Webmaster's note: Chis McCurdy, our Director of Youth Ministries, delivered a two-part message on August 27. First, he performed a sketch about prayer he had written as an assignment. Second, he delivered a sermon based on the notes you will find in in part two. The audio track is continuous and contains both components of his message. The audio does not exactly follow the text, and Chris's live and in person presentation is definitely worth listening to. -KB

[Chris does an introduction here.]

Scripture

Psalm 55 - A cry to God to hear our prayers when we are in anguish.

1 Give ear to my prayer, O God;
    do not hide yourself from my supplication.
2 Attend to me, and answer me;
    I am troubled in my complaint.
    I am distraught 3 by the noise of the enemy,
    because of the clamor of the wicked.
    For they bring trouble upon me,
    and in anger they cherish enmity against me.
4 My heart is in anguish within me,
    the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
5 Fear and trembling come upon me,
    and horror overwhelms me.
6 And I say, "O that I had wings like a dove!
    I would fly away and be at rest;
7 truly, I would flee far away;
    I would lodge in the wilderness;

8 I would hurry to find a shelter for myself
    from the raging wind and tempest."
9 Confuse, O Lord, confound their speech;
    for I see violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they go around it
    on its walls,
    and iniquity and trouble are within it;
11 ruin is in its midst;
    oppression and fraud
    do not depart from its marketplace.

12 It is not enemies who taunt me —
    I could bear that;
    it is not adversaries who deal insolently with me —
    I could hide from them.
13 But it is you, my equal,
    my companion, my familiar friend,
14 with whom I kept pleasant company;
    we walked in the house of God with the throng.
15 Let death come upon them;
    let them go down alive to Sheol;
    for evil is in their homes and in their hearts.
16 But I call upon God,
    and the LORD will save me.
17 Evening and morning and at noon
    I utter my complaint and moan,
    and he will hear my voice.
18 He will redeem me unharmed
    from the battle that I wage,
    for many are arrayed against me.
19 God, who is enthroned from of old,
    will hear, and will humble them —
    because they do not change,
    and do not fear God.

20 My companion laid hands on a friend
    and violated a covenant with me
21 with speech smoother than butter,
    but with a heart set on war;
    with words that were softer than oil,
    but in fact were drawn swords.

22 Cast your burden on the LORD,
    and he will sustain you;
    he will never permit
    the righteous to be moved.

23 But you, O God, will cast them down
    into the lowest pit;
    the bloodthirsty and treacherous
    shall not live out half their days.
    But I will trust in you.

Hebrews 11: 1-12 - What is faith?

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.

4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain's. Through this he received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faith he still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and "he was not found, because God had taken him." For it was attested before he was taken away that "he had pleased God." 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 7 By faith Noah, warned by God about events as yet unseen, respected the warning and built an ark to save his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir to the righteousness that is in accordance with faith.

8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old — and Sarah herself was barren — because he considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, "as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore."

Sermon: “A Fit of Fright”

Part ONE

DT - Sketch - Prayer

Summary - Going through life prayer is a concept that gives every Christian a difficult time. There is no clear how to do it formula and the idea of a direct connection to God can be scary for anyone. This is a picture into the mind of a Christian and what can and can not be said to God in prayer.

John, Age 5

Dear God, I turned 5 today. Mom told me that you made me special. She said that you were watching over me and protecting me. So... thanks. I really like my new train that I got today, it is red and makes a train noise when you push the top. Do you have any trains? If you don’t you can have my old green one. But it doesn’t make the noise. Thank you for my mom and my dad, and could you please make my brother not so stupid, Amen.

John, Age 10

Dear God, I started 4^th grade today. Mom told me that I should be nice to all of the kids, that way I will have a lot of friends. But I told her that she never met Josh Stevens. He smells really bad and if I were nice to him then I would have even less friends. She said that you made him too and that makes him special. Is that true? I met this other kid named Mark, he is really cool and he likes the same things I do. I am going to be nice to Mark and if I have time I will be nice to Josh later. Thank you for mom, even though she is weird sometimes, thank you for dad, and please give my brother a spot on the football team, I know he isn’t as good as me but it would make him happy. Amen.

