Free Sermons For Young People

Transcription

1 Free Sermons For Young People Copyright 2010 By Reverend D. Blackburn BA GDM

2 Terms and Conditions The content of these sermons is the property of and is protected by international intellectual property laws. Accordingly, you agree that you will not copy, reproduce, alter, modify, create derivative works, give to others, or publicly display any content (except for your own non-commercial use in your church) from these sermons. The content of these sermons is provided for your personal use and it may not be used for any commercial purposes. If you wish to use any portion of these sermons for commercial purposes, please contact for more information. Any use of content that infringes upon intellectual property rights will be considered a legal violation and shall have the right to take appropriate civil and criminal legal action. For further consideration, please read How To Use Other People s Sermons With Integrity by clicking on You may want to consider 10 Tips For Avoiding The Pitfalls of Plagiarism by clicking on Copyright 2010 by Reverend D. Blackburn BA GDM 2

3 About The Author Reverend D. Blackburn ` 1. Is an ordained Baptist Minister 2. Has studied in four theological institutions 3. Has over 20 years of ministry experience 4. Loves expositional preaching or expository preaching 5. Loves writing sermons Copyright 2010 by Reverend D. Blackburn BA GDM 3

4 Table of Contents Terms and Conditions... 2 About The Author... 3 Making Good Choices in Life... 5 Without God We Are Lost... 7 Why It Is Important To Have A True and Faithful Friend... 9 Encouraging One Another in the School Community Copyright 2010 by Reverend D. Blackburn BA GDM 4

5 David Johns is 22 years old. Making Good Choices in Life David grew up in the city. He came from a broken home. He can't remember his father, and he never got on very well with his step dad. When he was eleven, he started smoking cigarettes and by thirteen he was smoking marijuana. Before long, he was selling marijuana in schools. That was until he got caught by the police. By the time David was fifteen, he was living in a home for messed up young men. By sixteen he was addicted to alcohol. By seventeen he was addicted to drugs. When I read his story, I saw a sad young man who had made all the wrong choices in life. David Johns chose to live life his way. And after many years of living life his way, his life was in tatters. When David looked back over his life, he only saw the pain and loneliness. However, God did not give up on David Johns. In fact, someone shared God's love with him. David was taken by God's love and he made (what he saw) as the first good decision in his life. He decided to choose Jesus rather than the destructive path he had taken in life. This decision turned his life around. When David chose Jesus, his life was turned around in so many areas of his life. David Johns' story tells me that people can make good and bad choices in life. Copyright 2010 by Reverend D. Blackburn BA GDM 5

6 We are all confronted with choices in life. Every day we make decisions. And every decision we make has consequences. If we make good choices, then the consequences are usually good. If we make bad choices, then the consequences are usually detrimental. Can I encourage you young people to make good choices in life? And I believe making good choices in life begins with choosing Jesus. As Joshua said to the Nation of Israel, "Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve" (Joshua 24:15)! Choosing to serve the Lord will help you make good choices in life. Copyright 2010 by Reverend D. Blackburn BA GDM 6

7 Without God We Are Lost I want to tell you a story a story about John and his dog Blue. John is a retired farmer, and of course, his dog, Blue, is a retired farmer's dog. However, John still has a farm, and he still has some cattle; and every now and then John and Blue go and check the cattle. It s not as easy now for Blue because he is getting old and going blind. He can t see that well anymore. But he is still a faithful dog always there when you want him. You know, farmers have a saying: A dog is a man s best friend. I always wondered why farmers said that. I suppose it was a way of saying farmers got attached to their dog. John was very attached to his dog, Blue. Question - Do you have a pet? We have two pet dogs their names are Wally and Benji. We love our dogs. They bring us great enjoyment. Well, John loved his dog, Blue. One day John and Blue went mustering some cattle. John had to shift some cows from one paddock to another paddock. Even though Blue could not see that well, he still got in and helped John. After several hours, they had finished their work and they went back home. When John got home, old Blue was nowhere to be found. John didn t think anything of it at the time. Thinking he must have went off wandering. After awhile Blue still hadn t returned home. John started to worry about old Blue...maybe, he was bitten by a snake...maybe, he got caught in a fence or something like that. Copyright 2010 by Reverend D. Blackburn BA GDM 7

8 So, John went looking for Blue. John was hoping that old Blue hadn t meet his end. After some time, John found poor old Blue. His heart sank has he saw his beloved dog in the middle of the paddock. There was a TEAR in John s eye as he looked at his old dog. You know, John hadn t realized the seriousness of Blue s blindness. You see, Blue wasn t dead, he was simply LOST, he didn t know which way to go to get home. So, he sat there in the middle of the paddock waiting for his master to come and show him the way home. King David said, I wander about like a lost sheep, so come and look for me, your servant [Lord], because I have not neglected your laws [or word]. When I read that verse, it reminded me of this story that John told me about his dog. Without God, we are like Blue, blind and lost. Not knowing where to go or what to do. King David said the same thing. Without God, I am lost. That's why King David said, "Come and look for me, Lord." God has done everything possible to show you the way home. He has reached out to you and He has said, "Come to Me and I will guide and direct you through life" (Matthew 11:28; Proverbs 3:5-6). King David also said, "The Lord is my Shepherd; I have everything I need. He lets me rest in pastures of green grass and He leads me to quiet pools of fresh water. He gives me new strength. He guides me in the right paths as He has promised. REMEMBER THIS YOUNG PEOPLE: Without God we too are BLIND and LOST. Copyright 2010 by Reverend D. Blackburn BA GDM 8

