Driven Junior High Ministry

Jack & Dr Phil - Become the one (October 10 & 11, 2009)

2009-10-05T09:00:00.000-07:00

October 10 & 11, 2009 - Jack & Dr Phil
Become the one
Ruth 3:1-11

Questions:

Why was Boaz attractive to Ruth? What signs show us that Boaz had become the one?
Why was Ruth attractive to Boaz? What signs show us that Ruth had become the one?
How did the fact that both Ruth & Boaz had become the one give their relationship a better chance to succeed? Do you think this same principle applies to our relationships? Why or why not?
How will this change the way your relationships look in the future? How will this change the way your relationships look in the present?
What is the one thing you can do this week to start to become the one?

SUMMARY:
It's tough to meet people and figure out whether we want to be in relationships with them. But instead of frantically looking for "the one," we need to become the one.
We need to stop looking for someone else to complete us or to make us feel important or loved. Instead, like Ruth, we should focus on the ways we can love the people who are already in our lives.

2009-10-03T11:27:00.000-07:00

Jack & Jill - October 3 & 4, 2009
Big Idea: Good looks don't always make you attractive!
Ruth 2:5-13

Questions:

How have you discovered the truth that looks can make you look, but they don't make you attractive? In your opinion, what is the difference between "good looks" and being "attractive"?
What made Ruth attractive to Boaz? Why did he notice her? How did this true attractiveness form the basis of their relationship?
How can you make friendship choices (or dating choices - if that's where you're at) based on true attractiveness and not looks alone? What choices in these areas of your life do you need to make this week?
How can you start to become more attractive? What are some specific ways you can do this starting this week?

SUMMARY:
Ruth risked her entire life and love to serve someone else. Good looks don't always make you attractive. But a mission greater than yourself makes you incredibly attractive, as Ruth and Boaz discovered.
As followers of Christ, we claim to have the greatest love of all. This great love changes our lives, and it affects the way we live and the way we treat others, especially in relationships. It's tempting for us to believe our culture's message about where real beauty and real attractiveness comes from.
You are looking for people who are real, who are attractive because they love and are loved by God and others, and who live in and live out great love.

Its 242 time again!! - Notes for September 12 & 13, 2009

2009-08-23T07:21:00.000-07:00

First of all, here is a link to the extended 242 notes... use what you want of it! :)
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AbZ5hIkKUoYUZGNzcms1ODNfMGhqdmRnY2M3&hl=en

Next... Here are the 242 notes for the weekend of September 12 & 13

Checkpoint: Authentic Faith
Teaching: "Like I Care"
Central Text: 2 Kings 22:1-13
Big Idea: Change Starts Here
Central Truth: World change starts when you change!!

Yes, there is a teaching this weekend - but our goal for the weekend is really for you to get to know your kids. Go through some of those "icebreaker questions", play a game, find out who they are and what their needs are... JUST HAVE FUN!!

But, just in case you want to talk about the teaching - here's some questions for ya:

[encore]

Sometimes a small change can make a big difference. One of the best examples of this comes with typos – small errors in text that completely change the meaning of a word or sentence. Google has recognized this, and the company has made millions of dollars capitalizing on this. Google puts ads on sites that are common typos of popular websites. For example, Google has placed ads on BistBuy.com for consumers that misspell the name of the electronics store Best Buy and on rearthlink.net for surfers who are trying to find earthlink.net. These typos are small, but they completely change the kind of website you find. Use this picture of how small changes make a big difference as background as you move into this week’s questions.

Questions:

What problem did Josiah recognize in 2 Kings 22:1-13? How did he react to this problem?

How did Josiah change personally? How did this change start a greater change throughout the nation of Judah?

What changes do you see need to be made in the world? How easy or difficult is it for you to see these changes?

What changes do you need to make in your life based on the changes you see that need to be made in the world? How is God calling you to make these changes personally? How can you make these changes in your life?

How will world change start when you change in these areas? Can you serve as an inspiration to the people around you? How can you challenge the people around you by the changes you are making? How can God make more of the changes that you make in your life than you could ever make?

[take it home]

Make a change this week. Through our lesson and group session, God has probably showed you several changes that you need to make in your life. Choose one of these changes and do what it takes to make it this week.

July 11th/12th – The Journey: Holy Spirit

2009-07-12T10:46:00.000-07:00

The Ministry Of The Holy Ghost (Matt. 3:11; John 14:16-17; Acts 1:8, 2:4, 2:38-39, 19:1-7)

EVERY BELIEVER SHOULD BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, WITH SPEAKING IN TONGUES AS THE INITIAL PHYSICAL EVIDENCE.

Acts 19:1-7 (Paul baptizing (in the Holy Ghost) those who had already been baptized with water.)

Acts 2:4

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

DURING THIS AGE, HE INDWELLS, INSTRUCTS AND EMPOWERS THE BELIEVER FOR GODLY LIVING AND SERVICE.

Acts 1:8

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judaea, in Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth

THE HOLY GHOST IS A GIFT FROM THE FATHER.

Acts 2:38

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

THE PRESENT DAY MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS TO COMFORT AND GUIDE THE BELIEVER.

John 14:16

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.

THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY GHOST

1- ALL SHOULD BE FILLED AND SPEAKING.

2- HE INSTRUCTS AND EMPOWERS US.

3- HE COMFORTS AND GUIDES US.

Spirit Filled & Regular Prayer Life

EVERY BORN AGAIN, SPIRIT-FILLED BELIEVER SHOULD MAINTAIN A CONSISTENT PRAYER LIFE BY PRAYING REGULARLY WITH THE UNDERSTANDING AND IN THEIR HEAVENLY LANGUAGE. (Heb. 12:14; 1 Thess. 5:23; 2 Peter 3:18; 2 Cor. 3:18; Phil. 3:12-14; 1 Cor. 1:30)

Heb. 12:14

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

1 Thess. 5:23

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 3:18;

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen

2 Cor. 3:18

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Phil. 3:12-14

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

1 Cor. 1:30

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

Wise Choices that Accent Our Lives: Successories

2009-04-29T20:27:00.000-07:00

May 2nd & 3rd - Humility: Arrogance is the pits

Core Scripture:
Genesis 7:6-35

Memory Verse:
Proverbs 16:18 (AMP) "Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall."

Discussion Questions:

How was Joesph arrogant? What were some of the factors that led him to be arrogant? What was the result of Joseph's arrogance? How did this contribute to his trip to the pits?
What are some of the ways we display arrogance? What reasons do we use as excuses for our arrogance?
What problems can result from our arrogance? How can this lead us into the "pits"? How has this happened in your life? Are there any specific relationships in your life that have been damaged by arrogance?
What will it look like for us to live with humility? What is humility? How can we develop humility in our lives? What Wise Choices must we make to grown in humility?
In what specific situations do you need to show humility right now? How can you do this? What practical steps do you need to take?

Bottom Line:

Jacob's favoritism and Joseph's arrogance had created a recipe for jealousy, and this soon took a disastrous form as Joseph's life took a dark turn. Joseph found out the hard way that arrogance is the pits.
Humility does not mean we will become doormats. It didn't for Joseph; he actually ended up as a ruler. But no matter where he was, he had a realistic view of who he was. He knew that God was in control, not him.
Let us move away from arrogance and instead make the Wise Choice to humbly follow God in our lives, trusting Him to lift us out of the "pits" and into the good He is up to in our world.

Healthy Friendships - Friends Forever

2009-03-26T06:02:00.000-07:00

March 28 & 29 - Friends Forever "Friends stick with you until the end"

Core Scripture: Ruth 1:1-18

Memory Verse:
"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." 1 John 3:16 (NIV)

Discussion Questions:

Why is it important for us to have friends forever? What real-life examples of this do you know of?
How can you develop friendships that stick? What do you need to do in order to do this?
What kind of friends are the kind that stick with you no matter what? Describe their qualities.
Do you think your closest friends would describe you as a friend that sticks with them? Why or why not?
Describe a time when a friend of yours stuck with you. What did/does that mean to you?

Bottom Line:

While our friendships may take different forms and may be more intimate and closer at some times than others, if we vow to stick with our friends till the end, we really can be friends forever.
Friendships do not have to end. But if a friendship is to survive change, both friends must be committed to making the friendship stick. This is the way friends stick with you till the end. Just imagine how much fuller these kinds of friends will make our lives! And the truth is that learning stickiness in our friendships will help us learn to stick to Christ in our relationship with Him.

Healthy Friendships - "Over My Head"

2009-03-18T05:58:00.000-07:00

March 21st & 22nd - "Over My Head"
Friends don't let friends get in over their hands!

Core Scriptures: 2 Samuel 12:1-14

Memory Verse:
"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ." Ephesians 4:15 (NIV)

Discussion Questions:

Explain a situation when you had to confront a friend about something in their life (without using names). DId you feel like you needed to confront them because they were going to get hurt? Or did you just want to be the one to tell them they were wrong? What happened as a result?
What are some examples of reasons it would be necessary to confront a friend about something that could lead to their harm? What would be the best way to handle the confrontation? How would you do it?
If you were stepping into something over your head, that could hurt you, would you want one of your friends to say something to you about it? Why or why not? How do you thing you would react?
Share an example of a time when a friend confronted you about something. What happened as a result? How did you feel about that friend afterward?

Bottom Line:

Nathan acted as a true friend to David by putting himself on the line to tell David that he was in too deep. The prophet didn't let the king get in over his head.
Confrontation is no fun, but there comes a time when we need to be courageous and tell a friend that he or she is doing something dangerous, risky, or just plain stupid. Friends don't let friends get in over their heads.
We must remember that this is reciprocal. Just as we have to be willing to speak to our friends, we must also be willing to hear our friends when they see us getting in over our heads.
Confrontation is difficult, but it is one of the traits that will take our friendship to the next level. Imagine what our lives will be like if we have these kinds of friends and we ARE these kinds of friends.

Healthy Friendships: Stand By Me

2009-03-11T06:28:00.000-07:00

March 14th & 15th - Stand By Me
Friends stand by each other even when it's hard.

Core Scripture: Matthew 26:36-46

Memory Verse:
"Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family."
Proverbs 18:24 (MSG)

Discussion Questions:

Have you ever faced a situation where a friend really needed you and you "fell asleep at the wheel"? Explain what happened. How did you feel afterwards? What could you have done differently?
Have you ever been the friend who needed someone to stand by you and nobody did? How did that make you feel? Has someone ever been there for you in a tough time? What did that mean to you?
When do you need to stand by your friends? What are some specific ways you can do this? Is there ever a time when you shouldn't stand by a friend? Describe what kind of situation that would be.
How do you "sleep in" with God? How can you stand by Him instead of "sleeping in"?

Bottom Line:

Like all of us, Jesus wanted His friends to be with Him and to help Him get through this difficult experience. But Jesus found His closest friends had not joined Him in His time of difficulty. Instead, they were bystanders, when they should have been standing by Him.
While "sleeping in" is fine, sometimes we will have to "get up early" to be involved in our friends' lives. This is what friends do.
Jumping in can be a scary experience. But if we are going to be good friends, we must be willing to "jump in". We have to be committed to our friends in difficult times as much as in good times. Imagine what your life would be like if you had these kind of friendships. Think about how much comfort and joy you would experience knowing that you didn't have to go through anything alone.

Healthy Friendships: Look Both Ways

2009-03-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

March 7th & 8th - Look Both Ways

Core Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Memory Verse:
"Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:18 (NIV)

Discussion Questions:

Why did Jesus tell this parable? What does this tell us about Jesus' love? What does this tell us about how important love was to Jesus?
What are some of the ways that we show love to our friends? How does this make us go out of our way?
Why is it hard to go out of our way for our friends? What are some of the reasons we tend to be bystanders?
What will need to change in our lives if we want to go out of our way for our friends? How will this change the way we use our time?
How will going out of our way lead our friendships to be healthier and more like Christ?

