Rescuers // Week 1

It's been three LONG weeks since we took a break from Alive before kicking off for Summer but we're back finally! The students last night enjoyed free Ritas & every parking lot game you can imagine. Even some I had never heard of. And next week? ... this baby ...

So, bring your bathing suit cause you're gonna get wet!

Last night we were challenged to be a rescuer. That EVERY CHURCH SHOULD BE A SEARCH & RESCUE TEAM because WE WERE RESCUED TO BE RESCUERS aka RESCUED PEOPLE RESCUE PEOPLE.

When we realize the severity of what we've been rescued from, we should have that eagerness to rescue others. 

22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”29 “Come,” he said.Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:22-31

The disciples thought Jesus was a ghost. When Jesus calls out to you, do you recognize His voice? When God asks you to do something radical, do you do it? Peter got out of the boat and started walking because Jesus TOLD HIM TO.

When Peter took His eyes off Jesus, he started to sink. Nothing good ever happens when we take our eyes off of Jesus. We will sink. 

Satan will always try to drown you -- with sin.

There's nothing more appealing than JESUS!

Peter yelled, "LORD, SAVE ME!" Those three words will change your life.

Jesus used the cross to rescue us.

Jesus IMMEDIATELY rescues us

"The gospel isn't advice on how to reach up to God. It declares that God has already reached down to us."             Darrin Patrick

Lifeguards rescue ANYBODY & EVERYBODY. They don't rescue those they like, those they have a lot in common with, those they consider a friend. They rescue those that they may not like, those that have done them wrong, those that are "different" than them. 

Jesus is the Lifeguard that is always on duty.

WE are included in God's RESCUE PLAN. He went to extreme & radical measures to rescue us. It's time we do the same for others!