then change your mind. Who can trust you? D. Blaming appears to be problem area at school. Some students think they’re “victims”… They say, “My teacher has something against me”. “If my coach wouldn’t make these crazy rules”. “My friends put me on this guilt trip…”, “My parents don’t like me…” E. Listen to Matt 7:1-6… Stop making all these accusations, blaming, condemnations, and judgments about people. Stop trying to find fault with everyone and everything else but you… Each man sins can not be blamed on the previous generation (Ezek 18:19,20). Be honest enough to admit your mistake. V.
What Lasts ?
(Matt
6:19-34) A. To the young people - Of the last purchase you made, how long do you think it will last? The CD, clothes, IPOD, video game, ice cream, camera, book, etc. Is the most favorite thing you had 6 months ago still your favorite? 1 year ago? 3 yrs. ago? B. Whatever you think the most of your heart will be there… Some worry about what is going to happen to what they think is suppose to last along time, so they get people to watch it, guard it, lock it, hide it, cover it, wash it, paint it, and hold it… C. If you are in Christ, those “things” you worry about and think lasts will get in your way (v.24). Let your mind focus on what lasts (v.19). Remember God (Ecc 12:1). That will matter more when you get old, can’t hear, can’t see, and someone has to take your teeth out to clean them… God last longer… D. What Jesus says in v.25-34 is something we can examine in 5 questions… (1) What is really important? (2) How much control do you have over your skin, hair, or height? (3) How are others doing in worse circumstances? (4) Isn’t it best to live in day-to-day compartments? (5) Isn’t God big enough to handle the toughest situations… My son’s poster, “Do your best. Give God the rest” Seek Him First (v.33)… VI.
Who Are You ?
(Matt
7:15-29) A. What is your greatest achievement so far in school? Make it through Mrs. Appleberry’s History class, “survive” English, make the baseball team, make it through the year without getting beat up, make it in the top 10% of your class, perfect attendance, or be on a team that beats your biggest rival??? B. Your greatest achievement is choosing the right gate (v.13,14).. The majority go the wide way. It is the most popular, but it’s not the best… You have to pick. As most young people think, “It’s my life”… God’s not going to let you get by without choosing. C. Your greatest achievement will be to “fake” your Christianity or for it to be “real” (v.15-23). If you are tired of hypocrisy, be real… Your greatest achievement will be to have a faith of your own, not one that hinges on disaster or desperately seeks out the preacher or always asks your parents. Have a faith that is built upon Jesus and His authority (v.28,29)… D. Never let that faith go… Never stop doing what is right even when the pressure is to give in or give up and no matter how much the pressure is at school (Heb 3,4).. Be an example (Matt 5:13-16; 1 Tim 4:12) E. Be advised, if your faith is not in Jesus’ authority, “great will be the fall thereof” (v.27)… Judgment!!!! F. Throughout this whole message on the mountain, Jesus is saying if you are serious about the kingdom get ready for some changes… Heart changes, because religion is not on the surface… It does not avoid the study and practice of the word Jesus delivers, it applies it… “be doers of the word and not hearers only” (Jas 1:22)… G. You may look at the story of building the house as important to “success”, “happiness”, “peace of mind”, “fulfillment”, etc. or whatever your heart is longing to achieve. But each house shows the way people try to achieve their success, happiness, etc…. It depends on your choice of foundations…. H. It is decision time…. What is your choice?... Be a Christian….
Glory
to God in the church by Christ Jesus
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