To Boldly Go! #1: Pray and Give -- 041112

Tonight we started our new series for the month called: To Boldly Go!  Over the last six weeks we have talked about a survey of the Bible.  For those of you here last week we talked about the epilogue, that Jesus was returning but that we have jobs until He returns.  One of those jobs is what this sereis is about: To Boldly Go!  We are called by God to be active "amabassadors" in our world, tryin gto get people to get back into a good relationship with God.  This mission is given in 3 parts by our denomination: Pray, Give, Go.  We will be talking about Pray and Give tonight because they both focus on other who are doing the mission already, then next week we will talk about us going on the mission personally.  The third week we have a special speaker who has just gotten back from going. 

Paul, a missionary in the arly church writes this to Christians ina  church and I think missionaries today would ask the same.  Ephesians 6:19-20.  We are to be praying boldly (which means without fear) for our missionaries.  Asking God to help those who are on the mission to accomplish their calling, and help them accomplish it more effectively.  it is a big responsibility, but it is worthwhile and needed. 

2nd Corinthians 9:6-13.  We are to give boldly (without fear) to our missionaries, so they can do their job more effectively.  This passage gives us several things to keep in mind with our giving:  #1.  Give generously.  #2.  When we give generously, God helps us out and rewards us, so that we can give even more.  #3.  We should determine what we are to give, and give it cheerfully not out of guilt or coercion.  #4.  Not only does your giving help the missionary it brings others closer to God.

You are a vital part of this mission to Boldly Go and change our world, and the first part of that is to give and to pray! 

I give tonight: C+
Favorite Moment: Easter Egg Challenges

The Greatest Sci-Fi Novel #6: Epilouge -- 040412

Tonight we finished off our series about the Bible by talking about the epilouge, not that there will be a new Bible written, but rather that Jesus has promised He would return.  An epilogue is the final part of the book that ties up loose ends and plants a seed for a coming sequel.  It gives you a sneak peek at what is coming next in the overall story, and it is supposed to keep you engaged until the next book arrives.  Acts 1:6-11 gives us the epilogue.  In it Jesus tells his disciples they are now to go into the whole world, with the Holy Spirit's help, and preach the good news.  Then he ascends into heaven and it is foretold he would return the same way he left.  This is the sneak peek into what is to come.  We don't know when Jesus will return (mt. 24:36) but we know everyone will know it when he does (mt. 24:23-27).  This will be at the end of the world as we know it, and the beginning of eternity with our destiny of choice.  So we know He is coming and we wait in eager anticipation.  2nd Peter 3:10-14 tries to keep us egaged until Jesus returns.  It asks the vital question: How we ought to live?  It answers by saying holy and godly lives, doing what he has called us to do.  We are called to be transformers.  Situational Transformers (taking care of those in need and standing up for justice), Soul Transformers (converting people), and Self Transformers (purifying our lives).  Are you excited for his return?  What will you do in order to be ready?  What will you stop doing and start doing?  What will you do in order to help yourself not lose focus on his coming? 

I give tonight: B
Favorite Moment: Taking communion together

The Greatest Sci-Fi Novel #5: Resolution -- 032812

Tonight we continued our study of the Bible by looking at the resolution.  The resolution, also known as the Denouement is the point in which the conflict is revealed to be resolved and there is an unravelling of the knots of the plot.  In fact denouement is the combonation of two words which mean to untie a knot. 

In the beginning we had a conflict arise between God and humans, so they couldn't have a close relationship anymore, sin had tied us up with knots so that we couldn't escape, because of this we are destined to die and go to hell.  But God had a plan to untie those knots of sin, and it involved Him coming to earth and dying for us, talking our sin upon Himself, this was the climax of the book we talked about last week.  Then Jesus was buried, everyone on earth, and even Satan, thought the plan had failed, but God's plan had actually worked.  Early on that following Sunday morning Jesus rose from the grave, alive!  The resurrection of Jesu was the resolution to the conflict.  It proved that Jesus had defeated sin and death, he had untied the knot of sin that was keeping God and humanity apart.  We could have a close relationship with him again, and we oculd go to eternity with him instead of hell when we die.  Denouement means untying a knot.  Your life is in a knot if you haven't made Jesus your God.  You are tied up in your sins and have no way to escape.  But Jesus' death and resurrection has provided a way to have those sins untied and give us freedom, allw e have to do is repent and make him our God.  Are you ready for him to untie your knots?  Just ask.

