From “Daniel” to “Belteshazzar” - involveyouth.org · Web viewFrom “Hadassah” to “Esther” ... Situation: Esther is the new queen, but her people (the Jews) are to

Week of Prayer Sermon Outline for the theme:

I.D.Who in the World Are You?

From “Daniel” to “Belteshazzar”

Based on:Daniel 1 (note verse 7)A sermon could easily be presented based on Daniel 2 or Daniel 6

The Scriptural Loop

Situation: Daniel (which means “God is my judge”) gets renamed Belteshazzar (which means “[pagan god] Bel protect his [the king’s] life”—see Daniel 1:7; 4:8) was taken to Babylon with followers of God who were taken in exile from their home country of Judah.

Complication: If God is Daniel’s judge, what does being taken into captivity mean? Why should Daniel (and the others) stay faithful to God after what has happened to them. Why not go with the flow since things certainly aren’t going good for them? They’re certainly not in a position to negotiate, nor is their life worth much. They could be eliminated at any time, just like those who were slain back in Judah.

Resolution: Daniel continues to be referred to as “Daniel” rather than as Belteshazzar. He remains true to God. And he ends up taking care of King Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2 and Daniel 4), and even continues as the key political figure to the king even when there’s a transfer from Babylonian to Medo-Persian rule!

What else do you find in the story?

A Contemporary & Parallel Loop(it is best when speakers come up with their own parallel loop)

Situation:

Complication:

Resolution:

Any other elements to be recalled in this story?

Application

How does this apply to the listener? What decision is called for on the part of the listener? As the speaker, what will you do to bring the listener to a decision?



From “Hadassah” to “Esther”

Based on:Esther chapters 1-10 (note Esther 2:7)See also Esther by Charles Swindoll

The Scriptural Loop

Situation: Esther is the new queen, but her people (the Jews) are to be killed on a given day due to a law made by the king when influenced by Haman (who had issues with the Jews because of Mordecai, Esther’s cousin).

Complication: Nobody, including the king, knows that Esther is a Jew because her Hebrew name actually is Hadassah, which means “myrtle”—whatever significance that might have. Quite possibly her older cousin, Mordecai, changed her name Esther, a Persian name, when she joined the “beauty contest” to possible become the next queen. Esther means “star” and its root is the same as that of asteroid (not just any plain star). Should Esther maintain her unknown status of not being a Jew or should she come out and risk her life to enter the king’s presence uninvited and identify herself as one of the Jews who is to be killed?

Resolution: Esther chose to follow the challenge of her cousin, Mordecai, who told her, Who knows, you might have become queen “for such a time as this” (this is the reason you became the queen!). After a 3-day fast, Esther took the risk and went in to the king. She then utilized her feminine charm and prepared the king to receive the news of her Jewish identity. Haman ended up being hanged; the Jews were not only saved from their

enemies, but they actually got to destroy their enemies; and the Jews continue to celebrate Purim as the day in which things were turned around from their certain annihilation to total victory.

Esther is a classic story of tremendous intrigue and reversal. Although the name “God” is never mentioned in this book of the Bible, the activity of God and the overruling message of God’s care are obvious to most who read it.

While Esther is the heroine, her background and early behavior isn’t necessarily what Christians would want as a role-model. Hadassah changed her name from a Jewish name to a Persian name. She entered a contest of trying to win the king’s attention and favor based on spending a year in preparation of spending one unforgettable night with him (see Esther chapter 2).

When Esther takes her cousin’s challenge to go to the king uninvited, she sheds her cover up of being a follower of God and exposes herself to the risk of immediate death (appearing before the king uninvited) or subsequent death (when the Jews would be killed). She utilizes her feminine charm and draws out the king to beg for her to tell him her secret.

Once the word is out, Esther is given more than she could have ever dreamed. The immediate and even distant enemies of Esther, Mordecai and the Jews are eliminated rather than the other way around.

The original date for the Jewish extermination was established by casting lots, called “purim.” To commemorate God’s great reversal for His people, the Jews continue to celebrate Purim as an annual feast.


Situation: When I went to college, I took a double major—P. E. and Theology. Most people don’t put those two together. I found that I identified more with the P. E. majors than I did with the Theology majors. As a result, most people on campus didn’t even know I was preparing to become a pastor. They thought of me as the sports person—a jock or gym-rat or a competitive athlete. I didn’t have an identity as a spiritual leader or even necessarily as a spiritual person.