John, Age 15

Dear God, I started High School today. To tell you the truth I don’t think it is as big a deal as it is cracked up to be. I have a guy in my health class who is huge! The guy could probably lift me over his head with one hand. Mom told me tonight at dinner that I need to be careful and take care of myself while I am in High School. She said that I was almost an adult and a lot of my choices would have a huge effect on what I did with the rest of my life. I said, “Thanks for the news flash Mom, how about you say something a little less obvious.” I guess I hurt her feelings because she didn’t say anything after that. Dad was mad, he yelled at me and made me rake the leaves, it was dark outside and the genius had me raking. I didn’t even do anything. Anyway, I got invited to a party this weekend and Mom said I couldn’t go because she didn’t know their parents. Man what am I, ten years old or something? I am going to go anyways because if she thinks she can tell me what to do then she has another thing coming. Um... please be with us and keep us safe, Amen.

John, Age 17

Dear God, what were you thinking when you made girls. I had been dating Sandy for three months now, I thought everything was perfect, she loved me I loved her and then all of the sudden, BAM! She breaks up with me as I walk her to class. And to make matters worse she is sitting next to Cody at lunch! She was just using me so that she could hang out with the popular kids and now she doesn’t think she needs me. Wait one week, I bet everyone will be making fun of her and she will come running back. (Pause) Will she come back? Because I would be pretty upset but I guess we could work it out. Mom walked into my room after school, she just barged right in like she owned the place! She thought I was crying, but I just had something in my eye that’s all. Okay, so maybe I was crying. But I just really miss Sandy that’s all. Anyways, Mom gave me a hug and told me that life just sometimes goes this way. It’s been years since Mom hugged me like that. I really liked it and afterwards she took me to Wal-Mart and bought me a CD. Mom has been telling me my whole life that I was special, I think she’s right, Sandy is definitely on the losing end of this one and she has no idea what she is missing out on. Thank you for my Mom, she may be old and not really in touch with what’s going on around her, but sometimes... she understands. Amen.

John, Age 18

So the Pastor told me I should talk to you. I don’t even see what the point is. I have been talking to myself in my head for years now and you have never once been there, you have never once showed up when I needed you. What were you thinking!?! She was the most caring, loving, considerate, attentive, person I had ever met in my entire life! Would it of been such a chore to watch out for her. From day one of my life my mom told me again and again to pray because I needed you, to pray because you made me special and you wanted to know me. I have never met anyone who loved you half as much as she did. Then you let her die?! Did she mean so little to you that you couldn’t save her. Well that’s pathetic, I don’t care if she was nothing to you, she was everything to me and I need her. I have wasted my life talking to nothing, what a waste of time.

John, Age 20

Dear God, I haven’t talked to you since mom passed away. I am now in college working really hard so that I can get a good job and be able to succeed. I have a girlfriend who I have been dating for a little more than a year now and I feel like I love her. I feel like I am stalling because, well because I am kind of nervous. I was so mad at you after mom died because I felt like you had taken her from me. I’ll be honest with you, I haven’t figured that out yet but I can’t help but keep thinking that maybe mom was right about you. The point I am trying to make is no matter how much work I put into something, no matter how good I am at something, it is never good enough. I... can’t do it on my own. The one thing mom always told me was that I was special, but I had forgotten that she said I was special because you made me. I know this is going to be a journey, but I just wanted you to know that I will be looking for you. Amen.

Part TWO:

The Sermon

I thought long and hard about what I would speak about today because many of you I have not had time to spend with yet and this is really a sort of first impression.

The sketch was something I wrote and performed while in the drama ministry team at King College last year.

It speaks to my heart because it is the only way I understand Christian living to work.

No, my mother is not dead and she asked that I pointed that out when I told her what I was going to do with the sermon.

Testimony

My spiritual journey has always been, if not interesting, then humorous.

When I was 5 I saw my brother ask Jesus into his heart and he was given a Bible and a highlighter. I thought, “wow, what a great idea.” I asked Jesus into my heart the next day... no bible... no highlighter.

With my father as a pastor I obviously went to church every Sunday and learned a lot from my Sunday school teachers. However, when I got older and started encountering life’s wonderful little surprises, I felt unprepared. Where was God?

When I cracked my head. Where was God?

When my friends moved away. (Kenneth) Where was God?

When a girl broke my heart. (Susan) Where was God?

When they started dying and asking me... where is God? I don’t know.

I believe, that one of the hardest things as a Christian to realize is that the journey with Christ is not easy.

I am actually thoroughly convinced that all of those: “I became a Christian and my life is easy now that I have Jesus”, are completely ridiculous.

In high school... (young life conversion story)

The Christian life is not a normal life defined by a single moment of conversion - it is a life long process of continually seeking after God, which will be full of hard decisions and maybe more pain and more disappointment because you embody more hope than others.

