Capture the flag rules....

Capture the Flag Rules

1. Each team must hide 2 flags. The flags must be in a spot that is visible from 50 feet away.

2. The first team to cross the bridge with both of the other teams flags will be declared the winner.

3. Anyone who is hit by a water bomb must report themselves to prison for 4 minutes. If they are carrying the flag, it must be returned to it’s original position.

4. No one from either team can get within 30 feet of the bridge with a water bomb.

5. Each team must select a team captain which will be responsible for strategy for their team.

6. No one can be bombed on their own side of the field.

7. The team captain from the losing team will face the ‘water balloon’ firing squad. Each member of the winning team will get 1 water balloon to fire at the blindfolded team captain. This will be from a distance of 20 feet.

March Youth Bible Review / Family Devotions

March Youth Bible Review

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."
17Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. 18For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. 1 Peter 1:14-21

　
Family discussion starter #1

Conform = to model after, be shaped by, influenced by
Read Romans 12:1-2 and 1 Peter 1:14 above, Then discuss the following questions.

A. What command do both of these verses share in reference to conforming?
B. What worldly desire is most likely to shape your life?
C. What can I do to lessen the power of that desire to influence me?
D. Are you influenced more by Gods’ Word or your own desires and feelings? Give evidence.
E. How can we hold one another accountable?
　
　
Family discussion starter #2

Holy = moral purity, set apart from the world- to God - dedicated to God.

Read 1 Peter 1:15-16 and 2 Timothy 1:8-9

A. God has called everyone that he has redeemed to strive for holiness. To live a life that looks different than our lost neighbors, coworkers and people at school. Other than attending church how is your life different than everyone else?
B. How can we encourage one another to live holy lives?
C. Is there anything in my life that I have made a priority over God? Is there anything I am pursuing harder than holiness?
D. Would you tell me if you saw something that was impacting my holiness?
E. Read 2 Peter 1:3 Has God given us everything we need to live holy lives?
WE WILL IMITATE THE GOD WE WORSHIP
　
　
Family discussion starter #3
Fear = Holy reverence, respect, honor
Read 1 Peter 1:17 and Philippians 2:12-13

1. As a whole the church has drifted away from the fear of the Lord. We would rather just refer to Him as our buddy, the guy in the sky or the man upstairs. Do you approach God more like...

A. A bubble gum machine
B. The great ‘I AM"
C. Cosmic Police

2. Discuss what it means to live out our faith with fear and trembling as instructed in Philippians 2:12-13.

3. How is a biblical sense of fear different than the sense of fear that an abused dog has of his master?

4. If a stranger were to observe your family for 1 week without your knowledge, what would they say you reverence most?

January Bible Review

Soak on these things.........

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance. 3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:1-8

One of Peters’ purposes for writing this letter was to encourage the redeemed that had been persecuted and scattered all over creation. In the very first verse He reminds them of a couple things that identify them...they were elect, and they were strangers in this world. TAI Think about it....how would being reminded that you are elect and strangers in this world be encouraging? Give this a couple of minutes and chew on it!

Peter was always first to open his mouth. He declared he would not betray Christ, yet he did three times. He chopped off a mans ear with a sword.... Peter could have very well been called Peter the loudmouth, Peter the impatient, Peter the betrayer.... but he was able to refer to himself in this letter as Peter an apostle of Jesus Christ. What characteristic of God does this highlight?

Read Mark 10:33. Did the Pharisees choose to have Jesus crucified?
Read Mark 15:15. Did Pilate choose to have Jesus crucified?
Read Acts 2:23. Did the Pharisees and Pilates’ choice to crucify Jesus work against Gods’ plan or fulfill it?

We see the work of the Trinity in salvation in these verse. We see the choosing of the Father, the Sanctification of the Spirit and the payment of the Son. Now in reference to time we see that in eternity past the Father chose us for salvation and Christ as the payment for our sins, but inside the framework of time Christ made that payment and within our own lives we have been sanctified [brought to life] for obedience. Our first act of obedience after being brought to life is to believe upon Christ unto salvation. 2 Thess. 2:13

Sanctified for obedience!
OBEDIENCE is
......... the result of sanctification [enablement to obey for first time]
......... the evidence of sanctification,[a changed life]
......... and the process of sanctification. [as we obey we are transformed]
TAI - Think about it! Why is obedience the evidence of true salvation?

Confident living requires assurance of personal saving faith & assurance of it’s unchanging nature
a. It is good that we examine ourselves 2 Cor. 13:5
b. It is good that we understand God has guaranteed the redemption of those born by the spirit!

