ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A YOUTH PASTOR?

It is necessary for us to learn from others' mistakes.  You will not live long enough to make them all yourself." - Colossians 2:16-23
1.  Being a Christian is not based on BEING MORAL

"... for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!" - Galatians 2:21b (NIV)
But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. -  Romans 3:21-23 (NIV)

2.  Being a Christian is not based on something MYSTICAL

It doesn't have to "FEEL" to be REAL

Take a look at the experiences of Paul in 2 Corinthians 11:24-28.  How wonderful does that sound?

We live by faith, not by sight -  2 Corinthians 5:7 (NIV)

3.  Being a Christian is not based on MYSELF

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

                                                Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)

So what is it then?

Simply put-our lives as disciples of Christ are based on being MOLDED into CHRISTLIKENESS.

How can we do this?

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." - 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)
"I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength" - Philippians 4:13 (NIV)

How to be Unselfish
I Peter 3:1-7
Three Basic Ways to Live Life

SUBMISSION = Having the courage to give up my rights to meet another person's needs.

Three basic ways to live life.

  My Way  (Selfish)
  God's Way (Unselfish/Submissive)
  Others' Way (Subjected)

I.  WHY SHOULD I BE UNSELFISH?

     -Selfishness is the source of conflict.
        "Do you know where your fights and arguments come from? They come from the selfish desires that war within you" - James 4:1 (NCV)

     -Unselfishness is the secret to change.
        "...so that, if any of them do not believe the work, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives" - I Peter 3:1 (NIV)

     -Selfishness short-circuits prayer.
        "...Do this so that nothing will stop your prayers." - I Peter 3:7 (NCV)

II HOW CAN I BE UNSELFISH?

    1.  Understanding: Considering Others' Needs
        "In the same way, you husbands should live with your wives in an understanding way..." - I Peter 3:7 (NCV)
        "Let everyone see that you are unselfish and considerate in all you do." - Philippians 4-5 (LB)

    2.  Respect: Honoring Others' Value
        "But show them respect, because God gives them the same blessing He gives you - the grace that gives true life." - I Peter 3:7 (NCV)
        "When you do things, do not let selfishness or pride be your guide.  Instead, be humble and give more honor to others than to yourselves." - Philippians 2:3 (NCV)

    3.  Sacrifice:  Willingness to act on Others' Behalf
        "Your godly lives will speak to them better than any words." - I Peter 3:1 (LB)
        "Let us stop just saying we love people; let us really love them, and show it by our actions." - I John 3:18 (LB)

TO BE UNSELFISH YOU MUST...

LET GO OF YOUR FEAR

"do what is right and do not give way to fear." - I Peter 3:6 (NIV)

"We need have no fear of someone who loves us perfectly; his perfect love for us eliminates all dread of what he might do to us." - I John 4:18 (LB)

"Now you can have real love for everyone because your souls have been cleansed from selfishness and hatred when you trusted Christ to save you; so see to it that you really do love each other warmly, with all your hearts." - I Peter 1:22 (LB)

Jesus Christ, I pray that Your attitude of unselfishness would be expressed in my relationship with _________________.  Thank you for Your unselfish love for me!  I accept Your love for me and pray that you would help me to learn to live Your way in my relationships.

I Peter 2:11-25
HOW TO LIVE WITH INTEGRITY

"Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God."  - 1 Peter 2:16 (NIV)

"It is God's will that your good lives should silence those who foolishly condemn the Gospel without knowing what it can do for them, having never experienced its power."  - 1 Peter 2:15 (LB)

2. Show respect for  authority
"For the Lord's sake, yield to the people who have authority in this world:  the king, who is the highest authority, and the  leaders who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right." - 1 Peter 2:13-14 (NCV)
"Make the master proud of you by being good citizens.  Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God's emissaries for keeping order." - 1 Peter 2:14
"Show respect for everyone. Love Christians everywhere. Fear God and honor the government." - 1 Peter 2:17 (LB)
"...be good servants to your masters -- not just to good masters, but also to bad ones. What counts is that you put up with it for God's sake when you're treated badly for no good reason." - 1 Peter 2:18-19 (MSG)

3. Seek God in suffering.
"This is the kind of life you've been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived.  He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also how to do it, step by step." - 1 Peter 2:21 (MSG)
"He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.  When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.  Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly."  - 1 Peter 2:22-23 (NIV)
"... He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right."  - 1 Peter 2:23 (MSG)
"A man does a fine thing when he endures pain, with a clear conscience towards God, though he knows he is suffering unjustly."  - 1 Peter 2:19 (Ph)

JESUS: "You are the salt of the earth.  You are the light of the world.  Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."  - Matthew 5:13,14,16 (NIV)

I Peter 2:4-10
WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT YOU

1. "You are a chosen people..."

2. "You are a people belonging to God..."

3. "You are living stones..."

4. "You are a royal priesthood and holy nation..."

5. "Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy"
 In v. 9 he says, "All the old titles of God's people now belong to you"  - 1Peter 2:9 (Ph)

AS A PART OF GOD'S FAMILY...

I.  I AM ___________________  "

You are...chosen by God"

"Christ has accepted you."  - Romans 15:7 (NLT)

"Even if my father and mother leave me, The Lord will take me in!"  - Psalm 27:10 (NCV)

II. I AM _____________________    "
You...belong to God" 

WHAT DETERMINES VALUE?

1. ___________________________________________

2.  ___________________________________________________

"You have been bought and paid for by Christ, so you belong to him... - I Corinthians 7:23 (LB)

"Come to the Lord, the Living Stone rejected as worthless by men, but chosen as valuable by God.  YOU ALSO, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house..." 

- I Peter 2:4 (GN/NIV)

III. I AM _____________________   
"You are ... a royal priest"

"...God's instruments to do his work and speak out for Him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference He made for you..."   - 1 Peter 2:10 (MSG)

"He saved us and chose us for his holy work, not because we deserved it but because that was his plan long before the world began..."   - 2 Timothy 1:9 (LB)

"There are different kinds of service to God.  The Holy Spirit displays God's power through each of us as a means of helping the entire church.  All of you together are the one body of Christ, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part."  - I Corinthians 12:5, 7, 27 (LB)

IV. I AM _____________________ "
You...have received mercy"

"I am the God who forgives your sins, and I do this because of who I am.  I will not hold your sins against you."  - Isaiah 43:25 (GN)

"...Through what Christ would do for us, God decided to make us holy in his eyes without a single fault--we stand before Him covered with His love."  - Ephesians 1:4 (LB)

"The mountains and hills may crumble, but my love for you will never end; so says the Lord who loves you."  - Isaiah 54:10 (GN)

HOW THEN SHOULD I LIVE?
"It is for you now to demonstrate the goodness of God who called you out of darkness into his amazing light...now you are the people of God."  - 1 Peter 2:9d -10a (Ph)

"Once you were less than nothing; now you are God's own!"  - 1 Peter 2:10 (LB)