This mornign we started our study of Daniel by reading from 1:1-21. In it Daniel and his friends must make a decision to stick up for their beliefs or fold to the ways of the culture around them. We used SOAP in order to study it. Try it on your own:
S (cripture) -- Write down what scripture you are reading from
O (bservations) -- This is what happened or what is said in those verses. It can also include background information that you might know or heard about
A (pplication) -- Take what you read and apply it to your life, how are you going to be changed by God's word?
P (rayer) -- Pray and ask God to help you with the application.
Enjoy!
I give this morning: A
Favorite Moment: All the guys and the girl
Friday, April 30, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
Order Your Life Wrongly -- Wednesday, April 21st
Tonight we continued our series on how to be a FOOL. We have said that we can be foolish by Falling for peer pressure, by Offering sin a place in your life, and now tonight we said by Ordering your life wrongly. In our story tonight we found out that Balaam did in fact bless Israel instead of cursing them but afterward gave the king advice to send some women their way to draw them away from God. He ends up dying when Israel takes over the land. Balaam had placed money has the highest thing in his life, even above God and his commands, and his actions proved that this was what he based his life on. We can base our lives on things other than God as well (popularity, money, love, entertainment, career, your dreams, etc...) and your actions will flow from what you ahve based your life on. But the end result is the same as Balaam's, it might start well for you but in the end it will end badly. Or we can center our lives on God. Our actions should flow from this, touching every part of our lives (school, family, friends, homework, relationships, etc...) The end result is like Israel, blessed (not perfect) life and eventually possessing the land (heaven). Have you been ordering your life aruond something other than God? Even as Christians we sometimes do this. Do you want to center your life on God instead? Today is a good day to make that change!
I give tonight: D+
Favorite Moment: Zac and Joel winning the memory verse challenge!
I give tonight: D+
Favorite Moment: Zac and Joel winning the memory verse challenge!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Hypocrisy -- Sunday, April 18th
This monring we talkeda bout Hypcrisy, which is a word that means two-faced. The idea being that a hypocrite is one that says one thing but does something else. We shouldn't be hypocrites as followers of God. 1st Peter 1:15-16 tells us that we need to be holy as God is. Our actions should match our words 100% and they should be the right actions/words. When we act hypocritically we can cause others to turn from God or even for those younger in the faith to stumble.
How do we deal with hypocrisy when we see it in others? Many times we just avoid them, but let us look a little closer at 7 things we should/shouldn't do in order to deal with hypocrites. #1 -- Realize you are a hypocrite too, you aren't better than the others beacause you yourself are one. #2 -- Work on YOUR areas of hypocrisy. Matthew 7:3-5 tell us that before we can remove the speck from our brother's eye we need to remove the plank from our own. #3 -- Realize there is a difference between willful hypocrisy and ignorant hypocrisy. Some people just don't know any better. #4 -- Love hypocrites, despite their hypocrisy. #5 -- Pray for hypocrites. #6 -- Live truth in front of hypocrites so they see how it is done. #7 -- Don't judge, unless you want judged in that area too, and in the same way (Matthew 7:1-2).
I give this morning: A+
Favorite Moment: (tie) "You're a sinner! But Jesus loves you!" or Jared asking if it okay to bring his bible to church.
How do we deal with hypocrisy when we see it in others? Many times we just avoid them, but let us look a little closer at 7 things we should/shouldn't do in order to deal with hypocrites. #1 -- Realize you are a hypocrite too, you aren't better than the others beacause you yourself are one. #2 -- Work on YOUR areas of hypocrisy. Matthew 7:3-5 tell us that before we can remove the speck from our brother's eye we need to remove the plank from our own. #3 -- Realize there is a difference between willful hypocrisy and ignorant hypocrisy. Some people just don't know any better. #4 -- Love hypocrites, despite their hypocrisy. #5 -- Pray for hypocrites. #6 -- Live truth in front of hypocrites so they see how it is done. #7 -- Don't judge, unless you want judged in that area too, and in the same way (Matthew 7:1-2).
I give this morning: A+
Favorite Moment: (tie) "You're a sinner! But Jesus loves you!" or Jared asking if it okay to bring his bible to church.
Monday, April 12, 2010
The Fight -- Sunday, April 11th
We wrapped up the the Ephesians study this morning by reading chapter 6:10-24. In this final portion Paul challenges us to think a little bit differently than we normally do. He states taht we are in a fight but not he fight that we normally engage in, since it isn't against flesh and blood but instead against spiritual evils, agains the devil's schemes, agains the flaming arrows he shots at us, and against the day of evil. We want to win this fight and Paul gives us thirteen things we can do in order to fight and win.
#1 -- Be strong in the Lord and his mighty power. This means finding your strength in God not yourself or others.
#2 -- Put on the full armor of God. We will look at each individual item but it is important to put on the whole thing so you don't have any weak points.
