Against The Tide (Lights)

12 Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose. 14 Do everything without grumbling and arguing, 15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world, 16 by holding firm to the word of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn’t run or labor for nothing. 17 But even if I am poured out as a drink offering on the sacrificial service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 In the same way you should also be glad and rejoice with me.

How do you shine light in a world that is polar opposite from the life Christ calls us to live?

Illuminate your surroundings

Let the people around you know your beliefs and who you believe in!

Share example of Women who didn’t know that each other attended the same church and how we often do that with our faith in Jesus

The disciples had their faults, but eventually all aside from John would die brutal deaths standing up for what they believed in because it was that important to them.

It is very unlikely you will be killed for your faith in Jesus in America

Understand we are called to shine light in the dark world.

Our feelings often outshine our faith.

What are some areas you see that you could illuminate at school?

“Convenient Christ”

Have bible studies with your friends

Impact the community together through missions

Trust God

Isaiah 55:11–12 (CSB)

11 so my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do.”

Understand the work being done is through Christ and not by you.

Fear easily creeps in. Maybe even the thought that what we do doesn’t matter, but there is nothing more important.

God doesn’t call the qualified, he qualifies the called. If you are in Christ then you are the called.

Jesus trusted God’s plan as he went to die on the cross. If he decided otherwise none of us would be sitting here today.

Work Together

We are drastically stronger together than we are apart.

Share example of batter getting stranded on base.

Are you shining your light?

Conclusion

Luke 22:54–62 CSB

54 They seized him, led him away, and brought him into the high priest’s house. Meanwhile Peter was following at a distance. 55 They lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, and Peter sat among them. 56 When a servant saw him sitting in the light, and looked closely at him, she said, “This man was with him too.” 57 But he denied it: “Woman, I don’t know him.” 58 After a little while, someone else saw him and said, “You’re one of them too.” “Man, I am not!” Peter said. 59 About an hour later, another kept insisting, “This man was certainly with him, since he’s also a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 61 Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter. So Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.