Day 14

Wow! Day 14 flew by! So fast we didn't get this up in time... so here it is back tracking a little bit...

Reread Matthew 7:7-13.

Do you notice how this passage is very similar to prayer? Did you get it confused with prayer? I know I did at first.

Last night, Pastor Terry challenged us to be people who are on a constant pursuit of God. Even through our prayer.

So what are some ways that you are constantly pursuing God today? Are you being someone that is going to seek Him today?

When you pray, do you allow for Him to use you?

Sometimes it is really hard to understand that concept. That if we pray to God we should expect to be used by him to accomplish that prayer.

What are some other thoughts you have about being a person that constantly pursues God?

Day 13 - Let Your Light Shine

Read Matthew 5:14-16

As we've spent the last few days discussing how our life sends a message to those around us, this passage in Matthew is a great challenge and reminder from Christ.

We are supposed to be a LIGHT for others to see. This world has become a dark place. People no longer see God in the way they once did. At one point in this nation God was seen as a firm foundation. We can see this every time we look at our money when it says "In God We Trust". People have lost hope in God. Why?

I think it's because there are so many messages being sent our way all the time. There are so many distractions for us today that even when God wants to speak to us or show up for us to see, we may completely miss it.

Jesus tells us in this passage that we are the LIGHT OF THE WORLD. We are to STAND OUT so that all people can see Jesus when they see us!!! So that they can see him through the way we live and praise Him.

Unfortunately we hide that light. We do this when we:

- don't speak when we know God is asking us to
- by allowing sin in our lives to overshadow the power God has when he conquered sin forever on the cross
- when we go along with the crowd even when we know it's wrong
- not answering the "WHY" question
- we don't love God with all we are
- we don't love others as God has called us to
- etc. . . .

How have you been hiding your light lately?

This week?

Today?

What steps will you take to STAND OUT more for Christ so that others can see Him through you?

Think about those steps. . . write them down . . . make a plan . . . AND LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE!!!!

Share the steps you feel you need to take as a comment so others can be encouraged and challenged by you and others.

Day 12 - Be Separate

Read 2 Corinthians 6:14-18, 7:1

As we think about this idea from last Wednesday night about not sending mixed messages through how we live, this is a great verse to look at.

In this passage as I first read it years ago I thought it meant that I needed to stop hanging out with my friends that weren't Christians. As I've spent more time thinking and studying on it over the last few years I've come to realize that that isn't what it means.

There is definitely a theme of evaluating relationships with non-Christ Followers. However, I think the idea is that Christ would rather we make our strongest relationships with those who are Christ Followers. These relationships will help to encourage us, strengthen us and help us grow closer in our relationship with him. If our strongest relationships are with people who don't know Christ then we have room for error in judgment, in our actions and in how we live.

"Therefore come out from them and be separate."

Paul's desire is not for us to have all Christian friends. He wants us to be active in our witness to our non-Christian friends while avoiding situations, which sometimes involves our friends, that could cause us to compromise our faith or start to question our relationship with Christ. He's not saying stay away from your lost friends at all cost, but rather stay closer to Christ and do all you can to get closer to Him. He wants us to BE DIFFERENT THAN THE WORLD.

How have you been trying to stay different from the world?

How can you stand out more for Christ while being a loving example to your friends of who Christ is?

Jesus wants us to help radically change this world by how we live our lives and by doing that sending a message to others about His love.

What steps do you need to take to make sure that message is being sent LOUD and CLEAR to those around you?

Respond . . .

Day 11 - The Why

Read 1 Peter 3:8-16

Today as I was teaching the Sr. High PhillyGO team, we discussed something that I thought was great for any age and wanted to share.

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander."

In order to not send mixed messages to our friends about where we stand with Christ, we should always be prepared to share with others the reason for the hope that we have in Christ. When someone asks us "Why do you go to church?", "Why do you pray before your meal?", "Why don't you act mean?", etc. that is an amazing opportunity for us to be an example to them and share "WHY"!!!

Let me ask this question for you to think about. When is the last time someone asked you "WHY?"?

If it's been a while maybe that's something we need to look at. Have we been acting too much like everyone else that we don't stand out, that we don't look any different as a Christian from the rest of the world?

Take this week as a challenge to live as much for Christ as you can in every aspect and setting of your week. See if people ask you the WHY question. Maybe your friends are waiting for someone to be a true example of what a follower of Christ is supposed to look like.

What do you think? Share your thoughts and post a comment.

Day 11 - Be an Example

Read 1 Timothy 4:11-13

What do these verses say to you about being an example?

