A Host Of Possibilities

I recently finished "The Host", the latest offering from Stephenie Meyer, author of the uber-popular Twilight series. I'm not feeling inspired to write a review at the moment, but if anyone would like to discuss it, drop me a line. It's a totally different animal than her other novels, but it asks some interesting questions about what it truly means to be human: passionate, flawed, and capable of unparalleled depths of feeling as a result of those vulnerabilites.

Lesson Loop 4.24.09

This week in our Student Ministry:

Third Place: "Ending the Silence: speaking the truth in love"


We took a break from our Genesis study and responded to the "Day of Silence" that just happened in our public schools. We specifically considered how we as Christians should respond to this issue of homosexuality, and how Christ would want us to treat those who struggle with this sin.

1) God Created the Template (Genesis 2:23-25)
The template was designed using a simple equation: 1 man + 1 woman = 1 flesh.

2) God Gave a Clear Command (Lev. 18:22)
Since mankind ignored the template which led to rampant sin in Sodom and Gomorrah and elsewhere, God made it crystal clear.

3) God Reinforced His Command (Rom. 1:18-32)
This is not just an Old Testament principle. No, it is God's will for every generation in every culture.

4) Just in Case We Still Didn't Get It (I Cor. 6:9-10)

*God wants us to SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE -If we only speak truth without love, our witness will not be effective. If we only love but do not speak the truth, We are not being faithful with the calling God has given us.


* This requires us to be "wise as serpents and harmless as doves"

LUCID: "Jesus' Suffering and Death"

• JESUS’ SUFFERING — John 19:1-16

Because Jesus suffered, we see His full humanity. Plus, we can run to Him and He will comfort us as a Sympathetic High Priest.

• JESUS’ DEATH – John 19:17-37

Jesus suffered death similar to the way we experience death, and yet His was much different in that He willingly laid down His life. No man took it.

• JESUS’ BURIAL – John 19:38-42

Jesus was buried in the ground, showing He truly was dead, and with Him our sins were buried if we trust in Him!

Lesson Loop

This is what happened during our midweek student gatherings:

Third Place: Growth Groups


This week was a week for HS growth groups, so all the teens met with their respective leader!

LUCID: "More Than Mr. Nice Guy"


We talked about how people tag Jesus with all kind of titles (moral teacher, great guy, sacrificial leader, etc..) but unfortunately most people's opinions of Christ are innacurate.

What did Jesus say about Himself? He called Himself :

The Gate of Salvation, The Great Shepherd who lays down His life and takes it up again, The Son of God, The One who gives eternal life, etc...
Jesus never claimed to be just a good man. He claimed to be God.

The Pharisees figured this out, and that is why they tried to kill Him.

We were challenged to share the authentic Jesus with people and dispel the false opinions of Him.

Interesting Cultural Tidbit

According to Walt Mueller's book "Engaging the Soul of Youth Culture", research has shown that there has been a cultural shift over the last 40+ years.

Here are the top 4 institutions that have most influenced the values and behaviors of teenagers in:

1960

1) Family

2) School

3) Friends/Peers

4) Church

1980

1) Friends/Peers

2) Family

3) Media

4) School

2000

1) Media

2) Friends/Peers

3) Family

4) School

Lesson Loop

This is what happened during our midweek student gatherings:

Third Place: Genesis 6-9 ("Noah and the Bow")

We studied the Flood account, and considered one question - Is God Just or Cruel?

The Scriptures teach that God is just, and the Flood account reinforces this:

1) God's Reaction was grief, not anger
It broke our God's heart that His creation rebelled. It pained Him to destroy that which He had formed. But He had to.

2) God's Provision was the Covenant
There is always a remnant, and in this case it was Noah and his family. He continued His plan of redemption through them

3) 2 Peter also teaches us that:

*God created all things with His Words
*God recreated all things through the Flood
*God will one day recreate the earth with His words at the end of time.
*God is still patient and He loves us (He is not willing that any should perish)

Basically, God is the Potter and we are the clay. He can do whatever He wants - yet that doesn't make Him arrogant or manipulative - no, not when we consider His great Sacrifice when He gave up His only Son for our sins. We deserve hell, and yet we have been given so much through Christ!

LUCID: Growth Groups


This week was a week for MS growth groups, so all the teens met with their respective leader!