Tuesday, March 09, 2010
#
John started a series called "Healthy Dating" this week at the Core. Here are a few notes from his talk:
Eph 5:21-25
25 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her ….. 28 In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself… 31 As the Scriptures say, "A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one." 32 This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. 33 So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband
PAUSE – seeing my marriage as a covenant union with Emily 2 quick things – security with her – we will not leave each other – we walk thru life together – we share so much – that has enhanced our physical oneness.
HOW????? Your Union with Christ gives you everything you need to WAIT and BE PATIENT and be CONTENT until you get married.
STRONG WORDS OF PAUL: out of concern!!
1 Cor. 6:16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two will become one flesh." 17 But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. 18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
If you are taking advantage of someone that is a believer – touching them… Jesus is right there! They are a temple of God – how does that make you feel?
Thursday, March 04, 2010
#
Core this Sunday 5:30-7:30pm. Bring $1 for dinner.
Project Serve applications: Pick up at Merge Table in S001 or to the left. Deadline is 3/21 for application/waiver and $200 deposit due. Trip dates are June 19-27 to Allentown, PA.
Parents: If you’d like to join a group of parents to pray for students, they meet Sundays, 6-7pm in N104. Contact Becky O’Hare beckyohare@gmail.com
Seniors: Check w/parents re: form, photo and rsvp due 3/14. Can download to the left.
Coming Up: Defending the Story is an ongoing series about keeping a Christian worldview. In preparation for Easter we will tackle the question of Christ’s resurrection. How can we know for sure that He rose from the dead?
In March we will be preparing students to date in a godly, healthy manner. Students often prioritize a boyfriend or girlfriend over their Creator. Relationships work best when Christ is first and our source of life!
April topic is Spiritual Warfare. I am Second Series in May/June.
v DESCRIPTION OF MESSAGE TO MASK
We hear different messages throughout our lives, and sometimes certain ones stick. They make us feel something, usually something shameful, and so we end up believing something about ourselves that isn’t true. When we deal with things about ourselves that we want to hide, what do we do? We put up a mask.
v Mask of PERFORMANCE
Ø Message: My dad isn’t excited about a new baby.
Ø Feeling: Rejected.
Ø Belief: I was worthless.
Ø Mask: I have to earn my worth with PERFORMANCE.
v Mask of STRENGTH
Ø Message: My dad regularly forgot to tuck me in at night, come home for dinner, or remember anything I had going on.
Ø Feeling: Forgotten and alone.
Ø Belief: I’m invisible.
Ø Mask: I don’t need anyone. I AM STRONG.
v Mask of RESPONSIBILITY
Ø Message: You’re not important enough to take care of even though I’m the only adult in your life.
Ø Feeling: Unloved.
Ø Belief: I’m the only person who can take care of me and my sister.
Ø Mask: I AM RESPONSIBLE.
v Mask of INDEPENDENCE
Ø Message: My dad doesn’t care about my best but his best.
Ø Feeling: Angry.
Ø Belief: I wasn’t wanted.
Ø Mask: I don’t need you. I’m INDEPENDENT.
v Mask of BEING BETTER THAN YOU.
Ø After my father left for a year and a half, I was so good at my masks that I didn’t feel abandoned; I felt sorry for him and better than him.
Ø Message: He doesn’t care about me.
Ø Feelings: I don’t care about him!
Ø Belief: I’m a great daughter and a great person, and you’re stupid to let this slip away.
Ø Mask: I’m BETTER THAN YOU.
v THE JOURNEY BEGINS
Ø Psalm 63:7 But the more I thought about it and the more the Holy Spirit spoke to me, I realized how significant that verse was to me. God is my help, and because of that, I can sing and experience joy all while being hidden in the protection of God, not hidden by my masks. He had protected me my entire life, and for whatever reason he chose to do that, I was so humbled and overwhelmed with how much He loved me. It was after that that I started to identify my masks, take them off, and replace them with truth.
v THE PROCESS OF REMOVAL
Ø We all wear masks. Identifying one mask or one problem doesn’t make everything better, just like my dad leaving didn’t take all the hurt away with him. There’s a fear of taking off masks because you’re afraid you’ll lose who are, but the truth is that you become more like Jesus.
Ø First, you have to have an attitude of humility.
Ø Second, when do you feel unsettled, angry, or defensive? INVESTIGATE.
Ø Third, remember that lies lose their power when you call them out as lies.
Friday, February 26, 2010
#
If you have been at the Core you know that there was a collection for Kelly's run for Haiti. Well, Kelly and her friends were in the paper this week! Check it out.
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
#
Verses from Sunday's Core:
2 Cor 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ….
ESV
"Of Benjamin he said,
May the beloved of the Lord
Dwell in security by Him
who shields him all the day
and he dwells between His shoulders."
Deut. 33:12
Ways to help with Haiti relief:
The is a POD at the Home to Home house that is open 8-5 daily except on Sunday (1-5pm) We will only have until Friday February 12, 2010 to collect these items for shipment.
