Go To The Head Of The Class -- 061511

Tonight we had special speakers from the J-Walker's group share about their goals in the community and how they plan to effect people's lives for Christ. We then talked about one of our four purposes: Being part of the church (service). We ready from Mark 10:35-45 in which James and John ask Jesus to rule with him, but Jesus points out that they don't understand what the Kingdom of God is like, it isn't about power and position but about servanthood. In fact the greatest person in that kingdom would be a servant of all. 1st Peter 4:10 tells us to uset he gifts and talents God has given us to serve others. Service is a sacrifice of time and engery, but it is what we as Christians are called to do.

I give tonight: B+
Favorite Moment: Who will write your autobiography?

Sorry! -- 060111

Tonight we did a single sermon about apologizing. We used kings David (2nd Samuel 12:1-13) and Saul (1st Samuel 15:1-26) as our how to and how to not people. When we have done something wrong we should do five things:
#1. Ask God for forgiveness
#2. Ask those you hurt for forgiveness
#3. Don't make excuses
#4. Make restitution if needed
#5. Don't do it again

I give tonight: B
Favorite moment: CSI Blooper Reel

Clue #4 -- Freedom: 052511

Tonight we finished our series called Clue. During this series we looked at four ways that the Holy Spirit can affect our lives if we allow him to be part of it. Week 1 taught us that the Holy Spirit can change us from bad to good. Week 2 taught us that the Holy Spirit can use us to change the world. Week 3 taught us that the Holy Spirit can give us direction and guidence. And tonight we learned from a man named Onesimus that we can have freedom because of the Holy Spirit. In the Bible we learn of a man named Onisemus who was a runaway slave that is sent back to his master by the apostle Paul after he has converted Onesimus. Later we find out in christian tradition that he was released by his master and ended up as the Bishop of the Ephesus, a town of about 250,000 people. He was freed from the role of slave but more importantly he was freed from slavery to sin when he was saved and allowed the Holy Spirit to have reign in his life. 2nd Corinthians 3:17 says, "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." Many of us are slaves to sin because we have never gained forgiveness from our sins through Christ (what we call salvation). Many of us are slaves to addictions, things that have latched on and we can't seem to stop doing (drugs, alcohol, sex, porn, tobacco, etc...). And some of us are also slaves to depression. People have hurt us and we are on the brink of life, thining we want to die because we can't take it any longer. But Christ is ready to set you free through the Spirit! You can have freedom, you just have to turn to him!

I give tonight: B
Favorite Moment: The revealing of the prankster

Clue #3 -- Head vs. Heart: 051811

Tonight we studied the life of Paul/Saul as he is transformed by the Holy Spirit. In Acts we learn of Paul being well versed in the scriptures and passionate to keep God's commands but he was still lacking true knowledge of who God was. He hated christians, hunting them down to throw them in jail or kill them. Yet he was transformed on the road to a town called Damascus as Jesus appeared to him, blinding him. Then a disciple of Jesus' named Ananias is sent to heal him and baptized Paul in the Holy Spirit. From this point on Paul was transformed. He didn't just think he knew God, he did. He didn't just think he knew what he was supposed to be doing, he was actually directed by God. We too can find direction from the Holy Spirit, he can give us the guidenance we sorely need. He can also help us to understand and know God better.

I give tonight: B-
Favorite moment: Popcorn!

Clue #2 -- Using What We Are -- 051111

Tonight we continued our series entitled clue in which we are looking at different biblical character's lives and seeing what changed them. Tonight we looked at Peter who went from a brave loudmouth that spoke, sometimes ridiculous, things and turned into ....well a brave loudmouth who changed the world by sharing the message of Christ. In our last message we talked about how God, through the Holy Spirit can change us from going one direction with our actions and attitudes and turns us around 180 degrees. But tonight we talked about how the Holy Spirit, if we allow him to, can take what we already are and use it to do great things.

