Category Archives: Youth Ministry

Aug 18 2010

How to Excel When Going Back 2 School

How to Excel When Going Back 2 School –  from the Life of Daniel (Dan.1)

In the third year (605 B.C.) of the reign of Jehoiakim King Judah, King Neuchadnezzar of Babylon conquered Judah, and after this the King commanded Ashpenaz the chief eunuch to assemble a group of youth together for education purposes.  So Daniel along with several other young men was chosen to serve in Nebuchadnessar’s court (Babylon High).  In a sense Ashpenaz was like an instructor/mentor/overseer, and Nebuchadnessar was like the principle.  v.1-3

We also see from scripture that each of these students were skillful, knowledgeable, and capable of surviving school.   However it is not about simply surviving; it is about how you survive.  Often times as students you tend to do just enough to get by, but find yourself unsatisfied with where you are in life, and that is because you are not living up to your full potential. Daniel along with these other students would be cared for and educated for three years.  The Bible says that each of them were competent to stand, but have you ever wanted to do more than just stand? I don’t want to just stand, I want to soar. V.4-5

Daniel along with his 3 friends could of easily gone along with the crowd, but they had set in their hearts that they didn’t just want to stand with the crowd, but they wanted to soar/excel above the rest.

We can learn a lot from Daniels example when it comes to Excelling in School.

1. Be competent in your ability to stand against the crowd. v.4 (Phil. 4:13)

2. Form a core group of friends that will be able to support one another. v.6-7

3. Inform a teacher/mentor/counselor/advisor of your desire to excel in school v.8-9 

                When you seek counsel from such individuals, God will see your desire to change, and will be likely to work in the hearts of that/those individual(s) to have compassion upon you. Some may show apprehension (v.10), however when you prove faithful you will have gained their approval and respect.

4. Determine what areas of your life you wish to advance or excel in. (Physical/Mental/Spiritual)

                Daniel wanted to be closer to God, and wanted to grow spiritually, but he also knew that by eating healthy he would not be as sluggish, and it would help him physically and mentally.v.12

5. Prove to be faithful, by challenging individuals to hold you accountable. V.11-14

6. Stay committed to the cause. v.14-16

As a result, they were healthier and brighter than the rest. They were blessed with learning and skill.  There was none like them.  They were 10 times better than the rest. v.17-20

Reflections:

  • What is one thing you can do in your life that is going to make you more confident in your ability to stand against the crowd?

 

  • Name 2-4 core people you could trust in to be your friend and help support you in your decision to excel in your life?  Name 1 teacher/mentor/counselor/advisor who would be able to hold you accountable at school?

 

  • What 1-2 areas in your life would you like to see most excel over the next school year?

 

  • What are some ways you can challenge your friends/mentors to hold you accountable?

 

  • What are some ways that you can stay committed to the cause?
Jul 26 2010

Get the House Ready! – Guest Blog (Camp)

This is a guest blog from Pastor Shannon O’Dell of Brand New Church.  To see original article visit www.breakingalltherurals.com

How do we as parents, pastors, and church leaders prepare for the hundreds of stories, testimonies, and changed lives that will be returning home from camp this week? God’s Word shows us that youth have been the fire all through history…the disciples, Stephen, Timothy Joseph, David, Josiah and more. 1 Timothy 4:12-13 “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.” They are ready for revival, so we must cultivate fertile homes of spiritual growth for the fire to stay lit! HOW?

#1 Don’t let the enemy lie to you and approach this with a “I have seen this before” spirit of negativity.
#2 Find out what they have committed to God. commit with them and support it.
#3 Take them to your local bookstore and purchase them a new Bible (NIV would be a recommended translation).
#4 Pray with them every night.
#5 Share with them what you are reading each day in the word of God.
#6 Sign them up for volunteering in your local church and student ministry.
#7 Let them sleep and get rested up then have the BIG Camp rundown.
#8 Make church opportunities priority!
#9 Tell your friends, co-workers and family the decisions your child has made with passion. (You tell them about that A, that touchdown, that 3 pointer)

Begin right now preparing your homecoming for students and kids ready to have church in their house daily.