Complication: My sophomore year I was asked to be one of the speakers for the student week of prayer. To take such a role would make it clear to the whole student body that either I was a spiritual person or else I was a total fraud.

Resolution: I spoke for the student week of prayer about being an undercover follower of Jesus. I told the student body that I was coming out from under cover. From that point I was compelled to be more public about my relationship with Jesus, which was something I had wanted to do all along. It’s okay to be a P. E. major and be actively spiritual.

I didn’t necessarily try to be an undercover Christian. It just sort of developed that way. Some of the “spiritual” people were so geeky or they had a superiority attitude or they were just way too serious! Because I didn’t identify with them, I shaped myself to be more like others I felt comfortable being with. Instead of shaping my world to be Godly, I rejected the godly world I saw others in and passively accepted an ungodly world where I became an undercover Christian.

That can work for awhile. But at some point I had to decide if the ungodly world would be my world or if I would come out of hiding. The invitation to speak for the student week of prayer forced the issue for me. If that hadn’t of pushed me to make a decision, I might have continued my undercover secret until nobody would have believed me had I said I was a follower of Jesus.

My risk was not a life-or-death situation like what Esther faced. But I faced the risk of losing my friends or being outside of my current set of friends and not being accepted (or not wanting to be accepted) by the group on campus that was seen as being spiritual. Would I become like them or find a new, out-in-the-open spirituality? Indeed, I found a new way. It took the shape of youth ministry, which is where I have been to this day.

Application

Are you an undercover follower of Jesus? Perhaps you didn’t intend for it to be that way, but that’s just how it has gone. Maybe you don’t see yourself fitting in with the people you know who are seen as being spiritual. Maybe that’s for old people, or weird people, or people who are deficient.

Or maybe you’ve had greater success outside of the spiritual sphere and so you’d rather continue to thrive there.

But what are you like on the outside? Your name or reputation might not actually match the real you inside. Who knows, you might have been born into this world “for such a time as this.”

If you’re ready to take the risk and come out of your undercover role of being a secret follower of Jesus, or if you just want to join the followers of Jesus, I invite you to come to a celebration of being a Christian. You can call it Purim or Sabbath or a party. It will be this Sabbath, from 10:00 – 2:00 at the school. Other people are calling it a youth church and meal. We’re calling it a coming out party for Followers of Jesus.

This isn’t so much about the past as it is about the present and the future. You’re invited to let out your secret, or just to join if you want to take the label of being A Follower of Jesus.



From “Gideon” to “Jerubbaal”

Based on:Judges chapters 6 – 8 (note Judges 6:32)

The Scriptural Loop

Situation: The Israelites quit following God and instead followed Baal. Without God’s protection, the Israelites were left at the mercy of the Midianites who plundered their crops each year. God called Gideon to free the Israelites from the Midianites.

Complication: Gideon was nobody special (see Judges 6:15). When he started by following God’s instruction to pull down his own father’s altar to Baal and to offer a sacrifice to God, the people of the town wanted to kill him (see Judges 6:30).

Resolution: Gideon’s father stands up for his son and threatens to kill anyone who defends Baal. He presents the argument that if Baal truly is a god, he would be able to defend himself and destroy the one who pulled down his altar. From that point, Gideon became known as “Jerubbaal” which means “let Baal defend himself.”



Situation:

Complication:

Resolution:


Application




From “Jacob” to “Israel”

Based on:Genesis 32:1 – 33:20See also Patriarch and Prophets by Ellen White, pages 195-203Hosea 12:1-6

The Scriptural Loop

Situation: Jacob (the grabber who takes) from his birth had been grabbing his twin brother’s heel, then the birthright (by purchase and then by trickery). After fleeing for his life and later being assured that God would be with him, God eventually sent him a message to return to his home country (Genesis 31:3).

Complication: Jacob gets word that Esau was coming to meet he and his two wives with 400 armed men. After separating his family into two groups in hopes that at least some might escape, in the dark of night Jacob wrestles with someone until dawn.

