Mexico Mission Trip 2008 teams have been determined. Today they will be revealed (drum roll, please!). All students and small group leaders (that's everyone) will join together for two all group activities led by Roger Orton. The three mission teams will then meet seperately for group activities and discussion.
If you are participating in the mission trip please bring with you a signed photocopy of your passport.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
Sunday, February 24
GROWING TO BE LIKE JESUS
This week we will look at the six weeks in review. If you still have notes go back over them and see what was helpful to students, what needed to be covered but we ran out of time, and what you think still needs attention. This is your week to format the small group time the way you see fit. The following summarizes titles and scriptures and suggestions in approaching your time together.
Spiritual Growth Isn't Easy Hebrews 12: 1-3
The Power of the Holy Spirit Galatians 5:16-25
Hanging out with God Luke 10:38-42
Prayer and God's Presence Matthew 6: 5-13
Developing an Appetite for God's Word Philippians 2:3-11
When Pain Leads to Gain James 1:2-8
Memory verses:
Matthew 6:33 "But seek ye first..."
Ephesians 3:16-17 "I pray that out of his glorious riches...."
Luke 10: 41-42 "You are worried and upset about many things, but..."
Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God..."
2 Timothy 2:15 "Do your best to present yourself to God as one..."
James 1:2-3 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face..."
There are extra sheets of the six memory verses on the table in the youth center.
If you would like to take some time and worship during your small group time, here are six suggestions, one for each of the six weeks we studied:
1. Have members of the group share one specific way the others in the group can pray for them. Spend time thanking God for the people in your group and praise Him for the unique qualities each person has.
2. Pair up and share a goal you want to pursue that will help you grow in your relationship with God and better understand the leading of the Holy Spirit.
3. Pair up and discuss you daily devotional times with God. Ask for accountablitiy for your alone times with God.
3. Regarding surrendering your life to honor God I will make copies from the resource whereby your group will personalize the Lord's Prayer. I will put copies on the table. Even if you don't use this resource in your time together they can be handed out for completion during next week.
5. Make a realistic goal for being in God's Word and share that goal with your group. Focus on God's Word by having one person read a memory verse while others in the group closes their eyes to focus on His Word.
6. Discuss how a response to pain can become an evangelistic opporunity. What might the relationship between pain and evangelism look like?
This week we will look at the six weeks in review. If you still have notes go back over them and see what was helpful to students, what needed to be covered but we ran out of time, and what you think still needs attention. This is your week to format the small group time the way you see fit. The following summarizes titles and scriptures and suggestions in approaching your time together.
Spiritual Growth Isn't Easy Hebrews 12: 1-3
The Power of the Holy Spirit Galatians 5:16-25
Hanging out with God Luke 10:38-42
Prayer and God's Presence Matthew 6: 5-13
Developing an Appetite for God's Word Philippians 2:3-11
When Pain Leads to Gain James 1:2-8
Memory verses:
Matthew 6:33 "But seek ye first..."
Ephesians 3:16-17 "I pray that out of his glorious riches...."
Luke 10: 41-42 "You are worried and upset about many things, but..."
Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God..."
2 Timothy 2:15 "Do your best to present yourself to God as one..."
James 1:2-3 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face..."
There are extra sheets of the six memory verses on the table in the youth center.
If you would like to take some time and worship during your small group time, here are six suggestions, one for each of the six weeks we studied:
1. Have members of the group share one specific way the others in the group can pray for them. Spend time thanking God for the people in your group and praise Him for the unique qualities each person has.
2. Pair up and share a goal you want to pursue that will help you grow in your relationship with God and better understand the leading of the Holy Spirit.
3. Pair up and discuss you daily devotional times with God. Ask for accountablitiy for your alone times with God.
3. Regarding surrendering your life to honor God I will make copies from the resource whereby your group will personalize the Lord's Prayer. I will put copies on the table. Even if you don't use this resource in your time together they can be handed out for completion during next week.
5. Make a realistic goal for being in God's Word and share that goal with your group. Focus on God's Word by having one person read a memory verse while others in the group closes their eyes to focus on His Word.
6. Discuss how a response to pain can become an evangelistic opporunity. What might the relationship between pain and evangelism look like?
Monday, February 11, 2008
Sunday, February 17
WHEN PAIN LEADS TO GAIN
When life gets tough, what do you normally do? Many people feel sorry for themselves, hang their heads, and wait for the pain to go away. In the life of a believer, God can use the pain to bring about life-change gain. Don't hang your head. Learn what God can and will do during difficult times.
