However, the reason I’m writing this entry is because of what he has to say to his youth. The last part of his sermon is devoted and addressed to the youth of his congregation. He encourages them to come to Jesus, he exhorts them to remember the sermons that he wrote for them, and then he gives them some fierce warnings for the good of their souls. Throughout this message you can almost hear his voice breaking with love and concern for the people he so deeply cared about for 30 years. Here is what he said to his youth and may these words be a warning to all youth today:

“Let me warn you against Sabbath-breaking, against neglecting the public worship of God. Willingly and promptly contribute to the support of the gospel ministry if you would prosper in this world and meet your Judge in peace. Beware of carnal dissipation (sexual sin or lustful drunkenness or wildness), a sin that I have often warned you against. Beware of slander (gossip or degrading someone’s character) and condemnation, those banes (curses) of society, to which influence, even among us, you cannot be strangers. According to Scripture’s testimony, they have their origin in hell (James 3:6) and are marked with characters not very ornamental to human nature; nor do they stand fair candidates for the kingdom of heaven. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

Suffer me to warn you against false doctrines, such as are pleasing to the carnal heart. The inventions of men are skillful in exciting prejudices against the plain truths of the gospel: hence it is that faithful ministers are accused with being too pointed and unpolite in their discourses. Beware of false teachers and of being led astray by the errors of the present day. Remember these are damnable heresies as well as damnable practices. Paul predicted this danger: “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock” (v.29). “But beloved we are persuaded of better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though thus we speak” (Hebrews 6:9). Dear children, lambs of the flock, you have in a sense for a time been committed to my care. With the tenderest affection I would, in the arms of faith, bear you to that divine Savior who has said, “suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for such is the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:14; Luke 18:16). May your cheerful hosannas fill this house when your fathers and mothers shall sleep in the dust.” (p.73)

And let that be a present warning to you all this day. All of the warnings are still applicable and you are faced with all of the things you addressed, possibly to a greater degree. Avoid all sin, flee from it, put yourself in the current of God’s grace provided for you in the local church, come to Jesus, and may your cheerful hosannas fill this church when your fathers and mothers and pastors sleep in the dust.

I love you all. Thank you Mr. Haynes. Though dead you speak.

The first is upon hearing a professing Christian speak lightly and jokingly about their poor grades, their procrastination, and their failure to complete any homework assignment. The second is upon hearing a new Christian who has come alive to Jesus Christ and His gospel, and soon everything in the world begins fading into insignificance, and one of the first things that goes is school. These two types of Christian approaches to school each have the same underlying working idea that God just does not care all that much about school.

So I see the question coming down to this: “How am I as a Christian supposed to look at or relate to school?”

To answer the two types of approaches I would argue that God does care about grades, and to answer the question of how does a Christian relate to school, would be on the relationship of God’s honor to your grades. You see, that’s what is at stake in your grades: God’s honor! It is not your college applications, not your parents’ pride, and not your own self-gratification, but God’s honor. That’s what is at stake every day, in every class, and in every homework assignment. And this is where 1 Corinthians 10:31 once again faithfully confronts another area of life that is often overlooked or devalued by Christians…school.

Let’s be reminded of what this verse says, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” I have often said that this is a “governing verse” in that it governs every area of our lives and sets a high standard or goal, that being the glory of God, in everything we do and in every paper, test, or project we approach. What the glory of God does is it raises the bar in how we look at school or work or sports or “the whatever you do.” The glory of God or God’s honor is not something we can trifle with or take lightly or jokingly. God definitely doesn’t! Bad grades are not to be celebrated or laughed at, but repented of. Yes, I really do believe that. Let me show you why by answering the common objection.

Now one might object and say, “What if I do my best?” I would first of all answer that this is an abused statement void of much meaning because what exactly is your best? This is a very subjective standard for achievement, knowing that our best can change on any given day in any given mood or attitude. What happens is something like this:

Mom: Honey, what did you make on your Algebra test?
Daughter: A “C”. I know it’s not an A but I did my best?
Mom: Well, all that matters is that you did your best.

Now we all know that you didn’t do your best. You probably did your best at achieving a C for only studying 30 minutes before the test and failing to complete any homework assignments. If that is what you mean by your best, then yes, you did your best. That is how it usually works isn’t it? Therefore, due to the subjective standard of “my best” I would say it is an invalid objection.

