Vacation, anniversary and a revelation...

As my wife began our vacation this past Sunday, I had a bitter/sweet feeling of being gone for an entire week. Though I believe in time away, both for rest, relaxation and rejuvenation as well as caring for my family/wife, I often find it hard to leave the ministry - namely the students! However, rest assured, as I am, that things are running just as smoothly, if not more so, in my absence with Dylan, Kathryn and Elizabeth faithfully plugging along. I will be in constant prayer for all our wonderful students, our volunteer leadership and staff; and I would invite all who read this to be about that same business!

With this vacation not only comes time away, but also Amy and I's 2 year anniversary. They (whoever they are) say that the first 2 years are the hardest. If that is the case then praise God b/c we've had a great time thus far! I thank God for Amy as she compliments me so well - if nothing else Amy is a testimony to God's absolute sovereignty b/c I'm sure there is nobody else who could put up with my continued shenanigans. As we celebrate 2 years [today actually - I expect presents when I return :)] I look forward to where and into what adventures God is going to lead us into in the coming years. Yet, in this time we are having an absolute blast serving the students and families @ CRPC.

However, in all this I've had a revelation. It has finally occurred to me how needy and desperate I actually am. I have mentally consented to this for some time now, but through certain events that have taken place thus far, I am sure in the depths of my soul that this is the absolute case. This has driven me to a deeper understanding of myself and of God - and I praise Him for making me privy to all this.

However, I am now being overtaken by my family... so more about this later!

For His Kingdom...

Lesson Synopsis for June 24 & 25 with questions

All Peoples Guide to the Universe: Scripture our Guide for Life

Walk away point: Our lives often demonstrate that we hold more valuable what the world says over what God says and that needs to change.

One of the most tragic occurrences in the world at large, but sadly even in our churches, is that many have lost trust in the sufficiency and relevancy of the Bible. In the minds of countless people, the Bible is just an outdated book. Not only is the Bible treated as irrelevant in our day by non-Christians, but many professing Christians have lost the deep conviction of solaScriptura (scripture as the authority for Christian faith). I have no question that people in the church and abroad believe the bible contains some truth. But I believe we’d be hard pressed to find a majority of professing Christians who believe the Bible is absolute truth or total truth. A good deal of what we believe, the methods we employ and perspectives we hold, come from other sources than the Bible. Many would sooner believe what a university professor would say or maybe a scientist or a doctor since they are the supposed leading scholars and authorities on truth. In this lesson, we want to challenge the students to ask critical questions of themselves as to whether they really believe that the Bible is from God, is true, reliable, inerrant and so forth. While God can be known in some ways through creation he has "added the light of his Word in order that he might make himself known unto salvation."[1] Calvin compares Scripture to being like a pair of spectacles, that enable us to properly interpret what we see in creation:

“For as the aged, or those whose sight is defective, when any book, however fair, is set before them, though they perceive that there is something written, are scarcely able to make out two consecutive words, but, when aided by glasses, begin to read distinctly, so Scripture, gathering together the impressions of Deity, which, till then, lay confused in our minds, dissipates the darkness, and shows us the true God clearly.” [1]

For the Christian, the Bible should be our rule for life, the guide we follow. I have no doubt that many profess belief in the Bible, I just know that when it comes to actively applying the truth of God’s word to how we make decisions, what we do or even how we think, we very often fall short.

[1] Calvin, John. “The Need of Scripture, as a Guide and Teacher, in Coming to God as Creator.”
The Institutes of the Christian Religion. Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 2008.

Questions:
1. What has been the most important decision you have had to make up until this point in your life?

2. When you made this decision where did you look for help in making the decision? How did the choice or decision go for you?

3. How often do you apply the Bible to your life (how you should act) or in decision making?
Depending on your answer why or why not?

4. How often do those you ask for advice, whether family or friends, bring you to the bible for
guidance or instruction?

5. Why do you think we don’t turn to the Bible for help in how we are to act in particular situation or in decisions we make?

6. How would a better understanding and application of the bible help you to be different from the world (worldliness) and make a difference in the world?

The Avondale Project

We here at in the Student Ministries are getting getting on board with the Outreach Department to serve our community through what's being called "The Avondale Project." It's going to be an event that seeks to reach out to the Avondale community by providing a fair-type atmosphere for kids complete with games, activities and events. It will also offer a health fair area and other "ministry" related areas.

