Life Teen Life Night "The Jesus Question" 09/21/14

"The Jesus Question"

I. The Jesus Question

A. Matthew 16:13-17 Jesus asks two questions:

• "Who do the people say that I Am?" John the Baptist, Elijah
• "Who do you say that I Am?" The Messiah, Son of the Living God

B. When God asks a question, we should pay attention.

• Ex. Genesis 3:8-10 Adam & Eve hid. "Where are you?"
• God already know every answer to every question. Why would he ask?
• God wanted Adam to know where Adam was. Shame, Fear, Guilt

C. If Jesus asked today (2014) in modern America, "Who do you say that I Am?"

• A Nice Guy; not THE nice guy, just A nice guy. Good Teacher, A Prophet
• These are 'accommodating' and 'tolerant' answers. Relativism.
• It's tragic that our culture wants to reduce Jesus to a Nice Guy
• Jesus claimed to be the Son of God. If He's not, He's a liar. A fraud. Crazy.

D. When we realize Jesus is EXACTLY who He says He is...

• The Bible becomes more than just an inspiring book. It's the inspired and Living Word of God. "Words have value depending on Who speaks them." M. Kelly
• The Church becomes more than just a human institution. "The Church is a sheepfold, the flock. Even though governed by human shepherds, are unfailingly nourished and led by Christ himself, the Good Shepherd and Prince of Shepherds, who gave his life for his sheep." CCC 754
• If Jesus is the Son of God, everything changes; our relationships, our activities and the way we spend our time, ourselves.

II. Jesus, through the Word of God, His Church, Life Teen, Bible Study, retreats & conferences, has the power to transform our lives.

A. We all desire happiness. It's is written on the human heart. Only in God will we find the truth and happiness we seek. CCC27

• If this is true, why do we sometimes avoid church, the Bible, Life Teen, etc.?
• Tweaking vs. Transformation. We don't really want our lives transformed.
1. "Dear God, please tweak this and that. Tweak my parents, siblings, teachers, etc.
2. God is not in the business of Tweaking. God is in the business of transformation.
3. Most of us have never really prayed a prayer of transformation. "O.k. I give you permission to transform me, my family, etc." It's a hard prayer.

"Imagine yourself a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first you can understand what he is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof. You knew those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But then He starts knocking the house about that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house than you thought of. He's throwing out a new wing here, putting in an extra floor there, putting up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself." Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

B. How is God calling you to transform your life right now? Not your parents, not your teachers, not your friends - YOU.

Taken from "The Jesus Question" Lighthouse Catholic Media cd by Matthew Kelly

www.dynamiccatholic.com