The second answer I would give to the “What if I do my best?” objection is that it is still a lower standard than what the Lord lays out for us in His Word. Our best is not what matters. Our best is not what is at stake. God’s glory is what is at stake and aiming and achieving our best is still falling short of His glory, which Scripture would say is sin. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

Now you might say in light of that, “Will I ever achieve the standard of doing my schoolwork to God’s glory?” No, and you will never achieve that standard on your own. What you need is a Savior and One who has perfectly done all things for the glory of God, and we have such a One in Christ. This keeps us fleeing to Jesus in “whatever” we do, because we trust that He has never fallen short, but has done everything perfectly on our behalf, which in turn frees us to do all things for God’s honor, and births in us a new passion and a new desire to please God in everything; even schoolwork.

So now we seek for good grades not because we want good grades, but because we want God to be honored. Now we do our homework not because we want to get done with our homework, but because we want God to be honored. Now we spend more time and energy on our projects not because we want to have the best one in class, but because we want God to be honored. We want Christ to be put on display in all of our homework knowing that in our good works our light will shine and people will give glory to our Father in heaven. Seeking God’s honor in schoolwork also evidence a life changed by the grace of God. So, in Christ, our passion is for His fame and His renown and we want Him to be greatly treasured in the seeking of His honor in school.

This should revolutionize our approach to schoolwork and “whatever” else it is that we do. Therefore, I would encourage you not to simply do schoolwork to get by, do not work with the “D’s get degrees” mentality, but instead see in all things that the honor of God is at stake and that in every paper, test, or project it serves as a platform to make Jesus famous and find pleasure in pleasing Him.

Let me offer you a few warnings in light of this: First, let me warn you in the reading of this not to miss my point and say that a B or C is sin. That is not what I’m saying. What I’m saying is that we need to do schoolwork for God’s honor, which I believe will most likely result in A’s and B’s. You are all brilliant students with brilliant minds that need a “governing verse” running through them that sets your standard at God’s honor and nothing less. Second, do not think that your good grades will give you a right standing with God, that would be like looking to the Law to achieve a right standing. Both fail. Your standing with God is based solely upon the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. So bank everything on Him and be dependent upon Christ in your schoolwork.

And lastly, let me conclude by giving a verse that I believe will serve us all well since we seem to suffer from the procrastination plague: “Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.” Proverbs 6:6-11

May your schoolwork be pleasing in His sight and may God be honored.

1 Corinthians 10:31 “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.”

1 Corinthians 6:19c-20 “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

Galatians 6:14 “But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

Governing
The first verse is a governing verse. It is the fundamental goal in everything and carries with it a most fundamental question: “How do I glorify God in this?” This kind of verse is a verse that will govern every activity of your life to a great height not just great goals: the very glory of God. This governing verse fixes your aim in all things to nothing shorter than the glory of God, which goes way higher than great goals. It gives direction and meaning to everything you do because you do all to display the wonder of God. This verse governs your life so that you don’t just do your best in everything but you glorify God in everything, which means you’ll do way better than your best. You do everything to make His glorious name known. So this verse is important in the way that it governs your life.

Reminding
The second verse is a reminding verse. And it is a glorious gospel reminder! Oh, how we need to remind ourselves of this often! How many things we would have avoided if we thought often about the fact that we are not our own but have been bought with a price and that price is the high infinite price of the Son of God! If this verse were ringing often in our hearts then we wouldn’t be so easily swayed by the lure of sex and other youthful passions. Think about this: The Son of God has bought us with His own blood! He didn’t give a large some of money, He didn’t promise all the billions of galaxies or provide some great trust fund that would never empty for all that would not be enough to purge even one sin, but He gave Himself! God put Jesus forward to buy us and what better Owner of our lives than the One who owns everything! Oh, it’s so glorious and it is a glorious reminder to us.

Boasting
The third verse is a boasting verse. This is a verse that we shout. This is a verse that boasts of a dead body plastered to the world. How strange of an approach to the world this is to the world? In Christ we boast of His cross and in salvation, as believer, as the blood bought children of God the world is crucified to us and us to the world! Here’s a picture that will help: you, in Christ, hang dead and fastened upon a cross over the world but then the cross loses it’s footing in the shallow ground beneath, and you, crucified and dead upon it fall face down with the cross on your back and your crucified body gives a crucified greeting the world. You kiss the ground as a dead man with no friendly exchange! You can’t embrace the world because all your hands embrace is a cross! That is your relationship to the world by the grace of God! And Paul’s saying: boast in that!

