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St. Alexander Villa Park Mission April 6, 2014

St. Alexander Villa Park Mission April 6, 2014. Based on the book: “Made for More” by Curtis Martin. Welcome!. Prayer – Mark 8:27-30

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St. Alexander Villa Park Mission April 6, 2014

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  1. St. AlexanderVilla Park MissionApril 6, 2014 Based on the book: “Made for More” by Curtis Martin

  2. Welcome! • Prayer – Mark 8:27-30 • Then Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked his disciples this question: “Who do people say that I am?” • They replied, “Some, John the Baptizer, others, Elijah, still others, one of the prophets.” • “And you,” he went on to ask, “who do you say that I am?” • Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah!” Then he gave them strict orders not to tell anyone about him.

  3. Overview • Sunday – Who is Jesus? Chapters 1-2 of Made for More by Curtis Martin • Monday – Who am I? Chapters 3-4 • Tuesday – Why be Catholic? Chapter 5-6, followed by Confessions

  4. Introduction • Example – Is it ethical to buy a term paper online? • What motivates me to do anything? • We are all looking for happiness? • Where do we find happiness? • baseball – roller coaster • God wants us to be happy. • Pope Emeritus Benedict – “We were not made for comfort; we were made for greatness.” • We were MADE FOR MORE

  5. Ethics • Will cheating lead to happiness? • Ethics is all about doing what is right so that we can cultivate authentic happiness • Ethics and morality are not just rules; they are guides to lead us toward happiness • Coffee pot story • Have you ever done something wrong and found true happiness?

  6. Search for God • Every act, even sinful, is ultimately a search for God (true happiness) • We cannot will our own happiness • We can only make the right or wrong choices to gain happiness • Am I making the right choices in life?

  7. Everlasting Happiness • Many of our choices lead to a temporary happiness, often at the cost of our ultimate happiness • Good choices lead to lasting happiness • Only thing better – everlasting happiness • If we were made for more (everlasting happiness), it explains why we often long for so much more in this world. • Archbishop Sartain – “loneliness is God’s invitation to intimacy with Him.”

  8. Ultimate Questions • What would you do if you found out there was a heaven and you could not enter? • If there is a heaven, what earthly good would you be willing to sacrifice in order to gain heaven? • Is there anything you would be willing to give up today in order to get to heaven? • What are the goals of marriage? Priesthood? Any vocation?

  9. Imagine Heaven • Take time to imagine the day you die and you are invited into heaven • You take in the beauty, the joy, every fiber of your being of completely satisfied… • You meet the saints, some of whom actually knew Jesus personally. • “Wow! If someone had only told me about heaven when I was young, I would have lived my life differently.” • Story of Mom

  10. C.S. Lewis • “If heaven and hell exist, nothing else matters. If heaven and hell don’t exist, then nothing matters.” • Albert Camus, “I would rather live my life as if there is a God and die to find out there isn’t than live my life as if there isn’t and die to find out there is.” • This book is dedicated to examine the compelling evidence that God and heaven do exist. • Our souls were MADE FOR MORE – we were made for God!

  11. Who do YOU say that I am? • Forget what you know about Jesus for a moment… • There is not a figure in history that has had a greater impact than Jesus of Nazareth. • Historian Non-Christian H.G. Wells – “…this penniless preacher from Nazareth is irrevocably the very center of history. Jesus Christ is easily the most dominant figure in all history.”

  12. Memorable? • Jesus lived 2000 years ago • Never held public office • Never wrote a book (Bible was written much later) • Never invented or discovered anything • Wasn’t rich or wealthy • We know nothing about 90% of his 33 years on this earth • Even His public ministry was often done in villages and He asked people not to talk about Him or spread the news • Died a spectacular failure on the cross • Placed in a tomb belonging to someone else

  13. And yet… • Billions of Christians have followed Him and call Him savior • A.D. means in anno Domini or “in the year of our Lord” – time is measured by Him • Kairos story (personal God)

  14. Paradox • It is precisely in the moment of seeming failure – His death on the cross – that we start to unlock the mystery. • Why would a peaceful man who “went about doing good works and healing all that were in the grip of the devil” (Acts 10:38), be rejected, tortured and killed? • Like Jesus, many religious figures encouraged others to turn toward God and love their neighbor.

  15. Jesus is the Answer • Other religious leaders (Moses, Buddha, Mohammed and Confucius) had a message about God. • Jesus is different in that He claims not to be a messenger but to be the Message. • His identity is the issue • “Who do men say that the Son of Man is?” (Matthew 16:13) • John the Baptist, a prophet, Jeremiah… • Who do YOU say that He is?

