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I wrote this sermon for Youth Sunday and some people wanted me to post it so they could read it. I'm not sure why some sentences are spaced out and why some aren't but i hope its not too difficult to read and i really do hope it gives you some perspective or something new to think about, respond back about it and tell me what you think.
The Sermon
How many of you watched American Idol last Tuesday or Wednesday? What do you think of as an idol being? Actually, an idol has many definitions. One being a “representation or symbol of an object of worship; (of course in our faith) a false god. Another one being, “A false conception”. Therefore, “American Idol”, in my opinion, should be “America’s Favorite” because people can have favorite’s left and right. One of my favorite people, among many, is my sister, but for all of us there, in all actuality is no idol, there’s just God. 1 Corinthians states, “we know that “no idol in the world really exists” and that “there is no God but one.” Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth - as in fact there are many gods and many lords- yet for us there is one god, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.” This statement to me is EXTREMELY powerful, and meaningful. I know for a fact that people who believe in other idols are stubborn and will fight you to the bone that there is no God. Trust me, I’ve gotten in a heated discussion with such a person. What I don’t understand is how someone, especially a non-Christian can hear the story of Jesus and not be brought to the faith. As I laid in bed, most nights thinking about this sermon, I thought of what it would be like without Christ and, to me at least, it would seem to be the scariest thing. I mean you have no clue where you would go after you die, you have no security in life and nothing to stand up for or believe in. Just thinking about it, it made me ecstatic to be a Christian because I have something to look forward to, I have someone who will be there for me no matter where I am, or what situation I’m going through, or even if I’m just having a bad, stressful day He can hold me and be there as I cry. In fact this past week has probably been the most stressful week of school I might have ever had. So one night when I went to bed I just had to lay down and cry for a little bit because I just couldn’t handle it; my brain was in overload, my arms were getting sore because of all the books, my hands were hurting because of all the writing but most of all I was getting away from my life. Most parents want there children to always put God first. But then, most parents also stress the importance of homework. Many kids hear “homework comes first, no matter what”. Well to a child, a teenager especially, God comes before homework. Our roots taught us that, our faith has taught us that and our will to not do homework has encouraged that. Last Sunday on the internet I found a lot of my old friends that I went to elementary school with and haven’t seen in 3 ½ years. I grew up with these girls and boys and then just up and left one day. Then when I found them it was like rediscovering the roots that got me growing in life. And when we are young our parents instill Christian roots in us that at times are tested but with faith we withstand the tests and grow more from learning from them. Going back to the homework bit, and that Christ to anyone should come first; most of my friends I know lay in bed or while running for track or cross country or anything to the liking they think
about there life, and their friends, and family, and what all they have and then we all just thank God for that. I mean why shouldn’t we and I truly, in my heart believe that as we’re thinking about such things we’re talking to God. And, going back to last week, he talks back. I thought about the sermon Father Steve gave last week after church and realized even at 14 God has had a lot to say to me. He impacts everything in my life, school and friends and hard times especially. For instance, one day I was so mad at life, I just wanted to throw something but I knew I couldn’t do that because something valuable would have broken. So I resorted to crying, it wasn’t harmful to anything expensive and I was just so overwhelmed with life that it’s all I could do. So as I was at the peak of my crying I finally thought to pray. And it was one of the most meaningful, passionate, truthful prayers I’ve ever prayed. Right after I prayed, I stopped crying, and felt someone hold me. It wasn’t a touch that you could reach out and feel with your hands. It was more like a touch that made every problem in the world go away and I knew right then and there that was God saying “everything’s okay, stop crying, go out do good and have fun with life because crying like this and thinking about all the bad will get you no where.” And that message, to this day is one of the most powerful things I’ve ever felt. And to be so young and hearing God talk to me and hold me changed a lot of things. I saw last week how many of you have heard God talking and I agree with the man last week that it’s hard to know when God is talking to you. But once you decipher what He’s saying to you, its like “oh duh no wonder” and it all just clicks.
With idols, nothing will ever click. It’s like letting a boyfriend or girlfriend become more important than your best friend, probably the one person who knows everything about you and more. Why bother putting a small thing like that above such a powerful relationship? In high school at least a boyfriend or girlfriend is probably a relationship that won’t last too long. Why put this above something that has stayed strong since the beginning and will always be strong? We all have a powerful relationship with God, and nothing should ever have the ability to be more important to you than God, and nothing ever will be more important if you don’t let it. Amen.