Introduction

Have you ever asked yourself the question “What am I doing here?” or asked yourself “Why am I here?”  I’m not talking about realizing you’re in the wrong class.

When you were younger, did you ever think about what you wanted to be when you grew up? Pilot, band director.

The answer for a Christian is
• I am here for the cause of Christ.
• I am here to serve Christ.

But what if I am not in full-time ministry, what if I’m not a pastor, what does that look like?  What does it mean to be salt and light in the world?  How do you do that?

How many Christians live compartmentalized lives?  Profession in one box, church in another?  How do I combine my Christian faith with my profession?

There’s more to Christianity than attending church.

God has called us to be lambs that roar.

Let’s take lawyers for example.
• What do you have when 100 lawyers are buried up to their neck in sand? * Not enough sand.
• What's the difference between a dead skunk in the road and a dead lawyer in the middle of the road? * There are skid marks in front of the skunk.
Is it possible to be a Christian lawyer?

 As Christians, our goal is to be an influence for Christ.

How do we confidently carry our faith into the marketplace?  What are some practical steps to being salt and light?

 Why are we talking about this?  Because “Every major decision that a human being makes in this life, is made in the decade of 17-27.”  “Life on the Edge” James Dobson

The question I hope to answer tonight is “how to live a life of influence,” and “how to be an influence for Christ.”

1. Pray
 In our own strength we can do nothing.  This should be the first thing that happens.  Before anything we should pray.
 The word prayer occurs 174 times in the NT.

2. Choose a career that shapes the culture.

 What are some examples of culture shaping careers?
 Some of you haven’t decided on a career yet.  I want to encourage you to pick on of these.  But regardless of what the career is, be a missionary in your career field.
 
 Is there a Christian influence in Hollywood, art, television, the paper, books?

 Let’s take movies?  2005 #3 The Lion, the witch and the wardrobe.
 2004 #3 The passion of the Christ.

3. Work with excellence.

1 Corinthians 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

 The secular world is consumed with success.  Success drives this country.  So our first response in the workplace is not to witness, but excellent work.  To the secular world, your work is a reflection of who you are.

 As a matter of fact, excellence is one of the values of Journey.  Not only that.  Those of you that went on the ski trip and where here Sunday morning for Pastor Jerry’s sermon.  Pastor Jerry listed eight core values for Southside Baptist Church.  How many of the eight are also the values of Journey?  5 out of 8.

4. Be relevant.

Show in concrete ways and tell in understandable terms how Christ is relevant to all of your life.

What will happen if Christians are not relevant?
•  “Is God dead in Europe?” on Jan 9, 2006, USA Today.
• Prague is the capitol of …… the Czech Republic.
• It is also Europe’s new capitol for pronographic filmmaking.
• Prague is a place where 19% of the people believe that God exits.
• In the United States it’s 85%.  It used to be 85% in Prague.  Not any more.
• The Former French president said  “Europeans live in a purely secular political society, where religion does not play an important role.”
• So are there any consequences?
• Europe’s birth rate is below replacement level.  Abortion, birth control, acceptance of gay marriage and casual sex are driving the trend.  This is called “demographic suicide.”
 
At your tables, make a list of aspects of the life of a college student.  The pick one and write down how is Christ relevant in that.

 There are two purposes for salt.  One is it adds flavor.   The other is it slows down spoiling.  Being a relevant Christian isn’t going to stop evil in the world.  But it will slow it down.

So how do we live a life of influence?
1. Pray
2. Choose a career that shapes the culture.
3. Work with excellence.
4. Be relevant.

Next week we will take a closer look at  careers that shape the culture.