Resolution: The individual Jacob wrestled with was God, not Esau. The bigger battle was whether he would cling to God and trust him for deliverance or take care of things on his own with his own cunning, tricks, and grabbing for himself. Jacob clung to God for all he was worth. God changed his name to Israel (the one who struggles with God and man. . . and wins!) For the rest of his life he has the name and a limp to remind him that no matter what happens, clinging to God is the only way to win.

The story of Jacob seems to have more negative elements than positive ones. If you haven’t read the story for yourself since childhood, check out Genesis 25:19 – 35:29, and that doesn’t even include what happened with Joseph and his other sons, etc.! Jacob tends to live up to his name (the one who grabs from others), whether it’s the birthright, getting more sheep and cattle from his uncle, or even relating to God (see Genesis 28:20).


Situation: While in college I received word that all theology majors (those studying to become pastors) were required to be colporteurs (sell religious books door-to-door) for one summer. Because I had a number of talents, including a good record when I had attempted to sell things in the past, I expected to set records for sales that one summer. I also expected that God would be grateful that I had allocated my services for His cause that summer.

Complication: If a record would have been kept for going the most days NOT selling anything, I would have had that record. Professional colporteurs were able to sell books with every college student except for when they went with me. We finally offered a book to one lady for 35 cents and we would promise to leave. She still turned us down. One day I was stranded without money to even buy gas to get back to the empty schoolroom when I slept. I finally realized how helpless I actually was.

Resolution: That’s when the small miracles began to happen. I discovered that trusting God to provide for me was better than trusting in my talents to take care of me (since it didn’t work as well as it seemed to have in the past). The last week of the summer I earned enough money to get back into college (not to pay the whole thing, but to get in). More importantly, I returned with a dependence on God that I hadn’t had to that point in my life.

The more talents a person has, probably the more difficult it is for that person to truly rely on God. Eventually you’ll get to the place where whatever you have just isn’t enough. That’s when you’re apt to look elsewhere (like to God) for help.

Because I had stayed in arenas where my talents seemed to be all that I had needed, and since I had experienced enough success there, my dependence on God was more a matter of words than actual experience. But when I was stranded on the streets of Los Angeles that summer, I found out what dependence on God was.

The next step is to depend on God when it may seem like I have all that I need without Him. Am I willing, or should I say, do I submit my talents, skills, luck—everything to Him as I go into whatever it is I’m doing? Am I willing to leave the results with Him even when I have certain wishes, hopes and dreams?

Application

We live in a competitive world. How have you been doing? Where are your successes? Do you usually win? Do you sometimes have to bend the rules a little or even cheat in order to come out okay? What arenas do you compete in—sports? Grades? Popularity? How you dress? Boyfriend/Girlfriend? Leadership roles? Number of friends?

Who are your major competitors? How do you relate to them? Are you friends? Enemies? Cool and aloof? Back-stabbing?

How does God fit into all of this? Do you trust Him to take care of you or do you need to do everything you can and then have God do whatever is needed after that? Why not start with committing everything you do to God and using your energy and resolve to cling to Him?

I invite you to stand right now and take a “ready” position as if you were going to box somebody. Go ahead, stand up now. Place one foot ahead of the other and put up your dukes (bring your hands in front of your face and clench your fist like a boxer who is getting ready to box). Or if you’re more of a wrestler than a fighter, have open hands but be ready to throw your opponent to the mat.

Instead of grabbing or fighting on your own, my call for you today is to start by submitting to God and clinging to Him rather than fighting on your own. If you want to start by submitting to God and then use your energy to

cling to Him, kneel with me right now in submission to Him (kneel, pause, then pray out loud).



From “Joseph” to “Zaphenath-paneah”

Based on:Genesis 30:22-24; Genesis 35:16-20; Genesis 37; Genesis 39 – 50 (note Genesis 41:45)

The Scriptural Loop

Situation: Joseph (which means “may he add” which probably referred to Rachel’s desire to add more sons to Jacob’s family—a sign of blessing in those days, especially for a barren woman who had finally given birth to her first son). His mother died while giving birth to a second son. There would be very little added. To provide additional blessings, Jacob spoiled Joseph. Even Joseph’s gift of dreams (but not interpretation) works against him.

