Sunday

Note: This morning seventeen youth made their confession of faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. As part of our confirmation service, each youth shares a faith statement. Since this took approximately forty minutes I did not preach a sermon but delivered this simple challenge.

I want to thank you seventeen youth for challenging me these past seven months. Your eagerness to learn, your questions, your doubts and your simple expressions of faith kept me on my toes. You challenged my faith.

It is my prayer that you, those of you who have listened to these seventeen statements of faith have been challenged as well. Challenged to consider what you believe. Paul said, “Always be ready to defend your faith…”

If someone stopped you this morning as you walked out of church and asked you, what do you believe or why do you worship? Would you be able to tell them? Would you be able to give an answer to your faith in Jesus Christ?

The fact that we have listened to seventeen youth give witness to their faith makes today a very special day. This is a very special day in the life of the youth who have made their confession of faith, in the life of their family, and in the life of the church. Just how special this day is will be determined tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, next Sunday and beyond.

As I have told the youth several times I really don’t care about Confirmation Sunday. I don’t mean to downplay today. What I am concerned about is will you follow through with your promises? Will you live out the faith you have professed? If you don’t then there is really nothing special about today.

Therefore I present you with this challenge

When you leave this place today:

I challenge you:
To speak up for what you believe is right;
To speak up for what is not easy.
I challenge you:
To listen.
I challenge you:
To let yourself fail only to raise yourself to new levels of success.
I challenge you:
To be unafraid to talk about Jesus.
I challenge you:
To stop trying to impress others and start trying to impress God.
I challenge you:
To do the unpopular thing.
To be a rebel.
To be unabashed in affection.
To humble yourself.
To allow yourself to be humbled.
To avoid the path of least resistance.
I challenge you:
Not to await opportunity but to find purpose and mission.
I challenge you:
To chart a course that your potential demands.
To find joy despite difficult circumstances.
To believe without seeing.
To respond in all situations with grace.
To live life better than you ever have before.
I challenge you:
To go into the world today with God’s grace!