The event will be taking place on July 18, 2009 from 11:30am - 3:00pm. The exact location will be provided soon.

So, here's what we're going to be doing!

From now until July 15 we, the Student Ministries, are going to be collecting backpacks and various school items to fill those backpacks. Here is a list of items:

pencils

colored pencils

pens

paper

crayons

safety scissors

glue

folders

etc.

Starting this Sunday we will have a bin out in "Gangway" for students to start bringing in backpacks or any of these other items. All items must be new.

Please encourage our students to be involved with us in this community re:newing event!

For His Kingdom...

Mid-week lesson 2 (6/17 - 6/18)

"www.what-in-the-world.com"

Preparation for lesson: Read chapter 2 & 3 of Unfashionable.

Walk away point: Against the World for the World

The World asks, “Are you Christians for or against us?” The Church responds by saying, “Yes!”

In this weeks lesson we are going to discuss the helpful distinctions made between the uses of the word “world” in the Bible. Rightly understanding these distinctions will enable us to understand the churches place in the world and much of the Christian’s life in the world. When reading the bible, one can become confused because some of the language is seemingly contradictory. What we need to understand is that there are multiple meanings of the word world in the bible. The original language distinguishes between the meanings but when translated to English there is only one word to describe them, “world”. Let’s look quickly at some passages that have different usages of the word world in the Bible.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:15-17)

“You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (James 4:4)

“Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you.” (2 Corinthians 6:17)

“And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” (Mark 16:15)

When we read these verses it seems that the Bible is practicing double talk. Three helpful categories will help us tell the difference between the way “world” is applied in the bible.

1. World as the created order

2. World as the human communities

3. World as the sinful ways of humanity

When the bible calls us to be at odds with the “world” it’s referring to this third category. If we look again to 1 John 2:15-17 Paul isn’t calling us to be against the created order (peoples places and things), but against “the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions” which could be described as worldliness. We aren’t called to show displeasure toward people (your neighbors), places (Ft. Lauderdale) or things (buildings & baseballs), but we show our displeasure toward sin and worldliness. Worldliness can be described as the sinful misdirection of God’s good creation. For example a knife in and of itself isn’t a bad thing. Yet, a knife in the hands of a malicious person could be perceived as a bad thing. But, before we go calling a knife bad, what has changed about that knife? Nothing! So it’s not that the knife is bad, but it’s the misuse of the knife for evil or bad. Actually, in and of itself the knife is neither good or bad. The improper use of a thing does not invalidate the proper use of a thing. So the Christian is to live against worldliness.

This begs the question, “How are we for the world?” Christians are living for the world when they live according to God’s ways and communicate God’s truth in the world. In doing this the Christian acts as salt and light. It is for the world’s good that we fight against every sinful motive, action, desire...

So, as Christians we are to be for the world against the world (or worldliness), putting on godliness and putting off worldliness.

Questions:

1. What is your favorite thing (possession) or thing to do (activity) in the whole entire world?

Sample answers:

• I love my car, I love my books, I love my computer, I love my pet, I love my collection of...

• I love to play sports, I love to read, I love watching beautiful sunsets, I love to spend time with friends and family, I love to draw, I love watching TV, I love rafting or kayaking, I love worshipping God.

2. In (1 John 2:15) we read that we are not to love the world or the things in it. How can we understand these verses when we also read in (John 3:16) that God so loved the world... How can we love the world and at the same time not?

Sample answer:

• We have to understand what it is we are supposed to appreciate about the world and what we are should be opposed to in the world Created Order vs. Worldliness

3. When the bible talks negatively about the world it often speaks about wrong desires or the misuse of good gifts that God has given (read context of 1 John 2:15-17). What are some ways we misuse God’s good gifts?

Sample answers:

• We selfishly use money (problem of greed)

• We use our words to hurt not help

• We use people to get what we want

4. How does knowing Jesus as Savior and Lord help us to resist worldliness and at the same time give us a greater love for His world?

Sample answers:

• We learn through the Bible how to make use of the gifts God has given and how to appropriately enjoy them.

All We Need is Love, Love, Love...

This past Sunday I had the privilege of leading our wonderful high school students in a discussion on "love."