[Galatians 4:1-7] “I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you (notice the transition to the singular, “you” here) are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.”

[Isaiah 59:2] “…but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.”

[1 Peter 3:18] “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God…”

The first thing we must be convinced of in regards to Private Worship is that it doesn’t take place between enemies, nor does it take place between a slave and a master but rather it takes place between God and His children, and we are the children of God. Private worship is between lovers, with the One whom our souls love, and it is intimate like that of a wayward child completely forgiven in the gracious hand of a forgiving Father.

When we scan the course of redemptive history we find a seeking God who has gone to great lengths to secure our adoption and restore the separated relationship we once had with God. We were originally created for communion with God, to meet with Him, to walk with Him, to converse freely with Him, to be constantly refreshed by Him, but sin broke this communion, separated us from our God, and placed us under a curse. But God did not stop here, though He had every right, and leave us in separated misery, hidden from His face and mute to His ears. The Godhead had an eternal plan in place that included His Son living and suffering on behalf of men and women that would result in Christ being the Mediator between God and man, as He would reconcile and restore this broken relationship. Isn’t this glorious! The Godhead, the offended party, set in motion a plan for sinful men and women to have unrestrained access and communion with God through Jesus as sons and daughters of God.

Therefore, since the Godhead has gone to such great lengths to restore this relationship, to adopt a peculiar people for Himself, to send His Spirit into their hearts, and to secure this matchless fellowship, how sick and foolish of us to neglect the plan of God, spurn the death of Christ, and the indwelling of the Spirit if we do not commune with God in private worship as sons and daughters of God!

The basis of this communion with God in private worship is adoption. Think of the Galatians passage above and how it refers to us as slaves. If God only pardoned us, we would simply be pardoned slaves. If God diverted His wrath from us and poured it upon His Son, we would be grateful slaves. If God blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing, we would be wealthy slaves. If God freed us from the elementary principles of this world and from the power of the evil one, we would be free slaves. But God has done more than this! He has done all these things and we are in a right standing with God, but more so, we stand in His family, receiving all the benefits His Son died to secure, and God relates to us as His very own sons and daughters. We were saved to relate to Him in the like manner and we must fight the doubts that say we are far off and that at best we are only slaves. You are not a slave, you are not an enemy, there is no wrath to be received by God any longer, for you are His child, you have His Spirit, you are dressed in His Son’s robes of righteousness, you are heir’s with Him, and you are apart of God’s family where He loves and cares for you!

So when you go to God in Private Worship this is how you go both now and always: as His child. Be assured of His love, for as Owen says, “The greatest unkindness you can lay on the Father is not to believe that He loves you.” Believe it! Shout it! Weep over it! And enjoy this costly communion!

Private Worship: is the communion that takes place between God and His child, through the blood of Jesus Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit that dwells in us, in which one: reads, studies, meditates, and memorizes God’s Word; draws near to God before the throne of grace in the holy places in prayer believing that God exists and that He rewards those who seek Him; and can include worship to God through songs that magnify His work and worth.

This definition can be broken down into 6 parts, which then will need their filling up. In other words, this definition is loaded with meaning and significance. This being the case, I’m going to start a blog series for the next several weeks discussing private worship and filling in this definition. In the meantime, enjoy your free communion with the eternal God!

If you have any specific questions please feel free to ask and I will address those questions the best I know how according to the grace of God.

Question 1: Is it helpful—physically, spiritually, and mentally? “Everything is permissible for me…but not everything is beneficial” [1 Corinthians 6:12]

Question 2: Does it bring me under its power? “Everything is permissible for me…but I will not be mastered by anything” [1 Corinthians 6:12]

Question 3: Does it hurt others? “Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall” [1 Corinthians 8:13]

Question 4: Does it glorify God? “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” [1 Corinthians 10:31]

Looking Ahead: This year’s theme for Winter Retreat will be “The Holiness of God and His People” and I want to encourage you to purchase Jerry Bridges book “The Pursuit of Holiness” as supplemental reading for this retreat. Hopefully, this little excerpt will allow you to see how this book will serve you. Pastor Nick would also encourage you to look into purchasing R.C. Sproul’s “The Holiness of God” as supplemental reading for his messages on the holiness of God. Winter Retreat is going to be great, so be praying and planning ahead.