9 Why It Is Important To Have A True and Faithful Friend Aron Ralston was a loner. He was involved in a climbing accident. Type Aron Ralson into Google search and read his story. One of the rescuers said, "If only he had a friend, things may have been different." God tells us that one of our most valuable possessions is a true and faithful friend. Friendship...Mate-ship! You know, it is very important to have a true friend. The Bible says, "There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24). This verse tells us that it is important to have a true friend. Let me share with you three reasons why it is important to have a true and faithful friend. 1. It is not good for man to be alone (Genesis 2:18) Two Inferences: God created man to be a social being God created man to interact with one another 2. It is not good for man to be left alone (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12) Four Reasons: a. A Friend helps us with our work b. A friend helps us in times of difficulty c. A friend comforts each other d. A friend helps in times of danger 3. It is not good for man to be left unaccountable (Proverbs 27:5-6) Two facts: a. We need to choose the right friends b. We need friends who will watch over us Our best friend is JESUS. Our true friends are those who love JESUS. Copyright 2010 by Reverend D. Blackburn BA GDM 9

10 Encouraging One Another in the School Community I see the school community has adopted Hebrews 10:24 as its inspiration for the school year. Let me read it to you, Let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds. My question is: How can we spur one another on towards love and good deeds? You know, the answer lies in the next verse, which says, Let us encourage one another. If you want to help your fellow student, your fellow teacher, your fellow parent in this school year, may I encourage you to encourage them! If you encourage them, you will spur them on to love and good deeds. When I first went into ministry, I bought a new computer (the old one was a definite dinosaur) but I could not afford a new printer at that stage. It worked ok, but it was a little tied. One Saturday night, after finishing my message for Sunday, I decided I might do some repairs on it before I printed out the message. Of course, this printer was a dot matrix printer. Do you know what a dot matrix printer is? Well, a dot matrix printer had either 9 pins or 24 pins in the printing head, and these pins would print the words on the paper. Now, I had this brilliant idea that if I cleaned the printing head, the printer would print better. So, I took the printing head off, and I fiddle around with it for awhile, and I discovered I needed to pull it completely apart to clean it. So I carefully took the clip off that held it all together, and as I began to pull it apart, all of a sudden, ping. What I didn t know was that it was spring loaded. I learned a valuable lesson that night: It is easier to pull something apart than it is to put it back together. Dr. John Sweetmen said, It is much easier to criticize and pull people apart than it is to defend and build them up. In other words, it is more difficult to encourage someone than it is to criticize someone to pull someone down. And yet, as Christian Copyright 2010 by Reverend D. Blackburn BA GDM 10

11 parents, teachers, and students, we have been called to do the more difficult thing to be encouragers. As the Bible says, Let us encourage one another. How do you encourage people? What are doing to encourage your teacher, your parents and your children? Let me give you three principles that will help you encourage people. Principle # 1. Choose your words wisely. The Bible says, Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing (Proverbs 12:18). In short, our words can hurt and injure or heal and encourage. Remember that old saying, Sticks and stone will break my bones but names will never hurt me. Don t believe it Don t believe it for a moment it s not truth. Reckless words do hurt but a good word makes the heart glad (Prov 12:25). Therefore, choose your words wisely because they will either discourage of encourage. Principle # 2. Choose your responses prayerfully. When we respond to people and situations badly, we tend to discourage we tend to put people off. The Bible says, A gentle answer turns away wrath a patient man calms a quarrel (Prov. 15:1a, 18b). Your responses to different situations and people are very important because they will either encourage or discourage. Therefore, choose your responses prayerfully. When Jesus was reviled, He did not revile in return; when Jesus suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to God who judges righteously (1 Peter 2:23). Copyright 2010 by Reverend D. Blackburn BA GDM 11

12 Principle # 3. Choose kindness every time. The Bible says, Be kind to one another. Rusty Welborn was a pitiful man. His childhood was a horror story. He was destitute, neglected, abused, and given no incentive to achieve in life. He was a street kid, a grubby, little street kid. Well, Rusty grew into an adult and found himself on death row for murder. Bob McAlister was a Christian and duty chief of staff to South Carolina s governor. Bob had the opportunity to meet Rusty on death row and he decided to show kindness to him. It took weeks for Rusty to respond to Bob s kindness and love. In time, Rusty became a Christian and sought God s forgiveness for his crime and the forgiveness of those he wronged. On his final day, with only hours remaining before his 1:00 am execution, Rusty asked Bob to read to him from the Bible. After an hour or so of listening, Rusty sat up and said, You know, I only thing I ever wanted was a home. Now I m going to get one. Bob continued his reading, and after a few minutes Rusty grew very still. Thinking he had fallen asleep, Bob placed a blanket over him and closed the Bible. As he turned to leave he felt a strong compulsion to lean over and kiss Rusty on the forehead. A short time later, Rusty Welborn was executed for murder. A woman assisting Rusty in his last moments shared this postscript to his story: As he was being prepared for his death, Rusty looked at her and said, What a shame that a man s gotta wait till his last night alive to be kissed and tucked in for the very first time. If only we could show kindness like that hurts would be healed lives would be encouraged and God s people would make a difference. Choose kindness every time and you will make a difference in your school community. Let s spur one another on to love and good deeds by encouraging others. Copyright 2010 by Reverend D. Blackburn BA GDM 12

13 Will you be an encourager in this school year? By choosing your word wisely By choosing your responses prayerfully And by choosing kindness every time Copyright 2010 by Reverend D. Blackburn BA GDM 13