We were not born into a possible inheritance! But a guaranteed inheritance!
When we receive an earthly inheritance it is usually land, money, family valuables etc. but God reminds us that the inheritance that He has given us is eternal and can not be damaged or destroyed!
never perish ............Unable to be corrupted [imperishable]
never spoil ...............without defect or flaw [unpolluted, containing nothing that can be ruined]
never fade! Often inscribed on tombstones, this inscription will fade, but never my inheritance in Christ.
　
　
　
　
　
We often misunderstand what it means for God to loves us. If He loved us we think He should prevent us from struggling & suffering, remove all stumbling stones out of our way and rescue us quickly from every hard time. But in reality, because God loves us, He puts us in, leaves us in, permits us to experience struggles and suffering knowing that they will conform us into the image of Christ. Whatever causes us to depend upon God the most and be changed into His image is a loving act in Gods’ eyes.
　
　
　
　
A TALE OF TWO SONS Read and Re-read Luke 15:11-32
Luke chapter 15 has 3 parables. The Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Prodigal Son. They share one common theme. Joy over what was lost being found. We can see that Jesus is telling these parables to reveal an error with the Pharisees and teachers of the law. They are annoyed that Jesus hangs out with sinners. Understanding those two things we can see the main point In the story of The Prodigal Son. That main focus is the contrast between the Fathers joy over one who repents and the Pharisee’s lack of joy over it.

There are 3 main characters in this parable. The father represents God and demonstrates his forbearance and forgiveness, the younger son represents a sinner in rebellion who later repents, and the older son represents the Pharisees who have religion but don’t necessarily have a relationship with God.

here is a scriptural definition of prodigal living........
1Pe 4:3-4 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you;

November 2009

Here are some notes to help you review what we have studied over the past few weeks. I will be drawing pictures for the Bible Trivia Sunday Night from these verses and notes. There will be fill in the blank, multiple choice and True/False..... remember that the time you spend in the Word is more important than getting a right answer on Sunday night!

Honor and obey your parents review
Spend some time reading and praying over these verses and answer the questions below
PS [I’m thinking these would be nice for fill in the blank questions.]

Col. 3:20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord

Ephesians 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise—"that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."

A. What are at least 3 reasons or advantages that are given for honoring and obeying your parents?
B. In what should I obey my parents, 2 possible answers?

God has set up a system of authority on the earth.
1Co 11:3 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.

God is described as the head of Christ, Christ the head of every man, the husband as head of the wife and parents are in authority over their children. Therefore when you rebel against the authority of your parents you are also rebelling against God because you are rebelling against the authority God has set up.
God makes it clear that we should honor AND obey our parents. Obey means to place ourselves in submission to the authority God has given them over you. To do what they say. To honor our parents is to hold them in high esteem and respect. We can dishonor our parents in our thoughts, attitudes, body language, or even when talking to others. We can dishonor them even while still doing all of the things that they have told us to.

Popularity and Christian Teens
We compared the role of pastor and teenager to see what similarities there were in their struggles with popularity and acceptance.

Gal 1:10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

* am I now Paul had spent much of his time politicing for the approval of men. If I were still
[point...... Prior to conversion we too sought the approval of others, ultimately for our own good and acceptance, but now we must be consumed with seeking the approval of God above any man!]
* approval seek favor [do I want to live at peace with God or people?]
* please man?
What is the danger of being a people pleaser, even at the expense of convictions?
If I still was trying to please men primarily, I wouldn’t be able to please God.

What may a preacher do to be popular? [avoid controversial texts, wink at sin, compromise]
What may we do to be popular? [avoid talking about our faith, go with the flow, compromise]

Luke 6:26 "Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.

- popularity often comes at the expense of the truth [Micah 2:11]
- compromised living may gain you popularity, but at what expense?

Who will accept the pastor who is determined to preach Gods’ whole counsel, without the hint of compromise?
A believer who is attempting to live by the truth!
Who will ultimately befriend you if you are determined to live for Christ?
Other people who are believers and love the Truth!
　

　
There is a parallel between Jesus and the average teen when it comes to being popular
Did Jesus gain earthly popularity? Yes and no!

John 2:23-25 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.
- Jesus was popular when He was doing miracles for the people, but He knew how fickle their nature was!

Joh 12:13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!"
- When the people thought Jesus was doing what they wanted He was very popular, when He didn’t do what they wanted their cries of Hosanna....turned to ‘Crucify Him!’
Who ultimately embraced Jesus, even until His death [genuine believers]

John 15:19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

James 5:16-20
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
17Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
19My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, 20remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
　
ISOLATION ‘Independence’......leads to Devastation from SIN!
(GOD built us to need and put up with each other)

Hebrews 3:13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

What is the result of prayer? Healing, beginning to think about things like God does.
Prayer is not
* Man dictating to God
* Man controlling or resisting Gods’ will
* Man changing Gods’ mind

Prayer is .... at least of that of a righteous man, is Spirit led, God focused, God tuned. When a radio is tuned to a specific station it simply turns the signal into music, or talk, or sports. It doesn’t change the signal, it agrees with it. It revurberates.
Elijah therefore, with all that was in him, in confidence, all energy.... begged God to do what the Spirit of God directed him to ask for. God had purposed to withhold rain for 3and ½ years, so He led a righteous man to ask Him to do it!
　
Hebrews 13:15-16 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Psalm 107:1 Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
His love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say this—

1Jn 3:17-18 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
　
Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

Bodies = all that belongs to a man.... [life, possessions, abilities, time, health, intelligence]
Offer used like ‘to give as a sacrifice' To present!
[we have no right to hold back anything from God for use as He sees fit!]

