Lecrae CC4 is now out and it is the fourth, and last installment, of his church clothes mix tapes. Church Cothes was Lecrae’s way of dishing out hard truth’s to the church and he, again, pulls no punches when addressing those who call themselves follower of Jesus.
This youth ministry lesson covers the first, and self titled, song on the album, CC4.
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Title: Put On Your Church Clothes
Game: Balloon Dress and Drip
Have church clothes out like a suit (pants, shirt, tie, jacket) and a dress (dress, hat, shoes, jacket) and two balloons, one for each person. Call up two volunteers, a boy and girl, and say,
Each of you must keep this balloon afloat, while dressing yourself in these church clothes. As an added twist, you could have the boy put on the dress and the girl put on the suit but if that would cause drama, keep it traditional.
First person to get all their clothes on wins.
Note: Play CC4 while they are getting dressed.
Media: Play the song CC4 by Lecrae and ask students to listen and share what sticks out.
Transition
What topics stood out to you? Why?
If you had the opportunity to share this song with a person who could make big changes, who would you share it with? Why them?
Bible Study
Read: Luke 10: 25-37
In CC4, when Lecrae calls out churches who make a big show of their worship and service (sponsoring kids) but ignores the impoverished areas of their city driving to the football game.
How does this line up with the Good Samaritan?
In the story, both the priest and a Levite ignored the hurt man, walking around him as if he did not matter. They literally had church clothes on. They were suppose to be representatives of the Kingdom of God and they failed the simple task of loving their neighbor.
Along comes a Samaritan. No church clothes. An average man. Someone who was hated by the Jews. He stops to help this Jew who was beaten and left for dead. He bound up his wounds and took him to safety.
What this tells us is that
Not everyone who wears church clothes is the Church
Read: Luke 6:46-49
People may wear church clothes but they are not on the same mission Jesus had, to serve or help those who need help the most. They want attention and glory but do not want to get their hands dirty not even for one of their own. Jesus knew using the Samaritan as the hero would make the Jews mad because they thought they were better than the Samaritans.
Jesus said,
Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I say?
Then Jesus gave an illustration of the difference between those who listen to his Word, were obedient to his word, and those who were not.
Which of these examples best describes your life?
Our lives are how people see the church
Read: Luke 11:33
If we say we believe Jesus is risen from the dead, that God has forgiven us through his blood and that we know what it means to follow Jesus then we must also know that if our actions do not line up with beliefs, the world will dismiss our beliefs.
It is because Christians do not live out what they believe, in the most practical ways, that people turn to Atheism and Humanism (that humans are the only answer to societies problems) and to Agnostism (believing there might be a God but they pray to the universe instead) and to Paganism (that the only thing that matters is our passions, eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we die).
Out actions matter, because people are watching and want to believe, they’ve simply not seen enough evidence in our lives to make a decision.
How would it make you feel to know that someone did not see enough evidence in your life that God was real? You cannot afford to hide your light because it could lead someone else to Jesus.
You’re either hurting or helping the cause of Christ
Read: Revelation 3:15
This is not a condemnation, this is an exhortation (a communication emphatically calling on someone to do something). The book of Revelation says of the church or Laodicea,
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!
God was looking at their deeds not their intentions. Their talk and their walk were not matching and God with they would get of the fence and do one or the other, follow or not follow, believe or not believe.
They had church clothes on but did the exact opposite.
Closing
What do Church Clothes look like?
Read: Colossians 3:12-14
You don’t have to be from a Christian family or to live a perfect life to put on these church clothes. These clothes represent who Jesus is and, through the Holy Spirit, gives us the power to be compassionate, kind, humble, gentle and patience to a hurting world. We just have to step up and show it.
Close in Prayer
If you enjoyed this study, check our my NF Bible Study called Lost.