Crazy Love Chapter 6

Are you really in love with Jesus or just the stuff he offers?

To paraphrase Jon Piper from his book, God is the Gospel. If you could have heaven with no sickness, no pain, all of your friends and family. Being able to do the best activities you ever did, but Jesus was not there could you be satisfied?

Are we in love with Jesus?

This is a hard question to answer, but an important question to ask none the less. If we come to the conclusion that we may not be, what is next? How do we fall in love with God?

Crazy Love Chapter 5

Serving Leftovers to a Holy God.

What is it that you believe? Why do you believe it?

You see all to often we do not investigate enough what it is that we truly belive. We do not know the Bible enough so instead we listen to people who do. We hear what they tell us and take that as what the Bible says.

Have you ever really read the Bible? I don't just mean a chapter here or there, but really gone through the pages and asked God to reveal to you what a relationship with him is all about. There comes a time when you will have to decide what you believe. Not what your pastor or youth pastor has taught you. So please read the Bible and ask God to show you the truth for yourself,

We will be talking about our own doubts. What about God do we really doubt, and why?

Then taking a look at the Bible and seeing what it says about those very doubts.

Crazy Love Chapters 4

The Profile of a Lukewarm person.

This week we will take a long hard look at our own lives to see if we are really in love with God. Do we have a crazy and passionate love for him, or do we go through the motions. This is a very hard process, but one that is very important. We do not want to be lukewarm, instead we want to be piping hot, on fire for God. With a passion for his word.

Here are some examples of what Francis Chan describes as a lukewarm person:

Lukewarm People attend Church regularly. They believe it is what "good Christians" are expected to do.

Lukewarm People give money to charity and the church, as long as it does not impinge on their standard of living.

Lukewarm People rarely share their faith with their neighbor, they are afraid they will be rejected.


What is it that holds you back, that causes you to be lukewarm?

God's Global Mission

Family Devotional 10/18/09
Student Life Publishing

You are wealthy Did you know that? Okay maybe not in comparison to the celebrities in People magazine but if you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back and a roof over your head, you are richer than 75 percent of the world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet and spare change in a dish somewhere....you are among the 8 percent that comprise the world’s wealthiest.

But we possess an even greater wealth. Knowledge of salvation.

Read Psalm 67 together as a family. It’s almost as if the unknown writer of the hymn had a glimpse into the future. Although he didn’t know exactly how salvation would come he was sure that it would come because he believed in God’s promise to Abraham.

No amount of riches can give us the salvation that we so desperately need. Without God’s mercy, we are hopeless and bound for destruction. But we have a giving, loving and gracious Saviour who has had a plan for salvation since the beginning of time. We have a Father whose heart aches and who has gone to a great extent to be reconciled to His children.

As we grasp this, praise and thankfulness should flow from our lives. It is a love story so amazing that we won’t want to keep it to ourselves. We have the privilege of telling other people this news, and He desires all who have ears to hear it.

With our abundance of knowledge, material wealth, possessions, and technology also comes a great responsibility. Not only are we more privileged than most people on the earth, but we also know a truth that millions have never heard or experienced. God has blessed us and now it’s our turn to be a blessing.

Connection Questions:
1. As a family, write down specific ways that God has blessed your family. Then take time to thank Him for those things.

2.Take turns naming specific gifts, talents, and passions that each family member has that God can use for His glory.

3. Statistics are beginning to show that less and less people in America are claaiming any religious affiliation. Does this motivate you and help you to see the urgency of sharing the message of CHrist? What do you need to do to be prepared to share the message of Christ more effectively?

4. What are the biggest obstacle to sharing your faith? What can you do to overcome those obstacles?

Copyright Student Life Publishing

Family Devotion 10/4/09

Do you ever think about why you do the things you do? Do you
do your homework because you’re looking to your future, and
you want to learn? Or is your motivation for doing your homework
because you have to or you will fail, or because mom or
dad tell you to? Do you go to work because you love what you
do or is your motivation to bring home a paycheck? Do you
clean the house because it makes you or another family member
happy or are you required to?

