18 to 29-year-olds that grew up as Christians
22% are Prodigals
30% are Nomads
38% are Habitual Churchgoers
10% are Resilient Disciples
5 PRACTICES OF RESILIENT DISCIPLES
1. THEY EXPERIENCE INTIMACY WITH JESUS WHICH FORMS A RESILIENT IDENTITY
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 NLT
So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. James 4:7-8 NLT
TWO FACTORS THAT HINDER OUR INTIMACY WITH JESUS
1. WE HAVE AN ELECTIVE IDENTITY
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. Psalms 139:13-16 NLT
And yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand. Isaiah 64:8 NOT
“What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator. Does a clay pot argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, ‘Stop, you’re doing it wrong!’ Does the pot exclaim, ‘How clumsy can you be?’” Isaiah 45:9 NLT
2. WE HAVE A SELF-CREATED VERSION OF JESUS
You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. Matthew 7:13-14 NLT
If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it. Matthew 10:38-39 NLT
If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine… Matthew 10:37 NLT
HOW DO WE EXPERIENCE INTIMACY WITH JESUS?
1. WE EXPERIENCE JESUS TOGETHER
And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. Acts 2:46-47 ESV
2. WE EXPERIENCE JESUS BY SOLELY FOLLOWING HIM
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. John 14:6 NLT
3. WE EXPERIENCE JESUS BY ASKING THE CHALLENGING QUESTIONS OF LIFE
And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. Acts of the Apostles 17:11 NLT
4. WE EXPERIENCE JESUS BY GETTING CLOSE AND STAYING CLOSE
O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. Psalms 63:1 NLT