Bottom Line:

The priest and the Levite remained bystanders, disinterested observers who were more concerned with their own agendas than the stranger. Meanwhile, a Samaritan - a hated stranger - went out of his way to help.
Neighbors go out of their way for each other. This is what a life of Healthy Friendships means - being more concerned with the needs of others than with the completion and success of our own plans.
We need to be aware of what our friends are going through, whether its good or bad. If we can achieve this heightened awareness, we will find it hard to go back to being a bystander.
Let us thank God for being an active God instead of a bystander, and let us imagine what our world can be like if we go out of our way for each other like Jesus went out of His way for us.

ENOUGH: Me Moderation

2009-02-25T07:48:00.000-08:00

True Satisfaction Through Moderation
February 28 & March 1: Me Moderation

Core Scripture: Galatians 5:13-14

Memory Verse:
"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:12-13 (NIV)

Discussion Questions:

Why did Paul tell the Galatians that they had freedom? Why is it important for us to have freedom? Why does God give us freedom?
What did Paul say the Galatians needed to do with their freedom? What are the dangers of having freedom?
What does it look like for us to choose to love others? What are some of the specific ways we can do this?
How can we choose to love others while still taking care of ourselves appropriately? How can we strike this balance in our lives?
What changes do you need to make in your life to choose servant hood over selfishness? How can you start making these choices today?

Bottom Line:

Paul told the Galatians that they should be careful about how they used their freedom. These Christians, like us, had the choice to use their freedom for their own good to serve one another.
In Christ, we have all the freedom we could ever want or need. We can use this freedom to choose to gratify ourselves. But Paul encouraged us to say enough.
It is not wrong to be concerned about your own life. But at some point we have to say enough. Instead of being concerned only with ourselves, we as Christians must also choose to love and serve the people around us.
Instead of allowing our freedom in Christ to become a battleground for selfishness, we should learn to choose we over me.

Media Moderation...

2009-02-18T20:23:00.000-08:00

True Satisfaction Through Moderation: ENOUGH

February 21 & 22 - Media Moderation

Core Scripture:
Matthew 14:13-23

Memory Verse:
"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in path of righteousness for His name's sake. Psalm 23:1-3 (NIV)

Discussion Questions:

What was Jesus doing in this passage? Why do you think He felt the need to unplug? How did Jesus unplug? How do you think unplugging helped Him?
Why do you think we need to practice media moderation? Have you tried to do this in the past? How has this helped you?
What forms of media do we need to stay away from completely? Why do you think we should do this?
What forms of media is it okay for us to use in moderation? What does moderation look like with these forms of media?
How can you say "enough" when it comes to the media in your life? How can you use this time to connect to God and power up instead?

Bottom Line:

Jesus' retreat was a chance for Him to unplug and take a break from the demands of His ministry. He saw the need to recharge, to unplug so He could get powered up.
It's no surprise that so many of us spend large amounts of time plugged in to some sort of media. But as we have seen the past couple of weeks, there comes a time when we have to say "enough".
Even Jesus had to take time to recharge, and in this story we see the importance of unplugging. We can unplug so we can get powered up, disconnecting from media so that we can stay connected to real life with our family and friends and most importantly our God.
When Jesus unplugged from the demands of His ministry. He plugged into the ultimate source of power: connection to the Father. Let us also plug into the power source by connecting with our Father.

February 14th & 15th Notes

2009-02-09T09:00:00.000-08:00

True Satisfaction Through Moderation: ENOUGH
This week - Meal Moderation

Core Scripture: Exodus 16:4-21

Memory Verse: "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Discussion Questions:

What crisis did the Israelites face in this passage? Why did they need food? How did God give them food? What method did he use?
Do you think God cares about how much or how little you eat? Why or why not?
Why do you think God cares about what you do with your physical body?
What are some times when we need to put down the fork? Is this hard for you? What steps do you need to take to live in meal moderation?
What are some times when we need to pick up the fork? Is this a struggle for you? What steps do you need to take to live with meal moderation?

Bottom Line:

While we may not gether manna for our meals, we have to learn when to put down our forks - or our diets - and say "enough". Meal moderation isn't just about our health; it's about our spirit, just as it was for the Israelites.
Meal moderation can also be about picking up the fork. When we are dissatisfied with our bodies to the point that we starve ourselves, it shows that we don't believe that God has made us beautiful creations.
Society sees body image through one lens, but it's time for us to refocus and look through a different lens. Meal moderation encourages us to examine our sights and learn to see the world as God sees it. Imagine how much more we would appreciate others and how much more we would enjoy our lives - and our food - if we did this. So let us all seek to trust God at the table.

February 7th & 8th Notes

2009-02-06T12:04:00.000-08:00

True Satisfaction Through Moderation: ENOUGH!!
This week - Moral Boundaries

Core Scripture: Mark 12:41-44

Memory Verse: "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment." 1 Timothy 6:17 (NIV)

Discussion Questions:

What did the widow woman give? What was her motivation to give? How much of a sacrifice was her gift?
Why did Jesus value the widow's gift more? What does this tell us of Jesus' attitude toward money and possessions?
Why is it important for us to practice money moderation in our lives? What problems could we encounter if we obsess over money and possessions?
What will it look like for you specifically to say "enough" when it comes to money and possessions? What is at least one practical way you can do that this week?

Bottom Line:

Sometimes we get so obsessed with wanting more and more things, whether money or material, that we forget it's a blessing to have what we do have. We let this obsession keep us from being content.
We need to learn to say "no" to more things, because if we don't, our stuff can begin to control us.
The lessons we learn with money help us become content. While culture and society tell us to chase more, we can instead rely on the fact that we have enough through God. Thank God that He is everything we need.

January 31st & February 1st - Psalms lead us to listen

2009-01-28T08:49:00.000-08:00

Wisdom: Psalms lead us to listen

Core Scripture:
Psalm 49:1-20

Memory Verse:
James 1:5 (NIV) "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."

Discussion Questions:

What does the Psalmist say is foolishness or deceit when it comes to money? What does the Psalmist say is wise?
How does this Psalm inspire us to listen to wisdom? How does it show us the importance of listening to wisdom?
What are some of the sources of wisdom that we have access to? Which of these do you normally listen to? Which do you need to listen to?
How can you follow the lead of this Psalm by listening to wisdom? How should you act in response to this wisdom?

Bottom Line:

This Psalm revolves around the topic of riches and how people are so prone to put their trust in them. But instead of putting our trust in riches, the psalmist says we should put our trust in God.
The first step to listening to wisdom is that we must admit we don't know everything. Then we must look to the sources of true wisdom.
Psalms prompt us to listen for wisdom, the kind of wisdom that will make our lives better, more significant, and most of all, more like Christ's life. So let us humble ourselves and choose to listen to the wisdom that God wants to speak into our lives.

January 24 & 25: P-Slam - Psalms give us permission to lament.

2009-01-21T10:58:00.001-08:00

Core Scripture:
Psalm 22:1-31

Memory Verse:
James 4:8a (NIV) "Come near to God and He will come near to you."

Definition of Lament - to express grief or sorrow about something, to express regret, annoyance, or disappointment about something.

Discussion Questions:

What problems did David face in this passage? What was David's attitude toward God? Does his attitude surprise you? Why or why not?
How did David "lament"? How did he complain? What else did he do in this Psalm?
Do you think God gets angry or upset when we complain to Him or question Him? Why or why not? How do you think it makes Him feel when we aren't trusting Him?
How does God see our laments? How can we express trust to God while we lament? How does God's faithfulness make lament possible?

Bottom Line:

A lot of times, we get the feeling that we can't be honest before God. But this is not what God wants from us. He wants us to weep, to groan, and even to complain to Him. In Biblical terms, He wants us to lament.
God wants us to take Him seriously enough to question Him and even to complain when things don't seem right or fair.
Even while we complain to God, as the Psalms lead us to do, we should remember who God is and seek to move toward Him, trusting as we do that God is moving toward us all the while.
The great news is that God is big enough to handle our complaints. As David said, He does not hide His face from us. Instead, He listens to our cries for help. So let us be honest before our God, even with our complaints, and let us trust that He is listening.

P-Slam: A Poetic Journey Through the Psalms - History

2009-01-12T10:00:00.000-08:00

January 17 & 18 - History: Psalms encourage us to remember

Core Scripture: Psalm 105:1-45

Memory Verse:
Psalm 105:2 (NIV) "Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of all His wonderful acts."

Discussion Questions:

What was the purpose of this Psalm? How do we see this purpose in the first seven verses?
Why is it important for us to remember? How does ignoring history doom us to repeat it? What are some of the ways we can remember the history in our own lives?
How does remembering lead us to thank God? How does remembering lead us to praise God?
How does remembering lead us to follow God? How can we do each of these things in our personal spiritual lives?

Bottom Line:

The act of remembering our history leads us to remember who God is and how good He is. Psalms encourage us to remember and this Psalm shows us how important this process is.
If Psalms encourage us to remember, then how can we remember God? First, we should give thanks to God. We can also sing praise to God and glory in His name.
As we remember how good God is and all that He has done, we will naturally be led to trust Him, and we will seek to emulate God's character and become representations of Him in the world.
When we remember what God has done, we recognize who He is. And when we recognize who He is, we are inspired to follow Him.

P-Slam: A Poetic Journey Through the Psalms - Worship

2009-01-07T12:54:00.000-08:00

January 10 & 11 - Psalms spur us to worship together

Core Scripture: Psalm 67:1-7

Memory Verse:
John 4:24 (NIV) "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

Discussion Question:

How was this Psalm intended to be used?
Why is it important for us to sing together? How does corporate worship remind us who God is? How does it help us celebrate God?
How does worship together help the people around us? How does it help us personally?
How can we integrate corporate worship in our lives? How does church help us do this? In what other outlets can we do this?

Bottom Line:

This Psalm is a powerful statement of praise, and it was made more powerful because it was sung together. This Psalm spurs us to worship together, and this Spiritual Discipline of corporate worship deepens our faith and leads us to trust and love God even more.
We need to pay attention to the words we're singing. When one of these words catches our attention, we need to take a moment to let it resonate in our soul so that we are reminded together of who God is.
God is worthy of worship, and we are in need of worshiping someone. So as we worship together, let's remember how good God is and celebrate Him together.

Weekend of December 27 & 28 - No 242

2008-12-26T08:14:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry, I forgot to post last weekend's notes...
And this weekend there is no 242 - just large group only.

But here is a brief outline of what will be taught this weekend:

"Simple Steps to Solving Life's Problems - The Escape Route"
Based on 2 Chronicles 20

- Looking at the wrong way to solve problems
- Then looking at the right way to solve problems

10 Steps to Victory:

Identify and classify the problem.
Seek the Lord.
Pray and apply biblical principles.
Stand in faith.
Focus on the answer, not the problem.
Put your problem in perspective.
Pursue God's wisdom and plan.
Cast all your cares upon Him.
Take the necessary natural steps.
Look for the blessings.

We can all have victory when it comes to solving life's problems - we just have to follow the plan the Lord has (no matter how easy or hard it is) and we will have that victory!

Don't forget!! Next weekend - January 4 & 5, 2009 we will be back to having 242 and we'll be talking about how to find your future "Five Free Facts About Your Future".

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas season and a very happy and blessed New Year!
I thank God for each of you every time I think of you!

December 13 & 14 - Mighty God

2008-12-07T09:41:00.000-08:00

Core Scripture: Isaiah 40:12-15

Memory Verse:
Matthew 19:26 (NIV) "Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.' "

Discussion Questions:

When you think of God, what are some of the adjectives that come into your mind to describe him? Name the first three that come to mind. Have you experienced God as any one of those things in your life? Do you think of God as mighty? Why or why not?
Why do you think it is so hard for us to see God as both a helpless baby and a Mighty God? When the prophet Isaiah told the people of Israel what to expect in their Savior, how do you think they responded to hearing He was a Mighty God?
What are some ways that you need God to be "mighty" in your life? Are there things that you are afraid He can't handle? What are they?
What kind of "messes" in your life do you need Him to work in the middle of?