Who does it say to be an example to?

How does it say to set that example?

These verses talk about setting an example to the believers. Sometimes we think that we're just supposed to set an example for our friends and family who don't know Christ but this verse talks about the believers, those who know Christ.

Why do you think that is?

Even though others may see us as young, God wants us to be an example to those around us, follower of Christ or not. He tells us ways to stretch ourselves to do that or become better in that.

What are ways that you can be more of an example to others that you interact with everyday?

What are areas that you need to improve being an example to others in?

Day 10 - Listen and Do!

Read James 1:19-27.

As we look at this idea that our life sends a message, what message does your life currently send? The great thing about it is if you're not happy with what your life is saying to other people at this moment in time, CHANGE IT!!! You have the power to change what message your life is sending. Even if there have been times when you've messed up to the point where you don't think that anyone can forgive you, GOD WILL!

All He asks of us is that we try our best to follow the guidelines He's given us. Sure we can take this 30 Day Challenge and read God's word but He doesn't just want us to read or listen to the God's word, He wants us to do what it says.

What things have you read in Scripture that God wants you to do that you've had a hard time doing?

What have you felt God telling you that you need to work at?

What will you do with those things? Will you try to improve on those things and get better so that you are doing as God asked you or will you just hear what God wants you to change but not do anything about it? His desire is for you to ACT not SIT BY and let things continue to be the same.

Day 9

Read Matthew 10:33.

Recently, the Miss America Pagent took place and there was a major issue that came to the forefront of the event. Now, regardless of what you believe is right and regardless of what you feel about the topic that will be discussed in this video, watch it and listen to the comments that are made from both sides.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

What do you think about Miss California's comments? What do you think about the comments that Perez Hilton made?

What do you think Jesus would make of Miss California's comments?

This is tough subject, gay marriage. It is one that you probably don't deal with a whole lot right now. But that is not nearly the situation that I am addressing in this post, although it could be a very interesting discussion that I would love to get your opinions on. However, for the purposes of this post, we will center on the discussion of the way that Miss California defended what she believed.

What are some things that you believe to be true and you would never change your view on? Describe for us, a situation that you had to defend your faith on a subject that you were very certain you were right on. How did you defend it? How were you attacked?

This is a bit of a deeper topic called Apologetics. Apologetics is working to defend your faith with logical arguments and contentions that allow the person to fully understand what it means to be a Christ follower.

I challenge you to find a way to engage this discussion. How can you begin to exercise your knowledge of your faith? By talking about it and discussing it with people that are like and unlike you!

GC

Day 8 - LIVE LOUD!!

Geoff talked tonight about that fact that your life sends a message. It's not just the words you say but people, your friends, are watching you every day. In that lies a huge responsibility.
Tonight we had you place a piece of duct tape over your mouth and asked each Jr. Higher, "If you weren't able to speak about Christ, would your friends know that your a Christ Follower, would they know that you are trying to be like Christ by your actions?". What would your answer be to that question?

Read Luke 9:18-27.

What does that passage say to you?

What do you think it means to 'pick up your cross daily and follow Him?'

As I read it, I see Jesus speaking more about us taking action as we follow Him and not much about speaking?

How LOUD can you LIVE for Him each day? What steps are you going to take starting today, tomorrow and the next day that will SHOW people Christ by your lifestyle?

Post a comment and respond. Encourage and challenge each other by doing so this week.

Day 7

Have you ever been amazed by something? It just shocked you that something like that would ever happen? A crazy play in a game? A car wreck right in front of you? September 11th? Most of you probably don't remember it, but 10 years ago the shooting at Columbine High School happened. Many students were killed and two took their lives. People were shocked everywhere. They were shocked in a very negative way at the way that such atrocities could take place.

Read this passage in Matthew.

Take special note of verse 10.

This centurion was a Roman who probably had no idea what Jesus was about, what he had come to fulfill or the scriptures that were prophesying his coming. This man had no idea about the background that all of the Jews would have known because of their training and schooling that took place in their culture. Do you realize that most if not all of the Jewish people would have been required to study and memorize the entire first five chapters of the Old Testament?! Most would then pursue it further by studying the rest of the Old Testament! They knew who Jesus was supposed to be and what he stood for.

Romans on the other hand, were not required to complete this study or this memorization. They would be required to learn things like science and math; subjects that would not necessarily require the use of the Old Testament.

But here we see a man that simply has a heart for the people around him and recognizes the power that is contained in the person of Jesus. He even recognizes how important Jesus is and how unworthy the centurion is to have Jesus in his house.

