The Costly Assumption (Bro. Emmanuel Damen) 03-09-1999

★ MY SERMON NOTES
@ Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN)
(now, Church of Christ in Nations)
Hwolshe, Gigiring - Jos,
Plateau State, Nigeria
3rd September, 1999

Youth Fellowship Night Vigil

SERMON
* Speaker: Bro. Emmanuel Damen
* Topic: The Costly Assumption
* Text: Luke 2:41-52

 

* Today, people are busy worshipping religion instead of God
→ they erroneously assume that they are serving God, but they are in fact serving something else. This is a costly assumption!

 

* Jesus Christ does not 'appear' at mere religious activities. He is more interested in having a relationship with you! 
→ Many people who profess to be 'Christians' have no personal relationship with Jesus, but instead, they are busy being religious

 

★ John 14:23 → "Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. Then my Father will love him, and we will go to him and make our home within him."

 

* Christianity is a reality, not a mere assumption.
→ Christianity is not a religion - it is a real relationship with Jesus

★ Ezekiel 22:30 → "I sought for a man among them to build the wall and stand in the breach in my presence on behalf of the land so that it won’t be destroyed, but I found no one."

 

★ 1 Kings 12:1-16

 

* Joseph and Mary were not sensitive enough to notice Jesus’ absence on their journey back home from Jerusalem
- Are you sensitive to the presence of Jesus in your life? Has he left you?

 

* The Lord has left many 'Christians' yet they do not realise that fact. They still continue their religious activities, oblivious of Jesus' absence (Just like Samson in Judges 16:20)

 

★ Galatians 3:2 → " I want to learn only one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the actions of the Law or by believing what you heard?"