Bottom Line:
In your journey to understand who God is and what our role is as we relate to Him, we have to try to get our head around every aspect of Him. When we see the helpless form of a baby this Christmas, we need to learn to see Him at the same time as mighty and as big as He is too. And when we learn to do that, we can be confident that He is able and willing to work through the messes we have in our lives as well. He can handle it. Whatever it is that any one of us is going through, we can't afford to ever forget that He is a mighty God.

Great Expectations - December 6th & 7th

2008-12-03T11:01:00.000-08:00

Don't forget - this weekend is the Christmas Program!!
So, we won't have 242... but 242 Leaders - we'd still love to see you at Driven (if you aren't going to the program yourself)!!!

Wonderful Counselor

Core Scripture:
Isaiah 9:6 (NKJ) "For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Memory Verse:
Hebrews 13:5b (AMP) "...for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)!"

Discussion Questions:

When Isaiah prophesied about Jesus coming to earth, God gave him names to use to describe who Jesus was going to be for his people and for us. If you could pick four names to use to describe who you need Jesus to be, what would they be? Why? Share them with the group.
Who are you tempted to go to, or where are you tempted to go to, to find a counselor or some advice? Do you usually go to your friends? Parents? Why do you think it is easier to go to someone other than Jesus for this?
How have you seen Jesus work as a Wonderful Counselor in your life? Share a time when you took a situation to Him, and He showed you the answer you needed.
How can you approach Jesus during hard circumstances and see him as a Wonderful Counselor?

Bottom Line:
For a lot of people, Christmas is not an easy time of the year. Because of family situations, bad memories or painful experiences. Christmas isn't always a time of excitement or expectation. This is not a surprise to Jesus, to our Wonderful Counselor, who knows our every experience, hurt and fear. When we choose to worship Jesus, He does not become a cure-all for every problem and make every disappointment disappear. What He does is even better. He offers us himself, as our Wonderful Counselor in the middle of everything. If things are hard this holiday season, if Christmas doesn't feel like a time to be happy, or feel joy, remember this is in the middle of everything you are going through: In every need Jesus can fill you with wonder.

Through Prophets' Eyes - Trust Fall

2008-11-18T08:38:00.000-08:00

November 22 & 23 - Trust Fall

Core Scripture: Habakkuk 3:16-20

Memory Verse: 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJ) "For we walk by faith, not by sight."

Discussion Questions:

Look up the memory verse. Explain what this verse means to you.
Do you think God gets "mad" when we question Him? Why or why not?
What does God feel like when we choose "our world" over "His Word"? What things make us want to choose the world over Him and His Word?
How can we choose God's word over our world?
Does "walking by faith, or trusting God" mean you have every question answered in your life?
How do you walk by faith when you don't completely understand the negative things happening in your life or in the world around you?

Bottom Line:

Habakkuk chose to see God's word instead of His world. This is the question that this prophet invites us into as well: our world or His word?
We can ask God the hard questions. But our hope is that, as we grieve and ask and ponder, we will move from why to Who and move from just seeing the world around us to trusting God's word.
This is the hinge on which true discipleship swings: The moment we realize that God really is good and that He really can be trusted. In this moment, God builds is us faith that can face the fire and come out on the other side.
No matter what is going on in our lives now, as followers of God, we can trust the truth that God has the last word in our lives. So today, we make this choice between our world and His Word.

Don't forget - next weekend (November 29 & 30) is large group only (no 242) but your kids would still love to see you and John would LOVE your help!

Through Prophets Eyes - Hall of Justice

2008-11-10T08:16:00.000-08:00

November 15 & 16 - Hall of Justice

Core Scripture: Micah 6:8

Memory Verse:
Matthew 5:7 (NIV) "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy."

Discussion Questions:

In what ways do people choose "just us" over justice?
What would it look like for us, as Christians, to choose justice in our lives? How will this lead us to put Others First?
How does loving mercy help us choose justice? How can we do this?
How does walking humbly with God help us choose justice? How can we do this?
What things can we do to help bring justice to people who have less than us? How can we bring justice to people who are a different race than us? How can we bring justice to people who are weaker than us?

Bottom Line:

Micah saw the sin that others often overlooked. As he stared into the eyes of the poor and destitute, Micah saw just how corrupt power can be. So Micah spent his time standing up for them.
For Micah, true religion was not about ritual or a great worship service. Rather, it was about putting Others First by acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God.
Micah calls us to pick up the fight of justice for those who cannot fight for it themselves. This includes people who have less than us, people who are a different race than us, and people who are weaker than us.
The struggles of justice are the struggles of our world. Thankfully, Christians around the world are getting involved. Today, you too can join the movement, both in your school and around the world.

November 8 & 9 - Judgement House: REVISED QUESTIONS!!!

2008-11-04T08:34:00.000-08:00

We decided to revise the notes for the next couple of weeks and make the questions a little easier to ask... I will have print-outs available for you this weekend.

Core Scripture: Nahum 1:2-3

Memory Verse:
John 12:47 (NIV) "As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it."

Discussion Questions:

What is your definition of "judgment"?
Who do you think "deserves" judgment?
Why do you think we look at judgment this way?
Do you think most people judge themselves or others more harshly? Why?
How do you think God wants us to view judgment? Is that easy or hard?
How can we help others see the kindness and sternness of God appropriately?

Bottom Line:

Judgment is never God's heart; it is what God is forced to do when people refuse to live the way the Judge meant, or intended. He is good, and so at times He is driven to defend His goodness and defeat evil. This is Nahum's message.
Nahum tells us two things. First, God is slow to anger. Second, God does not leave the guilty unpunished. This means that, as much as God hates judgment, He have evil more.
Consider the kindness of God today. Life with God is about more than avoiding judgment. It is about learning to live in the way the Judge meant for us to live and to put Other First in our lives.
The ball is in our court. How will we live? Will we see the world and life through prophets' eyes, or will we go on acting as if we had never heard Nahum? Judgment or what the Judge meant - the choice is left to us.

Why do we do 242...

2008-11-02T07:04:00.000-08:00

How much do you retain?

Generally…

We retain 10% of what we read.

We retain 20% of what we hear.

We retain 30% of what we see.

We retain 50% of what we hear and see.

We retain 70% of what we say.

We retain 90% of what we do.

If we just talk to people we are doing them a disservice! Thus the reason for the groups to get them to own it!

PF

The "Just-Us" League - Trading Spaces

2008-10-27T13:49:00.000-07:00

November 1 & 2, 2008

Core Scriptures: Haggai 1:1-11

Memory Verse: Matthew 6:33 (NIV) “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Discussion Questions:

What kind of situation were the Israelites in at the time of this passage? What did they see when they looked around? How did this affect them personally? How did this affect them spiritually?
What choice did the Israelites make: our house or God’s house? Why did they make this choice?
How do we also tend to choose our houses over God’s house? What does this choice look like in our lives? What forms does this choice take?
What did Haggai see that the Israelites needed to do? How did he speak into this choice?
What would Haggai say about what we need to do? How can we stop? How can we give careful thought to our ways? How can we choose God’s house instead of our houses?

Bottom Line:

Our house or God’s house? This question gets to the heart of how we see life and the world. Are our lives all about us? Is the world all about us? Or should our lives be about something bigger?
We don’t have to spend our lives concerned about our own houses. Instead, we can look to put Others First and the most important Other, God, first by working on His mission while we trust Him to work on our houses.
Our lives can be about something bigger, something better, something that really matters – others and the Other, God. It’s time for us to spend our lives looking through prophets’ eyes by choosing to work on God’s house and trusting God to work on our houses.

242 Notes for October 26th & 27th

2008-10-21T09:40:00.000-07:00

This weekend's subject - "The Joker"
Core Scripture - Matthew 5:43-48

Memory Verse:
Matthew 5:44 (AMP) "But, I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

Discussion Questions:

What law was Jesus completing in this teaching? Why did it need to be completed?
What new spin did Jesus put on this law? What did he say was at the root of our view of our enemies?
Why did Jesus tell us to love our enemies? Why is this difficult for us? How does this affect our enemies' perception of God?
What are some specific ways we can love our enemies? What is a first step you can take to do this in the coming week?
How will loving our enemies lead us to wholeness? How will it lead us to live out our God-given identity? What will this look like in our everyday lives?

Bottom Line:

Most of us have been desensitized to the smoking ace that Jesus played when He said love your enemies. But this smoking ace was so hot that there was not anything like it in the Jewish or pagan writings of the time.
This teaching is just as shocking in our day. We can spend so much time isolating and protecting ourselves from those who reject God's law and love that it is easy for us to forget we are called to love them.
Just when you thought the joker was all out of jokes, Jesus set off one last smoke detector: "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." The Hebrew word for perfect can also mean wholeness. Jesus tells us to be wholehearted, complete, and single-minded in our devotion to God. We can only do this by allowing God's grace and generosity for us to flood over us, in us, and through us all the way to our enemies.
The question is whether you are living in this smoking-aces reality and whether it is living through you. The opportunity is here and now for you to be a part of a revolution that radically reverses the social and political landscape of our world. It's your turn - what card are you going to play?

October 18 & 19 - "One-Eyed Jack"

2008-10-13T10:52:00.001-07:00

Core Scriptures:
Matthew 5:33-37

Memory Verse:
Matthew 5:37 (NIV) "Simply let your 'Yes' be 'yes', and your 'No', 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one."

Discussion Questions:

What law was Jesus completing in this teaching? Why did it need to be completed?
What new spin did Jesus put on this law? What did he saw was at the root of oaths and swearing?
Why did Jesus speak about letting your "yes" be "yes" and your "no" be "no"? How was this a problem in our lives?
How can we speak so that truth "smokes" consequence? What words should we use? What words should we avoid? What changes do you need to make with your words starting this week? How can this group help to hold you accountable to this?

Bottom Line:

The truth is that manipulative smokescreens eventually clear, and people will see what type of person you really are, no matter how slippery or religious your vocabulary is. As Jesus taught us, absolute honesty "smokes" a false front.
As representatives of Jesus who try to live out the truth that God's Holy Spirit empowers us to change the world, we need to steer clear of false advertising and religious phrases that are not true.
Prayer is one of the worst places that we tend to use religious lace. Absolute honesty smokes a false front, and so if we use these words in prayer or elsewhere, we need to make sure they're true.
What would it take for you to put your name on the list of untruthful people? Absolute honesty can smoke a false front in your life and my life, if we will stop playing the one-eyed jack.

Who does stuff like this?

2008-10-13T10:17:00.001-07:00

What youth group uses a WIERD card game (played by 120+ teens) and a cow's heart to illustrate a point?

WE DO!!!

All this to illustrate that Jesus wants to be the KING of your heart and His way (love) "trumps" all the other laws - they're still important, but the way of love is the BEST WAY to live!

That is why I LOVE Driven Youth Ministries - we can use the strangest things to get a point across!!

Didn't Jesus himself say "what parable shall we use to illustrate and explain it?" after all - He used some fish and bread to show what our Father (His Father) could do with the little bit that we give to Him to use...

October 11 & 12 - Queen of Diamonds

2008-10-09T14:26:00.000-07:00

Core Scripture:
Matthew 5:27-30

Memory Verse:
Hebrews 12:1 (NIV) "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sine that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."

Discussions Questions:

What law was Jesus completing in this teaching? Why did it need to be completed?
What new spin did Jesus put on this law? What did He say was at the root of lust and anger?
Why did Jesus speak in this strong overstatement? What does this tell us about the seriousness of lust and anger in our lives?
Why should amputation "smoke" hesitation in our lives? What will it look like for us to follow God's Ultimate Authority and "amputate" instead of "hesitate"?
When should we not "amputate"? How can we learn to do this only at the appropriate times?