1Th 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Personal relationships are often complicated, especially when it is a ‘dating’ relationship. Sometimes we hear people ask questions like ‘how far is too far?’ For a Christian that is a poorly worded question, we shouldn’t be pushing things to the limit, but pursuing holiness.... soak on the following verses.

Eph 5:3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality...

2 Tim.2:22 Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart

1 Tim 5:1-2 Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.

* Where does kissing lead the mind? Pure thoughts?
* Does being alone with someone increase my purity or temptation?
　
　
2. Our beliefs will be shaped by society, feelings, family and friends until we learn what the bible says. Gods thoughts are not our thoughts, nor are His ways our ways. Every circumstance we find ourselves in requires us to make decisions and we will make those decisions based upon what ‘we’ feel is right or what we ‘want’ to do until God renews our minds through His Word.

Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Challenge..... Are the things you believe based upon what God says?
　
　
3.
A good working definition of Gods’ grace is ‘undeserved favor’

4.
We discussed why it is unbiblical and unwise to marry an unbeliever. Read the following verses and consider these truths once again.

1Co 2:14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

A. Your desires - they may go to church with you - but they will not can not understand your passion for Christ
B. life authority - they will reject and resent Gods’ authority over you
C. life-goals - American Dream vs. Gods Glory
D. parenting - Spanking, discipline, teaching of scriptures
E. views on money Tithing, ownership vs. Stewardship

2Co 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?　
　
When looking for a possible spouse there are a lot of things that we look for, as I saw by the lists you filled out in class. Like everything else in life, the Bible guides us here also. We know we should narrow the list to a believer who is actively pursuing Christ, who shares our core beliefs about God, but what else should we be looking for? As we look over this list remember, if these are things a Christian guy should be looking for in a future wife, then these are things I should be doing and developing as a single Christian girl. The same holds true for what gals are looking for in guys.

What should guys be looking for, what should girls be looking like?

Is she modest? [if you are attracted to an immodest girl, what are you drawn to?] You may be attracted to her, but is this a quality you would want in a wife?

1 Timothy 2:9 I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.

Does she look like a Proverbs 31 woman.. Study Proverbs 31:10-31
Pr. 31:10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.

a. Not lazy v.13-15
b. Compassionate v.31:20
c. Kind and gentle V.31:26 Not overbearing and quarrelsome
Pro 27:15-16 A continual dripping on a rainy day and a quarrelsome wife are alike; (16) to restrain her is to restrain the wind or to grasp oil in one's right hand.
d. humble, God fearing Pr. 31:30 humility and fear of the Lord trump the vanity of beauty & charm
e. non-flirtatious Pr. 31:28
f. someone your kids can look up to as a Godly example. Who you want modeling womanhood to your daughters

What should girls be looking for, what should guys be looking like?

[along with all of the above]
- Is he tough enough to lead your family spiritually

[God has given him the role of head of household]

1 Cor. 11:3 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.

- Is he considerate and gentle with you. Does he consider your feelings?
1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

- Would he be a good father? [How does he treat kids?]
Eph 6:4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
　
Recently on Wednesday night we studied Jeremiah 2:1-11, Re-read it and consider the review below
Jer 2:12-13 Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD, for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.

A. What 2 evils did the people commit?
Jer 17:5 Thus says the LORD: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD.

Last Wednesday youth message....
James 5:12 Above all, my brothers, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned.

Luk 16:10 "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much,
...............and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.

We should be known as people of our words! Trustworthy
Dishonesty is part of the old life that must be put off in the new creation.

- Eph 4:25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.

There will also be questions from tonights message from James 5:13-16, you may want to read over it again.

Bible Retreat List

Bible & Journal with some pens
Medical Release Form, if not previously turned in
Comfortable old tennis shoes [hiking & tubing]
Beach shoes [if you have them, elastic on top...Wal-Mart 5-6 dollars]
20-30 dollars for food... We will eat out 3-4 times.
1 Fishing pole and small amount of tackle [if you like] $7.00 for license
Basketball style shorts, t-shirts
Cameras
Deodorant [please] toothpaste, etc
Comfy clothes for 5 days
Sunscreen, bug-spray.
24- pack of my favorite drink


Things not to bring
Electronic Devices [except cameras]
Short - Shorts, sleeveless shirts or spaghetti straps
Dynamite or Small crocodiles,

Note: Try to pack your things in a large Tupperware storage box if possible. It makes making a little easier and stacking in trailer. If you don’t have one that’s fine