Our motivation for the things we do or the way we behave can
influence our quality of life. Life is much more enjoyable when
we do things because we want to or out of love for someone. If
we are required or expected to do most things then it becomes
very difficult to continue in this behavior pattern. Children respond
better to parents and authority better when they respect
and love them. They want to please these authority figures.

The best response would be a natural response rather than a
command.

Read John 14:15-24 through the lens of “I have to,” then read
it through the lens of “I want to.” What happens when you read
it from the perspective of obeying Jesus’ commandments are
a direct result of loving Him because of what He has done for
you? There is a huge difference in motivation when we know
that Jesus died to forgive us of all our sins. It is even greater
when we understand that He sent the Spirit (a helper) to live in
us so that we’ll know that He’s always there with us. It becomes
our nature to obey God—because we want to.

This week think about what Jesus has done. When we understand
the reality of what Jesus did for us, we begin to trust
Him and become less dependent on our own power. When we
begin to live in reality, the love of God actually transforms us
and we have a desire to be obedient because we realize His
ways are best. When we embrace Jesus and the gift He has
given we want to be obedient to Him and serve Him each day.

Connection Questions:
1. What are some things you do because you are required to? What are some things you do because you want to?

2. Based upon the passage we read how are believers different
than those who don’t believe?

3. What is the result of obedience versus the result of disobedience?

4. How does being obedient speak to the rest of the world?

5. What can you do this week to alter your motivation for
obedience?

Crazy Love Chapter 2

You Might Not Finish Reading this Chapter!

We all are busy and have different routines throughout the day. Why is it that too often those routines do not include time with God?

We say we don't have time or we just forget about Him as the day goes on. It happens to everyone, however I think that if we thought about our time with God differently that our habits would change.

Is today the day that we might stand before the throne, the day we might meet God face to face? Could it be our time already? No one knows the answer to this question except God. However if today is that day would you live it differently or would it be like any other day?

Is there something that you need to change in order to make your life right with God?

We cant afford to not spend time with God each day!

Crazy Love Chapter 1

Over the next 10 weeks we will be looking at a book called Crazy Love by Francis Chan. It is my hope and prayer that by looking at what Francis has to say about our relationship with God, our lives will change.

Chapter 1: Stop Praying

Goal:

To fully understand the importance of prayer and its role in our relationship with God.

Lesson:

How often do things that we are so used to start to become mundane? School, chores, friendships even God. Some of us my have known God for a long time and our life with him has just become boring. It is the same old thing. I pray a little and I read my Bible a little.

"If your high view of God does not effect of how you think of him then he is just another word in the sand"

You see sometimes we forget who God really is. That we have the amazing opportunity to speak with Him. The creator of millions of stars and galaxies, He wants to talk to us!

It is time to shake things up......to stop praying.......and sit in awe of God.


Discussion Questions:

When you think of God what is the 1st thing that comes to mind?

What does being in God's presence mean?

What is the purpose of prayer? How should we pray?



If you are interested in a copy of Crazy Love we will be taking orders this week so that we can truly dive in over the next 10 weeks.


Questions:
collins@fpcb.org

When Words Cease

Obey.

That little word that gives us so much trouble.

The song my mother would so regularly sing;
“O-B-E-Y, obey your mom and dad
O-B-E-Y, it makes them very glad
Listen to the words they say
Obey your parents every day
O-B-E-Y, obey your mom and dad!"

From the time that we are young Children we are asked to obey, our parents, our teachers, and most importantly God. However obeying is so much more then an act. It is a state in which we submit our desires and our pride to that of a higher authority. This is not for their benefit, but instead for ours.

So where do we start?

“Begin where you are. Obey now. Use what little obedience you are capable of, even if it be like a grain of mustard seed. Begin where you are.” (Thomas Kelly 32)

It does not matter where it is that you are. Wherever life has brought you, just start there. Do not try to change where you are before you begin. Once you just start God will direct your steps.

