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A meme is an idea that is conveyed through the culture. It often uses pictures.

To our knowledge Jesus does not have an official social media account, but still we like to think about what it would be like to be social media friends with Him. What would you do if Jesus shared a meme and tagged you in it? What kind of meme do you think Jesus would share?
We think he might share the “also me meme.”


We have a desire to do good, but the Bible tells us that there is another identity that lurks within us. We may be faith filled followers, but we are also sinners.
Within each of us is an “also me.” What can be done?

Jesus Loves Meme 2 – Also Me

Sermon notes by pastor Chris Fluitt

Redemption Church Plano Texas

We are in the 2nd week of our Jesus Loves Meme sermon series.
Our care Pastor Marshal did such a great job bringing you the Word of God last week. Last week he told you that a meme is an idea conveyed through the culture. It often uses pictures.
Last week Marshal preached on the “seems legit meme.” You need to check it out if you missed it.
We have a brand new subject today and I think Jesus would share today’s meme with us. Wouldn’t it be wild if Jesus were to share a meme on your Facebook feed? What if He were to tag you in the meme?
Today I want to introduce you to the “Also Me” meme.

Also Me

Here are a few examples
Who am I to judge… also me

Violence is not the answer… also me

I love to mind my own business… also me

There are many uses of this ALSO ME meme. The meme centers on identity issues.
IDENTITY
I am this person. I am this kind of person. These are the ideas and moral compass I will live out, but then there is another identity present, because while all this is true… this is also me.
It is usually easier to see this identity issue in others, but the truth is that we all have these identity issues.
I think it is likely that Jesus would share these memes on our social media… and perhaps tag us by name.
My favorite variation of the Also Me meme is the Evil Kermit meme.

Evil Kermit

There are two Kermits present in this picture. One of the Kermits wants to say and do good things, while the other Kermit is dressed in a dark evil looking hood – looks like a Sith Lord from star wars. And this evil Kermit wants to say and do things that are the opposite of good.
Here are some examples..

I should do something today… Also me – Pity yourself

The Light has turned yellow, I should slow down… Also me – Floor it!!!

There are two identities in this picture – the good Kermit & the evil Kermit.
Are we honest enough today to admit that we have identity issues?
I made some new versions of this meme…

Pastor is preachin’ good today! Also me – Don’t say amen

Ok that one was for my benefit…

I think God wants me to help that person at the traffic light Also me – Just keep looking forward.

I should pray. Also me – Two words. Net. Flix.

I love Jesus. Also me – Those temptations tho.

Love is patient. Love is k… IF YOU KIDS DON’T SHUT YOUR MOUTHS I SWEAR TO GOD!!!

Are we honest enough today to admit that we have identity issues?

Evil Kermit

Do you ever feel like there is more than one identity fighting for control of your life?

• You want to go out and better and improve your life, but there is a lazy identity or a procrastinating identity that speaks up. Someone say amen!
• You want to live for God, but there is a self-centered identity that only wants to live for itself that inserts itself into the mix. Someone say amen!
• You want to close the door on sin. You repent at the altar only to turn around have thoughts and ideas coming from your heart & mind to turn you back to the sin you just left at the altar. Someone say amen!
• NO! You are not the only one! Someone say amen!
• You are not the only one with identity issues. You are not the only one with an evil Kermit at work… an also me at work.

God isn’t surprised by this either. His Word tells us about it in Romans 7.
Romans 7:15 (NIV2011) I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
Let’s make sure we understand what the Apostle Paul is saying here.
The things I want to do… the things that are good, the things that are pleasing to God, the things that are righteous… I don’t do them.
I am going to do this good thing! Also me… I didn’t do it.
But what I hate… The things I know are wrong, the things that aren’t pleasing to God, the things that make me feel guilt and shame, the things I have prayed about in the altar to stop doing… that I do.
I am going to never do this bad thing again! Also me… I did it.
Romans 7:17 (NIV2011) As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.
Paul says there is another identity present within him. He says SIN is living in him.
Paul is not testifying of something in the past. Paul is not say I used to have a sin problem but then I came to Jesus. He is writing in the present tense that sin is currently living within him.

Also Me

Paul is not blasting you here. He is joining you. Paul is saying “also me.”
Isn’t that wonderful? Paul is not throwing judgment at you. Paul is revealing that he isn’t perfect. Far from it, Paul is saying that SIN LIVES IN HIM.
Your Pastor is not coming down hard in judgment today. Your pastor is saying “also me.”

• Could we be honest and just say “also me” today?
• I came to worship God today… but there is an “also me” that struggles to fully surrender my heart too Jesus.
• I may have thrown some cash into the offering today… but there is an “also me” that is greedy and materialistic.
• I may be able to quote scripture… but there is an “also me” that refuses to share Jesus with the world around me because I am too afraid of what they may think about me.

