'Where Are the Faithful Young Men?'
The sermon calls for a new generation of faithful young men and women to live recklessly for Christ, prioritizing their relationship with God and being willing to risk everything for His kingdom.
This sermon calls for a generation willing to sacrifice their lives for Christ, to live dangerously and be reckless in His service, to prioritize prayer and God's Word above all else, and to be faithful unto death in fulfilling the work God has given them. It challenges men and women to be courageous, selfless, and willing to risk everything for the sake of God's kingdom, echoing the examples of biblical figures like Moses, Paul, Joab, and Esther.
Full Transcript
Where are the young men and women of this generation who will hold their lives cheap and be faithful unto death? Who will lose their lives for Christ's, flinging them away for love of Him? Where are those who will live dangerously and be reckless in His service? Where are the men of prayer? Where are the men who count God's Word as more important to them than their daily food? Where are the men who, like Moses of old, commune with God face-to-face, as a man speaks with his friend? Where are God's men in this day of God's power? Where are the pastors who say with the Apostle Paul, I don't count my life of any value, or as precious to myself. If only I might finish my course and complete the work that He gave me to do, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. I'm nothing, I just have a job.
God, keep me faithful on the job. And then let me drop and go to the reward. Where are the pastors who say with Joab to his brother Abishai, surrounded by Syrians and Ammonites, Brother, be courageous and let us play the man for our God and for the cities of our God.
And may the Lord do what seems good to Him. Where is the Joab today? Where are the women? The single women and the married women, and the pastor's wives who say with Esther when Mordecai came to her and said, you've got to do this because your people are perishing. And she says, tell him to fast, and I will go into the king, though it is against the law.
And if I perish, I perish. Where are those women?
Sermon Outline
- I. The Call for Faithful Young Men
- A. A life held cheap for Christ's sake
- B. A reckless abandon in His service
- C. A deep communion with God
- II. The Character of God's Men
- A. Men of prayer
- B. Men who prioritize God's Word
- C. Men who count their lives as nothing
- III. The Call to Pastors
- A. A willingness to live and die for Christ
- B. A courage to stand for God and His people
- C. A faith that says, 'If I perish, I perish'
- IV. The Call to Women
- A. A willingness to risk for Christ's sake
- B. A courage to stand for God and His people
Key Quotes
“Where are the young men and women of this generation who will hold their lives cheap and be faithful unto death?” — John Piper
“I don't count my life of any value, or as precious to myself. If only I might finish my course and complete the work that He gave me to do, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” — John Piper
“If I perish, I perish.” — John Piper
Application Points
- I should be willing to sacrifice my own interests and desires for the sake of Christ and His kingdom.
- I should prioritize my relationship with God through prayer, Bible study, and obedience.
- I should be courageous in my faith, trusting in God's power and provision, and being willing to take risks for the sake of His kingdom.