So did you hear about incense. I did wonder what our students say when a parent might ask, "Why did they burn incense at the teen center last Sunday night."
As part of the story we did tell the students that the incense burning in the Tabernacle of the Israelites would remind them of the nearness of God. The incense used in the Tabernacle was not to be used anywhere else. Incense in the book of Revelation is identified with the prayers of believers. these would be two good answers as to what the Bible says about incense.
Incense is in the Bible about 150 times. That surprised me.
This week we are honoring our graduates in the morning worship service. These are some of my favorite students. God has been good.
Our Sunday am classes will take a break for the summer after this week. I am teaching the middle school from Romans 16. Randall Huber is teaching the high school students with discussions on a Nooma video.
Sunday night we are having a school's Out Party. They will get wet and might get soaked. we have thousands of water balloons and a 100 foot heavy duty slip and slide. Many students will bring friends. The purpose of parties like this, is to help our students who are trying to bring their freinds to learn about God and our youth ministry.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
His story
it kinda bugs me when i hear someone say, "i don't like the old testament", or "I don't understand the old testament" in a giving up kind of way.
it takes work. imagine growing up in a time when children were to memorize the first 5 books of the Bible. much of our teaching on Sunday nights this year has been the stories of the old testament. we are on the last 2 of 13 stories.
most weeks after we tell the story we invite our students to tell the story back as a group. They do pretty good with this. i ussually ask them if they have questions about the story or what do they wonder about. some of our creative students can picture in their mind what it might have looked like. it is fun to watch our students take stories that they learned as a child and find new things in the story.
i think the best part of the story is that we learn about God. not just a word from a list of attributes, but the attribute in the context of what God does. God shows how he is just, when the wrong person touches the ark or goes into the holy of holies. God shows He is merciful, when he provides another way to pay for our sin.
Last week included the ten commands that Moses brought from God. Doug taught the whole group last week. How do morals play into our relationship with God?
this week will be on the tabernacle. the items in the tablernacle will help us undersand God. Do you know what the tabernacle smells like? we will talk about that as well. sacrifice is part of this story. sacrifice has been part of many of the stories.
if your young adult missed some of the stories you can find them free @
http://www.echothestory.com/narratives/about/
All for Jesus, Mike
it takes work. imagine growing up in a time when children were to memorize the first 5 books of the Bible. much of our teaching on Sunday nights this year has been the stories of the old testament. we are on the last 2 of 13 stories.
most weeks after we tell the story we invite our students to tell the story back as a group. They do pretty good with this. i ussually ask them if they have questions about the story or what do they wonder about. some of our creative students can picture in their mind what it might have looked like. it is fun to watch our students take stories that they learned as a child and find new things in the story.
i think the best part of the story is that we learn about God. not just a word from a list of attributes, but the attribute in the context of what God does. God shows how he is just, when the wrong person touches the ark or goes into the holy of holies. God shows He is merciful, when he provides another way to pay for our sin.
Last week included the ten commands that Moses brought from God. Doug taught the whole group last week. How do morals play into our relationship with God?
this week will be on the tabernacle. the items in the tablernacle will help us undersand God. Do you know what the tabernacle smells like? we will talk about that as well. sacrifice is part of this story. sacrifice has been part of many of the stories.
if your young adult missed some of the stories you can find them free @
http://www.echothestory.com/narratives/about/
All for Jesus, Mike
Thursday, May 13, 2010
From Chicago; staying in an old house in Riverside with Linda. we are watching her brothers 2 children while they spend 4 days in Paris, France.
back to youth ministry.
Last Sunday morning we combined middle school and high school students to look into Romans 13. Authority is put in place by God. if you are fighting against your parents or breaking the Law, you have a problem with God. we had a fun group of students with some very healthy questions.
you could ask you young adult about what God would say about going 5 miles over the speed limit. or What happens when the authority tells you not to share Christ or anything else that goes against the Bible.
this coming Sunday Sandy Clarke is teaching the middle school in Romans 14. She will help them look at gray areas and how to show consideration to each other.
the high school will be viewing a video from Nooma. the link is in the last posted blog.
Doug will be teaching on the law and commands as all students will be together for teaching and worship for this Sunday night. as ussual they will split out for small group discussion.
i miss being part of what goes on while i am out on vacation. But I do enjoy and am thankful that i have oppotunity to get away with the love of my life.
all for Jesus, Mike
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
On Sunday night; we are working through stories of the old testament.
