After watching this video and gouging your eyes out, read on to hear about what we talked about this past Sunday @ ECHO!
BEACH 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
Rewind: Samson
Rewind
Samson's Story
This week Brad helped us kick off our new series on looking into the lives of Christ followers from the Old Testament. We started by checking out the sensational story of Samson. From ripping up lions to setting a village on fire with a circle of 300 foxes, Samson was no joke. The Spirit of God was on him. But, each time he chose to disobey and keep secrets from those he loved most, he stepped closer and closer to darkness. There were three rules that God gave Samson. He couldn't drink alcohol, touch a dead animal, or cut his hair. When he chose to disobey God to gratify his needs, he fell straight into disaster. Samson fell for a trap. Delilah, a spy for the Philistines (who were not so thrilled with Samson at this point), convinced him to share the secret of his strength. While Samson was sleeping Delilah cut his hair. The Philistines were there at just the "right time". Samson's eyes were gouged out as a part of his torture. A man who went from walking in God's Spirit was now in complete darkness.
As a follower of Christ we have a choice. We can either share God's light and expose the truth to others, or we can walk in darkness. Walking in darkness doesn't come over night. It starts by slowly following our own desires instead of obeying truth. Before you know it, you are blind. Blind and numb to God's Spirit. The Bible says that God's Spirit had left him and he didn't even know it. If that doesn't turn your stomach, I don't know what would. Are you choosing your own feelings and desires over God's best for your life?
Some Christ followers expose light to a world in darkness. If the Spirit lives with in us (which it does if you are a Christian), we can either choose to obey His leading or our own. When we choose to walk in His light others around us will notice. Your life will be like a flooding light to those who are consumed with their own desires. They will take notice at the difference in your life. No one likes to find their way in the dark. It is scary. But who doesn't love walking around carefree on a sunny summer day?
Ask yourself:
1) At home- Am I exposing light and truth when I have disagreements with parents or family?
2)School- Do I work in a manner that is pleasing to the Lord or am I okay with laziness?
3)Relationships-Do I have the habit of gratifying my wants and desires in a relationship instead of being mindful of God's best for me?
Read Samson's story in Judges 13-16.
Prepare to be amazed by God's word!
Friday, January 22, 2010
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
We have MANY activities coming up, and you need to plan ahead!
SUPER BOWL PARTY - February 7th in the Student Center
If any of you parents would like to bring an appetizer or dessert
please contact Amanda, Brent, or Brad
WINTER JAM - February 13th
Tickets are $10
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC MISSION TRIP- June 21-28
Please contact Brent ASAP if you are interested in going
Start working on getting your passports ready:)
BEACH 2010 - July 12-16
Our speaker is Stuart Hall
Worship will be lead by Steven Cope from New Spring Church
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
When you see a warning sign, turn around.
“The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it” (Proverbs 27:12 NIV).
Monday, January 11, 2010
Signs
Signs
God's will for our life isn't some huge mystery. We don't need to get out our flash lights and go on a scavenger hunt. His word tells us clearly what is best for us and what He commands. When we choose to take action and obey His word we are proven to have wisdom. The result is a closer relationship to Him. In many cases (especially for students) we avoid heart ache and pain. If we choose to ignore Christ, we are the ones who are missing out. The Bible even tells us we are foolish. Little daily decisions that we make are either taking us closer to our Father's heart, or stealing our sensitivity to Him and His best.
Let me put it plainly. Maybe in a way you understand...
Gossip= hurt feelings+loss of a best friend+ no one trusts you
Lust=instant gratification+lack of self control + sex before you were married
Arrogance=people don't want to be around you+ you don't care+ you will when your all alone
Materialism=fake+do whatever to get noticed+forgetting your blessings+debt+unable to help poor
These seem like little daily things, but don't be fooled. They can take us away from hearing God's voice. One day you might even say, "I no longer hear God's voice and direction like I used to. It must be the church's fault". Oh! Do not be deceived! .....
"But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what is says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it."
James 1:22-25
Sunday Brent will continue where Brad left off talking about wisdom and diving into the book of Proverbs! Don't miss it!
Monday, December 7, 2009
HIGH SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PARTY AT 5 PM DECEMBER THE 13TH!
We will be LEAVING from the church @ 5 PM, so get there on time and....
COME HUNGRY!
DO SOMETHING!
For the past two weeks we have been doing a series called DO SOMETHING!
Last week our passage was from Isaiah 58. This passage is describing a group of people who are doing outward signs of worship, but have no real commitment behind their actions. It is like those who go to church or raise their hands in song, but there is nothing in their everyday life that reflects a true relationship with Christ. Isaiah goes on to say,
"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe him,and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Many of you have stepped up and said that you want BCSM to be part of a greater story. We couldn't be more excited about how God is moving in your lives. We would love for you to continue to pray in what direction we should go as a student ministry. Some have wanted to raise money for compassion villages, to build a well, or to adopt local families. We LOVE all of these ideas. In the next two weeks we are going to narrow these ideas down into one common mission.
Please know that serving goes beyond giving money and buying presents. It is in the simple things. Praying for a friend (not saying you will, but actually doing it), not showing favoritism at school, using your talents to serve in the church, etc.
As Brent quoted from Matthew 19:24, "Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
