What an interesting night.
We played Easter Bunny Rugby (it's exactly what it sounds like), got all tired out and then came in to discuss another name of Jesus: Messiah.
I learned a great deal when studying for this talk and it produced some really amazing discussion in the "talk time" and in the D Group time (in my D group anyway).
Some really good reminders of the basics of who Jesus is as well as some challenging reflection questions, like the Messiah is to bring hope and rescue and as His ambassadors how are we bringing the message of Hope and Rescue to a broken world?
We are doing some extra curricular teaching with a few videos online. If you want to check them out go to the Youth Group Youtube account ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EBgkIW6u30&context=C49e2399ADvjVQa1PpcFNn_4f-pMNdeQW1J2Cv7dEGLtJ7mn0fJsI= ) and watch them.
Hope you enjoy!
Next week we will welcome some missionaries from Mission Aviation Fellowship in Haiti who worked with our Pastor's son Matt when he was serving in Haiti last summer. All you parents are invited to join us for their presentation at 7:30 next Wednesday.
If you have any questions email me at youth@actoncrc.com.
Hope to see you next week.
- Andrew
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Thursday, April 5, 2012
New Series
After a great week last week, I have used the foundation the YLT student made as a springboard to a new series on the names of Jesus. Given there are so many different names, each Monday and Friday we will also have some short video devotionals to talk about some of the other names of Jesus (otherwise the series would take us into January 2015). So if you come across those take some time to watch them and ask your teenagers about it.
This week, being the week before Easter we discussed Jesus as the Lamb of God. Together, we looked back at the Passover and how it points in so many ways to Jesus and how He serves for us as a Passover Lamb. We also looked at the Israelites and their life of slavery and how we can often relate to them, finding our selves as slaves to Sin, which the Lamb of God frees us from.
We ended the night being reminded of the words in Galatians 5 reminding that Christ has set us free and to stay free! We broke some chains and each took a piece to remind us never again to go back to the life of slavery we once lived in, but instead live lives full of the freedom bought for us by the precious blood of the Lamb!
This week, being the week before Easter we discussed Jesus as the Lamb of God. Together, we looked back at the Passover and how it points in so many ways to Jesus and how He serves for us as a Passover Lamb. We also looked at the Israelites and their life of slavery and how we can often relate to them, finding our selves as slaves to Sin, which the Lamb of God frees us from.
We ended the night being reminded of the words in Galatians 5 reminding that Christ has set us free and to stay free! We broke some chains and each took a piece to remind us never again to go back to the life of slavery we once lived in, but instead live lives full of the freedom bought for us by the precious blood of the Lamb!
Thursday, March 29, 2012
A Different Kind of Night
Well, it was weird for me to not be in the drivers seat for a night, but it was well worth it.
Our Student driven Youth Lead Team took the reigns and did an AMAZING job. They led us through a blindfolded obstacle course game (which was a challenge) and then discussed the concept of God as our Shepherd. The teaching was great and the D groups were a home-run. After the D Group time, we were told to lie down and rest in the presence of our Shepherd as they read Psalm 23 a couple times and gave us all the opportunity to come to trust the Shepherd for the first time, or again.
It was such a great night, and a huge blessing to watch the passion for ministry our students have!
I think we will have to do it again!
- Andrew
Our Student driven Youth Lead Team took the reigns and did an AMAZING job. They led us through a blindfolded obstacle course game (which was a challenge) and then discussed the concept of God as our Shepherd. The teaching was great and the D groups were a home-run. After the D Group time, we were told to lie down and rest in the presence of our Shepherd as they read Psalm 23 a couple times and gave us all the opportunity to come to trust the Shepherd for the first time, or again.
It was such a great night, and a huge blessing to watch the passion for ministry our students have!
I think we will have to do it again!
- Andrew
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Social Media
We closed out our "Search for Truth" series with a discussion on Social Media. We discussed some of the opportunities and advantages of such a connected culture as well as some of the challenges and pitfalls that it presents.
It was amazing to see how engaged all the kids were in the discussion, because it is something that affects them in their everyday lives in a very real and apparent way. I was also blown away by how perceptive the kids were on many of the dangers of the ultra connected world. They echoed many of my sentiments, but it seems that most were participating in them while despising them.
We closed out the night by examining some Biblical concepts that we can use when navigating the online world like the fact that we are not our own, but have been bought with a price and that we are called to, in everything, bring Glory to God (and not our selves.)
It was a great night, with tons of discussion and I think it will be something that sticks with kids for a long time.
Next week, the entire night will be organized and lead by our Youth Lead Team. I am excited to see the energy going into the night and especially to see what comes out of it.
