2. Christ Alone Two Cultural “Truths” “It’s all about me . . .” “The future is bleak and terrifying . . .”
3. It’s all about me . . . . “I had a crisis of faith. I thought you had to experience things if you want to know right from wrong. I’d go to Christian revivals and be moved by the Holy Spirit and I’d go to rock concerts and feel the same fervor. The I’d be t old, ‘That’s the Devil’s music! Don’t partake in that!’ I wanted to experience things religion said not to experience. . . When I got untethered from the comfort of religion, it wasn’t a loss of faith for me, it was a discovery of self. I had faith that I’m capable enough to handle any situation.” Brad Pitt
4. It’s all about me . . . . “I’ve got my own religion… If I get into trouble, there’s no God or Allah to sort me out. I have to do it myself.” Bjork “I think a lot of people are losing their religion. Definitely. Even me, I know that when I grew up, I used to go to church every Sunday, and now it’s become holidays. But I think as long as you have your own thing, whether it’s meditation—anything that centers you in life is good. Do I pray? Yeah, I do.” Kirsten Dunst,
5. It’s all about me . . . . “When I was 12, I decided that I wanted to see what else was out there. I believe that all of the religions have merit and that it's man that messes it up. I am more spiritual than religious. Sometimes I feel like a Buddhist and I need to chant; sometimes a Baptist and I need to holler and shout and sometimes I need to be a Catholic and need to purge my sins and confess. It just depends on where I am. But, I know I need to get there.” Jill Scott
7. Christ Alone 1"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. 2In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going.” John 14:1-4
8. Christ Alone John 11:32-35 “ . . . He was deeply moved and troubled . . . Jesus wept.” John 12:27-28 “Now my heart is troubled, what shall I say: ‘Father, save me from this hour?’” John 13:21 “Jesus was troubled in spirit . . . ‘One of you is going to betray me.’”
9. Christ Alone 1"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. 2In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going.” John 14:1-4
10. Christ Alone 5Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" 6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." 8Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us." -John 14:5-8
11. Christ Alone 9Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? -John 14:9
12. Christ Alone All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read; which goes on for ever; in which every chapter is better than the one before. C.S. Lewis The Last Battle
13. It’s all about me . . . maybe not. “Sometimes I feel like I’m living a meaningless life and I get frightened . . . I have no idea where this insecurity comes from, but it’s a God-sized hole. If I knew, I’d fill it and I’d be on my way. . . I have no answers to anything. None. Why am I an alcoholic? I haven’t a clue! What is life about? I don’t know. . . . The best I can do is learn from my mistakes and move forward. And that’s what I’m trying to do.” ~ShiaLeBouf
“I had a crisis of faith. I thought you had to experience things if you want to know right from wrong. I’d go to Christian revivals and be moved by the Holy Spirit and I’d go to rock concerts and feel the same fervor. The I’d be told, ‘That’s the Devil’s music! Don’t partake in that!’ I wanted to experience things religion said not to experience. . . When I got untethered from the comfort of religion, it wasn’t a loss of faith for me, it was a discovery of self. I had faith that I’m capable enough to handle any situation.”
“I’ve got my own religion… If I get into trouble, there’s no God or Allah to sort me out. I have to do it myself.”“I think a lot of people are losing their religion. Definitely. Even me, I know that when I grew up, I used to go to church every Sunday, and now it’s become holidays. But I think as long as you have your own thing, whether it’s meditation—anything that centers you in life is good. Do I pray? Yeah, I do.”
Named one of People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People" in 2001.Released her double-platinum debut album, Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1, in 2000.Was nominated for a Grammy in Best New Artist of 2000, but did not win. Won a 2005 Grammy for Best Urban/Alternative R&B Performance for "Cross My Mind.".“When I was 12, I decided that I wanted to see what else was out there. I believe that all of the religions have merit and that it's man that messes it up. I am more spiritual than religious. Sometimes I feel like a Buddhist and I need to chant; sometimes a Baptist and I need to holler and shout and sometimes I need to be a Catholic and need to purge my sins and confess. It just depends on where I am. But, I know I need to get there.”
“Here there be dragons” – the unknown frightens usFUTURE – Apocalyptic movies Mad Max to 2012 – This is what the future holdsCategories for Apocalyptic films Nuclear Meteor/Comets Plagues Natural Disasters Aliens Zombies Far Hills Panel
Upper Room John 13-17 Holy Week – Maundy Thursday “Mandate”On the way over the parallel Gospel seems to indicate that the disciples had been arguing among themselves about who was the greatest. Jesus washed their feetGo and prepare for the Passover meal“Troubled” – to stir up, agitate (John 5:7) the water in the Pool of BethesdaWhy would they be troubled? At least four reasons:1. Jesus told his disciples he was leaving and they could not follow him (13:33)2. Jesus himself said he was troubled (13:21)3. Jesus had just revealed a traitor – one who would betray him (13:21-30)Jesus had just revealed that Peter would deny him (13:38)
33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. 35 Jesus wept. John 11:32-3527“Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” John 12:27-28 21After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me.” John 13:21
Everything turned into chaos and incredible confusion. Just moments before they were basking in their assumption that they were on an inside track to cabinet positions with the Messiah. Now, uncertainty, doubt, fear.Only Jesus knew what the next 21 hours held. The consequences of sin, the horror of suffering, the terror of death, and hurt of betrayal. He will cry out, “Let this cup pass from me.” Cup of bitterness, humiliation, agony, death. 1 Cor 10 speaks of how we now have the cup of fellowship, thanksgiving as we share in the death of Christ. He switched cups with us. Don’t let your hearts be troubled. We have control. Now, there is nothing wrong with being troubled – but there is a time to dry the tears, gather yourself and look up.Only command – Trust in God? Trust in me. Notice how he leaps beyond the circumstances of the present, the consequences of what was going to be happening and “rooms” – dwelling place; “to remain”You know the WAY.
Not a path; a Person.To the Father – the only way.
Seen me – seen the Father.
All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read; which goes on for ever; in which every chapter is better than the one before.C.S. LewisThe Last Battle
“Sometimes I feel like I’m living a meaningless life and I get frightened . . . I have no idea where this insecurity comes from, but it’s a God-sized hole. If I knew, I’d fill it and I’d be on my way. . . I have no answers to anything. None. Why am I an alcoholic? I haven’t a clue! What is life about? I don’t know. . . . The best I can do is learn from my mistakes and move forward. And that’s what I’m trying to do.”
Living - what difference does it make being a Christian? how do we see the world differently? HOPE – 1 Peter 3:15 “always be ready to give an answer for the hope that is within us” Biblical Hope – not “what we would like to happen” but “the certain conclusion” 1980 Olympics – US v. Russia in hockey We know how everything ends – it gives meaning and purpose to today Can a future event make difference NOW? Girl at singles retreat – getting married in a month.