Jul 16 2010

NorthLake Mission Trip

We had an awesome time at the Norhtlake Mission trip in Kansas City, however we experienced are share of trials on the way there. We had a battery go bad on us, a blown tire, and a few other issues that arose that really tested our spirits, however we were faithful, and some awesome things happened because of it. We were able to help with a community project to raise funds for public restrooms, and we also were able to work with a homeless ministry. Jeremy a student minister in training got to do a devotional reading and prayer for almost 100 homeless people. Awesome experience! We were also able to serve food for nearly 400-500 homeless people. This opportunity was really eye-opening for our students. We also hosted a youth rally in which the majority of the students responded to an altar call to start living with the faith of a mustard seed. This was an extraordinary sight in itself. We also had some fun while we were there. The students got to go tubing, and enjoy a day at Worlds of Fun. Who said being a Christian wasn’t awesome!! To God be the glory. Thanks to Bethel Baptist Church for your prayful and financial support. Check out this album for some of the photos of our trip: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2072342&id=1434591735

Jeremy also posted some photos in his album, check it out: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=184058&id=666103365#!/album.php?aid=184058&id=666103365

Mar 1 2010

It’s Not About You

*It’s not about you.  The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It’s far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions. If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by his purpose and for his purpose.  The search for the purpose of life has puzzled people for thousands of years. That’s because we typically begin at the wrong starting point – ourselves. We ask self-centered questions like What do I want to be? What should I do with my life? What are my goals, my ambitions, my dreams for my future? But focusing on ourselves will never reveal our life’s purpose. The Bible says, “It is God who directs the lives of his creatures; everyone’s life is in his power.”Romans 12:2 (NLT)

*Rick Warren - Purpose Driven Life – Day 1

It is important that just as we try to find purpose for our individual lives we must find purpose in our ministries as well. Today I want to challenge us to look at how we do ministry differently. Too often our ministries are self-serving and lack purpose. “Where there is no vision (purpose) the people perish.” Prov. 29:18.

At times we get so caught up in every little aspect of ministry that we lose sight of that very purpose for which we exist. I feel that this is a crossroad that we are facing here at the Refuge and probably throughout many ministries within the United States. We continually look for ways to meet the needs and preferences of the people we are trying to serve, however at the same time we allow that to become our focus. Slowly it begins to control us, as the original purpose of the ministry fades in the back ground. In the end the ministry will find itself as just another self-serving social club.

The very ministry that God set before us to set us free has now become just another form of bondage.

Culture around us has raised a generation of self-serving individuals who are primarily concerned with their own desires and needs, with little to no care for things that truly matter. Distortion has set in, and Satan has blinded the minds of God’s people from truly seeing genuine purpose.

We were born by His purpose and for His purpose.

“Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life.” – 2 Tim. 2:7 (NIV)

Many of our ministries have become just that – a “dead end”. We must regain purpose in our ministries, and it starts by reshaping the way we live, minister, and serve. God’s purpose MUST be the fuel that drives us, and each and every one of us must continually evaluate how we pursue that purpose. We MUST alleviate all access baggage so that we might be able to fully commit ourselves to His purpose. And once again it starts with reshaping. Every individual person within that ministry has the ability to be shaped into God’s image so that we might be able to fulfill His purpose.

In John chapter 13 we see a beautiful picture of one of Christ’s final messages to His Disciples, and it is the picture of a life of servant hood through feet washing.

“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, YOU ALSO ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example.” John 13:14,15

Our purpose needs to be one of a life of servant hood. We must refrain from our selfish desires and turn to a life of service where Christ is our ultimate example. We are to be His hands, feet, and mouth piece to this dying world. Let us set aside our differences, and live by His purpose, and for His Purpose.

*Consider Having a Feet Washing Ceremony

Won’t you join with me in this bond and covenant of a life of servant hood, fully sold out for the cause of Christ?

Feb 10 2010

Inferno – Dating & Relationships Part 2 Standards & Priorities

What are your priorities in dating?  What do you hope to come from this relationship? What standards will you have for who you date?

Each of these are excellent questions many of us wish we would have asked prior to experiencing that awful dating relationship that we are currently in or were in.  We wonder how did this relationship end up like this, and how did it ever get this way? … the answer was that it was destined for failure to begin with.