I love God… but there is an also me that has trouble loving, forgiving, showing kindness and patience, to the people around me.
Redemption Church we need to be reminded that there is an “also me” inside of every one of us.
Romans 7:18 (NIV2011) For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.
Good itself does not dwell in us… a sinful nature dwells in us.
That can be hard for us to hear, because we feel like we are good people. The truth is that every one of us are sinners. We have sinned and we are capable of sinning further.
Romans 3:23 (NIV2011) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
We have a time of talking to God in prayer every time we gather at Redemption Church. We challenge everyone… and I do mean everyone… to take a step from their seat and come forward to talk with God. We challenge you to come receive prayer in the first 2 steps from the stage. We have been told that this is something that makes Redemption a little different from other Christian churches.
In most worship services today in the DFW area, they concluded services with a call for people who are sinners to come forward to receive Christ. If you don’t know Jesus you are still very much dead in your sin, so would you like to come forward to confess your sin and find forgiveness.
And it is wonderful that people come encounter God, but there is a major problem happening.
A call for sinners to come forward and confess their sins and find forgiveness and receive Christ
There is a call for sinners to come forward and confess their sins and find forgiveness and receive Christ… yet all the professing Christians stay seated in their seats while “the sinners” go forward and pray. They stay in their seats and think it is wonderful that those sinners are going to “get saved” but they themselves do not make a move toward God.

• Did they miss the call for sinners to come?
• Did they forget that they were sinners?
• Did they refuse to confess their sin?
• Did they forget that they still need forgiveness?
• Do they think that because they received Christ years ago, that they have no need to receive Christ again today?

DO NOT HIDE YOUR ALSO ME

The name of this meme is “Hide the pain Harold” and our very own Jonathan Upchurch introduced it to me a few months ago.
Hide the pain Harold looks happy and sad at the same time.

EYES

Harold’s eyes look sad. They look they are experiencing a deep down soul pain.

Mouth

Yet Harold is smiling. If you only looked at his mouth you would think Harold is happy.

DO NOT HIDE YOUR ALSO ME

The Church world is full of “Hide the Pain Harolds!” If you look at their mouth and hear the words they say you would think they are happy. But when you look into their eyes you see there is a pain they are not speaking of… there is a failure they have not confessed… there is an “also me” they are hiding.
Church we all have an “also me.” Do not hide your “also me.” This church is for people who confess their “also me” sins. I will be inviting you to this altar in a short while. This altar is for people are ready to stop hiding their failure.
1 John 1:8 (NIV2011) If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
1 John 1:9 (NIV2011) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Which me wins?

Your enemy, the devil, wants you to think because of your “also me” failures and sins that you lose.. the evil Kermit wins.
Romans 7:18 (NIV2011) For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.
The enemy wants to remind you that good itself does not reside in you.
I am convinced that evil Spirits spend most of their time and energy trying to produce fear, guilt, & shame within us. There is an enemy that loves to remind you of the “also me” sin nature that lives within us.
But here is where the devil loses. He wants to mess with your identity. And while it is true that there is an “also me” that is not good, full of lies, lust, greed, hatred, and every sin… there is an also me that desires good!
Romans 7:18 (NIV2011) For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
God Wins When you lift your hands in worship to God, you are revealing to the Devil, although you are a sinner, it is “ALSO ME” that I love God. I desire God!
When you come to this altar to talk to God, you are revealing to the Devil, although you are a sinner, it is “ALSO ME” that I am loved by God and He will forgive all of my confessed sins. I desire God’s love!
Satan is frightened by the “also me” that is born again, rooted in Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit.
I want to remind you of our scripture memory verse. It contains an “also me.”
1 Corinthians 1:27 (NIV2011) ..God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
1 Corinthians 1:28 (NIV2011) God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are,
Musician
Proverbs 24:16 (NIV2011) for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again,
Sure I fell 7 times… that’s me, but check out the “also me!” I am the righteous one who rises to try again!
Samson is a character in your Bible. He absolutely failed. He was lustful and unfaithful. He was full of pride and foolish. He was disobedient and it led Samson to be imprisoned in chains and blind.
And the enemy led Samson around like a trophy. The Philistines rejoiced over his failure and weakness.
This is how the enemy will treat us. But watch Samson introduce his enemies to “also Samson.”
Judges 16:28 (NIV2011) Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me…
And strength returned to Samson. The ALSO SAMSON was revealed as He brought the house down on His enemy.

• There is an “also you” that is a sinner, but you have another identity!
• There is an “also you” that is loved by God.
• There is an “also you” that is empowered by the Holy Ghost!
• There is an “also you” that is covered in the blood of Jesus and washed white as snow!
• There is an “also you” that can do all things through Christ!

A call for sinners to come forward and confess their sins and find forgiveness and receive Christ

This altar is open to all sinners today. Come join me in this altar today.
There is victory over your enemy in this altar today.

also me meme