Complication: Rather than “adding,” Joseph gets subtracted by being sold as a slave to Ishmaelite traders (actually relatives passing by on their way to Egypt). Whenever Joseph seems to make good choices and advance, he gets set back. There seems to be no reward for doing right—only back luck and unfair punishment. Joseph is left to rot, forgotten in a dungeon.

Resolution: Some 13 years after being sold as a slave, Joseph’s gift of dreams and interpretation gets called upon to aid Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt. Rather than being forgotten, Joseph’s name is changed to Zaphenath-paneah, which means “God speaks and lives.”



Situation:

Complication:

Resolution:


Application




Mary Magdalene

Based on:Luke 7:36-50; John 12:1-11; John 8:1-11See also The Desire of Ages by Ellen White, pages 460-462 & 557-568; A Love Worth Giving by Max Lucado, pages 3-10

The Scriptural Loop

Situation: A woman is caught in adultery and brought to Jesus.

Complication: If Jesus condemns the woman, he isn’t a Savior. If he doesn’t condemn her, he allows sin. He’s stuck! (and the male who was having sex with her isn’t brought to Jesus)

Resolution: Jesus follows the Old Testament counsel that the ones who witnessed the adultery should be the first the cast stones. Then Jesus writes the sins of the accusing Pharisees in the dust. They leave and Jesus/God forgives the woman.


Another Scriptural Loop

Situation: Jesus attends a feast in his honor at a Pharisee’s house as a thank you for Jesus having healed him of leprosy.

Complication: Mary Magdalene anoints the feet of Jesus out of gratitude for all He had done for her. By accepting her gratitude, it casts doubt on who Jesus is by accepting this from such a sinner.

Resolution: Those who have been forgiven much will love much (Luke 7:47). Her story will be told throughout the world.



Situation:

Complication:

Resolution:


Application




From “Naomi” to “Mara”

Based on:Ruth chapters 1-4 (note Ruth 1:13, 20, 21)

The Scriptural Loop

Situation: A severe famine prompts Naomi to leave Bethlehem with her husband and two sons and go to the land of Moab.

Complication: Naomi husband died, but her two sons married local women. But then her two sons died as well. Naomi returned to Bethlehem, barren and bitter. When people welcomed her back by asking, “Are you Naomi as if to wonder, didn’t you leave with a husband and two sons, so where is your family? Her response tells it quite plainly: don’t call me Naomi (which actually means “my pleasant one”); instead, call me Mara (which means “bitter”), because God has made my life very bitter.

Resolution: In reality, Naomi didn’t return to Bethlehem alone. Her bitterness was real, but God provided her with a daughter-in-law (Ruth) who cared for her. Shortly after arriving, a wealthy relative in town “redeemed” the family by purchasing the family property, including the widow, Ruth. From that marriage came prosperity and a baby boy whom Naomi treats as her own. This becomes the family line of the world’s Redeemer, too!

Don’t gloss over the bitterness. Life can be extremely bitter, as it had been for Naomi. As if famine isn’t bad enough, losing your spouse is considered the highest stress a person can face. Add to that the loss of your children, and what do you have left? Bitterness! How much bitterness

can you take? How long does it take to be remedied or removed or overcome by joy and gratitude?

The Israelites had tasted bitterness early in their wilderness wanderings (see Exodus 15:19-26). Even though God had just delivered them from their Egyptian enemies, three days later they arrived at Marah and found the water bitter so it wasn’t fit to drink. Rather than turning to God in their difficulty (remember three days ago?), they turned against their leader, Moses. God pointed out that they would be facing tests like this to find out how faithful they would be to Him. Moses put a branch in the water and the bitterness was gone.

Naomi didn’t return completely barren. Her daughter-in-law, also a widow, came with her and joined her people and her God. She gleaned the fields so they could eat. And she ended up marrying a redeemer, with whom she bore a son. The book of Ruth ends with Naomi being blessed through this. The people of Bethlehem offer a blessing like that of Rachel and Leah, the original mothers of Israel. But actually she becomes the mother of the direct line of the Messiah/Redeemer, even the great-grandmother of king David. God changed Naomi’s bitterness to joy and blessing.


Situation: When I started college, my dad went through some abrupt financial reversals in his business and I was unable to pay my college expenses, which meant I had to drop out. I didn’t want to do that, but I had no way to pay for even my first year of college, let alone four years of college.