#3 -- Stand firm. Hold your ground and don't surrender to the enemy.
#4 -- Put the belt of truth around your waist. This truth helps to free you to move how God wants you to, instead of tripping you up like lies do.
#5 -- Put on the breastplate of righteousness. Righteousness protects our spiritual heart.
#6 -- Have your feet ready with the gospel of peace. Be ready to advance with the gospel.
#7 -- Hold the shield of faith. Faith helps extinguisht he flaming arrows of the enemy, which are shot to bring about panic. It helps us to remain stable admist chaos.
#8 -- Put on the helmet of salvation. Salvation protects our brain. It changes the way we look at the world and avoid the deceptions and traps of the enemy.
#9 -- Have the sword of the Spirit. This is God's word, both used for attack and defense.
#10 -- Pray in the Spirit. This is to be done on all occasions and with all kinds of prayers and requests.
#11 -- Be alert. Be ready at all times, easy or difficult.
#12 -- Always keep praying for all the saints. All christians are saints, so pray for fellow believers.
#13 -- Pray for Paul (or those in ministry). To speak understandably and without fear.
Are you ready for the fight?
I give this morning: A+
Favorite Moment: Johnny's prank
#1 -- Be strong in the Lord and his mighty power. This means finding your strength in God not yourself or others.
#2 -- Put on the full armor of God. We will look at each individual item but it is important to put on the whole thing so you don't have any weak points.
#3 -- Stand firm. Hold your ground and don't surrender to the enemy.
#4 -- Put the belt of truth around your waist. This truth helps to free you to move how God wants you to, instead of tripping you up like lies do.
#5 -- Put on the breastplate of righteousness. Righteousness protects our spiritual heart.
#6 -- Have your feet ready with the gospel of peace. Be ready to advance with the gospel.
#7 -- Hold the shield of faith. Faith helps extinguisht he flaming arrows of the enemy, which are shot to bring about panic. It helps us to remain stable admist chaos.
#8 -- Put on the helmet of salvation. Salvation protects our brain. It changes the way we look at the world and avoid the deceptions and traps of the enemy.
#9 -- Have the sword of the Spirit. This is God's word, both used for attack and defense.
#10 -- Pray in the Spirit. This is to be done on all occasions and with all kinds of prayers and requests.
#11 -- Be alert. Be ready at all times, easy or difficult.
#12 -- Always keep praying for all the saints. All christians are saints, so pray for fellow believers.
#13 -- Pray for Paul (or those in ministry). To speak understandably and without fear.
Are you ready for the fight?
I give this morning: A+
Favorite Moment: Johnny's prank
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Fool -- Wednesday, April 7th
Tonight we started our new series: How to Be a FOOL. We started by looking at Numbers 22:1-19, which is the story of one fool, Balaam son of Beor. In the story he is asked to curse the Israelites, but after God tells him no he refuses. When the king trying to hiring him sends more money and more men he feels the pressure but tells them no again, but this time tells them to stay and he will ask God again, even though he already knows what the answer is.
What is peer pressure? It is being pushed to do soemthing by those around you. It can be friends, family, students, the media, etc... It can be good or bad and it can be spoken or unspoken.
How do you stand up to peer pressure?
#1 -- Build a solid foundation. Know who you are, who God is is, that you can trust God, what you belive in, what is right and wrong. And then live by all that and make the right choices over time repeatedly.
#2 -- Know you don't stand alone. There are other Christians standing with you and even God is standing with you when you do right.
#3 -- Exert equal or more pressure back. Like the arm wrestling game tonight it is hard not to fall for peer pressure when fight alone, but also when we don't fight at all. We need to stand together and push back as a group, giving equal or more pressure back to those around us to do the right things.
I give tonight: A+
Favorite Moment: Tera vs. Devin and wins!
What is peer pressure? It is being pushed to do soemthing by those around you. It can be friends, family, students, the media, etc... It can be good or bad and it can be spoken or unspoken.
How do you stand up to peer pressure?
#1 -- Build a solid foundation. Know who you are, who God is is, that you can trust God, what you belive in, what is right and wrong. And then live by all that and make the right choices over time repeatedly.
#2 -- Know you don't stand alone. There are other Christians standing with you and even God is standing with you when you do right.
#3 -- Exert equal or more pressure back. Like the arm wrestling game tonight it is hard not to fall for peer pressure when fight alone, but also when we don't fight at all. We need to stand together and push back as a group, giving equal or more pressure back to those around us to do the right things.
I give tonight: A+
Favorite Moment: Tera vs. Devin and wins!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Submission -- Sunday, April 4th
We continued our study of the book of Ephesians today by looking at 5:21-6:9 which focuses on one very disliked word: Sumbission.