Many of our students are taking the Bible stories they learned as a child and relearning them through their eyes, as a young adult. Most of our students should be able to tell you the 3 parts of the promise to Abraham, from Genesis 12. From the time of Joseph to the time of Moses was about 340 years. Can you believe that 2 million plus Israelites left with Moses? Students know how and why God led them in an indirect path to get stuck at the Red Sea. Margaret helped our students learn a little more about the history and traditions of the passover.
You could ask the teen in your home these questions to follow up;
1- What does Israel in the news today have to do with the promise made to Abraham?
2- Why are there so many Jews, or why do people love or hate Jews?
3- What do you learn about God from the old testament stories?
We will have Sunday morning classes on Mother's day. we will not have our regular youth meeting on Sunday night.
the morning classes;
the high school class showed a 15 minute video from Nooma. What do we think about a religious person who yells at people from a bullhorn? Good job Jillian, Jennifer and Hunter for contributing to the converstation. Cam taught the class and would of liked more input from the students. if your student was there, I would maybe ask if they know anyone who is harsh in how they share about God? or Do you hesistate to share about Christ because you might look like the bullhorn guy? What should it look like when we talk about God and our faith?
Teaching styles. Do people like to learn through lecture or through discussion. It does take a little more work on the part of the learner to egage by discussing the lesson. Here is a link to preview the video from last week. http://nooma.com/nooma_bullhorn_009_rob_bell.php
to preview May 16th video- http://nooma.com/nooma_kickball_006_rob_bell.php
The middle school class started as Sandy led some fun games that had to do with mothers in TV shows. Then we did some work in Romans 12. How do you know what God wants you to do with your life? Many students shared about what they would like to be some day. We also looked at the serving gifts in Romans 12. This fit well with the morning worship message in big church. The students were invited to pick the gift that seem to fit them. We did an activity where they had to work together to eat a bowl of cereal. They had fun and could learn about the church working together.
Students 6-12 grades will meet together on May 9. I am on vacation next week (May 11-18) and might send a blog from Chicago. On May 16, Sunday morning- Sandy is teaching the middle school. Pat and David are teaching the high school. Doug will teach on the "Law and Commands" on Sunday night.
Who will be the first to send a reply? Does that button even work?
Many of our students are taking the Bible stories they learned as a child and relearning them through their eyes, as a young adult. Most of our students should be able to tell you the 3 parts of the promise to Abraham, from Genesis 12. From the time of Joseph to the time of Moses was about 340 years. Can you believe that 2 million plus Israelites left with Moses? Students know how and why God led them in an indirect path to get stuck at the Red Sea. Margaret helped our students learn a little more about the history and traditions of the passover.
You could ask the teen in your home these questions to follow up;
1- What does Israel in the news today have to do with the promise made to Abraham?
2- Why are there so many Jews, or why do people love or hate Jews?
3- What do you learn about God from the old testament stories?
We will have Sunday morning classes on Mother's day. we will not have our regular youth meeting on Sunday night.
the morning classes;
the high school class showed a 15 minute video from Nooma. What do we think about a religious person who yells at people from a bullhorn? Good job Jillian, Jennifer and Hunter for contributing to the converstation. Cam taught the class and would of liked more input from the students. if your student was there, I would maybe ask if they know anyone who is harsh in how they share about God? or Do you hesistate to share about Christ because you might look like the bullhorn guy? What should it look like when we talk about God and our faith?
Teaching styles. Do people like to learn through lecture or through discussion. It does take a little more work on the part of the learner to egage by discussing the lesson. Here is a link to preview the video from last week. http://nooma.com/nooma_bullhorn_009_rob_bell.php
to preview May 16th video- http://nooma.com/nooma_kickball_006_rob_bell.php
The middle school class started as Sandy led some fun games that had to do with mothers in TV shows. Then we did some work in Romans 12. How do you know what God wants you to do with your life? Many students shared about what they would like to be some day. We also looked at the serving gifts in Romans 12. This fit well with the morning worship message in big church. The students were invited to pick the gift that seem to fit them. We did an activity where they had to work together to eat a bowl of cereal. They had fun and could learn about the church working together.
Students 6-12 grades will meet together on May 9. I am on vacation next week (May 11-18) and might send a blog from Chicago. On May 16, Sunday morning- Sandy is teaching the middle school. Pat and David are teaching the high school. Doug will teach on the "Law and Commands" on Sunday night.
Who will be the first to send a reply? Does that button even work?
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