And then there's the kicker: "When Jesus heard this, he was astonished..."

Jesus was astonished because even this man that is one with great power and authority over people, he understands that God is so much more powerful and that Jesus doesn't need to come to his house to heal his servant.

So what about you? What kind of faith do you have in Jesus? Do you need an encounter with Him to trust Him with everything today?

Is Jesus astonished at your faith in Him?

Would Jesus say that he has never seen anyone with as much faith as you?

I am not claiming that you should be in a competition to have more faith than anyone else. But I am saying that we should be striving for that kind of faith! But there is another question that arises though, isn't there?

How do I have a faith that astonishes Jesus? How do I simply believe in Him so much that it astonishes Him? I think that these are questions for you. I think that these are questions that you can answer. I don't know that there is necessarily a right answer. So take a moment. Answer the questions for yourself. What areas of your life could you have more faith? How do you increase your faith level in those areas?

GC

10 years later and still alot to think about . . .

It's hard to believe that this tragic event happened 10 years ago now. If you're a junior higher you may be too young to remember this. I, however, remember it as if it were yesterday. I was a sophomore at Bethel College. I came back to my apartment between my classes that day, sat down and turned the TV on. All of a sudden there was a 'breaking news' story on just about every channel. News of a student hostage situation in Littleton, Colorado. I found myself glued to the TV awaiting more updates. I',m pretty sure that I even skipped the rest of my classes that day because I wanted to hear things as they happened. 13 people were dead at the end of this unbelievable event. Not including these two students:Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, the shooters of the Columbine High School Massacre. Looking at their pictures it's hard to imagine they would have that inside of them to be able to do.

It reminds me that we don't know the hurt of each person we interact with. The people that we walk the halls with, eat lunch in the lunch room with, have a locker next to . . . what were they feeling inside. What were they hurting from? How different would their life have been if they had Christ in their life?

As we've been talking over the last few days with our 30-Day Challenge to Jr. Highers I thought this was something worth mentioning. We've been talking about judging and criticizing others. I wonder what things were said to these two students that pushed them over the edge, that made them feel so hurt, so alone, so empty that they couldn't reach out for help. That the only way they knew how to release their feelings of anger, depression and rage were by bring bombs and guns to their high school coming up with a plan of how they could kill some of their classmates.

Before you judge or say hurtful words to someone else, remember that Christ still died for them...that God still created them...that God still loves them. Perhaps if we thought more about those things . . . horrific events like the Massacre at Columbine might never have happened.

Day 6

Ever had a feeling that what someone told you was wrong? Thought that perhaps they were not telling you the truth?

How did you know? What told you that they weren't being truthful? Did you know what they were saying were lies? Things that weren't completely true? How did you make sure?

Read Matthew 7:15-20.

We are going to talk about this on Wednesday night, but take some time and examine this passage carefully. What are some things that Jesus tells us we can count on from false prophets? How are we going to be able to know what a false prophet is?

Now think about your life? About 3 weeks ago we talked about what it means to sing a song to God through our lifestyle. What message are you sending to the people of the world.

I am going to leave this one short because I want you to think about this. It is pretty abstract and not very detailed, but it is intended to get you to think about what we are going to talk about on Wednesday.

What message are you sharing with the world?

GC

Day 5 - Untouchable

Have you ever had a time where you just wanted someone to reach out to you and maybe give you a hug? What if that wasn't possible? What if because of an illness you had, in your loneliest moment, no one could give you that loving hug?

How would that make you feel?

Read Matthew 8:1-4, here.

Even though this is a short passage I think we see a powerful example from Jesus. For those of you who were at the Winter Retreat you might remember Drew Ryall sharing pictures of effects of leprosy. Take a look below:
Back in the time of Jesus, people with leprosy were made to live outside the city and that they had to yell "UNCLEAN" to everyone coming there way so that they could steer clear and not catch this disease. A lot of people thought that this disease was brought on to those people because of there sin. This was another reason why people wanted to stay away from them.

Today we may not see people in our schools that have leprosy but I would say that we people today as though they are SOCIAL LEPERS! Some people just don't make the "In" group or our group and so we treat them like outcasts. We judge them and criticize them for who they are and we don't give them a chance to make it in to our inner circle.

Here we see Jesus being asked to heal this man if he is willing. Jesus not only says that he's willing but he actually touches the man!!! I can only imagine the reaction on the faces of those who may have been around during this action. Jesus has called us to reach out to the lost, the outcast, the left behind, unpopular . . . ____________ (enter your own word and type of person here).