I give tonight: A
Favorite Moment: Skylor wanting to open the present

Clue #1 -- 180 Degrees -- 050411

Tonight we started a new series called Clue. In this series we are looking for what changed people and thus what can change us. In tonight's message we checked out John the apostle. He went from an angry, jealous, and power hungry individual to becoming a man known for love. So what changed him? He was changed by two things, salvation through belief in Jesus and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. We can have this same 180 degree change in our lives. We can be one way (lying, lust, anger, stubbornness, fear, etc...) and if we allow God to chagne them we can be completely different. We can't do it on our own....only God can chagne us! How? #1. Accept Jesus as your Savior. #2. Invite the Holy Spirit to come in and change you. #3. Tarry (wait and keep praying until God makes that change in you).

I give tonight: B-

Favorite Moment: Group Resplit

Risk #4 -- Risk to Know God: 042711

Tonight we finished our series on Risk. Tonight's risk was the risk to know God. Knowing God is risky because knowing God more will make you want to change and knowing God will take time, effort, and sacrifice. In order to know God we need to first remember two things. #1. We are limited in how much we can know God because he is too great to grasp and fully understand since we are finite and he is infinite. We are also limited by what he has actually shared with us through the bible and the Holy Spirit. #2. We need to know why we want to know him. Philippians 3:7-11 tells us that knowing God is the most important thing, everything else is rubbish compared to it. So how do we know God? We have to study (read the bible, listen to things about God, see what nature teaches us about him, listen and share with others). We have to spend time with him (prayer, make sure you make a plan to do so). We have to continue to spend time with him (make it a daily habit). We have to spend time with him in different situations and times. Finally we have to remind ourselves what we have already learned (writing it down, making a movie, drawing a picture, talking about it, etc...) So why should we do this? #1. It will change your life for the better. #2. It will change the world for the better. #3. It will change your view of the world. #3. It will change your destiny. It is well worth it!

I give tonight: B-
Favorite Moment: Studying Justin Beiber

Risk #3 -- Risk to Love Differently: 042011

Tonight we continued with our Risk series by looking at the risk of loving differently. This is a risk because the way the world loves is the easiest path, though not the best, whereas if we love like God asks us to it will be a struggle. Our verses for the night were 1st John 4:19-21. We are to change who we love as well as how we love. Most people love those who are nice to them and themselves. But God calls us to love everyone and love Him as well. Most people associate love with an emotion, something that just happens that we have no control over, but the Bible teaches us that it is a choice and it is associated ith action. 1st Corinthians 13:4-8 gives us the best description of love: it is patient, kind, doesn't envy, doesn't boast, isn't proud, isn't rude, not self-seeking, isn't easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs, doesn't delight in evil, rejoices with the truth, always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres, and never fails. Why should we take this risk? #1. All people are valuable. #2. God commands us to. #3. It will help to end drama. #4. It helps form our character to be more godly.

I give tonight: C
Favorite moment: "What's Love, Baby Don't Hurt Me!" -- Always fun to sing in front

Risk #2: Risk to Act Differently -- 041311

Tonight we continued our series on risks that you can take that will help change your life as well as the world around you. We talked about the risk to act differently. James 2:14-17 tells us that faith without deeds is a dead faith, useless to us and those around us. We talked about how we change should happen in three forms. First it should change in how we act toward others, things like we should be a servant rather than being served, we should be caring rather than careless about others, and we should be holy rather than heathenistic. Second, it should change how we act around others, meaning that we should act the same no matter who we are hanging out with. Third, it should change how we act alone, the way we act when no one else is around will reveal our true character. Why should we make these changes? God tells us to, all people are valuable, it will help end drama, and it shows others we are christians. I give tonight: A- Favorite Moment: Showing imperfection through sound issues

Risk #1 -- To Speak Differently: 040611

Toinight we started with our first of four weeks on risks. We challenged tonight for you to change how you talk. This really takes two different forms: How we talk with people and How we talk about people. When we are talking about how we talk with people we ar talking about things like: swearing, taking God's name in vain, our attiude when we talk to people, and the topics that we talk about. In each of these God desires us to speak differently than the world around us, using pure language, talking about pure topics, doing it all with kindness and being encouraging. When we are talking about how we talk about people it has to do with things like: Loving instead of mocking, conistency and truthfulness instead of gossip, and building people up instead of tearing them down. So why should we take this risk? #1 All people are valuable, #2 God asks us to, #3 Helps to end drama, and #4 That is what we want for ourselves.

I give tonight: B+

Favorite Moment: Application Time