by
Chet
27. July 2010 18:53
I'm putting together a little guide for our church youth group tomorrow night. Neither myself nor my other Wednesday night cohort in crime, Dewey, can be there, so one of the college-age guys is going to lead the group. I thought I'd jot down the flow here, since I can easily link directly to the videos and write out the discussion questions as well.
GETTING STARTED
Today we're going to watch a couple video clips from a movie called To Save a Life. This movie is the story of a young man named Jake Taylor. He's the school champion of basketball and beer pong, has a beautiful girlfriend, and everybody loves him. Life couldn't get better, right? An old friend from Jake's childhood comes back into his life, and shortly thereafter, commits suicide. Jake begins to think. "What did i miss? What could I have done different? It's all my fault!" A youth minister meets Jake, and leads him to Jesus. Things don't magically turn nice and neat, however, and Jake begins to really wrestle w...
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by
Chet
13. February 2010 22:11
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I gave a devotional / testimony type of thing at a Valentines Banquet tonight with some friends & family from church... along with a couple hecklers in the crowd. Wanted to get it jotted down in my blog so I can come back to it later...
When I volunteered to share a devotional tonight, I had one of those strange feelings where you know exactly what you want to share, but have absolutely no idea how you’re going to get it out of your heart, up your throat, and out of your mouth. Ever been there? In fact, as I thought about that, I realized I’m in that situation quite often, particularly, it seems, in my marriage. I have something great to say, to really inspire and encourage my wife, or just make her day, and how does it come out? Not at all as in...
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by
Chet
17. September 2009 06:31
I'm reading through the book of Isaiah right now with the Daily Audio Bible. One of the longest books of the Bible, and often, it seems, one of the driest. So much cursing. So much prophesy. But what I'm hearing today... there is always hope. Not a hope that everything will get better. Not a hope that one day our circumstances will get better. Not even a hope that the people around us will change. A hope, a promise, that God Will Intervene. That He Will Step In. In the midst of the deepest darkness, where there is no way out, even by scratching, crawling, or sacrificing our very lives to escape, He will show up for His children.
Like this passage in Isaiah 27, in the midst of curses, curses, curses, and sin, sin, sin:
For the fortified city will be deserted,pastures abandoned and forsaken like a wilderness.Calves will graze there,and there they will spread out and strip its branches.When its branches dry out, they will be broken off.Women will come and make fires with them,for they...
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by
Chet
9. September 2009 09:07
Tonight we're going to talk about loneliness at youth group, and how, in reality, we are never really alone. But at the same time, the feelings of loneliness are real in day to day life, and we should learn how to deal with them and be healed of them. We can also learn how to help others who are alone, and how to find them in the first place, because lonely people are everywhere, often right in front of us.
Dewey is going to share a short devotional he read the other day that he thinks is really good, and talks about how God is always there with us. I'll probably come back and edit this post once I know what that's about.
After that, we're going to do a few activities centered around the theme. Not sure what order we'll do these; maybe even go back and forth.
Movie Clips
There are countless movies that center around the theme of loneliness. Whether it's someone living the self-empowered life of "if it is to be, it's up to me" and "succeeding" in it while isolating themselves from a...
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by
Chet
28. August 2009 06:39
Prayer has been all over my map this year. In teaching, in being taught, in reading, and even in applying, trying, failing, and succeeding. I was remided yesterday about how "informal" we can be with God in terms of the whole "process," but how much He just loves to hear from us and also, how much he longs to answer us.
At the beginning of September, we start a new Sunday School "year" at our church. Being the team leader for that ministry has put me into a number of situations, but the one I love the most is raising up new leaders into spots of ministry that are just right for them. While I say that, I also love the opportunity to watch these people be raised up by others... it's a wonderful opportunity to watch miracles in action. This event yesterday showed me both sides of this, how prayer fit in, and how wonderful God is to us.