Who have you treated like a social leper in the last day? week? month?

How does that show the love of Christ? It doesn't!!!!

Today is the day that this needs to change. Our actions, attitudes, behavior and perspective needs to change. What will you do differently today and this week to touch the leper in your schools, neighborhood or just in the group of people around you?

When do you or when have you felt like a social leper?

Day 4 - The Unlikely Choice

Today we want you all to look at one of my favorite stories in Scripture, The Good Samaritan.

Take a look here, Luke 10:25-37.

An expert in the law asked Jesus how he can inherit eternal life? Jesus asked him what the Scriptures say. He answered Jesus saying 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind', and 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Jesus tells him that he answered correctly but then he asked Jesus, 'Who is my neighbor'. Jesus then tells the parable of the Good Samaritan.

We begin to read about a man who was beaten and left for dead. Two men, a priest and Levite, walk by this man and yet having seen the man and his condition they decided to move on and leave him there. Then we see a Samaritan who sees his condition and needs and he decides to help him by doing all he can to restore him back to health.

Why is it significant that a Samaritan did this. There was a deep hatred between the Jews and Samaritans. Jews saw themselves and PURE descendants of Abraham while Samaritans were seen as a mixed race of people that happened when Jews from the northern kingdom intermarried with other people after Israel's exile. Because of this Samaritans were not given much consideration even as people. They were JUDGED for something that wasn't even necessarily in there control. They were born as Samaritans and because of that they already seen differently by the Jews. No one wanted them in their presence or or thought they were even work talking to. What a huge surprise when this man, who was despised and hated, was the only one that stopped to help the man and went to extreme measures to help the wounded man.

What did you feel God saying to you through this passage?

Have you ever judged someone because of the race they were born into? their lack of athletic ability? their economic status?

Have you ever had a time where someone helped you out that you never ever would have thought would have? Who was it and what happened?

What is Jesus saying to you about how you interact with people on a day to day basis through this passage? What needs to change in your behavior and your heart?

Day 3 - Brought Before the Crowd

I'm excited that you guys are being so open and authentic in your sharing. Keep it up!!! If you feel comfortable please share answers for the different questions such as examples or stories from your life. Sometimes here someone share a story helps us to not feel alone because maybe that same thing happened to someone else. Anyway, please continue to share and encourage others to post on the blog as well and to commit to the 30 day challenge. Day 3 is below:

Have you ever had a time where you did something or something happened to you in front of a large group of people and because of that people made fun of you or labeled you because of that event?

What happened and how did it make you feel?

Read the story of the Woman Caught in Adultery

The Bible says that the teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought her in and made her stand in front of the whole group. Now we don't necessarily know just how many people that was but let's be serious, when we've done something that we know to be wrong, who really likes to have to stand in front of a whole crowd to admit it?

This was a huge group of people that were judging and criticizing her lifestyle and who she was. They were going to stone her. Let's be honest, we may not "stone" people with huge rocks these days but we can sure "stone" them with our words which probably causes more damage emotionally to a person than what physical damage may cause. I think there is a very important message in this passage for us to learn and apply.

We see Jesus step back and instead of judging or condoning the lifestyle of this woman he makes a completely different statement to these people and tries to get them to see from a different perspective. Was what the woman doing wrong according to how God would want her to live? Yes. But Jesus saw these teachers of the Law and Pharisees judging and criticizing her as if they had no fault or sin in their lives. Jesus said, "In any of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." He knew that no one, except him, would be able to do that. Jesus knelt down and wrote in the sand. Although we don't know exactly what he wrote we do know that it made that group think and one by one they left.

Jesus was trying to teach them about a heart of compassion and forgiveness. When people sin, are different from us, look different, act different or just ARE DIFFERENT FROM US . . . sometimes they become an easy target for us to judge them. In those moments I truly believe Jesus would have us step back and have a heart of compassion for them. Not judge them, make fun of them or say false things about them that we know aren't true.

Jesus had the chance that he could have stoned the woman. It was lawful and he was the only one sinless there in that crowd. Jesus, however, choose not to stone her or condemn her. With compassion he pointed out that he no longer wanted her to live in sin but to live as God would want her. Because he handled things this way I believe she received his message and it made more of a lasting impact on her than anything the teachers of the Law or Pharisees could have ever done.

Next time you feel the need to judge or criticize someone. . . .STOP and THINK. Take the route of being compassionate to that person. How can you help them become better?