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does." James 1:2-8
What has been one of the most difficult times of your life?
How did you make it through that tough time?
Life was especially difficult for the early Christians; they often endured persecution because of their beliefs. What does James say is the key for successfully navigating trials?
According to this passage, why should you have joy in the midst of trials? How does joy help you through trials?
Where does wisdom come from? Why does God give it generously?
When you get wisdom from God, how does that help you get through trials?
For what current trial do you need wisdom in order to respond well?
How do trials, perseverance, and wisdom relate to each other? Do trials automatically produce perseverance?
What are some practical ways you can work on your attitude in the midst of troubles?
Further study: 1 Peter 4:12-13, Philippians 1:29, Romans 8:17, 2 Corinthians 1:5
When life gets tough, what do you normally do? Many people feel sorry for themselves, hang their heads, and wait for the pain to go away. In the life of a believer, God can use the pain to bring about life-change gain. Don't hang your head. Learn what God can and will do during difficult times.
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does." James 1:2-8
What has been one of the most difficult times of your life?
How did you make it through that tough time?
Life was especially difficult for the early Christians; they often endured persecution because of their beliefs. What does James say is the key for successfully navigating trials?
According to this passage, why should you have joy in the midst of trials? How does joy help you through trials?
Where does wisdom come from? Why does God give it generously?
When you get wisdom from God, how does that help you get through trials?
For what current trial do you need wisdom in order to respond well?
How do trials, perseverance, and wisdom relate to each other? Do trials automatically produce perseverance?
What are some practical ways you can work on your attitude in the midst of troubles?
Further study: 1 Peter 4:12-13, Philippians 1:29, Romans 8:17, 2 Corinthians 1:5
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Sunday, February 10
DEVELOPING AN APPETITE FOR GOD'S WORD
A day doesn't go by when we get physical urges for something to eat. In like manner, as we mature in the Christian life more and more we will have daily urges to read and absorb God's Word. In our fifth in the study Growing to be Like Jesus we will look at practical steps to do just that. Are you hungry?
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross. Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:3-11
In our small group discussion today we are going to look at the Philippian scripture in three ways; observation (what are the facts), understanding (what always is true), and application (what the point is for me). As a small group be honest about your sturggles to make God's Word a regular part of your life. May student and leaders be challenged to develop this appetite.
Start with general thoughts about the following:
Describe how important the Bible is in your home. What do you think of the Bible? What place does it have in your life right now?
Observation: (read the passage several times, check out the context in verses before and after the passage)
Who is involved in the passage?
What does Paul say about each of these people?
Who? What ? Where? When? Why? questions
What doesn't make sense?
Understanding: (identify the introduction and conclusion, compare and contrast elements, cause and effect, definitions, repetition)
What are the eternal truths this passage is communicating?
Are there any Bible verses that contradict your answers to the previous question?
Application: (if the opportunity came your way how would you teach these truths to someone else?)
Basesd on our study of this passage, what does this mean for your life? How should you be different?
If you only had one hour to give to God, would it be better to spend tht hour studing the Bible or telling others about the good news in the Bible?
Further study: Mt. 11:29, Romans, 12:16, 2 Cor 8:9
A day doesn't go by when we get physical urges for something to eat. In like manner, as we mature in the Christian life more and more we will have daily urges to read and absorb God's Word. In our fifth in the study Growing to be Like Jesus we will look at practical steps to do just that. Are you hungry?
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross. Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:3-11
In our small group discussion today we are going to look at the Philippian scripture in three ways; observation (what are the facts), understanding (what always is true), and application (what the point is for me). As a small group be honest about your sturggles to make God's Word a regular part of your life. May student and leaders be challenged to develop this appetite.
Start with general thoughts about the following:
Describe how important the Bible is in your home. What do you think of the Bible? What place does it have in your life right now?
Observation: (read the passage several times, check out the context in verses before and after the passage)
Who is involved in the passage?
What does Paul say about each of these people?
Who? What ? Where? When? Why? questions
What doesn't make sense?
Understanding: (identify the introduction and conclusion, compare and contrast elements, cause and effect, definitions, repetition)
What are the eternal truths this passage is communicating?
Are there any Bible verses that contradict your answers to the previous question?
Application: (if the opportunity came your way how would you teach these truths to someone else?)
Basesd on our study of this passage, what does this mean for your life? How should you be different?
If you only had one hour to give to God, would it be better to spend tht hour studing the Bible or telling others about the good news in the Bible?
Further study: Mt. 11:29, Romans, 12:16, 2 Cor 8:9
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