Bottom Line:

The radical message that amputating the sin smokes hesitating to act is one that a disciple must master. Even if you haven’t murdered someone or killed your own marriage, it doesn’t mean that you are not guilty in your heart. If your words, attitudes, and thoughts are infected, then don’t hesitate – amputate.

Jesus was once again after our hearts and true intentions. We must stop lustfully looking after things that are not ours, and we must guard what is pouring through our retinas into our brains. Jesus asks us to get to the root of our lustful behavior, and when we find it, to amputate instead of hesitate. So quit making excuses and cut out whatever is robbing your life of the luster God wants it to reflect.

Those who hesitate are not just lost; they are dead. So cut it off, cut it out, and cut free to embrace the value and luster God created you to possess.

Jesus' Trump Card - King of Hearts

2008-10-01T12:18:00.001-07:00

For the weekend of October 4th & 5th

Core Scriptures: Matthew 5:17-20

Memory Verse:
Matthew 22:38-40 (NIV) "This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Discussion Questions:

Why did Jesus come to earth? Why did He teach the way He did?
What did Jesus think of the Law? What did Jesus try to do to the Law? How did He do this? Why did He need to do this?
How did Jesus fulfill or complete the law not to murder? What did He say was at the root of murder?
How did root "smoke" rule in this situation? How did Jesus go beyond the Law to complete it?
How can we deal with the root of murder in our lives? What in your life needs to change for you to live in the way Jesus teaches here? How can you follow God's Ultimate Authority and deal with the root of murder?

Bottom Line:

Jesus was doing radical work on the rules in order to get to the heart of the matter. The word "radical" literally means to get to the root or origin, and Jesus was trying to get to the root of God's ways and of people's intentions.
This is why Jesus began throwing dynamite at some of religion's most sacred rules. He was showing us that the original root "smokes" the additional rules. In other words, the original design always trumps any unhealthy additions to the Law.
The picture of the king of hearts reminds us of the radical lesson Jesus is showing us today that the original root "smokes" the additional rules. Jesus is always after the heart of the matter, both for the rule and for those of us subject to the rule. Jesus took the rule "Do not murder" and got to the root of the matter when He said, just because you haven't killed anyone, doesn't mean you're off the hook. Jesus tells us that we can murder people with thoughts, words, and hidden grudges.
What if the most important rule you followed about Chrisitanity (other than loving God) was loving people? That would truly be radical. So let us let the original root "smoke" the additional rules as Jesus plays this smoking ace in our lives.

For those who do read this blog weekly...

2008-09-23T12:28:00.000-07:00

Then you'll be the first to hear about....

Driven Junior High's Fall Get-Together!!

When: Friday, October 3rd, 2008
Where: The DeRosier's Farm (in Rogers)

Who: For anyone involved in any ministry that is in 9th grade and older!!
(AV, Snack Shop, 242, Leaders - whatever!)
(No Junior Highers - please... we love you, but no.)

Time: 7:00-10:00 pm
Why: For fellowship, but also to work on some team-building! :)
Cost: FREE!!!

We will be having a hayride & bonfire as well as some GREAT snacks! Our main goal is fellowship, but we really want to spend some time working on the Driven Junior High team and to pray together!

We don't want to say it's "mandatory" because then it seems like work - but we REALLY need each of you to be there! So please make every effort to attend!! Thank you for your time!

Please RSVP (and get directions if you need them) to me at kshirley@lwcc.org

We love you all more than you'll ever know!

We hope to see you ALL there!

Determine to Live Before You Die - Sept 27 & 28

2008-09-23T12:26:00.000-07:00

Subject:

Stephen Imitated

Core Scriptures:

Acts 8:1-4

Memory Verse:

Galatians 2:20 (NIV) “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Discussion Questions:

1. What happened to the early church after Stephen was killed? How were the early Christians living out their faith? How were they willing to die for their faith? How was this an imitation of Stephen?

2. What happened to Christianity because of the faith of these early Christians? How did their faith affect the path of the early church?

3. Are you likely to die for your faith? What are you likely to have to die to because of your faith?

4. What will it look like for you to determine to live before you die? How does this make your faith more authentic?

5. What will happen as people around you witness you living out your faith authentically? How will this change your community? How will this change the people around you?

Bottom Line:

There are very few things we would die for, but Stephen, Paul, and many others decided that their faith in Jesus was one. Because these Christians determined to live before they died, the gospel message became strong and powerful, igniting lives as it moved from person to person.

The persecution around the early church made Authentic Faith a matter of life or death. In our day, persecution takes more subtle forms. Though we are unlikely to be killed, we may have to die to things like popularity or status or even success to live for our faith.

When faith is merely a convenience, we will shrink away from Jesus when the going gets tough. But it does not have to be that way.

With God’s help you can determine to live before you die. And the great news is that you will not be alone when you do this.

Determine to Live Before You Die - September 20 & 21

2008-09-17T10:03:00.000-07:00

Stephen Stoned...

Core Scripture: Acts 7:1-60

Memory Verse: Romans 5:3 (NLT) "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance."

Discussion Questions:

What truth did Stephen present in his testimony to the Sanhedrin? How did he present this truth?
What part of this truth did the Sanhedrin accept? What part did they reject?
What are some of the ways we reject God's truth? What are some of the reasons why we reject God's truth?
How did Stephen's story show that truth outlasts tension?? How do we know this happened?
How can we live like truth outlasts tension? What are some of the ways we can do this? How does this principle point us to Authentic Faith?

Bottom Line:

Stephen died because of the truth by which he had lived. We see in his story that truth outlasts tension.
We face a choice. We will fall victim to tension and try to move away from truth and its consequences? Or will we recognize truth and seek significance as Stephen did? Will we follow his example and trust that truth outlasts tension?
The truth of who Christ is always outlasts the consequences, pain, or trouble we find ourselves in. So the question is whether we will live in a way that says truth outlasts tension.
We can be like Stephen and live like truth outlasts tension even when the truth traps us.

Stephen Trapped - Choose Truth Regardless of Circumstance

2008-09-08T13:56:00.000-07:00

September 14 & 15, 2008

Read: Acts 6:8-15

Choose truth regardless of circumstance

Ask students to identify as many different kinds of traps as they can. (Some examples could be a bear trap, a sand trap on a golf course, a Venus flytrap plant, a trap door, etc.) With each example, get the students to talk about the emotions you feel when you’re in this trap. Use the pictures and emotions that your students come up with to make today’s lesson feel more real as you move into this week’s questions.

Questions

1. How did Stephen live in truth? How did this affect him? How did this affect the people around him?

2. Why did the religious leaders want to trap Stephen? How did they do this? How did they use Stephen’s commitment to the truth to do this?

3. What other Bible characters were trapped by truth? How do these stories show us that truth can get you trapped?

4. What are our options when circumstances get tough? Which of these options are good? Which are not?

5. What does it look like for us to choose truth regardless of circumstance even when we’re trapped? What are some ways we can do this? How are you having to do this right now? How can this group help you choose stance?

Even Stephen - September 6 & 7

2008-09-01T08:26:00.000-07:00

Read: Acts 6:1-7

Before being promoted you must be prepared

Questions

1. To what responsibility was Stephen promoted? What conflict was he brought into the middle of? How would you describe this conflict?

2. How had Stephen prepared to be promoted? What steps do you think were involved in his preparation?

3. To what responsibilities have you been promoted? To what responsibilities would you like to be promoted?

4. How can you prepare for these responsibilities? What steps of preparation do you need to take so that you can be promoted in this way?

5. What is difficult about the preparation process? How can you overcome these difficulties? How can this group help your preparation process?

Give each student a piece of paper and something to write with. Ask the students to think about the stage or platform that they would like to have someday and in what areas of life they would like to have more privilege and responsibility even right now. Get them to write their responses on the top of their sheets. Then get them to draw a line down the middle of their sheets. On the left side of this line, students should write the things that are standing in the way of them enjoying these privileges, responsibilities, and stages. On the right side, students should write ways they can prepare themselves so that they can one day be promoted in these ways. After your students write down their ideas, say a prayer in which you ask God to continue to help them in their preparation process.

Begin to take one step of preparation that you just listed this week. As you do, remember that this is a step toward Authentic Faith in your life.

In Pursuit of Jesus - Week #9 "Jesus, the Slaughtered Lamb"

2008-08-04T12:49:00.000-07:00

The Names of Jesus

- What names of Jesus can you remember?

Jesus “The Lamb of God”

- Isaiah 53:7-8 “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken.”

- John 1:29: “The next day John [the Baptist] saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’ ”

- 1 Peter 1:18-19: “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.”

- Revelation 5-7 (excerpts): In the vision John records in the book of Revelation, he hears a mighty angel ask, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” (5:2). He goes on to observe: “Then I saw a lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders” (5:6) And then ends this portion of his vision with: “For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, he will lead them to the springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (7:17).

Two views of the slaughtered lamb (to discuss with the teens)

1. Study, for five minutes, the copy of the painting Angus Dei by the artist Francisco Zurbaran.

- What do you notice?

- What do you see that supports your perceptions, knowledge, and experience of Jesus?

- What do you see that does not support your perceptions, knowledge and experience of Jesus?

2. Study the “death” of Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars.

- What do you notice in this scene that sheds lights on Jesus as the “Lamb of God”?

- What in this scene supports your perceptions, knowledge, and experience of Jesus?

- What in this scene does not support your perceptions, knowledge, and experience of Jesus?

The Upward/Downward Path to Slaughter

Jesus gave up his life of his own will; no one took it from him.

Going Up: Jesus reveals himself, but consciously does things to delay his arrest and execution. In John 8:20-21, Jesus reveals his true identity. But the authorities don’t seize him “because his time had not yet come.” This happens many times on his upward journey to a turning point in his public ministry. (See John 7:1-30 and John 10:39)

John 8:20-21: “ ‘You do not know me or my Father,’ Jesus replied. ‘If you knew me, you would know my Father also.’ He spoke these words while teaching in the temple area near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his time had not yet come. Once more Jesus said to them, ‘I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.’ ”

The Turning Point: Jesus determines when the time is right to move toward death. In Matthew 12:9-15a, Jesus heals a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath. He appears to do this to purposely antagonize the powerful Jewish leaders of Jerusalem. Only when Jesus enters Jerusalem – the seat of political power – does he become a real threat. This is the start of his downward journey to the cross.

Matthew 12:9-15a: “Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, they asked him, ‘Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?’ He said to them, ‘If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and life it out? How much more valuable is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath. Then he said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus. Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place.”

Going Down: Now Jesus intentionally does things to get himself killed. In John 11:47-50, the high priest Caiaphas hatches the death plot against Jesus, saying, “It is expedient for you that one man die for the people” (NAS). Later, in John 18:19-24, Jesus seals his own death by purposely provoking the high priest. He answers the high priest’s questions with what the guards take as insolence, so one of them slaps him. Finally, in Matthew 27:11-26, Pilate tries hard to release Jesus. But Jesus outsmarts him and ensures his own execution.

John 18:19-24: “Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. ‘I have spoken openly to the world,’ Jesus replied. ‘I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.’ When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby struck him in the face. ‘Is this the way you answer the high priest?’ he demanded. ‘If I said something wrong,’ Jesus replied, ‘testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?’ Then Annas sent him, still bound, to Caiphas the high priest.”

In Pursuit of Jesus - Week #7 "Jesus and His True Mission"

2008-07-22T08:33:00.000-07:00

Romans 4:5 “But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,”

What do you think righteousness is about? Something you do or something you are? Right doing or right being?

The Bible tells us that after Jesus’ sacrifice at the cross, God imputes righteousness not to those who strive to obey the law (Galatians 2:16), but to anyone who simply believes in His Son. Because Christ took our sins and gave us His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21), the moment we believe in Him, God treats us as righteous apart from our works or obedience. (Romans 4:5–8) This is new-covenant righteousness — a righteousness that comes by faith and not works.