One of our preschool classes (the one my son is in, it so happens) has been in need of a helper for the teacher. It's not at all that Kelley (their tea...
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by
Chet
27. August 2009 08:43
We're having a Sunday School "commissioning" service this Sunday at church as we launch into a new year of reaching, teaching, and ministering to our community. As part of this we're going to bring all the leaders, teachers, and helpers up front, both to be recognized, but more importantly, to be visibly "set apart' by our church to do the work God has called them to. These 35+ people in our church touch lives in ways no other single person could, and I love them all.
We're coming up with a bulletin insert talking about the importance of "commissioning" and a little "responsive reading" to get everyone involved in the service, and I thought I'd post the reading here:
Pastor: Jesus said, “Go and make disciples.” (Matthew 28:19)SS Workers: We will make disciples, and we will be disciples.Pastor: Whatever your assignment may be – leader, teacher, or helper – your ministry is important to our Sunday School.SS Workers: We believe that we are guides for the ...
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by
Chet
23. August 2009 21:23
I am tired. I don't know but perhaps it's been such a full week I need to refresh. For now, some memory joggers for later.
Talked to the neighbor kid about his drummer. He sees where I'm coming from, what my complaint is, and where we can compromise.
Played quite a bit of softball; had a blast, and finished strong.
Helped Erin husk and freezer-prep 2-3 bushels of sweet corn.
Brought in another key spot to our Sunday School leadership team that we've been praying for. PERFECT FIT, I think.
Made it through the weekend of softball without compromising my desires but at the same time refusing to allow any conflict of interest with other "real" priorities.
Made some serious progress on projects, alone and with help: retaining wall, garden fence, mowing grass.
Talked to my next door neighbor.
Prayed with my wife and feel leading / direction with her mother.
Rode horses... by my self, with my son, and with my wife.
Had lunch with a TON of friends today. I am so blessed.
And now...
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by
Chet
12. August 2009 05:00
From The Screwtape Letters, by C.S. Lewis
I note with grave displeasure that your patient has become a Christian. Do not indulge the hope that you will escape the usual penalties; indeed, in your better moments, I trust you would hardly even wish to do so. In the meantime we must make the best of the situation. There is no need to despair; hundreds of these adult converts have been reclaimed after a I brief sojourn in the Enemy's camp and are now with us. All the habits of the patient, both mental and bodily, are still in our favour. One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do riot mean the Church as we see her spread but through all time and space and rooted in eternity, terrible as an army with banners. That, I confess, is a spectacle which makes I our boldest tempters uneasy. But fortunately it is quite invisible to these humans. All your patient sees is the half-finished, sham Gothic erection on the new building estate. When he goes ...
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by
Chet
27. July 2009 14:10
PRAYER
What is prayer?
Talking "to" God?
Talking "with" God?
Does He talk back?
Conversation with God
Listening to
Is it a two sided "conversation" or a one way street?
PRAISE
Is praise always a joyful thing?
Ps 145:1-8
what is the importance of the words?
Do we need to be specific?
Ps 88:1-9
A song FOR the choir director
Heman
Never "gets joyful" (ex. V. 18)
Why is praise important?
Start with recognizing God for who he is
Eldridge Quote: "It's not what we do when we're strong and feeling great that makes us holy."
THANKS
Focuses on what God HAS DONE. Before we look into the future, we must be able to look confidently at what God has done in the PAST.
List stories where God brought Israel "out of" something?
Egypt
How do / can you keep track of what God has done in your life? Joshua 4:1-9 (pile of rocks on the bank and in the middle of the Jordan)
Rank them… Memory, pile of rocks, journal,...
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by
Chet
16. June 2009 14:30
My vision for Sunday School... for my local church involvement of any sort, for that matter..."From Christian Clubhouse to Kingdom Outpost"I am starting to see this... and someone on DAB gave me this quote today:"Some wish to live within the sound of Church or Chapel bell;I want to run a Rescue Shop within a yard of hell."- C.T. Studd.
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