We began our time by talking about how flippantly we throw about the word "love" in our daily life. We say we love things like "chocolate" or "the color purple"; or places and things like "Cheesecake Factory" or "Brad Pitt." Yet, when we blurt this kind of thing out we rarely consider the weight of what we are saying. This is b/c, for the most part, our notion of love is so weak that we just assume that if we really like something we therefore "love" it. But this should not be so! We, as Christians, should of all people have a much higher view of love.

So, we decided to try and come up with a working idea or definition of love. Let me just say, we all fell woefully short of a good one. I then played for the students a song by a Christian hip-hop group, Mars Ill, called "Love's Not." It speaks about what love is by affirming what it's not. However, it's the last line, the one that proclaims what love is, that I think is absolutely beautiful.

"Love is blood and body, bread and water

remember the time,

Love is God divine,

crucified for mankind"

This is "love!" This is what the Scriptures say love is. It's not a feeling or fashion - it's Christ! Jesus is love personified. He is what defines love for us. As we discussed this, we looked at how this should affect how we love God and love others. This should also make us think twice about how easily we let the word "love" roll off our tongues.

From here we mulled over our need to properly love God and others. This is our call; it was how Jesus lived and how He calls us to live as well.

For His Kingdom...

Summer Kick-off's

We had a fantabulous time this past Wednesday and Thursday @ our official "Summer Kick-offs!!!"

We hung out, played some games - some serious dodge ball on Wednesday - and dove right into a study of Pastor Tullian's book "Unfashionable."

I hope everyone had a grand time and will continue to come out throughout the Summer.  Also, we hope and pray that it will be so exciting that our students will start bringing their friends - sweet!!!

I'd like to extend a huge "thank you" to all the volunteer leadership that came out and helped make the 2 nights a success.  We could not have done it without you.

Until next time - stay in the shade, it's hot out there!

For His Kingdom...

M.S. Talking Points for 6/14/09

Here are some points you (parents) may wish to converse with you student(s) about.

 - What are the 5 points of the "cycle of the judges"? - discussed them last week

 - Why does God continue to have mercy on the Israelites?  Us?  - His covenant faithfulness

 - What was Deborah confident in? - God / What was Sisera confident in? - his chariots

 - Who was praised for the victory? - God / What victories can we praise God for?

For His Kingdom...

"What a Mess"

This past Sunday we had a ball in middle school Sunday education!  We had a ton of middle schoolers all gathered to look at Scripture together (some more than others of course).  

We began our time by way of review.  We briefly scanned the history of the children of Israel from Abraham to the time of Joshua.  We looked especially at God's Covenant with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the whole of the children of Israel.  

This review landed us in the Promised Land just before the time of the Judges.  We especially noted that God is always faithful to His Covenant.  Yet, we, like the Israelites, often break that Covenant.  Such was the case at this particular time in Israel's history.  It was in deed a mess of a time.

The children of Israel were keeping the Covenant while Joshua was alive and even unto the time after Joshua while his elders were still alive.  However, the elders eventually died and the text tells us that the next generation arose and had no knowledge or memory of God and His work among the children of Israel.  Thus, they did evil in God's sight and turned away from Him to follow after pagan gods.  

What a mess!  

This is one of the most distressing parts of Scripture for me as a Student Leader to read.  This is because the generation I am working with have the very real possibility of being described in this way.  Thus, we here in the Student Ministries, by God's grace, are spending ourselves in the service of His students, "the next generation."  It is our earnest hope and prayer that the generation we are working with will not be condemned as those who "forgot God," but will be heralded as those who "worship God."

However, this is ultimately out of our control.  For, it is God alone who changes, molds, shapes and orders lives.  We are but His tool and agents and we wish to be well used.  

From this point in our study we begin the "cycle of the Judges."  This is a repeating cycle that is found throughout the book of Judges.  It goes something like this:

- Israel forgets God and does evil in His sight

- God gives them into the hands of their enemy

- The Israelites cry out for help

- God sends them a Judge/Deliverer

- The Israelites are obedient (at least until the Judge dies, then the cycle repeats)

The cycle is more than just a pithy way of reading the book of Judges, it is a story or picture of our own lives.  

- We have forgotten God and done evil in His sight (covenant breakers).  

- God gives us into the hand of our enemies - our own minds [Rom. 1:24, 25] (our punishment).  

