Down on Your LIfe

Depression happens! It usually occurs when I fail to process (well) the stuff that life throws at me. The Bible is filled with antidotes to depression. It usually centers around getting our heads right, focusing our minds on what is right rather than letting our emotions drive the bus!

Here's one thing (not the only thing) that Mrs. Mitzel made me think about on Wednesday (last):
"The 'that would be nice' stuff in our eyes is not always equal to God's plan."

That is a rough paraphrase -- since she talks so fast, and I listen so slow, and scribble slower! :) Remember that the Father's plan has dates and times and places that we don't always have when we want them. We often have to wait like the disciples did in Acts 1. BUT, the encouragement comes that God has promised us Power, our Assignment, and our Location ahead of time. That we know already. We are just waiting for timing.

1. What "major thing" has life thrown you recently that you need to realign your thinking on?
Confess the stress and avoid the mess!
2. How long is too long for God? Are you content to wait for the timing to become clear?
It's great to wait; He's never late!
3. Who is in my Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and uttermost that God is prepping for an unleashing of power through me?
Start today to pray for "they" (need to see God's power, need to hear the good news, need to have their sins forgiven, etc.)!

Help me fine tune those statements! They are cheezy, but you just might remember them! :)

Nice and easy, oh so cheezy,
PM

The Power of the Spirit

Here are the discussion Q's from the small group time. Interact with them as you did in D groups or add a new comment that you thought about since you got home. Feel free to post some good Scripture support and quote other great thinkers!

• Have you ever had the chance to witness to someone but chose not to? Why didn’t you
share your faith?

• What does it mean to trust the Holy Spirit? What is one way you can demonstrate that trust?

• After Jesus ascended into heaven, the apostles waited prayerfully. What can we learn from
their example about how to act in uncertain times? How are you handling uncertainties in your
life right now?

• The disciples were told to witness to the world. We are charged to do the same. What are you doing to witness to the ends of the earth? What are some practical ways you can focus on carrying the gospel to the world?

Here's Something to Chew On

"Some people have felt that if people can know God, it would have to be by a fundamentally different kind of knowing from the ordinary, workaday, know-your-mechanic kind of knowing. The ultimate things of life, including something so superior as God, simply can't be captured in words and by reason. To try and talk about God, to express him in propositions, is not to know him. He simply surpasses words. We cannot exhaust his reality in a neatly deduced human system."

Longing to Know, p.41

What would you say to a person like this if you met them on the street? How would you interact with their philosophy of knowing God (epistemology/theology)? Are they right? What are the ramifications of your choice here?

This paragraph is from a book that I am reading right now. It is a philosophy book written by Mrs. Paris' aunt Esther! It has repercussions on evangelism, discipleship, and youth group.

checking to see if you are still thinkinabout anything,
Pastor Mike

What is grace?

1. How would you describe grace to an unsaved person?
2. Do you think that unsaved people can appreciate grace without having any of their own?
3. How could we function as dispensaries of grace to unsaved and saved teens?
4. How would that affect them? How would it affect us? How would it affect God? Is grace worth giving away?

Pastor Mike

Something to Chew On

I used this quote in the Youth Seminars at Marilla this weekend. I was wondering if you might like to a) read it, b) think about it, and c) discuss how this truth will affect the way that we do youth ministry at Wyoming.

“Thirty years from now, regardless of changes in technology, communication, and culture, people will still have the same basic needs. They will need love, acceptance, meaning, purpose, forgiveness, dignity, and significance. They will struggle with selfishness, fear, guilt, resentment, worry, boredom, loneliness, and other universal problems. These won’t go away. Thirty years from now the solution will still be the same: Jesus Christ.”

--Rick Warren

1. Why is it important for us to understand well Jesus Christ and the message of the gospel and be able to articulate it clearly?


2. Is it important to keep sharpening our skills at sharing the gospel, explaining Scripture, and sharing our testimony?


3. Have you ever struggled with any of the issues Rick Warren mentioned? How does that change your ministry zeal/urgency?


4. What will motivate us to be involved with these kinds of broken people? (hint: think second main session, feeding of the five thousand)

I want to have a youth group that is open and receptive of people (especially teens) at all places in the journey. I want to see young people who care for the lost and are actively reaching out to them to draw them to Christ by lifting Him up. I want to be salt and light in the world around us to the point that people begin bringing their broken friends to us to heal them. Do you?

For teens and for the lost,

Pastor Mike