One of the men I am indebted to in regards to preparing for this topic is a man by the name of Scott Croft who is an elder at Capitol Hill Baptist Church where he serves alongside of Mark Dever (9 Marks of a Healthy Church). Scott’s articles can be found at www.boundless.org under the topic of dating. Scott is a man who has thought deeply about dating and his perspective on dating is one that is informed by the gospel and that is why we can trust and value what he is saying. I am grateful to stand on the shoulders of Mr. Croft and I am so thankful for godly men who think deeply, love Jesus, and present truth in humility. So here are 3 main things I found helpful from Mr. Croft’s article entitled: “Biblical Dating: An Introduction” and “Biblical Dating: Are you Ready to Date?” (All the information under the headings with Roman Numerals are word for word from his articles)

I. Scriptural Foundation: The doctrine of the Sufficiency of Scripture should inform dating, and the passages he provided were these…

I Corinthians 6:9-7:19 (command to be pure, seriousness of sexual sin and instructions regarding marriage)

I Thessalonians 4:1-8 (do not wrong or defraud one another in relationships — by implying a relationship or commitment by your words or conduct that does not actually exist)

Song of Solomon 2:7 (”do not awaken love before it pleases” — i.e. before the proper time, meaning marriage)

Proverbs 6:20-7:27 (warning to avoid sexual sin and foolish relationships)

James 1:13-15 (temptation is to be taken very seriously)

Romans 13:8-14 (love others, work for their soul’s good; don’t look to please self)

Romans 14:1-15:7 (favor others, not self … value what’s good to their souls)

I Timothy 5:1-2 (treat single women as sisters in Christ, with absolute purity)

Titus 2:1-8 (young men and women should focus on self-control/godliness)

John 14:15 (if you love Christ, you will obey His commands — read: above your own desires — and live biblically)

II. Differences Between Modern Dating and Biblical Dating: this was his summary in 3 points…

1. Modern dating seems to be about “finding” the right person for me; biblical dating is more about “being” the right person to serve my future spouse’s needs and be a God-glorifying husband or wife.

2. In modern dating, intimacy precedes commitment. In biblical dating, commitment precedes intimacy.

3. The modern dating approach tells us that the way to figure out whether I want to marry someone is to act like we are married. If we like it, we make it official. If we don’t, then we go through something emotionally — and probably physically — like a divorce. In biblical dating, Scripture guides us as to how to find a mate and marry, and the Bible teaches, among other things, that we should act in such a way so as not to imply a marriage-level commitment until that commitment exists before the Lord.

III. Helpful and Insightful Quotes: Here are 2…

“Modern dating…need not have marriage as a goal at all. Dating can be recreational. Not only is dating for fun acceptable, it is assumed that practice and learning by trial and error are necessary, even advisable, before finding the person that is just right for you. The fact that individuals will be emotionally and probably physically intimate with many people before settling down with the right person is just part of the deal. Yet where is the biblical support for such an approach to marriage? There is none. How many examples of recreational dating do we see among God’s people in the Bible? Zero. The category of premarital intimacy does not exist, other than in the context of grievous sexual sin. The motive for dating or courting is marriage…if you cannot happily see yourself as a married man or woman in less than one year, then you are not ready to date.”

“Now, the biblical support for the modern approach to dating … (insert crickets, tumbleweeds, person whistling here)…. That was it. There isn’t any. The very idea of extended romantic or sexual involvement outside of marriage doesn’t even appear in Scripture unless it is described as illicit (sinful). Furthermore, it doesn’t even appear in any society, western or otherwise, in any systematic way until the 20th century! While the principles supporting biblical dating have their beginnings with the very structure of the family, modern dating has its origins with the sexual revolution of the 1960s. It is brand new, and yet, seemingly, it is all we know.”

Have you ever thought about those things before? I know I haven’t, and I think this will be helpful not only for students but parents as well as we seek to make the name of Jesus glorious in all that we do and honor the One who has bought us with such a high price.

In view of these considerations and considering the gospel and a future husband I added 4 things that I think every girl needs to think about. Every guy should be a godly, gospel-driven guy and every girl should be a godly, gospel-driven girl who won’t settle for other attractions (distractions) than Calvary. Therefore, in view of Ephesians 5:22-33, I speak these words to you girls as my sisters…

1) If a guy cannot take you to Calvary then he is not worthy to take you down the aisle, and he will lead you nowhere in marriage.