- God's Spirit works in our hearts and we cry out to God for help (repentance).  

- God has sent the ultimate and final Judge/Deliverer - Jesus Christ (God's covenant faithfulness).  

- By faith we are obedient to the covenant through Christ (covenant keepers).  

Thus, we must read these stories and realize that they are not just ancient myths to be read at bedtime.  They are our history, and history has a funny way of repeating itself.  So, look to these stories to see your own needs.  Then turn not to any of the specific judges, but to the one, true Judge - Jesus Christ - and find deliverance.  

For His Kingdom...

Ride the Rapids, have some fun; ride the Rapids everyone!

Today I had the great privilege of joining the 7th and 8th graders of Westminster Academy on their annual Rapids water park excursion. This is my 3rd year going to the Rapids with all my students and each year is just as much fun as the previous one!

I love being able to hang with the students in an environment that is much less abrasive than the church building. I got to have some great conversations with students in lazy river, in line for rides and around the lunch picnic table. For me, this is ministry. Not b/c I was having a blast at a water park all day, but b/c here some of the hierarchical structure of ministry was broken down and the conversation and general opening up was not to Chris the youth leader, but to Chris the mentor and friend. This was both wonderfully encouraging and fearfully humbling all at once.

So, I hope and pray that today's activities were both fulfilled and memorable! I also hope and pray that they were impacting for some of the students I chatted with, b/c they were for me.

Thanks for letting me tag along :)

For His Kingdom...

She'll be coming 'round the mountain...

I love teaching middle school Sunday education (school)!!!

I have a great group of students who are at least most of the time paying some kind of attention to what I'm saying. Even though I have to get onto them at least once every Sunday about focusing and being respectful of, not just me as a teacher, but God whose Word we are studying, I still enjoy them very much. So, to all my students - I love you guys!

As for content...

This past Sunday we looked over Hebrews 12:18-29. Here we find the author making a comparison between the events that took place on Mt. Sinai and Mt. Zion. He presents the comparison in such a way as to make the reader desirous of one of the Mountains over the other - Mt. Zion over Mt. Sinai.

The author paints the picture of Mt. Sinai in colors of grey and black; conjuring up a remembrance the terrible happenings that took place there. He recalls the clouds and thick darkness, the fire and pronouncement of judgment to any (even animals) who would come near enough to touch the mountain. To be sure, Mt. Sinai was the place of God's dwelling in that moment, but it was an abode that produced fear and anxiety and hurled only a promise of judgment.

On the other hand we see the same author using a palette of white and ivory to paint the picture of Mt. Zion. He we see only wonderful and amazing happenings as we encounter angels, God and Christ Himself. At this mountain one finds not judgment, but mercy in the mediating blood of Christ. Those who come are not threatened with death but are promised life! Here also is the dwelling place of God, it is His city, but it is a glorious abode that invokes praise, worship and adoration!

These are the 2 mountains being compared; yet, it is not the mountains alone that the author wishes us to take notice of, but the heralds of those mountains. As Mt. Sinai has for its herald the great Moses, so, Mt. Zion has as its herald the even greater and ever blessed Jesus Christ. As Moses calls for obedience to the law or judgment, Christ, who was completely obedient to the law on our behalf, calls for faith in Himself or judgment. So, as the text says, we must not refuse Christ's call, b/c those who refused even the call of Moses encountered judgment and the call of Christ is an even better, more sure call and will by no means be refused w/o judgment.

From here we looked at how this would take place - the judgment. It will come by another shaking of the earth and even the heavens. This will be the removal of all things that can be shaken - i.e. - all that is not fixed upon Mt. Zion. Thus, the call of Jesus Christ goes out from Mt. Zion for all to come. Come from Mt. Sinai, from Jerusalem, Judea, Africa, Asia and North America; come all to Christ, to a mountain and a Kingdom that cannot be shaken. Come and find forgiveness, salvation and life!

With all of this, we ended by asking "what mountain have you come to?" If we have not come to Mt. Zion; to Christ, then we must. If we have, then we need to be a demonstration community (the church) of what life on that mountain looks like, so that those we encounter from elsewhere will want to join us.

Why?

"For our God is a consuming fire." He will be swift and perfect in judgment. All will once again be shaken by His marvelous voice. So, come to that which is unshakable; come to Christ!

For His Kingdom...