From 1 Cor 13:11:

11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.

We grow up in our journey with Christ. When we are children we are wrapped in swaddling clothes and wrapped so tightly that we can’t move and possibly hurt ourselves.

Child - Jesus Loves Me

But then we begin to crawl - Why does Jesus love me?

We grow up more and begin to walk - Do I love Jesus?

Fully grown we run - Where is Jesus? And in this we run into things and split our heads open.

Let me preface what I am about to say with the understanding that if the Bible is true and there is a God then He can handle my questions of Him. But what happens if we stumble along the way of our journey with him?

Questioning God

Every Christian at one point or another will encounter doubt. This doubt is natural and I would argue necessary.

So... Does God Exist? If so, where is your proof?

The Bible?

Everyday Living?

Or do we simply create the idea of a loving God who watches over us because we

Fear Death

Need the structure in our lives

Just plain need an explanation to how it all happened. Greek God thought.

Every culture that I have ever heard of has some sort of deity or spiritual experience. Does this prove that there really is something, or does it tell us that all of humanity needs it?

Tell me, how many miracles have you experienced?

How many bushes have spontaneously combusted and spoke to you?

How many seas have parted before you?

When was the last time you had angelic choirs come down and sing to you?

How many of the dead have you seen raised to life?

Or let me hit a little closer to how for everyone, how many times have you prayed that someone would get better and they didn’t.

Are we constrained to a life of making excuses for a God who is never there?

Let’s go just a little bit more personally. What aspect of Christian Living have you succeeded with today? Show of hands, who is not selfish, who has not sinned and stayed tied to God’s will? Why is it that all of the goals of the Christian Life unattainable?

Now I am simply asking... show me proof that the Kingdom of God exists. The Church? No, do I have to point out all of the terrible things the church has done? What are you going to tell me, something about the church invisible? Oh, nice proof. (Do I have your attention, are you offended yet?)

You tell me that Jesus arose from the grave and is risen? I ask you, where?

Where are the explanations for doubt? Where does it end?

See, these are all real questions, and I believe that anyone who pursues God will encounter them.

There is only one answer that can explain these things that cannot be explained away.

Faith (silent)

The reason there are no good and logical answers to those questions is because we create them. Any logic you empower to prove the existence of God will die because it comes from you.

The answer is simple, uninspiring and upon hearing it may be disappointing. The answer is Faith.

But what is faith? Have I lost my mind completely and am I using an irrational argument to defend my lifestyle from my own questions? Yes, I am.

Faith is not believing against all reason, Faith is receiving Jesus Christ simply as he is offered by God.

Let me explain that. Things can be reveled to you but it is the Gospel that shows Christ more fully in a doctrine of faith.

Faith cannot exist separate from the Word of God because it is from the Word of God that faith draws its life. Faith is the obedience to the Word of God.

This is where my beef is with the use of Hell as an evangelistic tool, where in the Gospel did Jesus say to choose me because the alternative stinks. Did Jesus not come to love us and embrace us. Did God not create us for something more than to save us later? When a mind turns to wrath and terror instead of the Gospel, how can anyone expect anything rather than fear of God.

Faith, on the other hand, knows God because of its birth from the Word, and reminds the faithful of the mercy and kindness of God. Christ is the only assurance that we have of God’s love and turning to anything save the Gospel, is turning to hatred and violence.

Faith comes from the sure knowledge of God’s favor for us, based on the free promise of Christ, revealed to our minds and sealed by the Holy Spirit. And the knowledge is not knowledge that we think of by careful study or through our senses.

2 Cor 5:6-8:

6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.

7 We live by faith, not by sight.

8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

The incredible nature of all this is the fact that God gives this to us, we can’t learn faith, we receive it from him. What does that mean? You can’t screw it up because it isn’t up to you!

God understands that the surest heart will falter. David Example.

It is natural for us to doubt, but do we assume because of this that our faith is weak and is not sure and clear? No. Although we are confused we are not lost. Even though we are shaken we are not driven away. Faith is victorious over the difficulties that threaten it. And doubt will claim power when you do not allow God to share its burden with you.

I love the first question and answer of the Heidelberg Catechism because it is simply a comfort to a troubled mind and it reminds me of where my faith directs me.

Question 1. What is God’s purpose for our lives?*

We have been made for joy: joy in knowing, loving and serving God; joy in knowing, loving and serving one another; joy in the wonder of all God’s works

.... Amen.

*From the draft of the New Presbyterian Catechism -KB