THE SCOOP ON YOUTH GROUP
One thing I’m super psyched about is our new format for Youth Group, which includes not just a time for games and then a lesson by me, but then also application time in small groups. The small groups enable us to do several things:
Mature adult leaders have an opportunity to minister to us as discussion leaders for each small group,
Groups are divided by age and gender, allowing more relevant and free discussion, and
Groups are small, creating greater opportunity for personal reflection and challenge.
THE TOPIC
Having recently completed a study in Romans, we’re now delving into a discussion on worldview. Worldview is a person's perspective on all of life—what one sees and experiences as well as what one believes about spirituality. It follows then that there are as many worldviews as there are thinking people, but one’s worldview doesn’t have to be purely subjective; it can be informed by Scripture and shaped by God. We, the youth and discussion leaders at BBC, are therefore challenging our minds and our daily lives by contrasting a biblical worldview with other popular worldviews.
A NEW OPPORTUNITY
During the summer, we’re going to focus on reaching out to younger kids in our church by helping with the Saturday morning KICK IT! program. While this means we won’t be meeting on Wed. nights, it’s an awesome opportunity to see how much God can teach us as we serve and teach others!
Note to Teens
The way I see it, my job in working with you heathen hooligans is to knock you out of your doldrums and generate some excitement in your life for something other than self. Loving and focusing on self is the EASIEST thing to do in life… so how ‘bout a challenge? Forget about Funfillment, which isn’t even a word, by the way. No more wandering around aimlessly looking for berries and cookies. Let’s dig into God’s Word together and see if He has designed a fulfilling purpose for our lives!
By God’s grace, I’ll keep a steady course in studying hard to teach you, in being real (honest and transparent), and in challenging you with all my might to take a new view of knowing Jesus Christ—one that opens your eyes and makes you say, “There is nothing more important to me anymore.”
Pastor Jeff
EPH 3:16-19: I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Sunday School
I know, the only reason you’d show up at the church at 9:30 in the morning is if your parents make you come… but that’s a good thing too. They’re demonstrating to you how important it is to stay in God’s Word and in fellowship with other believers. And if you show up with an open heart and mind, sincerely seeking what God has for you, you won’t be disappointed.
Having completed a full year of study on the life of Christ from all four gospels, we’re now journeying through the whole Old Testament, stopping along the way to enjoy each major player in God’s plan for His people. Our purpose is for us to grow in character as we see how God shaped the characters of these individuals. Even more astonishing is all that we can learn about the character of God through His interactions with people over thousands of years, never ceasing to be faithful and keep His promises.
SMITE stands for Student Missionaries in Training for... Exalting the Lord, Edifying the Body, and Evangelizing the lost. Each summer the youth at Branson Bible have an opportunity to be involved in a big event that shakes things up and opens their eyes to a broader view of what God is doing and how he can use them to further His plan for His Church. We generally take a mission trip overseas every four years to give each “cycle” of teens a chance to see God working around the world.
The trips or events are generally focused on evangelism (like the mission trip to witness to kids in Utah), on service (like the mission trips to help out with disaster relief in New Orleans, to paint a missionary school in Brazil, and to mix and pour concrete in a tribal location in Venezuela), and on spiritual emphasis—learning what it means to exalt the Lord (like this summer’s Student Life convention coming to our own city!).
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Summer 2009
CAMPING TRIP in the end of June to New Hope Wilderness Camp in Ava, MO.
THIS YEAR’S SMITE EVENT WILL BE RIGHT HERE IN BRANSON, ON JULY 20-23. For more information, contact Pastor Jeff and check on the info from the Student Life website.
Frequent trips to SWIM in Table Rock Lake, and probably some gatherings at a local pool as well.
TWO GREAT WAYS TO SERVE:
KICK IT! with the kids. Helping out with the kids’ summer program is what we’re going to be doing for our Youth Group most of the summer. Rather than meeting on Wednesday nights, we’re going to focus on practicing the things we’ve been learning. It should be a great experience for us to practice leadership, service, and evangelism. As the Spring winds down, I’ll help us get prepped for our part in KICK IT!
Be an assistant with VBS. You can volunteer for the week (June 15-19) to help with games, crafts, music, food, or even teaching.
Funfillment, which isn’t even a word, by the way. No more wandering around aimlessly looking for berries and cookies. Let’s dig into God’s Word together and see if He has designed a fulfilling purpose for our lives!