You are not righteous because of how morally upright you are. You are not righteous because you exercise self-control. You are not righteous because you read 10 chapters of the Bible daily. You are not righteous because you feel righteous. But you are the very righteousness of God in Christ solely because the sacrifice of Jesus made you so. When you believe this, your faith is accounted for righteousness.

And this is what God wants you to use your faith for. If you are righteous by your deeds, you don’t need faith. You also don’t need faith to know that you still sin. But you need faith to believe and declare that you are the righteousness of God in Christ, in the midst of your struggles with temptation and sin.

For example, when you feel lousy because you have just shouted at your wife, God wants you to exercise faith to see yourself still righteous in the midst of that failure. This living revelation that you are still righteous will give you the strength to love your wife and reconcile things with her.

But the devil may remind you of your foul temper and question your integrity: “How dare you call yourself righteous when you just did that!” Just ignore his lies and boldly declare," I am not righteous because of what I have done or not done. I am righteous only because of the blood and finished work of Jesus at the cross!”

Hebrews 10:2
2... For the worshippers, once purified, would have had
no more consciousness of sins.

What are you more conscious of today? Your sins or the fact that you have been forgiven? My friend, don’t be conscious of your sins. Be conscious instead of Jesus and His finished work. The Lamb of God has taken away all your sins at the cross, so count on the fact that you are a forgiven child of God!

No matter what has happened or what you have done, God wants you to know that because of His Son’s finished work, He will be merciful to your unrighteousness, and your sins and lawless deeds He will remember no more. (Hebrews 8:12)

That is why you should not be conscious of your sins. In fact, when you are sin-conscious, the devil brings in condemnation, and the more you receive it and condemn yourself, the more you will find yourself unforgiving toward yourself and even others.

I was told by a pastor friend that when a lady, who had cancer on her face, asked for prayer for healing, the Lord revealed to him that it was self-hatred that was keeping her from receiving her healing. She could not forgive herself and was full of self-condemnation.

When she realized her problem, she counted on the fact that God was merciful to her unrighteousness and that she was already forgiven. She received the love of God. Then, right before the pastor’s eyes, her whole face changed — she received her healing that very moment!

Something happens when you believe that you are forgiven. That is why God says to you, “I want you to believe that all your sins I will remember no more. I want you to believe that you are My child enjoying My mercy and that you can always count on My forgiveness.”

Beloved, remember that all your sins have already been paid for by Jesus on the cross. And the more you count on the fact that you have the Father’s forgiveness and that He does not condemn you because of Jesus’ finished work, the more sin and its effects — sickness, hatred, lack and so on — will lose their grip on you. You will find yourself walking in a greater measure of God’s grace and blessings

What did Jesus come to do?

To reveal the Father (Matt. 11:27)

"All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."

To be a ransom for many (Matt. 20:28)

"just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

To serve (Matt. 20:28)

"just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

To save the world (John 3:17; Luke 19:10)

"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."

To preach the good news of the kingdom of God (Luke 4:43)

"But he said, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent."

To bring division (Luke 12:51)

"Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division."

To do the will of the Father (John 6:38)

"For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me."

To give the Father's words (John 17:8)

"For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me."

To testify to the truth (John 18:37)

"You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."

To die and destroy Satan's power (Heb. 2:14)

"Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death -- that is, the devil."

To destroy the devil's works (1 John 3:8)

"He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work."

To fulfill the Law and the Prophets (Matt. 5:17)

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them."

To give life (John 10:10,28)

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full...I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand."

To taste death for everyone (Heb. 2:9)

"But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone."

To become a high priest (Heb. 2:17)

"For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people."

To atone for sin (Heb. 2:17)

"For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people."

To proclaim freedom for believers (Luke 4:18)

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed."

To proclaim the year of the Lord's favor (Luke 4:19)

"to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

To bring judgment (John 9:39)

"Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind."

To take away sin (1 John 3:5)

"But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin."

To preach (Mark 1:38)

"Jesus replied, 'Let us go somewhere else -- to the nearby villages -- so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.'"

To call sinners (Mark 2:17)

"On hearing this, Jesus said to them, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.'"

To know who is true (1 John 5:20)

"We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true -- even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life."

In Pursuit of Jesus - Week #6 "Jesus & Satan's Family"

2008-07-16T13:45:00.000-07:00

Different Missions

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)

“Have you ever wondered why Jesus married those two statements? Did you even know he spoke them at the same time? I mean, he says them in one breath. And he has his reasons. By all means, God intends life for you. But right now that life is opposed. It doesn’t just roll in on a tray. There is a thief. He comes to steal and kill and destroy. In other words, yes, the offer is life, but you’re going to have to fight for it because there’s an Enemy in your life with a different agenda. There is something set against us.”

What do we know about Satan?

- What do these familiar names for Satan really mean?

- How did Satan become God’s enemy?

What Forces Shaped Satan?

“And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down – that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.” (Revelation 12:7-9)

- Satan loved his own beauty more than God.

- Defeated, Satan can no longer directly assault God. Because he wants to still hurt God, Satan turns his attention to God’s children.

“When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.” (Revelation 12:13)

Jesus Interacting with Satan

“The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” 1 John 3:8b

Read Matthew 4:1-11 from the Message Translation

- What different ways did Satan try to attack and destroy Jesus in the wilderness?

- Why would Satan attack Jesus in these ways?

- What assumption does Satan make about why Jesus has come?

- What assumptions does Satan make about Jesus’ heart?

- Why did Jesus respond to Satan the way he did?

- Why did Jesus use Scripture to respond to Satan?

- Unlike his interactions with the Pharisees, Jesus never raised his voice or got angry or called Satan names. Why?

Jesus Casting Out Demons

Jesus Destroying the Works of Satan – here are some examples:

1. Jesus is mocked and “outed” by a demon, but he muzzles the demon (Luke 4:33-35)

2. Jesus casts demons out of “many” early in ministry (Luke 4:41)

3. Jesus casts a “mob” of demons out of Gerasene man (Luke 8:26-36)

4. Jesus casts out a demon from a possessed boy (Luke 9:38-43)

5. Jesus’ disciples say, “Even the demons are subject to us!” (Luke 10:17-20 – NAS)

6. The Pharisees accuse Jesus of using Satan’s power to exorcise (Luke 11:14-26)

7. Jesus casts out a demon from a woman on the Sabbath (Luke 13:10-16)

8. Jesus allows Satan to “sift” Peter (Luke 22:31-34). Satan demands permission, and God gives Satan room to move against Peter, but only for God’s greater purposes in Peter’s life. Satan is constrained, just as he was constrained in his attacks on Job.

After looking at all these examples, pick one or two to discuss with the following questions:

- What can we learn about responding to Satan’s influence in our lives from the way Jesus responded to Satan and his “family”?

- What does Jesus want to communicate about himself with his actions?

In Pursuit of Jesus - Week #5 Jesus & His Family

2008-07-08T07:52:00.000-07:00

There’s No Place Like Home

Take a moment to choose the TV or film family that best reminds you of your family of origin – the family you grew up in as a child. If you don’t find one that kind of fits, think of a family from a TV show or film that does remind you of your family. Here are some examples:

The Brady’s (The Brady Bunch)
The Simpsons (The Simpsons)
The Huxtables (The Cosby Show)
The Waltons (The Waltons)
The von Trapps (Sound of Music)
The Addams (The Addams Family)
The Camdens (7^th Heaven)

Jesus and His Families

Remember our overarching pursuit – to answer Jesus’ question to us: “Who do you say I am?”

You can lean a lot of about people by getting to know their family. (Read through the Family Matters stories and choose one to share with the teens and then reference the context of the story from the Bible.)

Jesus’ Genealogy (Matthew 1:1-17) What names do you recognize, and what do you know about those people?
Jesus Stays Behind at the Temple (Luke 2:41-52)
Jesus Turns Water into Wine for His Mother (John 2:1-5)
The Cost of Following Jesus Includes Family Obligations (Matthew 8:18-22)
Jesus Comes with a Sword, Not Peace (Matthew 10:34-39)
Who Are My Mother and Brothers? (Matthew 12:46-50)
Jesus Creates a New Family (John 19:25-27)

Discuss the following questions in reference to your story:

- What can you learn about Jesus’ relationship to family? In other words, what can you learn about the nature of his family relationships – his attitude toward family and his definition of family?

- What can we say (broadly) about Jesus’ relationship to family? How would you sum up what we’ve discovered?

Grafted into Jesus’ Family

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” John 15:5-8

"If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot,

have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the

olive root, do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, 'Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.' Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!" (Romans 11:17-20, 24).

The Process of Grafting

The is how the professionals who work for nurseries describe the process and requirements for grafting…

1. First you need a hardy “root stock”. This plant is vigorous and full of life energy.

2. When you graft, you typically choose a weaker or less hardy plant to graft into the stronger and acclimated root.

3. Professionals typically use grafting only when they want to make a hybrid plant; “a new creature”. For example, they might create a unique plant that can live and thrive in a particular climate with stronger roots than the original plant’s natural ones.

4. Grafting is an art. It’s not easy to make a graft work. You need to know what you’re doing and exercise a lot of patience. If you approach the process quickly or haphazardly, the graft won’t take.

5. When you graft, you cut a branch from the weaker plant or tree. Then you join that open cut to an open cut on the stronger or root tree. This is an intimate process. It reminds us of what Jesus said: “I am the bridegroom, you are my bride.” “I am the vine, you are [my grafted] branches.”

6. Finally, over time, the life of the grafted branch becomes part of the life of the strong plant or tree. Often, the weaker graft actually falls away after a successful graft. Its life is transferred to the root – hidden in it and part of a new species.

In Pursuit of Jesus - Week #4 - Jesus & the Desperate People

2008-07-03T11:38:00.000-07:00

Thirsty for Jesus

“Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink’ ” (John 7:37, NAS).

“As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God, My soul thirsts for God, for the living God” (Psalm 42:1-2 a, NAS).

The Role of Desperation

“Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God really say, “You must not eat from any tree in the garden”? ‘The woman said to the serpent, ‘We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, “You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ” ‘You will not surely die’, the serpent said to the woman. ‘For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’ ” (Genesis 3:1-5)

Jesus and the Desperadoes

The disciples who dropped everything to follow Jesus

The Disciples (Matthew 4:18-22) “As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fisherman. ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’ At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.’ ”

The woman who touched the hem of Jesus’ garment

The Woman With an Issue of Blood (Matthew 9:18-22)~"While he was saying this, a ruler

came and knelt before him and said, 'My daughter has just died. But come and put your

hand on her, and she will live.' Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples. Just\

then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and

touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, 'If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.'

Jesus turned and saw her. 'Take heart, daughter,' he said, 'your faith has healed you.' And

the woman was healed from that moment."

The prostitute at the party of Pharisees

The Sinful Woman at the Pharisee's Party (Luke 7:36-50)-"Now one of the Pharisees invited

Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table.

When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the

Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at

his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her

hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. When the Pharisee who had invited him

saw this, he said to himself, 'Ifthis man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him

and what kind of woman she is-that she is a sinner.' Jesus answered him, 'Simon, I have

something to tell you.' 'Tell me, teacher,' he said. 'Two men owed money to a certain

moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the

money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him

more?' Simon replied, 'I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.' 'You have

judged correctly,' Jesus said. Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, 'Do you

see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she

wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this

woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my

head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been

forgiven-for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.' Then Jesus said

to her, 'Your sins are forgiven.' The other guests began to say among themselves, 'Who is

this who even forgives sins?' Jesus said to the woman, 'Your faith has saved you; go in

peace.' "

Zacchaeus the tax collector

Zacchaeus the Tax Collector (Luke 19:1-10)-"Jesus entered Jericho and was passing

through. A man was there by the name ofZacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was

wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of

the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was

coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, 'Zacchaeus,

come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.' So he came down at once and

welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, 'He has gone to be the

guest of a "sinner." , But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, 'Look, Lord! Here and

now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything,

I will pay back four times the amount.' Jesus said to him, 'Today salvation has come to this

house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and

to save what was lost.' "

The Canaanite woman

The Canaanite Woman (Matthew 15:21-28)-"Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the

region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out,

'Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from

demon-possession.' Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged

him, 'Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.' He answered, 'I was sent only to the

lost sheep of Israel.' The woman came and knelt before him. 'Lord, help me!' she said. He

replied, 'It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs.' 'Yes, Lord,' she

said, 'but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.' Then Jesus

answered, 'Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.' And her daughter was

healed from that very hour."