Then what?

Pray. Be in prayer all day. Every moment that goes by during your day, pray. Just as Paul urges us to pray continually (1 Thes 5:17). This more about a state of mind then it is one long prayer, a verse or a phrase that you meditate on throughout the day. “Let your will be mine”, “I delight to do thy will Oh God” Ps 40:8.

The more time we spend in prayer the less it becomes about words.

“Words may cease and one stands and walks and sits and lies in wordless attitudes of adoration and submission and rejoicing and exultation and glory.” (Kelly 34)

How great would that be to sit in a room and not need word but just be overwhelmed by the creator of the universe. The Alpha and Omega, Yahweh himself. I believe this is what the apostle Paul was getting at in 1 Thessalonians 5. Communion with God that is beyond words, it is as much a part of you as breathing.

You see in practicing this Spiritual Discipline we are preparing the soil of our lives for God. The more we pray, and ask for God’s desires to be our own, the more fertile we become. Thus creating in us a lavish field ripe for growth. If we do not prepare the soil then we are in effect not allowing the Gardener to work. Our disobedience makes us spiritually barren.

What if I fail?

If you forget God for an hour or slip and fall, do not sit in regret. Instead pick yourself up and begin where you are. God loves you and will not leave you, no matter how big a slip up you have.


Resources:
A Testament of Devotion
Thomas R. Kelly

What Pathway are You On?

What Pathway are You On?

For a long time this has been the question that I have continued to ask my self.  From the time I was in High School until now.  I would alway recheck and see if the path I was on would lead me to the place I wanted my life to be.  There were times that I had to redirect my life because it was leading me in a direction that was not healthy.  However sometimes it took wise counsel in my own life to even see that.  Earlier this week I listened to a sermon by Andy Stanley and he had a great view about this very topic.

So I want to ask you today....

Where do you want your life to be?

Is this path you are on really going to get you where you want to be?  

There are all types of paths that this world will tell you to take.  Here are some pathway choices, sound familiar?

1. I want to end up with this great christian guy or girl, so I will go out with who ever asks me....if they are cute. 

2. When I get married I want to have a great sex life so I will sleep with all the people I can so that I will be experienced.

3. I want to have a close family that can do everything together so I will work as hard and as much as I can to get that for them.

4. I want my future kids to respect me and come to me for advice so I am going to fool around outside my marriage.

5. I want to see my grandchildren grow up so I am going to neglect my health

6. I want to be a Godly man or woman and so I am going to read the newspaper every morning.

Path trumps intention every time.  Direction determines the destination, NOT intention !!!

It does not matter what your intentions, prayers, desires are.  Your direction determines your destination.  So the path you choose will determine what your marriage will be like.  The path you choose will determine the types of lives your kids will have.  The path you choose will determine the place you spend eternity.  Not your intentions.

You can have the best intentions in the world.  You could pray your head off.  But if your path will take you to your destination.  You can not sleep around and party and expect that when you “grow up” you marriage will be great.  It wont, because the path you choose determines you destination.  You can want to be a great man or woman of fatih, but if you never open your Bible then it wont happen.  The path to that destination is different then the one you chose.

So what if I am on the wrong path?

The answer is not easy but it is simple.  Get on a different path.  Look at where you want your life to be and choose that path.  Make your decisions based on you future. We too often get focused on what we are doing but we need to be focused on where we are heading.  We are focused on the immediate, and need to be focused on the ultimate.

Sometimes we can not see this on our own.   All too often we do not see what direction we are moving in.  It could be one with a disastrous ending but we think ours will end differently because of our intentions.  Some how our path will not follow those that have come before us.  

Direction determines destination, NOT intention

What is the path you are on and where is it going to take you?