  16. A Moral Teacher Like No Other • Albert Einstein (Jewish) – “I am enthralled by the luminous figure of the Nazarene…. No one can read the Gospels without feeling the actual presence of Jesus. His personality pulsates in every word.” • But Jesus wasn’t just a wise man because He made claims no one else made…

  17. Jesus Forgives Sins • Matthew 9:2-7 – Jesus is brought a paralyzed man by his companions. • “Which is easier to forgive sins or say, ‘Rise and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins…” • As the man got up and walked, his restored body gave physical witness to the forgiveness Jesus granted. • Only God can forgive sins, so Jesus was proclaiming, “I am God” • The real miracle is not the healing, but the actual forgiveness of sins.

  18. Jesus Claims Pre-existence • John 8 – religious leaders are criticizing Jesus, “Do you think that you are better than Abraham?” • Jesus responds, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:58) • “I AM” is the Name of God in Hebrew, the Name by which God revealed Himself to Moses in the burning bush • This name was sacred and unspeakable to Jews. • And Jesus takes it upon Himself! • That is why they wanted to stone Him right away

  19. Jesus Claims to be the Only Way to the Father • Jesus taught people to be good, to care for the weak, the sick and the poor, like many wise teachers. • However, more than showing the way, Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me.” (John 14:6) • He claims to be more than just a “good man” • I am • Life-giving water • The light of the world • The resurrection and the life

  20. Jesus Allows Himself to be Worshipped • John 20:26-29 – Jesus appears to the apostles after the resurrection and Thomas is doubting • Thomas falls to the ground and says, “My Lord and my God!” • Neither Jesus nor the apostles rebukes Thomas for blasphemy • Jesus accepts this worship, which says something • His followers certainly saw Him as much more than a wise teacher.

  21. Jesus is either God or a bad man • C.S. Lewis’ trilemma • Jesus is either 1) Just a moral teacher – we have shown this not to be the case in previous arguments. I AM, forgives sins, accepts being worshipped, etc… 2) God 3) Not God • Liar – if Jesus were a liar, He’d be a liar of biblical proportions. • He would be evil claiming to be God to innocent people. • Yet He witnessed to the truth, healed, gave life, wanted nothing for Himself but to do the Father’s will. • Usually liars are in it for themselves. • True love – seeking the best for the other person • Lunatic – does Jesus’ comprehensive teaching, the Sermon on the Mount, all of His words sound like they come from a deranged man? He is wise, warm and alive.

  22. Jesus is God • The only conclusion left is that Jesus is God • We are asked to echo Peter’s words, “You are the Christ (anointed one), the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16) • So if Jesus is God, what does that mean?

  23. Fully Human / Fully Divine • Fully human • Born in Bethlehem, had parents, laughed, cried, slept, ate, drank, was tempted, died on a cross • Understands everything that we experience, except sin. • Fully divine • Miracles, walked on water, fed 5000 with a few loaves and fish, healed the sick, raised people from the dead, forgave sins, said, “The Father and I are one”, rose from the dead

  24. God is Love • What is love? • Always desiring the best for the other without expecting anything in return. • “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” • How does the world define love? • What is the danger of this kind of love? • Love is a decision to always seek the best for the other person. • “Love does not seek its own interest” • This is how God loves us.

  25. God loves you • Jeremiah 1:5 – Before I formed you in the womb I knew you. • We are made in the image and likeness of God • In our baptism, we become sons and daughters of the Father. • The skies open and the Father says, “You are my beloved daughter/son, in whom I am well pleased” • Jesus died on the cross for me and you

  26. Skeptics • The skeptic says, “Yes, if you believe everything that you read. But why should we trust the story the Bible tells us?” • People will look for any excuse to not believe in the Bible and/or Jesus • It is a crazy story. How can anyone love me that much? • Parents, how much do you love your children?

  27. Evidence in Jesus’ resurrection • 6 historical facts that support the resurrection • 1) Jesus was crucified under Pontius Pilate • 2) The tomb was empty • 3) The once fearful disciples soon proclaimed the bodily resurrection • 4) Other eyewitnesses saw Jesus alive after resurrection • 5) All apostles (except John) were martyred • 6) Millions accepted the faith quickly

  28. More external evidence • St. John taught St. Polycarp, who taught St. Irenaeus. • Polycarp & Irenaeusboth were martyred • St. Paul believed immediately and also was martyred • So many lives have been changed by one person and Jesus continues to inspire people today… • Has it changed my life? • Would I be willing to die for Jesus?

  29. Conclusion • Jesus was not crucified because he said, “Love one another.” • He was crucified for saying, “I AM”, claiming to be the God of the universe (King of the Jews) • He doesn’t ask us just to accept His teachings; He asks us to accept Him • Faith is not about rules; it is about relationship! • The apostles became eyewitnesses to the greatest miracle in history – the resurrection of Jesus and they gave their lives for Him. • How am I responding to this miracle?

  30. What can I do? • We need to grow in our RELATIONSHIP with Jesus. • To see Him as a friend, not a distant God • To see Him as someone who loves me and not as someone who wants to punish me • Read the Bible 5 minutes a day • Either the daily readings, or • Start reading the Gospels • Read the Catechism 5 minutes a day • Pray, converse with God based on what you have read, for 5 minutes a day

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