What was different about the Desperadoes, compared to what we know about the Pharisees?
How were these individuals different in what they said and did?
What motivated the Desperadoes that seems different from the Pharisees?
What drew Jesus to these people?
Why did Jesus gravitate to and honor the Desperadoes?
What about Jesus draws him to these people?

Inviting Jesus to Enter our Desperation

“Suffering either gives me to myself or it destroys me.” (Oswald Chambers – My Utmost for His Highest)

Do you think this statement is true? Why?
What does it mean to “receive ourselves” in our suffering?

Receiving Yourself in the Fires of Sorrow – Oswald Chambers

June 25

“What shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. ‘Father, glorify Your name’ ” (John 12:27-28)

As a saint of God, my attitude toward sorrow and difficulty should not be to ask that they be prevented, but to ask that God protect me so that I may remain what He created me to be, in spite of all my fires of sorrow. Our Lord received Himself, accepting His position and realizing His purpose, in the midst of the fire of sorrow. He was saved not from the hour, but out of the hour.

We say that there ought to be no sorrow, but there is sorrow, and we have to accept and receive ourselves in its fires. If we try to evade sorrow, refusing to deal with it, we are foolish. Sorrow is one of the biggest facts in life, and there is no use in saying it should not be. Sin, sorrow, and suffering are, and it is not for us to say that God has made a mistake in allowing them.

Sorrow removes a great deal of a persons’ shallowness, but it does not always make that person better. Suffering either gives me to myself or it destroys me. You cannot find or receive yourself through success, because you lose your head over pride. And you cannot receive yourself through the monotony of your daily life, because you give in to complaining. The only way to find yourself is in the fires of sorrow. Why it should be this way is immaterial. The fact is that it is true in the Scriptures and in human experience. You can always recognize who has been through the fires of sorrow and received himself, and you know that you can go to him in your moment of trouble and find that he has plenty of time for you. But if a person has not been through the fires of sorrow, he is apt to be contemptuous, having no respect or time for you, only turning you away.

If you will receive yourself in the fires of sorrow, God will make you nourishment for other people.

“The Silence of God” by Andrew Peterson

(Song Summary)

When you're desperately hurting and craving God's comfort and strength, it can literally break you to hear only silence in response to your cries.

It can seem impossible to get your mind off of the things that are crushing your spirit.

Even though Jesus has told us his "yoke is easy" and his "burden is light," it often seems as though our burdens are way too heavy for us-especially when God seems absent or distant to us.

It's even harder to see other Christians apparently enjoying all the good things life has to offer-health and wealth and happiness-and have to listen to them piously tell you that Jesus has taken away all their troubles.

But you know the truth-everyone must wrestle with sorrow and trouble, and even those who follow Christ can lose their way.

It's easy to forget that Jesus experienced great troubles-think of his desperation in the Garden of Gethsemane, when he knew the horror he was about to face and yet not one of his best friends could stay awake to be with him. He's alone there, in the tyranny of the silence.

So Jesus understands-deeply-the silence and sorrow we sometimes bear alone.

God does not abandon us in that silence-soon our aching questions fade in importance, replaced by his intimate presence. Our sorrows don't have to break us-they can lead us into the very presence of God.

“Just As I Am” By Andrew Peterson

(Song Summary)

Just is a heartbreaker – not, of course, in the romantic sense. But when we love him, he breaks our hearts. And he takes the broken bits and makes something beautiful grow out of them.

It’s incredible that Jesus is able to take our heartbreaks and transform them into something beautiful.

Jesus has proved, over and over and over, that He knows us intimately and loves us deeply.

But we have a deep anxiety that all that is beautiful in our lives – all of the beauty Jesus is growing – can be taken away by our own terrible choices. We fear that there are limits to God’s love for us, that it’s ultimately a conditional love and he expects us to perform well to get it.

But then we remember the great sacrifices of Jesus, and we remember that there are no lengths he will not go to in his pursuit of us. We are loved, truly.

The “seeds” of love Jesus has planted in our lives do bear “fruit,” and Jesus longs to use that fruit for the good of others in our lives. But he’s not in love with our fruit – he’s in love with us. He loves us, truly.

In Pursuit of Jesus - Week 2: Jesus Defines "Good"

2008-06-21T07:21:00.000-07:00

Taste and See

What makes a treat taste so good?
Do people generally agree on what tastes good and what doesn’t?
How do we know when something tastes good to us and when it doesn’t?

Nothing But Jesus

“And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:1-2, NAS).

Defining “Good”

Take two minutes right now to list as many things as you can think of that are “good”. Think about what you’d classify as fundamentally good. Your list can include anything. It doesn’t have to be “spiritual”.

Share your list with a partner, and then talk about how you decide what’s good and what’s not. What’s your criteria for “good”?

Jesus Defines “Good”

“A certain ruler asked him, ‘Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ ‘Why do you call me good?’ Jesus answered. ‘No one is good – except God alone. You know the commandments: “Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.” ’ ‘All these I have kept since I was a boy,’ he said. When Jesus heard this, he said to him, ‘You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth” (Luke 18:18-23).

Why did Jesus respond the way he did with this young man?
Why did Jesus tell him to sell everything he had and follow him?

“I Am The Vine”

Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches” (John 15:5). Our life, our goodness, is ultimately tied to Jesus. We can try to make it on our own, imagining that we’re a “vine” when we’re really a “branch”. But in reality, without him, we have no life, no goodness. According to Jesus, only he is good.

Our Guide

“Taste and see that the Lord is good.” (Psalm 34:8)

Taste Test

Your mission is to list every single taste you can discern. For example, if you wanted to make this yourself without a recipe, what would you include?

Use “A Taste Test” to record your answers. Answer the questions for one steak sauce first, and then the other. The Leaders will tell you when to switch to the other sauce.

What connections can we make from improving our palate to improving our ability to taste Jesus well?

“A Taste Test”

Steak Sauce #1 – List every single taste you can discern – for example, if you were going to make this yourself without a recipe, what would you include? Your sense of smell can help you here.

Steak Sauce #2 – List every single taste you can discern – for example, if you were going to make this yourself without a recipe, what would you include? Your sense of small can help you here.

Taste – Test Challenge

With your partner, read the passage assigned by the leader. Then discuss:

What did Jesus do that was good? List as many things as you can.

Luke 4:1-13: Jesus tempted by the devil
Luke 5:27-32: Jesus calls Matthew (called Levi before he became a disciple), parties with tax collectors
Luke 6:6-11: Jesus heals man’s withered hand on Sabbath
Luke 8:26-39: Jesus casts demons out of Gerasene demoniac
Luke 12:1-12: Jesus gives warnings and encouragements
Luke 14:16-24: Parable of the dinner
Why do these words and actions represent “good”?
What’s surprising about the “goodness” of Jesus’ words and actions?
What can you pick out about what Jesus likes and doesn’t like from these stories?

Closing Response

Think about how God is bigger to you than when you walked into this room. In the quiet, think of the words that remind you of how you tasted God today – write them down if you’d like.

The Rest is Still Unwritten - May 24 & 25

2008-05-19T17:14:00.000-07:00

Bottom Line: The rest is still unwritten

Core Scripture: Jeremiah 31:1-6

Memory Verse:

1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV) “However, as it is written: No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.”

Small Group Questions:

What kind of legacy did the Israelites have when Jeremiah began to give this prophecy? Was it a positive or negative legacy?

What hope did God give the Israelites through Jeremiah? How did God show them that the rest was still unwritten? How did He promise to help them rewrite their stories?

How does God give us hope that the rest is still unwritten in our stories? Do you feel this hope in your life? Why or why not?

Why do we need to confess and admit where we are in our stories to begin a rewrite? What does it look like for us to do this in our everyday lives? How does God help us do this?

Why do we need to repent and turn our stories to begin a rewrite? What does it look like for us to do this in our everyday lives? How does God help us do this?

[A LITTLE MORE…]

Give each student a piece of paper and something to write with. First, ask the students to write, draw, or illustrate where their stories and their legacies are right now. This is the process of confession, of being honest about where we are and where we are not – that we talked about during the lesson. Then ask the students to take a few minutes to imagine how they can begin to rewrite their stories starting today. This is the process of beginning to turn our stories, which we can also call repentance. After your students have had time to do this, ask them to pray for each other as they seek to begin to write the rest of their stories with God’s help. Make sure every student is prayed for by name during this time, either by another student or by a leader.

Legacy Week #3 - Don't Stop Writing

2008-05-15T14:33:00.000-07:00

Core Scripture: 2 Chronicles 24:1-25

Memory Verse:

Proverbs 3:1 “Good friend, don’t forget all I’ve taught you; take to heart my commands. They’ll help you live a long, long time, a long life lived full and well.”

Bottom Line: Forgetting God leads to faltering

Questions

1. What did the beginning of Joash’s story look like? Who helped him write his story at that point? How did Jehoiada serve as Joash’s mentor?

2. What happened to Joash after Jehoiada died? How was this a picture of forgetting? How was this a picture of faltering?

3. What happened to Joash as the result of his faltering? What happened to the nation of Judah? What kind of legacy did Joash end up leaving?

4. What are some of the ways you have forgotten your legacy in your life? How has that led to faltering in your life?

5. What are some of the ways that you can remember God’s story? What are some of the ways that you can remember that you are writing a legacy? How can a mentor help you do this?

[a little more…]

Encourage your students to find a mentor that will help them to remember God’s story and remember that they are writing a story that will create a legacy now and later. First, ask the students if any of them have such mentors in their lives. If so, ask those students to share about how they found these mentors and how these mentors help them. Afterward, say a prayer asking God to help your students find mentors. Then have a few minutes of silence so your students can write down the names of potential mentors or perhaps even write a note asking someone to become a mentor.

Writing Your Story - May 10 & 11, 2008

2008-05-06T12:36:00.000-07:00

Core Scriptures: Nehemiah 13:1-31

Memory Verse:
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

Bottom Line: Care enough to compose your story.

Questions

1. What kind of story had Nehemiah been composing prior to this passage? What happened to that story? Did Nehemiah destroy his own story, or did other people? Explain your answer.

2. What did Nehemiah do when he saw what the Israelites were doing? How did his actions show that he cared about his story and his legacy?

3. How did Nehemiah act to compose his story? How did Nehemiah’s actions show that he knew God and God’s commands? Do you think these actions were easy for him? Explain your answer.

4. How can you act to compose your story today? What are some of the actions that you think you should take? What would it look like for you to take these actions? What do you think will happen if you take them?

5. How can you run these potential actions through the filter of what you know about God? How can this group help you evaluate these potential actions so that they honor God and the legacy He wants you to have now and later?

[a little more…]

Bring in a spool of yarn and cut off a six-inch piece of yarn for each student. Hand out a piece of yarn to each student and have the students tie the yarn around one finger. As they do, tell them that people have traditionally tied a piece of string around their fingers to help them remember something. Then remind your students of Nehemiah’s prayer in this passage – “remember me for this, O my God.” Tell the students that this piece of string is a symbol to remind them that God remembers them and joins them as they compose their stories. Then close your group time with a prayer thanking God for how He remembers us and joins with us as we compose our stories. In this prayer, ask God to continue to remember you and your students, just as Nehemiah asked God to do.

Everybody Leaves a Legacy - May 3 & 4, 2008

2008-05-01T04:27:00.000-07:00

Core Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-40

Questions:

What is a legacy? How would you define this? How is legacy a way that we live beyond our lives?

