A Sermon Delivered on the me generation

1. iWorship
The problem with egocentric religion

2. Joel 1:1-3 The word of the Lord that came to Joel son of Pethuel.
[2] Hear this, you elders; listen, all who live in the land. Has anything
like this ever happened in your days or in the days of your
forefathers?
[3] Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their
children, and their children to the next generation.

3. ego·cen·tric
1 : concerned with the individual rather than society
2 : taking the ego as the starting point in philosophy
3 : a - limited in outlook or concern to one's own activities or
needs
b - self-centered, selfish

4. Exodus 10:1-2 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh, for I have
hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials so that I may perform these
miraculous signs of mine among them [2] that you may tell your children and
grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians and how I performed my
signs among them, and that you may know that I am the Lord."

5. mid 1940s to the early 1960s.
Baby Boom Generation
is a term which describes individuals born during the middle part of
the 20th century. In general, baby boomers are associated with a
rejection or redefinition of traditional values; however, many have
disputed that idea, noting the widespread continuity of values with
older and younger generations. In Europe and North America
boomers are widely associated with privilege, as many grew up in a
time of affluence. As a group, they were the healthiest, and wealthiest
generation to that time, and amongst the first to grow up genuinely
expecting the world to improve with time.

6. mid 1940s to the early 1960s.
Baby Boom Generation
One of the features of Boomers was that they tended to think of
themselves as a special generation, very different from those that had
come before them. In the 1960s, as the relatively large numbers of
young people became teenagers and young adults, they, and those
around them, created a very specific rhetoric around their cohort, and
the change they were bringing about. This rhetoric had an important
impact in the self perceptions of the boomers, as well as their
tendency to define the world in terms of generations.
By the sheer force of its numbers, the boomers were a demographic
bulge which remodeled society as they passed through it.

7. early 1960s to the late 1970s.
Generation X
The term Generation X has been used in demography, the social
sciences, and marketing, though it is most often used in popular
culture. In the U.S. Generation X was originally referred to as the
"baby bust" generation because of the drop in the birth rate
following the baby boom.

8. mid 1970s to the late 1990s.
Generation Y
also known as the Millennial Generation or Generation Next or
Net Generation describes the demographic cohort following
Generation X. Its members are often referred to as Millennials or
Echo Boomers. As there are no precise dates for when the
Millennial generation starts and ends, commentators have used
birth dates ranging somewhere from the mid 1970s to the late
1990s. This generation generally represents an increase in births
from the 1960s and 70s, not because of a significant increase in
birthrates, but because the large cohort of baby boomers began
to have children.

9. mid 1970s to the late 1990s.
Generation Y
The 20th century trend toward smaller families in the West
continued, however, so the relative impact of the "baby boom
echo" was generally less pronounced than the original boom.
Characteristics of the generation vary by region, depending on
social and economic conditions. However, it is generally marked
by an increased use and familiarity with communications, media,
and digital technologies.

10. early 1990s to the late 2000s.
Generation Z
is one of the names used for the First World of Western generation of
people born between the early 1990s to late 2000s. it is hard to
describe its characteristics without speculating because they are still
forming.
Following Generation Y, they are typically the children of Generation X;
their parents also include the youngest Baby Boomers and some of
the oldest Gen Y'ers.

11. Generation Me
describes anyone born in the 1970s, 1980s, or 1990s, (Gen X, Y, or
Z). In 2009, this means people between the ages of 10 and 39. These
are today's young people, those who take it for granted that the self
comes first. I'm a member of this generation myself, born in 1971.

12. What does it look like. . .

13. Why is this
•It is vital to remember the historic world while living in the current.
•Jesus’ teaching remains relevant regardless of cultural change.
•The enemy is tricky and we must keep an eye on the unobvious.
•Closing our eyes to a monster only makes it harder to kill when it
reaches us.

14. What does the bible say about
Egocentrism?
Ecclesiastes 11:2-6 Give portions to seven, yes to eight, for you do not
know what disaster may come upon the land. [3] If clouds are full of
water, they pour rain upon the earth. Whether a tree falls to the south
or to the north, in the place where it falls, there will it lie. [4] Whoever
watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not
reap. [5] As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is
formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of
God, the Maker of all things. [6] Sow your seed in the morning, and at
evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will
succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.

15. What does the bible say about
Egocentrism?
Mark 10:42-45 Jesus called them together and said, "You know that
those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and
their high officials exercise authority over them. [43] Not so with you.
Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your
servant, [44] and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. [45]
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and
to give his life as a ransom for many."

16. What does the bible say about
Egocentrism?
John 4:24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship
in spirit and in truth."

17. What does the bible say about
Egocentrism?
Joshua 7:15, 19-21He who is caught with the devoted things shall be
destroyed by fire, along with all that belongs to him. He has violated the
covenant of the Lord and has done a disgraceful thing in Israel!' " [19]
Then Joshua said to Achan, "My son, give glory to the Lord, the God of
Israel, and give him the praise. Tell me what you have done; do not hide
it from me." [20] Achan replied, "It is true! I have sinned against the
Lord, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: [21] When I saw in the
plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver
and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took
them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver
underneath."

18. What does the bible say about
Egocentrism?
Matthew 20:17-21 Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took
the twelve disciples aside and said to them, [18] "We are going up to
Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and
the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death [19] and will
turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified.
On the third day he will be raised to life!" [20] Then the mother of
Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling
down, asked a favor of him. [21] "What is it you want?" he asked. She
said, "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right
and the other at your left in your kingdom."

19. What does the bible say about
Egocentrism?
Matthew 16:23-26 Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me,
Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the
things of God, but the things of men." [24] Then Jesus said to his
disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and
take up his cross and follow me. [25] For whoever wants to save his
life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. [26] What
good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his
soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

20. What does the bible say about
Egocentrism?
Romans 12:1-3 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy,
to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this
is your spiritual act of worship. [2] Do not conform any longer to the
pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good,
pleasing and perfect will. [3] For by the grace given me I say to every
one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but
rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the
measure of faith God has given you.

21. What does the bible say about
Egocentrism?
John 8:31-32 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus
said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my
disciples. [32] Then you will know the truth, and the
truth will set you free."

22. The Challenge . . .
1. Examine the reality of your own relationship with Jesus
2. Examine how self centered your religion is
3. Share your findings with a trusted believer
4. Make plans to eliminate any selfish notions
5. Ask the friend to hold you accountable
6. Plan a 3 review dates (1 month, 3 months, 6 months)