2) If a guy does more to steal your heart than to seal your heart in Christ, then don’t expect him to present you to Christ in marriage.

3) If a guy is not passionate about and invested in the local church this is a sign that he will not love you as Christ loves the church and he won’t care too either.

4) If a guy is more concerned about the state of your relationship than the state of your soul in Christ it is a sign of what concerns him most and this guy is not worth it.

I am praying for you all that your future marriages will be God-honoring and will take place at the foot of Calvary. I am also praying that as young men and women you will prepare yourself now for marriage and that you will see the world and dating through “cross-eyes.”

“You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

In “Pilgrim’s Progress” the character Christian exemplifies for us this type of gospel brokenness and many of you might be able to identify with him, and still yet many of you may need to be like him with your family. So let this both comfort and challenge us all.

Let me set the scene: Christian is at the table in the mansion called “Beautiful” and he is discussing his pilgrimage or journey so far with Prudence, Piety and Charity and here he is talking with Charity and she asks:

Charity: Have you a family? Are you a married man?
Christian: I have a wife and four small children.
Charity: And why did you not bring them along with you?
Christian: Then Christian wept and said, Oh how I willingly would have done it! But they were utterly averse to me going on my pilgrimage.
Charity: But you should have talked to them and have endeavored to show them the danger of being behind
Christian: So I did; and told them also what God had showed to me of the destruction of our city; but I seemed to them as one that mocked, and they believed me not.
Charity: And did you pray to God that He would bless your counsel to them?
Christian: Yes, and that with much affection; for you must think that my wife and poor Children are very dear to me.
Charity: But did you tell them of your own sorrow, and fear of destruction? For I suppose that destruction was visible enough to you?
Christian: Yes, over, and over and over. They might also see my fears in my countenance, in my tears, and also in my trembling under the apprehension of the Judgment that did hang over our heads; but all was not sufficient to prevail with them to come to me.
Charity: But what could they say for themselves why they came not?
Christian: Why my wife was afraid of losing this world; and my children were given to the foolish delights of youth: so that by one thing and another they left me to wander in this manner alone.
Charity: But did you not with your vain Life damp all that you by Words used by way of persuasion to bring them away with you?
Christian: Indeed I cannot commend my life, for I am conscious to myself of many failings. I know also that a man by his conversation may soon overthrow what by argument or persuasion he labors to fasten upon others for their good. Yet, this I can say, I was very wary of giving them occasion, by any unseemly action, to make them averse to going on Pilgrimage. Yea, for this very thing, they would tell me I was too precise, and that I denied myself of things (for their sakes) in which they saw no evil. Nay, I think I may say, that, if what they saw in me did hinder them, it was my tenderness in sinning against God, or of doing any Wrong to my neighbor.
Charity: Indeed Cain hated his brother because his own works were evil and his brother’s righteous. And if thy wife and children have been offended with you for this, they thereby show themselves implacable for good; and you have delivered your soul from their blood.

Do you see the gospel brokenness in Christian? More than anything else he desired that his family come along with him on his pilgrimage but they had no part and they considered him to be too passionate and too devoted and they mocked him, but they mocked him like Cain did Abel. Their works were wicked, his were true and righteous. Many of you might be able to identify with this situation or you may know people who can identify with this situation.

There are many parents that feel alone and are alone in the task of taking their children to Calvary, and Christian’s example serves as a good example to follow in how we are to be faithful “though none go with me.” We still must follow! So do not lose heart if you are walking the narrow path alone and a hundred scoffers watch from the comforts of the broad path…rejoice and be glad and continue to plead with your family that you might deliver your soul from their blood.

So I know what is at stake in her life. I know that if God maintains breath in her lungs and life in her blood then the demands of the gospel hang over her precious little head and I know that in and of herself it is impossible to meet those demands. Therefore, the way I raise her up and the way I instruct her through life, in all stages, must be in such a way that displays the worth and glory of Jesus Christ the seriousness and reality of Heaven and Hell and the good news that He has come to save sinners and He and He alone is mighty to save.

