Took the family downtown yesterday to explore some of the city we are usually not around. Check the Flickr page for more from our adventure.
Sunday night for me was incredibly hard. Not because we were wrestling through big issues at youth group, not because we had a major technical meltdown but because things purposefully went out of my hands. In a staff meeting recently I was encouraged to make a commitment to "empower every Christ follower for kingdom work." What this means is simply that even if we can do it better we need to be humble enough to say that we can't do it all. Certain personalities would say that they can do it all and end up burning out and useless to the kingdom.
Really looking forward to this. So often in youth ministry we find it hard to connect to the larger body of the church. Just the timing of retreats, and the amount of nights already spent away from home really add up. This year however things have worked out that I'm able to attend and I'm excited to get to know and learn from older Godly men. Here's a blurb about it from Steve Wood's blog...
In just over a week, February 5-7, we will gather at at the Litchfield Beach Resort for our 2010 Men’s Retreat. It has been wonderful to watch our retreats grow from that first weekend away several years ago when Alan Kilpatrick and I led teaching and ministry down at Camp St. Christopher to where we are today.
I’m particularly excited about this year’s retreat. Way back when I was at St. Luke’s Clay McLean lead a couple of our Men’s Retreats and I had the pleasure of getting to know him and serving on the ministry teams for those conferences. And I am thrilled to have Clay with us this year as our Men’s Retreat speaker.
Who is Clay McLean? Clay has served the body of Christ for 35 years in various capacities, including teaching and preaching, composing and singing, praying and serving, healing and pastoring, studying and writing. He is an exceptionally gifted communicator, able to interpret the Scriptures as well as share his own testimony in a down-to-earth manner, full of power and truth.
All men from any church are welcome to join us. For more information and to register visit our website. If you have any questions about the retreat contact Kurtz Smith (send Kurtz an email or call 843-284-4335).
Basic Impact Leaders thanks for taking a moment out of your week and sharpening your skills as a leader of teenagers. This month we're looking at spiritual health. How's your faith these days team?
Last week we started a walk through the Old Testament with our middle school community called Basic. We've started with creation and will be walking through the big sections. Our goal is to show how all of scripture points to Jesus. Much of this idea came from a children's Bible I've been reading to Abbie lately. It's called the Jesus Story Book and is excellent.
Here's a clip showing exactly how confusing the OT can be.
Topic:
By the time he was 19 Jonathan Edwards had 70 convictions that he wanted to shape his life. As someone who works with teenagers I wonder what convictions shape my life? What do the teenagers I have contact with on a regular basis use to gain direction in their life? Over the next several week's I'll post one of Edwards convictions for you to ponder and shape your week. Enjoy...
1. Resolved, That I will do whatsoever I think to be most to the glory of God, and my own good, profit, and pleasure, in the whole of my duration; without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved, to do whatever I think to be my duty, and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved, so to do, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many soever, and how great soever.
Question:
"And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became captain over them." 1 Samuel 22:2
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
In a small group for teenagers I'm a part of we've recently had a great discussion on fasting. One of our students was leading us through Mark 2:18-22. It's great to see students process through some of that great discipline. Here's an article the resurgence put out a few days ago on the same subject. Enjoy....
"Some have exalted religious fasting beyond all Scripture and reason; and others have utterly disregarded it." John Wesley
We live in a culture of fast food, instant gratification, and self-centeredness. One of the best ways to get our eyes off of ourselves and back onto the Lord is through fasting. However, fasting has practically been disregarded and forgotten in the comforts of the modern church. Fasting didn't end in biblical times; there have actually been proclaimed fasts in America.
Fasting is nothing new in American history. The pilgrims held three formal periods of fasting before leaving for the New World. During the American Revolution, the Continental Congress proclaimed July 20, 1775 as a national day of fasting and prayer in preparation for the war on independence.
What Is Fasting?
What does it really mean to fast? According to the Oxford Dictionary, fasting means to "abstain from food, especially to eat sparingly or not at all, or abstain from certain foods in observance of a religious duty or a token of grief." Fasting and religious purposes cannot be separated because they are intricately intertwined. The Bible gives us numerous references to individual and corporate fasts. There were even days that were designated each year for fasting and prayer.
Fasting is a gift that God has given to the church in order to help us persevere in prayer. Fasting draws us closer to God and gives power to our prayers, so we will discuss the reasons to fast, different types of fasting, and how to fast.