Stay tuned for details :)
- Andrew
It was amazing to see how engaged all the kids were in the discussion, because it is something that affects them in their everyday lives in a very real and apparent way. I was also blown away by how perceptive the kids were on many of the dangers of the ultra connected world. They echoed many of my sentiments, but it seems that most were participating in them while despising them.
We closed out the night by examining some Biblical concepts that we can use when navigating the online world like the fact that we are not our own, but have been bought with a price and that we are called to, in everything, bring Glory to God (and not our selves.)
It was a great night, with tons of discussion and I think it will be something that sticks with kids for a long time.
Next week, the entire night will be organized and lead by our Youth Lead Team. I am excited to see the energy going into the night and especially to see what comes out of it.
Stay tuned for details :)
- Andrew
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Some missing posts
So let me catch you up on what you have missed.
We ended the Kingdom of God series with a night of worship. It was fun to sing together and the kids asked to do it more regularly.
We now find ourselves in the middle of a new series called "The Search for Truth" where we are learning to discern God's truth in media (meaning music, TV, movies, Facebook and so on).
The first week we laid out the tools necessary for assessing if what we are watching/listening to/partaking in is something that is good for us to do. Using Philippians 4:8 we ask 3 Questions
1. Is it True?
2. Is it Excellent?
3. Is it Wise?
By "true" we mean "does it line up with God's design for life?" Perspective is huge here. There can be "questionable" content, in some of the things teens may watch, but that really isn't the bottom line. We asked in what you are watching is the sin being portrayed as sin, or is it being glorified as something to be sought after and admired? That is a huge question.
By excellent we mean, does it portray real life accurately and is it well done. Some songs can hit us like a ton of bricks because they say exactly what we wish we could express. That is an excellent song.
By wise we mean "is this something that is Spiritually Healthy? for me to be a part of?" sometimes things may be well done, and true, but not great for particular people to be watching or listening to.
This past week we had the kids go away and watch and listen to things they decided on in their D groups. Although the kids were wired (we are only a few days away from March Break) the discussion was pretty good. It was cool to see some of them really getting it.
We will continue the conversation over the next few weeks, but we will be taking a break next week to play some games and eat some food.
If your kids are planning on coming to our march break madness & mall rally event (for more details check out our facebook page http://www.facebook.com/events/397586496922059/ ) make sure they bring a permission form (or you speak to me directly)
Thanks, see ya in a couple weeks.
- Andrew
We ended the Kingdom of God series with a night of worship. It was fun to sing together and the kids asked to do it more regularly.
We now find ourselves in the middle of a new series called "The Search for Truth" where we are learning to discern God's truth in media (meaning music, TV, movies, Facebook and so on).
The first week we laid out the tools necessary for assessing if what we are watching/listening to/partaking in is something that is good for us to do. Using Philippians 4:8 we ask 3 Questions
1. Is it True?
2. Is it Excellent?
3. Is it Wise?
By "true" we mean "does it line up with God's design for life?" Perspective is huge here. There can be "questionable" content, in some of the things teens may watch, but that really isn't the bottom line. We asked in what you are watching is the sin being portrayed as sin, or is it being glorified as something to be sought after and admired? That is a huge question.
By excellent we mean, does it portray real life accurately and is it well done. Some songs can hit us like a ton of bricks because they say exactly what we wish we could express. That is an excellent song.
By wise we mean "is this something that is Spiritually Healthy? for me to be a part of?" sometimes things may be well done, and true, but not great for particular people to be watching or listening to.
This past week we had the kids go away and watch and listen to things they decided on in their D groups. Although the kids were wired (we are only a few days away from March Break) the discussion was pretty good. It was cool to see some of them really getting it.
We will continue the conversation over the next few weeks, but we will be taking a break next week to play some games and eat some food.
If your kids are planning on coming to our march break madness & mall rally event (for more details check out our facebook page http://www.facebook.com/events/397586496922059/ ) make sure they bring a permission form (or you speak to me directly)
Thanks, see ya in a couple weeks.
- Andrew
Friday, February 17, 2012
Serving.
I missed Youth Groups two weeks ago due to the birth of our second son, Seth Bradley. Thanks to all of you who have offered congratulations and support!
This past week we continued our discussion on the Kingdom of God by discussing our position as servants. We used the account of James and John asking Jesus to grant them the seats to His left and right. (Mark 10:35-45). and the account of Jesus washing His disciples feet (John 13:1-17) These radical teachings on what it means to serve and it brought us to the question, if Jesus the King came to serve, then what are we to do as servants?