It is of utmost importance for those who have a concern for the coming generations that we preach the same gospel from the beginning of life to the end of life. And for right now, in our children and especially in the students we must not modify the message because of age. The gospel transcends age and time making the gospel the same gospel for all generations and this is something we definitely need to hear in a day where people desire “plain English” over “plain doctrine” and where they would rather have their ears tickled than their hearts pierced by truth. Parents, I encourage you not to give your children a watered down gospel for the sake of their lives and their children’s lives and receive the instruction of D. Martyn Lloyd Jones when he wrote:

We must be careful that we do not modify the gospel to suit various age groups. There is no such thing as a special gospel for the young, a special gospel for the middle-aged, and a special gospel for the aged. There is only one gospel, and we must always be careful not to tamper and tinker with the gospel as a result of recognizing these age distinctions. At the same time, there is a difference in applying this one and only gospel to the different age groups; but it is a difference, which has reference only to method and procedure. (Quoted by John MacArthur in The Gospel According to Jesus, p. 280)

Rejoice in the gospel that is the same gospel for all generations and faithfully proclaim it to those in your wake and pray for those not yet born that they would rejoice in the Christ of the gospel! Don’t modify…magnify!

1. You Join
2. You Make the Local Church a Priority
3. You Try to Make Your Pastors Job a Joy
4. You Find Ways to Serve
5. You Give
6. You Connect with People
7. You Share Your Passion

For many of us having a passion for the local church was a foreign concept and we found this chapter to be particularly challenging. It challenged our allegiance, our priorities, our time, our money, our individualism, and our joy. One of the quotes from this chapter that I found particularly challenging was this one: “We build our lives around our priorities. Building your life around the church means making it the kind of priority that secondary concerns flow around, not over.” I think for many students and families the local church is a secondary concern at best, and I don’t say this to put you down or guilt trip you, but I say this out of a concern for your joy. If the local church is a secondary concern and not primary then you are forfeiting joy in Christ and the joy that comes from being invested and involved in the lives of others. As a parent, you are teaching your children what truly matters: sports, music, leisure, etc. Unknowingly many parents are squelching a passion for the local church within their children and students from an early age. My desire is that we would all be aware of the messages we are sending our children and our children’s children and that our approach to the local church would be a passionate approach for the good of the body and the glory of God.

We began this lesson by identifying 5 types of people with 5 different approaches that I am aware of. These were directed toward students, but if you are a college student, single or a parent then I encourage you to make the necessary applicatory adjustments and find where you fit in:

1. The All-Present and Accounted For Person: This person is here, but the main reason their here is because it makes them feel better about their week. They look at the local church and say, “A few hours one day a week should be enough to keep God happy and everyone thinking I’m still a Christian.” This person isn’t actively involved, even though they may attend some other gatherings, only when there is nothing else to do or if they have had a really bad week. This person may appear like they love the local church, but in their heart they really don’t. The local church for them is just another stop in their busy schedule of activities.

2. The My Parents Expect Me Here Person: This is probably the majority group. Even though your parents don’t necessarily “make you” come, they expect it and you feel that if you didn’t come they would be upset and it would create more tension at home. So, you come to please your parents and to keep them on your good side so they will continue trusting you. This person is detrimental to the life of the local church and they destroy the local church because they are hypocrites who act one way here and a completely different way in the world.

3. The I Like the Feeling of Church Person: This person is someone who loves just the local church for the way it makes them feel. They love the warmth of the sanctuary, the smiles of the people, the dressed up atmosphere, the music that plays, and the feeling they sometimes get during an emotional song. This person is one that has really high highs but really low lows. When its good and they feel loved they love the local church, but when its bad and they lose that loving feeling, they hate the local church and immediately become its worst enemy.

4. The Wannabe Passionate Person: This person is someone that truly desires to be passionate about the local church but they’re looking at their schedule and they just can’t seem to find anytime. Church for them isn’t a game, it just isn’t a priority yet. This person is on the brink of living a life that revolves around the local church, but they just can’t seem to give anything up because the cost seems too great.

5. The Passionate Person: This is the person with a passion for the local church. This person is an active participant on all levels of the church’s ministry. This is a person involved and invested both with time and money. They use their best ideas for the church and are constantly seeking to find new ways to destroy Satan’s attacks and glorify the name of Jesus. This person prays for their local church, it’s leaders, and it’s members. This person constantly talks about their local church, but never bashes their local church. This person has ups and downs but when they have downs they don’t run from the local church, but they run to the local church. This is a person who is getting out what they put in because they are truly invested.