Reasons for Fasting
People have been fasting since the ancient days of the Bible. The Bible records numerous accounts where people, cities, and nations have turned to God by fasting and praying: Hannah grieved over infertility and "wept and would not eat" (1 Samuel 1:7); and Anna, an elderly widow and prophetess, worshiped at the temple with "fasting and prayer night and day" (Luke 2:37).
Most people fast for religious and spiritual reasons, while others choose to fast for health reasons. There are several specific reasons that the Bible tells us to fast.
To be continued.
- To be Christ like (Matthew 4:1-17; Luke 4:1-13).
- To obtain spiritual purity (Isaiah 58:5-7).
- To repent from sins (See Jonah 3:8; Nehemiah 1:4, 9:1-3; 1 Samuel 14:24).
- To influence God (2 Samuel 12:16-23).
- To morn for the dead (1 Samuel 31:13; 2 Samuel 1:12).
- To request God's help in times of crisis and calamity (Ezra 8:21-23; Nehemiah 1:4-11).
- To strengthen prayer (Matthew 17:21; Mark 9:17-29; Acts 10:30; 1 Corinthians 7:5).
Oh God,
I know that I often do thy work without thy power,
And sin by my dead, heartless, blind service,
My lack of inward light, love, delight,
My mind, heart, tongue moving without thy help.
I see sin in my heart in seeking the approbation of others;
This is my vileness, to make men's opinion my rule, whereas
I should see what good I have done,
And give thee glory,
Consider what sin I have committed and mourn for that.
It is my deceit to preach, and pray,
and to stir up others' spiritual affections
in order to beget commendations,
whereas my rule should be daily to consider myself more vile
than any man in my own eyes.
But thou dost show thy power by my frailty,
so that the more feeble I am, the more fit to be used,
for thou dost pitch a tent of grace in my weakness.
Help me to rejoice in my infirmities and give thee praise,
to acknowledge my deficiencies before others
and not be discouraged by them,
that they may see thy glory more clearly.
Teach me that I must act by a power supernatural,
whereby I can attempt things above my strength,
and bear evils beyond my strength,
acting for Christ in all, and having his superior power to help me.
Let me learn of Paul
whose presence was mean,
his weakness great,
his utterance contemptible,
yet though didst account him faithful and blessed.
Lord let me lean on thee as he did,
and find my ministry thine.
Going off the grid today to be quiet, pray, plan, and dream.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Basic Impact Leaders thanks for taking a moment out of your week and sharpening your skills as a leader of teenagers. This month we're looking at spiritual health. How's your faith these days team?
Not any more...
Enjoy.
Facebook users as always you will need to click "view original post" to see it. Bookmark the site why don't ya?
Before I jump on this maybe a disclaimer. *I fully realize that the nature of youth ministry is relational. Also I am more convinced now more than ever that what you draw them with is what you draw them too. So that said this post is about 10 tools that I think make youth ministry more effective.
The idea came from a fellow blogger who had a great commentary on things not to buy in `10 I fully recommend his comments here's his site.
now with out further delay and in really no particular order...
d as well as a host of topics to cover. Equipping leaders was and is hard for me. This is a great tool.Often God throws things, words, or phrases in my path repeatedly (due to my thick head) in order to get my attention. Recently it's been the greek word "Sozo" (for the puriest there are lines over the "o"'s as accents) I've found it several places most noteably in the end of James. James 5:15 says
"15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."On this passage the ESV study Bible comments...
Will save perhaps carries a double meaning here: (1) the sick person will be physically healed (one meaning of Gk. sōzō), and/or (2) the sick person may alsoWhat fascinates me the most about sozo is two things. First that it's not just the act of salvation (known as justification) but also the act of sanctification (being made right with God) as well as the act of glorification and includes the eternal rewards. The whole sweeping action is all wrapped up in one word. I know language can be tricky, as James illustrated above, but for me I take heart in knowing that this one great act of love has accomplished all sozo in my life. It's not just a reorienting concept but a revolutionary life idea. It no longer becomes my due in life to please God. He is pleased. It no longer becomes my goal in life to live perfectly Christ lived perfectly on my behalf. Sozo is accomplished and achieved. Paul goes on in Romans 5:10experience spiritual salvation (another meaning of Gk. sōzō), or growth in the blessings of salvation (sins . . . forgiven). As seen throughout the Gospels, Jesus healed both physically and spiritually, and the same double connotation may be present here as well. James is not teaching that all illnesses will be healed if people would simply call on the elders, or try to make themselves have enough faith, or pray with enough conviction. Healing, when it does come, is always a gift from God, who is sovereign over all circumstances, including sickness and health. It does not follow, therefore, that lack of faith on the part of the sick person is the reason that the sick person may not be healed. (On the gifts of faith and of healing, see note on 1 Cor. 12:9.) Some interpreters suggest that James is referring to the promise of the resurrection rather than physical healing. If, in the phrase “if he has committed sins,” implies that not all sickness is connected to specific sins, though James seems to expect that some sickness is.