Complication: At that times, loans weren’t available to first year college students. You had to complete your first year in order to qualify for a loan. Financial aid depended on good scores (which I had) and need (which I also had). But financial records went back for three years, which included a time of good finances before the recent reversals. I wouldn’t qualify for financial aid for three years.

Resolution: An individual had donated funds to the college for people who were in my predicament. I was given a loan which enabled me to complete

my first year of college. I then qualified for other loans to continue college and received financial aid after three years so I completed college and even a graduate degree.

It didn’t seem fair to me that my father’s business went through such a dramatic reversal. I was bitter towards him at all. I was bitter towards people who came after my dad and made things even worse for him.

It didn’t seem fair that loans were available only to those who had completed a year of college. How was I supposed to complete one year of college if I couldn’t pay for that first year?

It didn’t seem fair that financial aid was dependent on financial records for the past three years. My dad had lost it all in just one year. Why should my records be based on three years when the last year decimated everything? The general rule didn’t seem to take into account sudden reversals—my situation.

On the other hand, I had never even heard of this donor who made the funds available to the college for a unique loan for somebody like me. I had nothing with which I could promise to pay him back. He asked for my word, and a signature back by about $50 I had in the bank. But after graduating I paid back the loan, and others who faced financial hardships like I did can receive a blessing in their bitterness.

Application

What about you? How bitter are you? What is the source—parents? A former friend? God? A teacher? Somebody who took advantage of you? Maybe it’s a sibling. Perhaps it’s not even a person. Maybe it’s just circumstances—you just don’t get a break. If something can go bad, it will go bad for you.

Just about anybody can name items that have made them bitter. Sometimes even those who seem to have been blessed still focus on the few negative things and they let them color everything bitter. But others have had what seems to be more than a fair share of difficulty. It’s like they have a right to be bitter.

So, are you Naomi or should you be called “Mara”? How long will you be bitter? What you need is to return to your roots and to find a Redeemer. Without denying any bitterness you might have, or even your

right to be bitter, I want you to ask yourself right now what you need to do with whatever bitterness you have, whether it’s small, medium or grande.

If you need some time, I want you to use your hands and make a time out sign/motion (one hand in front of your chest and pointing up with the other hand horizontal over the top of your first hand).

If you need to get back to your roots, the basics, what your original identity is instead of a bitter you, I want you to use your hands to make the form of a rooftop (put your hands in an A-frame shape in front of your chest).

If you need a Redeemer—someone who can change your bitterness to blessing and joy, I want you to use your index fingers to make a cross (point one index finger up and the other one across it like a small cross similar to the shape of the one on which Jesus died).

What do you need for however much bitterness you have right now? Go ahead and make that sign while I pray.

Prayer.



From “Saul” to “Paul”

Based on:Acts 9:1-31 (see also Acts 22:1-30 and Acts 26:1-32)Galatians 1:11-24; Philippians 3:4-11

The Scriptural Loop

Situation: Saul, a zealous Pharisee, persecutes the early Christians

Complication: Saul gets blinded by a bright light on the way to Damascus and hears a voice who claims to be Jesus and that Saul is persecuting him.

Resolution: A Christian restores Saul’s sight. Saul continues a radical conversion experience and becomes an apostle who takes the good news of Jesus to the Gentiles and writes about half of the books in the New Testament.

The change of name from Saul to Paul didn’t happen at conversion. They are actually the same name, but in different languages. “Saul” is the Hebrew name and “Paul” is the Greek name. The name “Saul” signifies that he was living as a Jew/Hebrew. The name “Paul” signifies that he was living among the Gentiles/Greeks. We have much more written about Paul (spreading Christianity among the Gentiles) than about Saul (stopping Christianity among the Jews).

The change was so incredibly awesome and extreme, that people to this day talk about “A Damascus Road Experience” when they refer to a conversion that had a major change, like an about face and possibly with an obvious supernatural element as well. This was the story of Saul/Paul.


Situation: As a teenager I was more concerned about being “cool” and accepted by me peers than about anything regarding God. Even though I went to an Adventist school, it just wasn’t the cool thing to be into God. That seemed to be more for adults, not for teens.

Complication: My peers went through a major conversion experience at our school’s Week of Prayer. I still wanted to be with my friends, but I couldn’t relate to who they now were. And then they started praying (behind my back and to my face) for me to be converted!

