Almost three weeks have passed since the last post. During Spring Break we had a small group bible study where we basically walked through Ephesians 1:1-10. The text explodes with God's love for us and the gospel burst out of every verse. We saw that God loves us and that even before the foundations of the earth were laid He knew we would rebel and He knew that He would make a way for us to be with Him. Jesus Christ was and still is that way. We were created for a relationship with God that can only be realized through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I was away last Wednesday night. However, Michael Pogue did a marvelous job filling in for me. We are blessed to have him as part of our youth ministry leadership team.
This week we are back into our series called the Voice. We are looking at what God has to say about certain topics. This week we are discussing joy. We were created to be joyful. As with everything else, sin has messed that up. We need joy. We are empty without it. Happiness is great, but happiness comes and goes based on our circumstances. A new puppy makes you happy. When the new puppy chews up your favorite pair of shoes... the happiness flees and frustration takes its place. Joy is not just a spiritual word for happiness. Instead, joy is the delight that God has always had in Himself. We are not meant to conjure up some sort of quasi emotional feeling, but rather we need God's joy... that prehistoric joy that can only be found in God Himself. We are going to learn that 1). God is joy 2) We were created to be joy-filled 3)Then we are going to answer the question "How do we get joy?" I am excited about our youth service tonight. I want our students to see how beautiful our God is and how he has equipped us with everything we need for "life and godliness" in Christ. That includes joy. I for one am thrilled that I serve a God who is joyful!
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
What are we learning? March 7, 2012
We are in a new series called The Voice. We introduced the series last week by talking about how Jesus' voice is trustworthy. We looked at John 10 (about the shepherd and his sheep). I want our students to truly fall in love with Jesus Christ. If we know that we can completely trust Him, then it will free up our hearts to truly begin to fall in love with Him. We were wired up to love and to trust Him and that truly is the only thing that can satisfy our souls. We were created to be in relationship to Him and obedience is part of that relationship (and every other relationship). However, we are not learning a type of "do it yourself" Christianity where I guilt/burden the students into obedience (See Matthew 23). Instead, we are looking at how through the gospel of Jesus Christ we as God's children are able to obey Him, through what Christ has already accomplished and through the power of His Spirit in us.
In light of this we are talking about God's voice to us on specific topics. This week (March 7)we are talking about God's Voice on Family. Specifically what God says about children and parents. We are going to look at several passages including Exodus 20:12; Proverbs 1:8- 9; Eph. 6:1-3; Col. 3:20. However, our main text will be Eph. 6:1-3. We are going to answer the "what, why, how, and when of obedience." The goal of this sermon is to help students understand the importance of honoring and obeying their parents and to see how this is God's design for not only our families but for His kingdom. Many times students believe that obeying their parents will restrict them. We are going to see how following God's plan will not only bring true freedom, but also great joy!
As always please know that parents are always invited to sit in on what we do on Wednesday nights! We love having parents. So please come by and spend a Wednesday night with us!
In light of this we are talking about God's voice to us on specific topics. This week (March 7)we are talking about God's Voice on Family. Specifically what God says about children and parents. We are going to look at several passages including Exodus 20:12; Proverbs 1:8- 9; Eph. 6:1-3; Col. 3:20. However, our main text will be Eph. 6:1-3. We are going to answer the "what, why, how, and when of obedience." The goal of this sermon is to help students understand the importance of honoring and obeying their parents and to see how this is God's design for not only our families but for His kingdom. Many times students believe that obeying their parents will restrict them. We are going to see how following God's plan will not only bring true freedom, but also great joy!
As always please know that parents are always invited to sit in on what we do on Wednesday nights! We love having parents. So please come by and spend a Wednesday night with us!
Relay for Life
We have the opportunity to help our churches Relay for Life Team. We want to help in 2 ways.
1. We want to join the rest of the church in giving up a coke a week and donating that money to Relay. We will have a place in the youth room set up where students and parents can turn in their money each week. Little amounts add up so please try to support this cause by donating just a dollar or two a week!
2. We want to help Relay by selling Belk Charity Cards. Each card cost $5. Everyone who purchases a card will get an exclusive pass and an exclusive sales add. Then on April 21 (from 6-10 AM) people who have purchased a pass will get to shop at Belk. There will be huge discounts on merchandise and EVERYONE who has a pass will get $5 off there first purchase! So it really pays for itself! Please help us assist Relay for Life by purchasing one of these passes.
PS The passes are good at every Belk not just the one in Meridian. So feel free to sell some to relatives and friends who do not live close by! :)
1. We want to join the rest of the church in giving up a coke a week and donating that money to Relay. We will have a place in the youth room set up where students and parents can turn in their money each week. Little amounts add up so please try to support this cause by donating just a dollar or two a week!
2. We want to help Relay by selling Belk Charity Cards. Each card cost $5. Everyone who purchases a card will get an exclusive pass and an exclusive sales add. Then on April 21 (from 6-10 AM) people who have purchased a pass will get to shop at Belk. There will be huge discounts on merchandise and EVERYONE who has a pass will get $5 off there first purchase! So it really pays for itself! Please help us assist Relay for Life by purchasing one of these passes.
PS The passes are good at every Belk not just the one in Meridian. So feel free to sell some to relatives and friends who do not live close by! :)
30 Hour Famine
We will be taking part in 30 Hour Famine on April 27-28, 2012. 30 Hour Famine is put on each year by World Vision. The idea is to raise money and awareness for children who live in poverty for the purpose of reaching them with food, water, and most importantly the gospel. We will be raising money (I will explain and pass out guides to the students next week March 14) to send to World Vision. Each student will be given a goal of raising $10. (We hope that we will be able to do even more than this, but that is our starting goal). When April 27 rolls around we will fast after lunch on Friday until Dinner on Saturday. This year we will be partnering will several other churches in the association who will be doing the exact same thing. I will certainly give you more information as it gets closer, but I wanted to let you know so you could mark your calendars! This is a great opportunity for our students and I hope everyone can participate!
Centrifuge Info
We will be going to Union University in Jackson, TN. We will leave on June 4th and return on June 9th. The deposit was due on March 1. The next payment of $50.00 is due on April 1st. The final payment is due by May 1st. However, almost every student has earned money to go towards camp by helping with different church functions, such as Ministry Meal, Valentine's Banquet, etc. I will be sending home totals soon so that everyone will be clear on exactly how much they still owe. If you have not yet signed up for camp and would like to go please let me know as soon as possible so that we can make sure you get a spot! :)
The next opportunity for your student to make some money to offset the camp cost is going to be April 15 after the Am service. We will be providing a lunch for the church and all donations will go straight towards their camp total.
The next opportunity for your student to make some money to offset the camp cost is going to be April 15 after the Am service. We will be providing a lunch for the church and all donations will go straight towards their camp total.
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