I give tonight: A++
Favorite moment: Pastor Alex being all tied up during the service

The Greatest Sci-Fi Novel #4:Climax -- 032112

Tonight we continued our study of the Bible called the Greatest Sci-Fi Novel (see post #1 in this series to understand this).  Tonight we talked about the climax of the book.  The climax is the point of highest dramatic tension or the major turning point in the action.  The climax of the Bible is the death of Jesus on the cross.  One place this is talked about is Mattthew 27:32-50.  This is the turning point, the point when everything changes.  He died, taking our sin upon himself, and our punishment so that we could have a relationship with God again.  He solved the conflict, but at the time no one knew that.  Instead, during that moment everyone thought this was a big failure.  Why?  Because at that point, many believed the Messiah would come but they thought He would be a military leader who would lead Israel out of slavery to Rome and reestablish them as a great kingdom.  They were expecting a fighter, and when Jesus was arrested, beaten, and then killed, he had failed in a very complete way for those expecting a fighter, because he didn't even try putting up a fight.  When we get to next week, you will get this more, but this moment of "failure" that was a horrible death, wasn't what it seemed, because what God's enemy intended as evil, he took and exchanged it for something good. 

My greatest failure was my addiction to internt pornography.  God din't like that I failed, he didn't approve of what I was doing, but since that point I have repented and turned this area of my life over to Him.  Since then God has taken my failure and used it for good things, he has helped my story and failure change the life of at least one other so they could find freedom and become whole again.  God took what was a failure and exchanged it for something good.  He can do that with your failures too.

I give tonight: A+
Favorite Moment: Glow sticks for failures

The Greatest Sci-Fi Novel #3 -- Rising Action: 031412

Tonight we continued our look at the greatest book, the Bible by looking at the third thing that makes a book well written: Rising Action.  Rising action is th epoint in the book in which things are leading our characters toward a climax.  It is the point in which the path to the solution starts to make a little more sense.  In The Hobbit the rising action is what takes place after Bilbo is hired to help get the mountain and treasure back from the dragon.  He and his group go through many adventures and Bilbo embraces his role as hero.  He gets into the mountain using a map and is able to stand safely before the dragon because of the ring that makes him invisible.  He is able to determine what to do in order to defeat the dragon.  The solution is now out and we are very close to the climax so that the conflict can be resolved.  Now there was a plan, it was just a matter of waiting for the timing to be right.

In the Bible the rising action is anything from Genesis 4 to the death of Jeesus.  We see Noah and his family survive a worldwid flood, we see a man named Abraham chosen by God to have a future descendant bless the whole world, we see a man named Jacob chosen by God to be the father of a nation (Israel) that will have that offspring that will bless all people, we see prophet after prophet foretell the coming of this person who will restore relationship with God and man, and we see Israel fall apart but God sitll promise there is one coming to solve the conflict. There was a plan in place, it was just a matter of waiting for the timing to be right.

Galatians 4:4-6 tells us that the right time did come and Jesus was born, as we see in Luke 2:1-12.  And it is proclaimed that this child would be the one that everyone had waited for to solve the conflict that seperated God and man.  There are some of you who are having a very difficult time in your life and you want God to solve it...know this, God has a plan, he has a solution, it is just a matter of time.  So what should we do while we wait for the time to be right?  #1.  Pray, #2. Have Patience, #3. Trust, #4. Get others to pray with us.

I give tonight: A-
Favorite Moment: Sharon's two innapporpriate comments

The Greatest Sci-Fi Novel #2 -- Foreshadowing: 030712

Tonight we continued our study of the bible as a great novel, trying to get a quick overview of what is all about.  Tonight we talked about the need for foreshadowing in a great book.  In sci-fi novels it can be a prophecy, a poem, a statement from one of the characters that later comes about.  Forewshadowing is the part that tries to show that there is resolve coming to the conflict, it gives you bits and pieces to expect later on so that you have hope in a good outcome.  We used the book Two Towers to show a case of this in a sci-fi novel.  In it Gandalf tells the people in Helms Deep to look for his coming at the dawn of a certain day.  The people there end up trapped by an overwhelming force and they know they are about to be destroyed, but then they see the light of dawn and are reminded of the promise of Gandalf, thus reminding them there is hope that there is someone coming to save them...which he does.

