Whatever happened to fire and brimstone preaching?

Today I am continuing to work on my youth group message entitled "Judge Jesus." We have been working through the misconceptions of Christ and the false images that we have made him into. We have been using the four part video series from Vintage21 entitled "Vintage Jesus." This week we debunk the thought that Jesus sits around all day just waiting for us to mess up. Like a bully with a magnifying glass on the ant hill, Jesus strikes down the unexpecting below.

What I will be presenting is that Jesus is full of love and grace and wants to help us turn from any sinful ways. Ultimately, as I will share, Jesus will sit on the judgment seat, casting judgment on each human being for what they did and didn't do. Where I am getting caught up is in the style of presentation I use. On the one side sharing the love and grace of Christ is completely relevant and necessary, but I neglect to tell the truth about the Judge and the eventual hand-out of rewards or punishment. On the other side is gospel of fire and brimstone where we tell others if they don't turn, they burn. This is more of a scare tactic and christiantiy becomes more of a hell-prevention than a response to Christ out of love and gratitude. All at the same time there is truth in saying that if you don't live for Christ you will receive the ultimate punishment.

Where is the middle ground for these two thougts? Show the love and grace of Christ, but still express the reality of what this life is all about? Within this is creating the balance between faith and works. The Bible is clear that we can be saved by faith and not by our works, but at the same time, our works are fueled by our faith. Faith and works are like a married couple that can't live without each other. A faith without works is a lazy Christian and one could contend that this is not a true faith. Works without faith is more for the glory of the person than it is for Christ. This theology says that 'good people will get into heaven.'

I am fully relying on Him to reveal the words to share. I am in full anticipation that God will do some amazing things Sunday night with the teens. He will change lives.

My prayer: "May it be your words that come from my mouth that rest on the ears and hearts of the students.. Break down the walls and soften the hearts of those that have turned their lives away from you and use me as an instrument to speak your message and show your love to the teens."