We had a great night in D groups and I (Andrew) had the privilege of leading the girls D group, as Laura was out of commission and Ruth was away for the week.
We had some really great discussion on Serving and how Jesus has set such an incredible example for us.
Afterwards we played a murderous game of "Chair Ball" (a youth group favorite) that left us all pretty exhausted (if not frightened)
All in all, another great night in the books!
Looking forward to wrapping the series up next week with a discussion on worship.
- Andrew
This past week we continued our discussion on the Kingdom of God by discussing our position as servants. We used the account of James and John asking Jesus to grant them the seats to His left and right. (Mark 10:35-45). and the account of Jesus washing His disciples feet (John 13:1-17) These radical teachings on what it means to serve and it brought us to the question, if Jesus the King came to serve, then what are we to do as servants?
We had a great night in D groups and I (Andrew) had the privilege of leading the girls D group, as Laura was out of commission and Ruth was away for the week.
We had some really great discussion on Serving and how Jesus has set such an incredible example for us.
Afterwards we played a murderous game of "Chair Ball" (a youth group favorite) that left us all pretty exhausted (if not frightened)
All in all, another great night in the books!
Looking forward to wrapping the series up next week with a discussion on worship.
- Andrew
Thursday, February 2, 2012
My Appologies.
Hello Parents,
I am sorry that we haven't posted much here in a while. Much has happened so let me catch you up really quickly.
We had our first ever Christmas Banquet which was a riot! Great food (turkey dinner, complete with all the trimmings) beautiful decorations, lots of fun pictures and time spent with a bunch of awesome kids.
Over the Christmas break we got together with a handful of other youth groups from around the GTA and went to playdium. It was fun to interact with other groups and just enjoy a good night out.
As we ventured into the New Year, we have begun a series on the Kingdom of God called "The Divine Collision." We have discussed our calling as followers of Jesus to bring Heaven to earth! Each week we unfold the theme a little further in exploring what that actually looks like.
He have discussed Submission as the only gateway to True Life, and how when we give our lives fully to Jesus, He can transform us and use us for His Kingdom's purposes.
We also talked about how the Community plays a huge part in the Kingdom of God. We can't do it alone! and we need to be in real, honest, Christ centered community if we are going to work together to bring His Kingdom here on earth.
Finally, this past week, we discussed how our own personal time with God will give us what we need to the work we are called to. Typically, this time is referred to as "devotions" but we are re-branding it and calling it "Sacred Time." It is so much more that JUST reading your Bible and praying, but it is about Knowing God intimately, resting in His presence, hearing and knowing His voice, and being assured of His amazing Love.
After we discussed this, we gave students some time to practice some Sacred Time of their own, and it was AWESOME to see so many kids really digging in and spending time with God.
My prayer is that each student would get a taste of what it is like to meet with God in a real way and to never let that go. To make it a real part of their lives, each and every day.
So! You are caught up, and we will talk again soon :)
-Andrew
I am sorry that we haven't posted much here in a while. Much has happened so let me catch you up really quickly.
We had our first ever Christmas Banquet which was a riot! Great food (turkey dinner, complete with all the trimmings) beautiful decorations, lots of fun pictures and time spent with a bunch of awesome kids.
Over the Christmas break we got together with a handful of other youth groups from around the GTA and went to playdium. It was fun to interact with other groups and just enjoy a good night out.
As we ventured into the New Year, we have begun a series on the Kingdom of God called "The Divine Collision." We have discussed our calling as followers of Jesus to bring Heaven to earth! Each week we unfold the theme a little further in exploring what that actually looks like.
He have discussed Submission as the only gateway to True Life, and how when we give our lives fully to Jesus, He can transform us and use us for His Kingdom's purposes.
We also talked about how the Community plays a huge part in the Kingdom of God. We can't do it alone! and we need to be in real, honest, Christ centered community if we are going to work together to bring His Kingdom here on earth.
Finally, this past week, we discussed how our own personal time with God will give us what we need to the work we are called to. Typically, this time is referred to as "devotions" but we are re-branding it and calling it "Sacred Time." It is so much more that JUST reading your Bible and praying, but it is about Knowing God intimately, resting in His presence, hearing and knowing His voice, and being assured of His amazing Love.
After we discussed this, we gave students some time to practice some Sacred Time of their own, and it was AWESOME to see so many kids really digging in and spending time with God.
My prayer is that each student would get a taste of what it is like to meet with God in a real way and to never let that go. To make it a real part of their lives, each and every day.
So! You are caught up, and we will talk again soon :)
-Andrew
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