In the Bible there are a lot parts from Genesis-Malachi (the Old Testament) that accomplish this part of the great book, foreshadowing, which is done in the Bible through a process called prophecy.  The first prophecy is Genesis 3:15 in which we learn that from the very beginning that God has a plan to resolve this conflict that has driven a wedge between God and man.  In isaiah 53:1-12 we get another of those prophecies of a coming solution, a suffering servant who would get crushed for us, heis purpose to restore our relationship with God by taking way our sins.  This should bring us hope.

For youth group we asked you to bring your name and the meaning of your name.  In the Bible names often carry with them the idea that they mean something about who they are and what they were to do.  So Moses means "to draw out" because it describes who he is, he was drawn out of the water by his adopted mom, and who he was to become, the one who would draw his people out of slavery in Egypt.  In Isaiah 7:14 we find a foreshadowing of the promised savior and he is named Immanuel which means "God with us".  This was to show who he was, God literally with us on earth, but also who he was to become, God with us even now.  He is standing beside us even during the most difficult times, he resides in us when we get saved.  Don't forget, no matter how difficult the time you are going through Jesus is standing beside you.  And that should bring you hope!

I give tonight: A+
Favorite Moment: Times of Ministry for Students

The Greatest Sci-Fi Book #1 -- Exposition: 022212

Tonight we began a long (6 weeks) series about the Bible, it is entitled: The greatest sci-fi novel.  But not because the Bible is a sci-fi book, instead we are using The Hobbit as our great sci-fi novel and using the Bible as a book of truth (thought I would clarify that before we go to far).  Every good book as different parts (exposition, foreshadowing, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution, and an epilogue that leads to a sequel).  The Bible has all these parts, and though not a sci-fi book, it is a book of truth tha can change your life. 

Exposition introduces the protagonists (main characters) and the antagonists (those opposed to the main characters).  It introduces the conflict and gives the background and the setting for the rest of the book.  Genesis 1-3 is the expositional part of the Bible.  In it we learn who the protagonists are (God and man), who the antagonists are (satan and sin), what the conflict is (Satan tempts Adam and Eve to sin, causing a wedge to divide God and them from a close relationship, death enters the world), the background of the main characters (God has always been and is powerful enought to create everything, he intended everything to be good, man was created in his image, we are made to have relationship with each other and with God, we were intended to be perfect and live forever), and it gives us the setting for the rest of the book (the universe and specifically the earth that God created.  It is where the conflict started and where it will end).

We were created fora  relationship with people and with God.  You might feel alone and as though you are seperated from God and other people.  You don't have to be alone, God wants to restore your relationship with him and hwen you havea  good relationship with him you will be able to restore healthy relationships with people.  How do you get that relationship back?  That is what the next 5 weeks of the study are all about, but let me give you the end of the story.  Jesus sacrificed himself on the cross to restore relationship between you and God.  He was prefect and because of that was able to take your sins upon himself, taking your punishment.  All you have to do is believe and aks for forgiveness, making him your God.  When you do so, and really mean it, your relationship will start to be restored (then it is just a matter of spending time with him and obeying him in order to continue building that relationship).  You won't be seperated from him anymore.

I give tonight: A+
Favorite Moment: Having Jana back for the night.

Villains #2: Satan -- Lying vs. Honesty

Tonight we finished our villains series by looking at the biggest villain of all: Satan.  Satan was an angel created by God, who desired God's postion, tried to lead a rebellion against God with angels he had convinced to follow him, and end up getting thrown out of heaven.  At first he is refered to as Lucifier, meaning light bearer.  But the other names used for him truly reveal his character.  Satan (adversary), Devil (slanderer), Beelzebub (lord of the flies), Belial (good for nothing), Accuser of our brothers, Ancient serpent, Destroyer, Enemy, Evil one, Father of lies, God fo this age, Great dragon, Roaring lion, Murderer, One who leads the whole world astry, prince of this world, ruler of the kingdom of the air, Spirit at work in those who are disobedient, and Tempter.  The first mention of him is int he garden of Eden, where he tempst eh first man and woman to disobey God.  Why would he do this?  Maybe, like so many others, he made bad decisions and was headed toward punishment, so he was trying to drag everyone else down to be punished as well.  Jesus, in John 8:44, tells us that he is a liar, who speaks his native language when he is lying, and that he is the father of lies.  When I was in youth group one teaching that I really remember was a pastor telling us, "Satan is not your friend"  He doesn't want anything good for you, and if at the time it seems good, just wait it will turn into a trap for you.  He is a liar and will do anything to make you believe his lies so you will be drawn away from god and get thrown into hell with him.