How does a legacy affect people later? What choices help us leave this kind of legacy?

How does a legacy affect people now? What choices help us leave this kind of legacy?

How did the people listed in Hebrews 11 leave a legacy? What are some of the Wise Choices that they made that helped to write their legacies?

What Wise Choices can you make right now that will help determine your legacy? What are some of the things that make it hard to make these choices? How can this group help to encourage you to make these choices?

A little something extra:

Bring in copies of current periodicals such as Time, Newsweek, USA Today, and your local newspaper. Divide your students into as many groups as you have publications and ask each group to find examples in the periodical of someone who is leaving a legacy (either positive or negative) that is either affecting people now or will affect people in the future (or both). After a few minutes, bring the students back together and have each group share the legacy it found. After students describe each legacy, talk for a moment about the choices that person made to create this legacy and whether those choices are wise.

Encourage your students to go home this week and take the time to write out what they what their legacy to be. Then, encourage them to be proactive this week in making choices that will allow their legacy to become a reality now.

Driven Purity Week 3: Issues for Girls

2008-04-22T09:55:00.000-07:00

Driven Purity Week 3 - Issues for Guys

2008-04-14T08:15:00.000-07:00

Core Scriptures:

I Corinthians 6:12-13 (MSG) “Just because something is technically legal doesn't mean that it's spiritually appropriate. If I went around doing whatever I thought I could get by with, I'd be a slave to my whims. You know the old saying, "First you eat to live, and then you live to eat"? Well, it may be true that the body is only a temporary thing, but that's no excuse for stuffing your body with food, or indulging it with sex. Since the Master honors you with a body, honor him with your body!

I Corinthians 6:16-20 (MSG) “There's more to sex than mere skin on skin. Sex is as much spiritual mystery as physical fact. As written in Scripture, "The two become one." Since we want to become spiritually one with the Master, we must not pursue the kind of sex that avoids commitment and intimacy, leaving us lonelier than ever—the kind of sex that can never "become one." There is a sense in which sexual sins are different from all others. In sexual sin we violate the sacredness of our own bodies, these bodies that were made for God-given and God-modeled love, for "becoming one" with another. Or didn't you realize that your body is a sacred place, the place of the Holy Spirit? Don't you see that you can't live however you please; squandering what God paid such a high price for? The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you. God owns the whole works. So let people see God in and through your body.

Memory Verse:

I Corinthians 6: 19-20 (NIV) “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”

Opener: What’s the most beautiful sight you’ve ever seen? Or at least one in your top five? Did you try to capture this sight, with a picture perhaps? How did that turn out? Does the picture TRULY capture the original beauty?

Discussion Questions:

· Let’s talk about Matt, the guy whose girlfriend was pressuring him to have sex. Why did he say no? Do you think that was a difficult decision to make?

· Do you think the problem stemmed from the fact that he was a Christian dating a non-Christian? Is that a bad situation – Christians dating non-Christian? Should you date non-Christians so you can witness to them?

· What’s wrong with pornography? People say it “disrespects women”, how does it do that?

· GIRLS – how would you respond if you found out that your boyfriend was viewing pornography?

· GIRLS – In the DVD Hailey was challenging girls on what they wear, so they are not tempting guys. What does she mean? Is that a reasonable concern?

· GUYS – if pornography is beginning to be a problem for you, what should you do about it? (get away from it, go public, get support)

· Read the Memory Verse. Why does Paul say your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit? What does that mean?

· Verse 20 says, “You were bought with a price…” What was the price?

Driven Purity Week 2: The Role of Dating

2008-04-07T05:54:00.000-07:00

Subject: The Role of Dating

Core Scriptures:
Exodus 20:3 (MSG) “No other gods, only me.”

Memory Verse:
Colossians 3:17 (MSG) “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Discussion Questions:

This first person in the DVD was Alexa; she talked about how she ignored warning signs in her relationship with a boyfriend. She said “If you’re dating a guy you don’t want to believe that anything is wrong.”
Do you think that statement is true in most dating relationships? Is it truer for guys or girls?
She talked about her need to “be needed”, is this important in a relationship?
Do you think this keeps people in bad relationships? When their boyfriend/girlfriend does something bad, do they say, “Good that is something I can fix”?
Do you think it’s possible for a boyfriend and girlfriend to change each other in good ways? How does that happen? What about changing them in bad ways?
How can you make sure that good changes happen in a relationship and bad ones don’t?
If our goal is to be whole, balanced people complete with full, well balanced lives, do you think a romantic relationship helps or hurts? Does it make us more whole, or less?
Read Colossians 3:17. How does this apply to today’s discussion?

PURITY: Boundaries - April 5th & 6th

2008-04-03T11:04:00.000-07:00

Core Scriptures:
Mark 12:29-30 (AMP) “Jesus answered, The first and principal one of all commands is: Hear, O Israel, The Lord our God is one Lord; And you shall love the Lord your God out of and with your whole heart and out of and with all your soul (your life) and out of and with all your mind (with your faculty of thought and your moral understanding) and out of and with all your strength. This is the first and principal commandment.”

Memory Verse:
Mark 12:30 (NKJ) “And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment.

Opener:
Is there a food that you cannot live without? Onion rings? Cocoa Puffs? Red Bull? If they discovered it was bad for you – you’d still scarf it down. If they made it illegal, you’d look for a black-market supply.
I hate to break it to you, but you can live without that particular food. You’re just attached to it. Come to think of it, it’s something like a dating relationship. And that’s what today is totally about.

Discussion Questions: (For the Gals)

In the DVD we met Nicole, she was in love with this guy and she was afraid he would break up with her if she didn’t have sex with him. Do you think this is a common fear? Do other girls feel that way?
Why doesn’t she just say, “Here are my standards, buddy boy. You’d better stop pressuring me or I’ll break up with you.”
Nicole talked about her boyfriend being in control of the relationship, how do you think it got that way?
Nicole’s friends were warning her about this guy. Why didn’t she listen to them? Would things have turned out differently if she had listened to her friends?
Nicole said this: “Part of me was convinced we were supposed to get married”. Do you think this is why she gave in?
The speaker suggested that feelings of guilt can be a good thing. What did she mean? Do you agree? Is guilt good or bad?
Read the core scripture. How should we love the Lord? What does that mean to you?
What does this verse mean to you in regards to the relationships in your life? Can you do whatever you want as long as your heart is in the right place?
If you really tried to do this, how would it change the relationships in your life? (Remember the equals sign!)

Discussion Questions: (For the Guys)

In the DVD, Jared mentioned the negative influence of his father and cousins. Do you think guys cheer each other on when it comes to sexual misbehavior?
How do you deal with it when it happens to you? How can Christian guys challenge the idea that you have to sleep around to be a “real man”?
How can guys help each other withstand these pressures? As guys how can you support each other on these issues?
The speaker suggested that feelings of guilt can be a good thing. What did she mean? Do you agree? Is guilt good or bad?
Read the core scripture. How should be love the Lord? What does that mean to you?
What does this verse mean to you in regards to your relationships? Can you do whatever you want as long as your heart is in the right place?
If you really tried to do this, how would it change the relationships in your life? (Remember the equals sign!)

Make sure you watch the video (in the post from earlier this week) to see what the actual teaching is going to be.

Driven Purity Week 1: Boundaries

2008-03-31T06:41:00.000-07:00

March 29 & 30 - Conflict Resolution

2008-03-26T20:46:00.000-07:00

Core Scripture(s):
Matthew 18:15 (MSG)"If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him—work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you've made a friend. If he won't listen, take one or two others along so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again. If he still won't listen, tell the church. If he won't listen to the church, you'll have to start over from scratch, confront him with the need for repentance, and offer again God's forgiving love.”

1 Peter 3:10-11 (AMP) “For let him who wants to enjoy life and see good days [good – whether apparent or not] keep his tongue free from evil and his lips from guile (treachery, deceit). Let him turn away from wickedness and shun it, and let him do right. Let him search for peace (harmony; undisturbedness from fears, agitating passions and moral conflicts) and seek it eagerly. [Do not merely desire peaceful relations with God, with your fellowmen, and with yourself, but pursue, go after them!]

Luke 6:27-38 (The Message Translation)

Memory Verse:
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 “Love is kind and patient, never jealous, boastful, proud, or rude. Love isn’t selfish or quick tempered. It doesn’t keep a record of wrongs that others do. Love rejoices in the truth, but not in evil. Love is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting. Love never fails!” (The Message)

Discussion Questions:

The Word says in 1 Peter 3:10-11 (AMP) – see above – that there are three things we need to do if we want to enjoy life and see good days, what are they?
He says we shouldn’t just desire peace, but pursue it – how can you pursue peace with your friends (or enemies)?
What is the first thing Jesus says we should do (in Matthew 18:15) when someone has hurt us? How do we tend to actually handle these situations and what often happens as a result
What will you do the next time you face conflict to make sure (for your part) that you are obeying what God’s laid out for us to do?

Bottom Line:
Conflicts are inevitable in life – even among Christians. How can we “agree to disagree agreeably,” or resolve our conflicts without tearing apart our friendships? The reality is, no matter how hard we try to be loving in what we do, our love is imperfect and we will let people down eventually. But the good news is that there is a way to tap into a source of perfect love to help us love and live at peace with people around us.

How do I get and keep my friends?

2008-03-18T11:05:00.000-07:00

For the weekend of March 22 & 23, 2008 - HAPPY EASTER!

Core Scripture(s):
Proverbs 16:27-28 (AMP) “A worthless man devises and digs up mischief, and in his lips there is a scorching fire. A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.”

Proverbs 14:10 (MSG) “The person who shuns the bitter moments of friends will be an outsider at their celebrations.”

Romans 12:10 (NCV) “Love each other like brothers and sisters. Give each other more honor than you want for yourselves.”

Memory Verse:
Proverbs 27:17 (NLT) “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.”

Discussion Questions:

What are qualities you DON’T like in a friend? What qualities does God not like in us? (See: Proverbs 6:15-17) How does your list compare with His?
Has there ever been a time when you have been hurt by gossip? Can you describe the situation (no names)? How did you feel?
Describe a time when you took part in gossip. What were the results? Read Proverbs 17:9 “Whoever forgives someone’s sin makes a friend, but gossiping about the sin breaks up friendships.”
Who in your life “sharpens you like iron” (Proverbs 27:17)? What kind of relationship do you expect from a person like this? Are you that to anyone else?

Bottom Line:
The Bible makes it clear that if we want friends – we have to show ourselves friendly. The same things that we expect out of others (loyalty, trustworthy, caring, etc.) we should do ourselves for others. It’s when we’re not loyal and we choose to gossip or betray our friends that we tend to lose our friends.

Real Friends/Counterfeit Friends - March 15 & 16

2008-03-11T06:55:00.000-07:00

Core Scripture(s):
I Corinthians 15:33 “Do not be fooled: Bad friends will ruin good habits.”

James 4:11 (NLT) “Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you.”

Memory Verse:
1 Samuel 16:7b “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Discussion Questions:

What have you bought based on first impressions, only to find out later that the product (or person – no names) was not as advertised?
Have you ever seen a counterfeit bill? What is the difference between it and a real bill?
How can you tell the difference between a real friend and a counterfeit friend?
What is the “danger” in having a counterfeit friend?
Read Psalm 62:9 “Men of low degree are only vanity and men of rank are a lie; In the balances they go up; they are together lighter than breath.” People who are counterfeit don’t “weigh” much – they don’t hold much value (kind of like when you weigh a gold brick against a feather – it doesn’t compare). What can you do to change that in someone or yourself?

Bottom Line:
The difference between a counterfeit friend and a real one is by what’s on the inside – not what’s on the outside. Just like the difference between a counterfeit $20 bill and a real one is by what they can do. “Fakes” can be hard to spot – but you’ll know when you find one when it doesn’t help you. This is why God places such value on what’s on the inside of us. Just like it says in our memory verse – the Lord looks at the heart. Why does He look there – because that’s who we truly are. If you want to find a real friend, look at people around you the way God does – look at their heart (look at the fruit in their life).