The people around us can have the best view of our path.  That means we need to be asking those we trust if these path decisions will lead us to that point.  Go up to someone who is where you want to be and ask them.  They would be the best advice givers as to what you should be doing.

Has someone tried to warn you but you did not listen? Please reconsider.

Remember our direction determines out destination.  Not our intentions.

“6 At the window of my house I looked out through the lattice. 7 I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who lacked judgment. 8 He was going down the street near her corner, walking along in the direction of her house 9 at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in. 10 Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent. 11 (She is loud and defiant, her feet never stay at home; 12 now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.) 13 She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said:14 "I have fellowship offerings at home; today I fulfilled my vows. 15 So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you! 16 I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt. 17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. 18 Come, let's drink deep of love till morning; let's enjoy ourselves with love! 19 My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey. 20 He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon." 21 With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk. 22 All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose 23 till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life. 24 Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say. 25 Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths. 26 Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng.27 Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death.” Proverbs 7:6-27

How He Loves

There is a song that has been stuck in my head now for a few weeks.  It is How He Loves by Eddie Kirkland.  

He is jealous for me,

Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,

Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.

When all of a sudden,

I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,

And I realize just how beautiful You are,

And how great Your affections are for me.

The picture that is painted with these words is so powerful.  The image of God loving us like a hurricane blows me away.  Hurricane's are one of the most powerful forces on earth.  It can tear through a town, throwing cars and cattle every which way.  What a great comparison to God's Love.  He would do anything for us, that is how great his love is.  Romans 8:38-39 says it best,

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Nothing can stop God's Hurricane Love, nothing.  His Love is so big that it eclipses our afflictions.   He covers us, completely.  David said it best in Psalm 32

"Blessed is he 
whose transgressions are forgiven, 

whose sins are covered"

We are so blessed because God's Love covers us completely.  When we see his Love in a tangible way such as this we can then fully see God's beauty.  We then understand how unworthy we are, but that does not stop the out pour of Love.

Oh How He Loves Us.....

Living Like Jesus

When people spend time with you do they leave that time saying it was like being with Jesus?

This is the question that has been running through my mind for almost a week now.  I so badly want the answer to be Yes.  That after Youth Group kids feel closer to Jesus Christ through our time.  However most of the time I feel it is not the case.  So how can we change this?  What needs to be done so that our lives mirror the very life of Christ.

My proposal is to "let go"!!!! 

It is that simple.  

Let go of your fear, let go of your insecurities and allow Christ to fully reign in your life.  But how many of us have a death grip on certain things in our life, I know I do.  You will see when you let go of the things you hold onto (TV, cell phone, money or popularity),  there then becomes room for the Holy Spirit.

It is not until you have let go that you can truly live.

So for this next week try to let go of something and give it over to God. Let me know how it goes.

Good Friday

I am sitting in my office trying to think of what to accomplish this friday morning.  It has been almost 2 hours and all I can manage to do is dwell on the weight of this day.  A day in which God laid his life down in my place.  That over 2000 years ago my punishment was taken and nailed to a cross.

But even worse I find my self not seeing this every day.  Why is it that I recognize this more today then I would on any other friday?  This realization has showed me what it is that runs my life.  I spend more time in front of a TV or computer then I do in conversation with my Lord and Savior. But for some reason today I see it, as opposed to blindly going about my day. A I answer some emails, play some guitar, listen to a podcast while I plan for youth group.  Then I head to lacrosse practice, home, dinner, TV, and bed.  Same thing the next day. Not spending enough time on my knees

Why do so many of us allow for outside influences to run our lives?

I believe we all sometimes lose touch with our creator. When did texting and video games suddenly surpass the greatness of our Lord?  It happens slowly, gradually.  One little thing after another.  Until we finally have a day where we sit back and realize how fast this year is going and we have not spent the time with him we should.  

For me today is that day.  The day I see my selfishness contrasted by Christ's sacrifice.  It is my prayer for you that today you see this great sacrifice and realize where your heart has been.  That maybe it is time for a change.