When it comes to liars other than Satan, there are two things we should do.  #1.  Avoid, stop beliving them and keep away from them.  If you don't you will either believe more lies or you will start to act like them and becomea liar yourself.  #2.  Learn from them.  In Pslam 31:5 we learned that our God is is an honest God, so we should be honest because God is honest.  IN Proverbs 12:22 we find out that God delights in honest lips, we should be honest because God likes it.  In John 8:32 Jesus stell us that truth will set us free.  We should be honest becuase it is good for us, it gives us less stress and helps us to live a better life in which we are trusted by those around us.

I give tonight: A-
Favorite Moment: OK Go Video

Villains #1 -- Judas Iscariot: 020812

Tonight we started a new series that is all about villains of the Bible.  Tonight we talked about Judas Iscariot.  A villia is a person who deliberately opposes a hero in action and in character.  Judas was from Kerioth, a small town in Judea, thus the Iscariot part of his name, identifying his hometown.  He bacame a follower of Jesu and was one of the 12 disciples, the closest followers of Jesus.  He was even put in charge of the money bag for the group.  But Judas was a villain.  He was a theif, stealing fromt he money that had been entrusted to him to caretake.  He was a betrayer, giving Jesus up for arrest and execution.  All this despite Jesus pouring his life into him, showing him miracles, allowing him a place of trust, and teaching him.

When we encounter a betrayer we should do two things: Avoid and Learn from.  There are many types of betrayal.  Someone who gossips and telsl a secret we told them, someone who doesn't stick by your side in difficult times, someone who makes fun of you behidn your back, or even someone who doesn't do what they promised to do.  When we encounter someone that betrays we shouldn't tell them our secrets any more, we shouldn't be come their close friend, we should love them put don't become too close to them, instead avoid them. 

God is a good God, not a villain.  God is faithful not a betrayer.  We should follow his example.  Be faithful rather than a betrayer.  Be a faithful friend in all circumstances.  Don't gossip secrets, don't aboand people during the difficult times, don't mock people behind their back, and keep your promises to them.  Be a faithful follower of Christ.  How can we be faithful?  Ask God for help in being faithful, set in your mind at the start that you will be faithful, and when difficulties do arise continue to reaffirm that promise of faithfulness.  The outcome is that you will have better and stronger relationships with others and with God.

I give tonight: B-
Favorite Moment: Saying Goodbye

How to Be Hero #4: Follow Your Destiny -- 020112

Tonight we finished our how to be a hero series by looking at the final thing we need to commit to: following our destiny.  We started by reading from Psalm 139:13-16.  From it we learned for important things.  #1.  God made you!  God doesn't make mistakes, people do, but God doesn't.  The Bible continually tells us that God created all things, including us.  If those two things are true that means that you were made by God and that you are no mistake, He wants you here on this earth.  #2.  God made you wonderful!  This doesn't mean that you are made without a flaw, but that He crated you the way He wanted you.  When a man and a woman havea  baby together there are 10 to the 200 possible combinations of their genes, thust hat many possible different babies that could be concieved.  You are literally one in billions.  But it was no accident that you were the one that was born, God chose you to be how you are, flaws and all.  #3.  God knew you before you were born!  God had you in mind at creation, knowing you would one day come along.  God had you in mind when he was on the cross, knowing you would need salvation.  God knew you while you were in the womb and loved you.  You might have been a surprise or accident to your parents, but not to God.  #4.  God has a destiny for each person!  You may feel like your life is pointless and without a destiny, but when God looks at you, He sees a person created with a destiny in this life.  He created you to be a hero, with specific things to accomplish, and he will walk besie you as you do so.  God has a destiny for you.  Are you willing to follow that destiny?

I give tonight: A
Favorite moment: Called to McDonalds