March 8th & 9th - Circle of Friends

2008-03-05T09:16:00.000-08:00

Core Scripture(s):
John 15:12-13 (AMP) “This is My commandment: that you love one another [just] as I have loved you. No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends.”

Proverbs 17:17 (MSG) “Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble.”

Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NLT) “A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” (Read verse 9-12 for more study)

Memory Verse:
Proverbs 18:24 (NLT) “There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.”

Discussion Questions:

Think about your friends/best friends… how many friends do you have 5, 10, 20, 100? Now how many of those people can you really share your deepest secrets with? Why is that person different from the rest?
What is a friend? What qualities do you think define a friend?
What does God think of friends? Can you think of anything in the Word to back that up? (Try David & Jonathan in 1 Samuel 18:1-3)
How do your friendships line up with what the Word of God has to say about friends? The same, different, a little better, where are you at?
What changes can you make in your friends or relationships to make them more beneficial for you to follow God’s plan for your life?

Bottom Line:
We need to be wise and put all of our relationships in proper perspective. One of the best ways to do this is to think of “circles of friendship”. All of our friends fall into one of three categories: best friends (people who influence me), friends (people I influence) and acquaintances. Good friends are wise friends. Good friends know the difference between right and wrong. Good friends make good decisions. And it will always be easier for you to do the right thing when you are with the right people.

Don't Spend Everything That's in Your Wallet (Saving & Investing)

2008-02-27T07:18:00.000-08:00

March 1st & 2nd, 2008 - Saving & Investing

Core Scriptures:
Matthew 25:21 (NIV) “His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!”

Matthew 25:27 (NIV) “Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.”

Memory Verse:
Matthew 6:33 (NIV) “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Discussion Questions:

What is the longest amount of time you’ve saved up for something? How long did it take you to save up for what you wanted? How did you save your money? (allowance, jobs, bank account, birthday money?)
What is the most expensive thing you’ve saved up for? Was it worth the effort?
How do you envision your life 10 years from now? 20 years? 50 years? (family, career, how much money you have, etc..)
Financially, how do you think you will get to the place you want to be?

Bottom Line:

This month we have focused on finances. We understand that everything is God’s and we are just the stewards of His money. As His stewards, we need to be financially responsible with what He’s blessed us with. We’ve stated that there are 4 basic things we can do with money: get, give, spend, or invest. Part of using wisdom is putting away today what you will need tomorrow. When God sees that you are responsible with what He is giving you now, He will be able to bless you with more later.

February 23 & 24 - Give Him What's in Your Wallet

2008-02-20T06:52:00.000-08:00

Give Him What’s in your Wallet (Giving & Tithing)

Core Scripture:
Psalm 50: 10-12 (NIV) “For every animal of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is Mine, and all that is in it.”

Malachi 3:10 (NIV) “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”

11 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV) “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Memory Verse:

Proverbs 3:9 (NIV) “Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the first-fruits of all your increase;”

Discussion Questions:

Do you think there is value to involving God in your finances? Why or why not?
Describe a situation when you put God first with your money and He came through for you as a result.
What do you believe is the main reason God would bless a person financially?
Do you think it’s possible to help others in need without the love of God being in you? Why or why not?
What about the opposite? Can you have the love of God in you and not help people in need? How does that work?

Bottom Line:

God isn’t just the creator of the universe; He’s the owner of everything in it. Including the money you call your own. When He created us, He immediately gave us a management position – the job of managing the earth and everything in it. Our money has an extremely important phrase on it: In God We Trust. If we really do trust Him, we would be obedient to His word which says to tithe first and also give. When we choose to put Him first by paying the tithe and giving to the Gospel we create an opportunity for Him to be involved in our finances and to bless them. God is a generous God and if are truly created in His image we should be the same. We should be willing to give above the tithe to help spread the Gospel and to help those in need.

February 16 & 17 - What Do I Do with What’s in my Wallet? (Budgeting)

2008-02-11T06:30:00.000-08:00

Core Scripture:
Hebrews 13:5 (NIV) “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Matthew 6:31-33 (NIV) “So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear? For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Memory Verse:
James 1:5 (NIV) “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.”

Discussion Questions:

If you had a $100 how much would you spend on food, clothes, entertainment (movies, DVD’s, music, video games), or things for yourself like make-up and sports?
How much money do you spend on yourself vs. others?
If someone were to describe you would they say you are generous or stingy? Would they say you are responsible or irresponsible with your money? Are you ok with that? How do you want to be seen by others?
Describe your main priorities in life. Is that reflected in how you spend your money? Why or why not?

Bottom Line:

Every one of us are “Money Managers for God”. He has entrusted us with every dollar that flows through our lives; let’s prove to Him that He made a good decision! He has got millions of dollars in small and big stacks all along the path of our lives. We owe it to Him to learn how to manage the small stacks we encounter now, so He can trust us with the bigger stacks to come. The bottom line is that there are 4 basic ways we handle money: Get, Give, Invest, and Spend. If we allow God to dictate the decisions we make with money – we can be guaranteed He will be able to trust with more than we can imagine.

What’s in Your Wallet? (work for your money)

2008-02-08T17:29:00.000-08:00

February 9 & 10 - 242 Notes

Core Scripture:
Proverbs 6:6 (Message) “You lazy fool, look at an ant. Watch it closely; let it teach you a thing or two. Nobody has to tell it what to do. All summer it stores up food; at harvest it stockpiles provisions. So how long are you going to laze around doing nothing? How long before you get out of bed? A nap here, a nap there, a day off here, a day off there, sit back, take it easy—do you know what comes next? Just this: You can look forward to a dirt-poor life, poverty your permanent houseguest!”

II Thessalonians 3:10-12 (AMP). “For while we were yet with you, we gave you this rule and charge: If anyone will not work, neither let him eat. Indeed, we hear that some among you are disorderly [that they are passing their lives in idleness, neglectful of duty], being busy with other people's affairs instead of their own and doing no work. Now we charge and exhort such persons [as ministers in Him exhorting those] in the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) that they work in quietness and earn their own food and other necessities.”

Memory Verse:
Colossians 3:23 (NIV) “Whatever your work is, do it gladly. Do it as you would do it unto the Lord and not for people.”

Discussion Questions:

If you could have your “dream job” what would it be and why?
At what point in life are you financially responsible (buying your own clothes, food, gas for your car, buying a car) for yourself – what gets you to that point?
Do you think God cares about how well you perform on the job? Like, does it matter to Him if you are babysitting and you just watch TV the whole time? Or if you are mowing lawns or shoveling driveways and “cut corners”? Or if mom or dad asks you to do things around the house (for your allowance) and you pass it off to a sibling? Why or why not?
What does it look like to do any job, and do it “as unto the Lord”?
Think about your work at school – how could you personally change how you do it to better glorify God?

Bottom line:

Most of us don’t necessarily enjoy hard work; but it is a fact of life. God expects us to work and earn the money that He is allowing us to manage (remember, it’s all His). The Word says that whatever we do we need to do unto Him. This actually means that whether we’re helping out at home, babysitting or mowing lawns – we need to do it unto Him. Many people fall into the trap of thinking the world “owes us” – or believe we have a “right” to money. This is not a Biblical principle. God expects us to work hard, earn a living, and take care of ourselves and our families. As we continue to put Him first by tithing and working hard we are opening the door to allow Him to come in and increase what we have earned. What a great deal for us!

February 2 & 3 - Read the Word - then Speak the Word

2008-01-29T08:19:00.000-08:00

Core Scripture:
Romans 10:17 “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Mark 11:23 “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.”

Memory Verse:
Proverbs 18:21 (AMP) “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life].

Discussion Questions:

Have you ever heard the saying, “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me”? Do you think this saying is true? Why or why not?
Think of a time when someone said something to you that you’ve never forgot – positive or negative. Why do you think you never forgot what was said to you?
Do you think the words you use are generally more positive or negative? Do you think they affect or life at all – whether they are positive or negative?
Read Proverbs 18:21. What does the verse mean when it says “they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it”?
Do you think it is important for you to hear YOURSELF saying God’s Word? Why?
Share a time in your life when you have decided to confess God’s Word over a situation and you saw the positive results from it.

Bottom Line:

Our Words have power, the power of death and life. Speaking the Word of God in your life has power. As you hear yourself speak God’s Word your faith will grow. As you confess the Word, your confidence in God and His Word will grow to the point where your faith will be at a place that you can believe God for whatever you need in your life.

The Word of God - Spiritual Fuel

2008-01-23T18:25:00.000-08:00

Core Scripture:

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (Amp.) “Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action), So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Memory Verse:

Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

Discussion Questions:

What would you do if you were stranded on a dessert island? If you went without food for 30 days what do you think would happen to you?
Do you think it makes a difference what kind of food you eat? How does the food you eat affect your body?
If food is to the body as the Word is to the Spirit – do you think people in general are spiritually malnourished? Why or why not?
Do you feel like you get spiritually weak when you are not consistently in the Word? Does being “spiritually weak” affect how you make choices in your life? How?
Read the core scripture 2 Timothy 3:16-17. What are the 6 ways listed that the Word is for in our lives?

Bottom Line:

The Word of God is the foundation of our relationship with the Lord. In order to know God and grow in Him we have to know His character, His motives, and His plans for mankind. Reading the Word is what reveals the Father to us. Just like eating food causes our bodies to grow physically, reading the Word causes our spirit-man to grow – it’s our spiritual fuel. As we spend time in the Word we are giving God the opportunity to transform our thoughts, attitudes, and goals to line up with His. We don’t have to read 4 chapters of the Word a day to grow, we just need to read and meditate on a few verses a day to get the Word into our heart.

Who is the Holy Spirit??

2008-01-15T06:52:00.000-08:00

Core Scripture:
Acts 2:1-4 (Amp.) “And when the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all assembled together in one place, when suddenly there came a sound from heaven like the rushing of a violent tempest blast, and it filled the whole house in which they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues resembling fire, which were separated and distributed and which settled on each one of them. And they were all filled (diffused throughout their souls) with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other (different, foreign) languages (tongues), as the Spirit kept giving them clear and loud expression [in each tongue in appropriate words].

Memory Verse:
I John 4:4(NKJ)“You are of God little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

Discussion Questions:

When you think of the Holy Spirit, what do you think of? What are some of the things you’ve heard about the Holy Spirit from other people?
Do you think that there are a lot of misconceptions about who the Holy Spirit really is? What do you think some of them are?
Explain who the Holy Spirit is to you.
Read John 14:26 (AMP) “But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you.” What are the 7 things listed the Holy Spirit will do for you? How do these “jobs” manifest in your daily life?

Bottom Line:
The Holy Spirit is not a thing, the Holy Spirit is a He – the 3rd part of the Trinity (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit). The Father sent the Holy Spirit to the earth when Jesus ascended back up to heaven. Jesus said it was better that He go so that the Father could send the Holy Spirit. Why? Because the Holy Spirit dwells on the inside of us. He has 7 specific jobs, He is our: Comforter, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Stand-by, and Counselor. The Bible refers to Him as the Spirit of Truth who will guide us and reveal things to come. When we pray in the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking in tongues, we strengthen our spirit-man. When we are spiritually strong we can withstand the attacks of the satan and we will have the ability to follow God’s plan for our lives.

THIS IS IT!!

2007-12-31T13:19:00.000-08:00

This is the start of the BIG changeover! Sudden Fire is changed to DRIVEN JUNIOR HIGH YOUTH MINISTRY!!!

This will be the NEW site to find any and all information about the services that go on at Driven Junior High Youth Ministry... teaching notes, 242 notes, offering schedule, upcoming events and MORE!!

Mark this page in your "favorites" or heck, make it your home page - either way, check it often so you can stay "in the know" as to what's going on at Driven!