Resolution: I decided to join the God squad and give my life to Jesus as a freshman in academy. And then I became a religious leader on campus.

Although I didn’t see a blinding light or hear a voice from heaven, the experience seemed very supernatural to me. I had an inner peace I had never experienced before. Then joy flooded me from the inside out. I related to people in a completely new way. I had a desire to be in consistent contact with Jesus. I read a new Bible that was given to me instead of my childhood Bible. I met with others to study together and to pray. My attitude to others wasn’t the same. I quit fighting with my mother (and sister). My life changed. I was converted.

Application

You may have had a “Damascus Road Experience” or you may still have one in the future. Most people who grow up at Seventh-day Adventists actually DON’T have a “Damascus Road Experience.” According to some research, less than 15% do. But you may be part of that minority group. Actually, it was a minority group in Paul’s day, too! If this describes you, the change will be so huge than you may end up changing your name or maybe people will totally reorient what comes to mind when your name is mentioned.

What would be a complete turn around for you right now? Are you a persecutor of God’s people? Do you use snide comments or put-downs about people who seem to be a bit too “on fire” for God? If that describes you, I invite you to ask God for a change of heart right now. You can do this silently and with your eyes open.

If you’re in the majority, how do you relate to individuals who have a “Damascus Road experience”? Are you jealous? Doubtful? Do you have a “wait-and-see” attitude? Or do you celebrate with the person and even welcome them into their new experience, like Ananias did in the story? If you’re going to be supportive of individuals who are enthusiastic about God in big ways, I invited you to go to someone like that today and tell them that you’re behind them in their experience and in the stand they have taken for God.

Or are you a fairly mellow person when it comes to God, so that major changes just aren’t how you do life, at least not life with God? What would it take for you to make God central in your life so that your very ID is completely tied up in Jesus? If you want to get into it more when it comes to Jesus, I invite you to stand with me right now. (pause to give a few moments for people who choose to do so to stand with you). And if we’re going to have more enthusiasm, I invite you to shout, “Yeah” on the count of three. . . 1, 2, 3, “YEAH!!!”



From “Simon” to “Peter”

Based on:Luke 5:1-11; John 1:40-42; Matthew 16:16-18; Luke 6:14; Mark 1:16-17

The Scriptural Loop

Situation: Peter, a professional fisherman, quite possibly was a follower of John the Baptist. He was positive about Jesus and even let Jesus use his boat as a platform for preaching to a crowd on the seashore.

Complication: Jesus told Peter to cast his nets after his sermon when Peter hadn’t caught anything all night. What did Jesus know about fishing? Would Peter go to the trouble to do it, even when it made no sense to him at all?

Resolution: Peter did follow what Jesus told him to do, even when it didn’t make sense to him. As a result, he experienced a miraculous catch of fish. This led him to leave his vocation of fishing and to become a full-time follower of Jesus.

Simon (from Simeon” which means “hearing”) hardly seems to be an accurate description of Simon Peter. Jesus changed his name to Peter (which means rock in Greek—the written language) which is also known as Cephas (which means rock in Aramaic—the spoken language).

Don’t be fooled by the English word “rock” used in Matthew 16:18. The Greek words show a difference. You are Peter (pebble), and on this rock (boulder) I will build my church. The boulder is Peter’s realization that Jesus was the Messiah—the promised one from God who would save people (see 1 Peter 2:4-8).



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Application




The Woman At The Well

Based on:John 4The Desire of Ages by Ellen White, pages 183-195

The Scriptural Loop

Situation: A Samaritan women (unnamed) discovers the Messiah (see John 4:26).

Complication: She has such a bad name that nobody would believe her. She comes to draw water in the middle of the day rather than the morning or evening when everyone else does. Her reputation is far from stellar.

Resolution: Somehow she is able to convince people to follow her to the Messiah and come to believe in Him for themselves. Mired in controversy about whether God would choose the Jews or the Samaritans as his people, they come to find that Jesus is the Savior of both, and even the whole world (see John 4:42).



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From “Daniel” to “Belteshazzar” - involveyouth.org · Web viewFrom “Hadassah” to “Esther” ... Situation: Esther is the new queen, but her people (the Jews) are to