The bible tells us that we are all supposed to submit. In fact all relationships depend on this concept. We should be submissive people if there were no submission anarchy would prevail. The Bible gives us many examples of submission: slaves to masters, Israel to God, us to God, children to parents, wives to husbands, young to old, Christ to the cross, Christ to God, Christians to each other, and christians to the government to name a few.
So what exactly does submission mean? It comes from a greek word (hypotasso) which means 4 things.
#1 Arranging in rank under. This is a military term. It means that somoene in charge has given rank to others. The lower rank salutes and follows orders, not because the other person deserves it but because they rank has been set. It doesn't mean one is of higher importance or better, simply that they have been put in order.
#2 Willingly acquiescing to another who has been placed by God above you. Like playing tug of war and you just let go.
#3 To be subject to or submit to. This means you have your say but when it comes down to a disagreement you bend your own will to the other person's.
#4 Cooperation. Which emans you cooperate with their wishes even if it isn't what you want. You aren't competing with them or trying to take control.
We can also look at what submission isn't to give us a better picture of what it is. Submission isn't forced, it has to be the choice of the one submitting. Submission isn't agreement, you can still have your opinion. Submission doesn't mean you have to leave your brain behind. Submission doesn't mean you have lower worth. Submission doesn't include breaking God's law, if the person over you tells you to do something to do and it goes against God's law you should disobey.
We finished this by looking at Children obeying their parents, which is a command that comes with a promise. If you do it you will enjoy long life on earth and it will go well with you. It is also a command that it tells us that it pleases God (Colossians 3:20). So how are you going to start obeying your parents and submit to them?
I give this morning: B+
Favorite Moment: Digging a hole with the advice to marry an ugly wife
The bible tells us that we are all supposed to submit. In fact all relationships depend on this concept. We should be submissive people if there were no submission anarchy would prevail. The Bible gives us many examples of submission: slaves to masters, Israel to God, us to God, children to parents, wives to husbands, young to old, Christ to the cross, Christ to God, Christians to each other, and christians to the government to name a few.
So what exactly does submission mean? It comes from a greek word (hypotasso) which means 4 things.
#1 Arranging in rank under. This is a military term. It means that somoene in charge has given rank to others. The lower rank salutes and follows orders, not because the other person deserves it but because they rank has been set. It doesn't mean one is of higher importance or better, simply that they have been put in order.
#2 Willingly acquiescing to another who has been placed by God above you. Like playing tug of war and you just let go.
#3 To be subject to or submit to. This means you have your say but when it comes down to a disagreement you bend your own will to the other person's.
#4 Cooperation. Which emans you cooperate with their wishes even if it isn't what you want. You aren't competing with them or trying to take control.
We can also look at what submission isn't to give us a better picture of what it is. Submission isn't forced, it has to be the choice of the one submitting. Submission isn't agreement, you can still have your opinion. Submission doesn't mean you have to leave your brain behind. Submission doesn't mean you have lower worth. Submission doesn't include breaking God's law, if the person over you tells you to do something to do and it goes against God's law you should disobey.
We finished this by looking at Children obeying their parents, which is a command that comes with a promise. If you do it you will enjoy long life on earth and it will go well with you. It is also a command that it tells us that it pleases God (Colossians 3:20). So how are you going to start obeying your parents and submit to them?
I give this morning: B+
Favorite Moment: Digging a hole with the advice to marry an ugly wife
Friday, April 2, 2010
Truth and Dare -- Wednesday, March 31st
Tonight we switched things up and had no group time and no worship time. Instead we started things with a klondike bar memory verse game. Then went straight to a egg hunt. After that was done we all had to take an egg and hold it till the end of service. We started the message by playing a game of truth or dare. After this we talked about three young Israelite men who had been carried into captivity. They had worked their way up into leadership but then were faced with a big choice. The king had constructed a golden statute for all the leaders to bow to, if they didn't they would die. The three men decided that they would not bow and they were brought to the king who told them he would kill them if they didn't. We read their response in Daniel 3:13-18, in which they tell the king they are willing to die rather than bow to anyone or anything but God. He throws them into a furnace but they end up not dying because God saves them. So what does that mean for us?
We are to be both truth and dare people. We should know the truth, we should speak truth, we should live out truth. We should dare to be different for God, we should dare to stand up for what is right, and we should dare to trust God. Both truth and dare stretch us from our natural way and both can help us grow in our relationship with God. We were then challenged to open the eggs, which had a dare for the week that would stretch us in our relationship with God.
I give tonight: A
Favorite Moment: Makeup between brothers (Alex and Nic)
We are to be both truth and dare people. We should know the truth, we should speak truth, we should live out truth. We should dare to be different for God, we should dare to stand up for what is right, and we should dare to trust God. Both truth and dare stretch us from our natural way and both can help us grow in our relationship with God. We were then challenged to open the eggs, which had a dare for the week that would stretch us in our relationship with God.
I give tonight: A
Favorite Moment: Makeup between brothers (Alex and Nic)
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