It is important that you set standards for yourself for whom you will date or even be-friend.  Often times it is the people we date or be-friend that seem to have the most influence on us.  Instead of setting standards, and requiring that people meet those standards we get this “Fixer-upper” mentality.  We think that since they don’t meet are standards we can fix them or change them.  The problem is we can not change people … it has to be something they want to do.  And if you do find someone who wants to change and be in a relationship with you, wait until they have made some significant progress before pursuing the relationship any farther.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying set your standards so high that no one can meet them, but at least have some in place and stick to them.  Here are just a few examples that I would highly recommend.

  1. Christian of like faith
  2. Friendly to others
  3. Positive attitude
  4. Goal Oriented
  5. Healthy relationship with family
  6. Abstains from Sexual activity
  7. Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco free
  8. Similar Interest
  9. Availability
  10. Physical Attributes (Don’t have to be a prom king/queen, but have traits that you are attracted to.  You wouldn’t date someone who has tattoos or piercings if you do not like those physical attributes.)

These are only just a few.  The important thing is that you have a sense of self.  Do you know who you are? Are you clear on what’s important to you?

After your standards are met, determine your priorities in the relationship, and make sure your priorities are in line with the person you want to pursue a relationship with.  For example, you may be looking for someone who could potentially be someone you want to marry, however for them you are just a one nighter.  You get the picture.

It makes me think about the book of Hosea chapter 11:1-3 where we see the Israelites and God having totally different priorities in their relationship.

God wanted the people of Israel to worship him alone, but to the Israelites God was just another god.  They worshiped the gods of Baal, and sought the desires of the flesh.

What about you?  Are you seeking a genuine relationship with God or are you pursuing the desires of the flesh?

Feb 6 2010

Inferno – Dating & Relationships Part 1 Boundaries

It is important for all individual to have boundaries in their lives, but it is especially important to have them in your dating relationship.  Not only is it important to have boundaries, but also to have awareness.  Awareness of the warning signs, red flags, and danger symptoms that may exist within this relationship.  Today, I just want to point out a few.  They are many so feel free to add some of your own in the comment section below. 

Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. -  Romans 6:13 (NIV)

Boundaries / Red Flags:

1. Family & Friends are Priority / Separation

It is important to not allow yourself to be separated from your friends, family, and the ones you love.  Often times you will find that the person you are dating wants to separate you from these people, because they do not want you to be influenced by them.  They will try to manipulate you into thinking that you don’t need them, and that you are perfect for each other.  Don’t listen this is a “Red Flag”.  Make your boundaries clear in the beginning of the relationship, and re-establish them often. 

2. Public-Group Dating / Isolation 

It is important to keep your relationship within the public eye.  Don’t get caught off by smooth talking.  Often times you will hear comments like: “I just want to be alone with you.” “I just want some one-on-one time.” “Nothing will happen, I just want to hang out somewhere, where it is quite.” … and so on.  Take a stand even at the risk of offending that person.  Many times this person will continue to pressure you into isolating yourself with them in a secluded area.  This is a “Red Flag”.  Don’t get caught up in this.  Make public-group dating a requirement, especially for teens and new relationships.

3. Comfort Zones / Deception

Make it clear up-front in the relationship that you have a comfort zone that is not to be crossed, nor approached.  It may be awkward, but it can save you in the long run, and even enrich a relationship.  Don’t let your partner push this comfort zone.  Many times they will try to decieve you into thinking that it is ok, or a little farther won’t hurt, or I will stop at this point.  Don’t become a victim of deception.  Stop them in their tracks as soon as they even begin to tip-toe or approach your physical boundaries and comfort zone.  If they cannot respect these physical boundaries, then they will not respect you either.

4. Values & Beliefs / Manipulation

It is important for us to express our values and beliefs throught-out the relationship.  Do not allow these core values and beliefs to be tainted or manipulated by your partner.  Work together around these issues, and develop your relationship with the understanding that everyone is different, and may hold various values.  Respect one another, and allow God to develop the relationship in-spite of your differences.

That is a wrap for me.  What about you?  What are some of your boundaries?  What are some of the “red flags” you have seen in dating?