Has there been a time where you have verbally "stoned" someone that you can think of in the last day? week? month? year? Maybe the next step that God is asking you to take is to go and apologize to them and ask their forgiveness. Imagine how it could change their life and yours.

Share your thoughts with us . . . .

Day 2 - Who is the Body?

Day #2 - Who is the Body?

Last night, Chris talked about how we label people because the Devil has labeled us and has placed us under these labels as a way to guilt or shame us. The problem is that sometimes we are pretty good at keeping those labels in place. If we have a label, we sometimes try to live up to that label by the shoes we wear, the clothes that we buy, or the way that we talk or act. If we have applied a label to a certain person then we generally tend to keep that label on that person because we always have and they haven't really changed from that label.

The problem is that this creates division between the people. Especially when we place labels on people in the Church. What you must understand is that when I say Church and not church, I am referring to simply the "people who believe in Jesus Christ and call Him Lord." This is not restricted to just the people at NMC.

Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 and take some notes.
Read it again.
How about one more time.

What words pop out at you? What ideas make you go, "Huh."

In this passage, Paul is writing to the church in Corinth and he is giving some guidance to the leadership on how to go about doing "church" and how to organize the people of the church. Paul refers to the people as the parts of the body. Isn't that an amazing picture?!

Paul, in the passage, also identifies two, distinctly different groups of people, that he believes exist in the church. And he shows that obvious separation by talking about them in separate paragraphs. It seems Paul breaks them up according to verses 14-20 and 21-26.

Who is Paul talking about in verses 14-20? How would you describe the people that Paul is representing in this section? What label would you put on this group of people? What would cause an eye to say that they are not part of the body because they aren't a foot? What would cause the foot to say they are not part of the body because they aren't part of the head?

Check the next section. 21-26. Describe the people that Paul is talking about in the first part of this section. What label do you put on these people? How are they similar to the first group? How are they different? What do you think causes them to think about the other parts of the body the way that they do? Give me some reasons why you think Paul would not want division in the Body of Christ? What does it mean to honor the weaker links?

This is such a powerful part of Scripture! Paul is reminding the Corinthians and all of us to realize that we need each other! Without the other parts of the body, even the weak parts, we cannot function properly. If I don't have you working with me, then one part fails. And Paul points out that if one part fails, we all fail. If one part suffers, we all suffer.

Doesn't this change how we live our lives and the way that we treat people? How would we change our lives if we new that when that person that our group was making fun of last night was suffering and because of that, I am suffering also? What does this mean for your life? How does this change your life, today?

So how are you helping to mold the body together? How are you trying to build up the people around you that are part of the body?

What part of the body are you being?

Day 1 - Judged by Appearance

Take time to read 1 Samuel 16.

This is the story of when David is anointed to be the new king of Israel. When we see David in this story he is in his Jr. High years. He was a small kid. He worked out in the pastures with his family's sheep probably being picked on by his brothers and bullied around to pick up after their sheep. He probably had the stench of sheep all over him. Not the picture of perfection by any means let alone a stand out pick to be the next king.

We see G0d's servant Samuel coming to anoint the new king. He looks at Eliab, David's brother and things that by his appearance (probably tall, handsome and muscular) that he must be God's pick. However we read in verse 7 that God rejected him because "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

What does that statement mean to you?

How does it make you feel that God looks at your heart, who you truly are?

God shows us in this passage that while many thought David was meant for the pastures God knew he was meant for the Palace. He chose to use David when others would have passed him over because they judged him by his appearance. God developed David into an amazing leader, king, warrior and man of God because he allowed God to change and develop him into who God knew He could be. Will you let Him do the same with you?

What do you feel God asking you to do?

What do you hear Him saying to you?

What is He challenging you with?

Please take time to post a comment and let us know. Remember, if you don't have a blogger account you can sign in as Anonymous but please put your first and last name at the end of your post.

Looking forward to a great journey together over the next 30 days and am excited to see how God is going to challenge us all.

30-Day Challenge

Tonight is the start of our 30-day challenge in Jr. High. The goal is to spend time in God's word each day for the next 30 days. If you're not used to taking time each day for TAWG (Time Alone with God), start with trying to read a passage from the Bible for 5 minutes. As each day goes on our hope would be that you'll find yourself spending more time in God's word.

Know that as you start this journey your leaders are going through this with you. We are praying that God will reveal some great and personal thing to you each day. Allow Him to stretch you, to challenge you, to change you. . . give Him permission to change you to become more like Him. If you pray that prayer He will honor your request.