Holland First Assembly of God
Radiant Youth
Pastor Chad shares his heart on what this years theme will be for our youth ministry!
Locations & Times
Holland First Assembly
1331 E 16th St, Holland, MI 49423, USA
Wednesday 7:00 PM
1. The theme for this year is, “Live Radical”
2. Does anybody know someone who you would say is radical?
a. What do you think the word “Radical” means?
3. The definition of Radical is, “relating to or affecting the fundamental nature of something; far-reaching or thorough.”
a. When we think of radical we think something that is extreme or maybe even crazy.
b. Which makes sense because if the fundamental nature of something or someone is affected it probably will seem crazy or extreme.
c. Yet when you live a radical life for Christ that is EXACTLY what happens.
d. The fundamental nature of who you are will be affected by it and you will never be the same!
2. Does anybody know someone who you would say is radical?
a. What do you think the word “Radical” means?
3. The definition of Radical is, “relating to or affecting the fundamental nature of something; far-reaching or thorough.”
a. When we think of radical we think something that is extreme or maybe even crazy.
b. Which makes sense because if the fundamental nature of something or someone is affected it probably will seem crazy or extreme.
c. Yet when you live a radical life for Christ that is EXACTLY what happens.
d. The fundamental nature of who you are will be affected by it and you will never be the same!
4. So what do you mean by “Live Radical”?
a. Well let’s first look at our theme verse I’m going to use.
a. Well let’s first look at our theme verse I’m going to use.
a. Think what the symbol of a cross means
b. Today it means grace and mercy and forgiveness of sins and all sorts of great things.
c. Back in Jesus’ day that was not what people thought of when they saw a cross.
d. A cross was something that criminals were forced to carry up to the place where they will be crucified.
e. They were basically carrying their own execution device.
f. So when people back then thought of a cross they thought of one thing. DEATH.
b. Today it means grace and mercy and forgiveness of sins and all sorts of great things.
c. Back in Jesus’ day that was not what people thought of when they saw a cross.
d. A cross was something that criminals were forced to carry up to the place where they will be crucified.
e. They were basically carrying their own execution device.
f. So when people back then thought of a cross they thought of one thing. DEATH.
5. Therefore, “Take up your cross and follow Me” means being willing to die in order to follow Jesus. This is called “dying to self.” It’s a call to absolute surrender.
a. That’s why He follows it with, “24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.”
a. That’s why He follows it with, “24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.”
6. Jesus is saying if you want to truly be my followers then you have to do something RADICAL
a. You have to be will to DIE TO YOUR SELFISH WAYS and surrender your life to me.
b. But in doing that you’re truly going to save your life and see all that God has for you.
c. But it’s in that initial RADICAL decision that God is able to move.
a. You have to be will to DIE TO YOUR SELFISH WAYS and surrender your life to me.
b. But in doing that you’re truly going to save your life and see all that God has for you.
c. But it’s in that initial RADICAL decision that God is able to move.
7. You see what I want to stress to you this year is that I want you to go ABOVE AND BEYOND anything you’ve ever done.
a. I want you to do things you never thought you could do and reach more students than you ever thought you would.
b. But to do that you have to make a RADICAL decision.
a. I want you to do things you never thought you could do and reach more students than you ever thought you would.
b. But to do that you have to make a RADICAL decision.
8. Albert Einstein said, “the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.”
a. Many Christians today are insane. Why?
b. Because we say that we want to be on fire for God and that we want to reach our friends and school for Jesus but THEY DON’T CHANGE ANYTHING IN THEIR LIFE.
c. If you’re not on fire for God and if you’re not reaching people for Christ then it’s time to look at your life and say, “WHAT DO I NEED TO DO DIFFERENTLY?”
a. Many Christians today are insane. Why?
b. Because we say that we want to be on fire for God and that we want to reach our friends and school for Jesus but THEY DON’T CHANGE ANYTHING IN THEIR LIFE.
c. If you’re not on fire for God and if you’re not reaching people for Christ then it’s time to look at your life and say, “WHAT DO I NEED TO DO DIFFERENTLY?”
9. Some of you want to see God do things in your life and in your friends lives.
a. Some of you want to experience God like never before during worship.
b. My question to you is, “WHAT RADICAL DECISION ARE YOU WILLING TO MAKE TO EXPERIENCE GOD’S PRESENCE LIKE NEVER BEFORE?”
a. Some of you want to experience God like never before during worship.
b. My question to you is, “WHAT RADICAL DECISION ARE YOU WILLING TO MAKE TO EXPERIENCE GOD’S PRESENCE LIKE NEVER BEFORE?”
10. These radical decisions or GOING to force you to step out of your comfort zone.
a. You want to reach your friends for Christ? Then you’re going to have to talk to them. Probably more than once.
b. You want to experience God more during worship? Then you’re going to have to worship like you never have before. (raising your hands high, jumping up and down, coming to the altar, etc.)
a. You want to reach your friends for Christ? Then you’re going to have to talk to them. Probably more than once.
b. You want to experience God more during worship? Then you’re going to have to worship like you never have before. (raising your hands high, jumping up and down, coming to the altar, etc.)
11. You have to be willing to go after God with EVERYTHING YOU HAVE and not care what other people think.
12. It’s about putting God first and REACHING OUT TO YOUR PEERS.
a. We can’t be afraid of what may happen
13. Look at Daniel
a. You see some of the men that Daniel worked with didn’t like him.
b. They knew he prayed 3 times a day so they went to the king and convinced him that he should make it illegal to pray to anyone else other than him.
c. When Daniel heard this did he stop praying? NO
d. He made a Radical decision that said I don’t care what the law is, I’m going to pray to God just like I always have.
e. Because of this the King had no choice but to throw him in the lion’s den.
f. The next morning the king went to see Daniel’s dead body, but there he was, very much alive.
g. You see Daniel made a Radical decision to continue to put God first even when it was against the law and God protected him from the Lions.
a. We can’t be afraid of what may happen
13. Look at Daniel
a. You see some of the men that Daniel worked with didn’t like him.
b. They knew he prayed 3 times a day so they went to the king and convinced him that he should make it illegal to pray to anyone else other than him.
c. When Daniel heard this did he stop praying? NO
d. He made a Radical decision that said I don’t care what the law is, I’m going to pray to God just like I always have.
e. Because of this the King had no choice but to throw him in the lion’s den.
f. The next morning the king went to see Daniel’s dead body, but there he was, very much alive.
g. You see Daniel made a Radical decision to continue to put God first even when it was against the law and God protected him from the Lions.
a. To Live Radical you have to make the choice to PRESS ON and not give up because God is on the throne and He is there with you.