"10 For if p while we were enemies q we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by r his life."To use once again this word of salvation.
One of the reasons this is a great blog is that the stuff Jason writes about is super practical. It's a lesson that I've learned the hard way. You don't need a complex algorithym to figure out who is doing announcemnts this weekend. It's simple and it works. I'm amazed at how we (and by we I mean myself) try to plan everything out to the final degree.
If you're not involved in youth ministry what are the big weekends of your year? How to you plan for seasons of rest and activity?
Hope this blesses you if you are involved with students....
Josh on January 15th, 2010Had a question the other day about which weeks of the year are typically the biggest for our youth ministry. There are weekends that perform well because of content (a sex series, a series with high student involvement like You Own the Weekend = we save these for the typically slower times), but here are a few weeks that naturally draw in students:
Fall kickoff weekend
The first weekend back as school in the fall is always our biggest of the year. Summer is over and students are anxious to see each other and get back into the school year routines. We typically put a ton of energy into the fall launch of our youth group and do our best to encourage everyone we can to to attend. As you wrap up next summer, consider putting extra energy, promotion and effort into the Fall kickoff and see what happens. It could be big!Campaign Kickoff
Every fall we also do a church-wide campaign. Typically they lose steam by the end of the series, but the kickoff and first few weeks are usually very strong. Consider working with the leadership of your ministry to pull together a campaign that the whole church gets behind and see what happens in your youth ministry.
Here's what we'll be working through this Sunday night. Really looking forward it...
Four words David Goliath Dodge Ball.
(you might need to click see original post to view the pic)
Jesus may your kingdom come in this city...
*taken while someone else was driving.
"...I spend much time with youth. Many of them do not have a close relationship with their parents. In fact, this is a fatherless generation. Many young adults rarely ever see a family who loves each other, let alone one that is centered on the Great Commission. If you will lead the mission well, leading your family will be a vital part of that. The great Puritan Richard Baxter said you will not witness true reformation in the church unless there is first reformation in the home.
Raising children to live gospel-centered lives seems about as common as a lemonade stand in the Sahara Desert. I believe part of the reason for this stems from the institutionalism in our churches, as if evangelizing children or teaching them to give their lives to the mission of God was the job of the church rather than parents..."
I realize it's been slow around here lately life's been busy kicking off this new semester as well as several other projects. Rest assured posting will pick up as this season gets some legs under it. I'll leave ya with this a St. Andrews student has recently started blogging. Head over to www.emilyguerry.blogspot.com and say hi.
My Christmas gift was better than yours...
Here's a neat little article that appeared in the Dio of Sc's newsletter about the retreat I spoke at earlier this year...
“He is Able!” Middle School Mondo 2009
By Dave Wright, Coordinator for Youth Ministries
Nearly 300 middle school students and their leaders converged on St. Christopher Camp & Conference Center October 23-25 for Mondo 2009. This annual
event has been part of the diocese for many years and yet 2009’s off ering brought many
innovative ideas creating an enhanced experience for all. Under the theme of “He is Able,”
students heard captivating messages from Dave Libbon, Youth Minister at St. Andrew’s,
Mount Pleasant. His teaching was taken from Ephesians 3:20-21 “Now to Him who is
able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at
work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations,
for ever and ever! Amen.” All of the students memorized these verses on the weekend as
they learned the truth within. Each message was enhanced by testimonies from students
regarding the work that God is doing in and through them. In addition to student testi-
monies, the worship music was led by a team of high school students from
Holy Cross, Sullivan’s Island, under the direction of Trey Truluck. The presence of students leading many aspects of the weekend, including the leadership assistance of our diocesan
youth commission, was perhaps its greatest strength... "
How do we define success in ministry? Or what better yet what happens when God's definition of success differs from ours?
John chapter 6 Jesus starts with 5,000 men following him (not counting women and children) John chapter 6 ends with 11 men following him?
What would happen if a youth ministry or a church went from 5000 to 11 ... or 500 kids to 1 kid?
Just heard a great sermon on God's sovereignty in face of decline. Hear it for yourself here.