Items needed: PRIORITY IS SHELTER (TENTS AND MATS)
Enclosed Camping Tents – 2, 4, 6 or 8 man Sleeping Cots Lightweight Sleeping Bags / Ground Pad (not air mattress) Tarps Food: No can goods - Haitians will not eat can goods – no way to open – adds to trash – bugs THE ACCEPTABLE FOOD SUPPLIES ARE: Cooking oil, Bags of dry rice, Bags of dry beans, Hard Plastic dishes for orphanages (no soft plastic) Medical supplies – bandages, antibiotics, Neosporin etc
You can also bring your spare change to the Core and drop it in the marked water cooler!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
#
Two Room:
Analogy of the way we live = 2 different rooms
Receive Christ – places you on this path…
Fork in the road – chose one and it leads you to the room of Good intentions (host gives you a mask)
PLEASE GOD PATH – make him happy with me
COME TO THE DOOR: plate that says: “Striving to be all God wants me to be”
I am going to try hard and then I will be able to be intimate with God
OVER THE DOOR KNOB: “self effort” – God helps those who help themselves
Walk in and HOSTESS comes to you with a BIG smile: “welcome to the room of good intentions”
EVERYONE IN THE (full of people) ROOM – smiling, laughing, hey how are you… I am fine?! Then someone comes up to you and asks how are you? Before answering the hostess says shhhhh – and hands you a mask. LIKE DISNEY.
Explore in the room and you notice a theme or banner – written in different places – “shamed into hiding”… you must measure up to be close to Christ. You must deal with your sin before you are to be close to Christ
Students many of you – believe in Jesus but you have so much shame – you feel inwardly flawed – something is WRONG with you and all you know to do is PUT ON A MASK – I am guilty!
List different masks…
- “I’m happy” mask
- “I’m better than most” mask
- “I’m a victim of others” mask
- “I don’t care” mask
- “I am very important” mask
- “I am the expert” mask
- “I am not hurt” mask
- “I am the funny guy” mask
- “I am the partier” mask
- “I have the answers” mask
- “I am independent” mask
- “I am cool” mask
- “I have self confidence mask”
- “I will just please others” mask
- “I am calm, just carry on” mask
- “I am perfect” mask
I PUT them on – wear them – for safety and the masks become apart of us
I have to stay loved… I can’t let others see me struggle… I feel so flawed… Jesus is far away.
Shame motivates… same word for shame = anxiety. Shame also keeps you in addictions.
Stumble back to the fork of the road try a different path
There is a new path – and a new room – leave the old room and hear a new VOICE and THEME
Tired, stressed, get real
Come to a door
Plate on the door that says: Living out who God says that I am
Above the door knob – says humility
Hostess says welcome to the Room of Grace
Another room full of people. I cant do this – fake it… lie about everything is ok… as you began to storm out you hear a voice that says “you will fit in just fine here”
There is a garbage can by the door you came in that catches your eye – in the garbage cans are masks. The hostess is actually collecting masks and disposing them.
Banner – Standing with God who takes away my shame and intimately helps me live this life/ deal with sin together
Table set- set for royalty - so inviting – you start to head that way – and a powerful story comes to mind
COVENANT DAVID MADE WITH JONATHAN
2 Samuel 9
v. 1 And David said, "Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?" ….v.3 Ziba said to the king, "There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet." 4 The king said to him, "Where is he?" And Ziba said to the king, "He is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar." (SHAME/pastureless) 5 Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar. 6 And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, "Mephibosheth!" And he answered, "Behold, I am your servant." 7 And David said to him, "Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always." (HONOR AND SECURITY) 8 And he paid homage and said, "What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog (SHAME) such as I?" 9 Then the king called Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him, "All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master's grandson. 10 And you and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him and shall bring in the produce, that your master's grandson may have bread to eat. But Mephibosheth your master's grandson shall always eat at my table." Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 11 Then Ziba said to the king, "According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so will your servant do." So Mephibosheth ate at David's table, like one of the king's sons. 12 And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. And all who lived in Ziba's house became Mephibosheth's servants.
ESV
Friday, January 08, 2010
#
· John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
· Narrow Minded?
· What do college students have to say about it?
· Not narrow minded it its right!
· How do we know Bible is right?
· If word of God then…
o Consistent
o Revered
o Best Seller
o Accessible
o Works
o Longevity
o Unique
· # Sold
o Book of Mormon 140 million = 25ft (from Mormon Times 08)
o Quran 800 million = 143 ft
o Bible 6 billion = 1,071ft
· Most Translated
o Quran 47 full, 67 partial, 114 total (University of Penn)
o Book of Mormon 83 full, 25 partial, 108 total (lds.org)
o Bible 392 full, 2287 total (biblica.com)
· Oldest
o Mormon – 1830 by Joseph A. Smith
o Quran – 610-630 by Muhammad’s companions (Encyclopedia Britannica)
o Bible – 1450 BC – 95 AD by 40 authors (allabouttruth.org)
§ ALL AGREE!
Thursday, December 17, 2009
#
Matthew 22:34-41 ESV But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" 37 And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."
HOW? Do this? Love a God who judges me? ALWAYS LOOK AT THE AGREEMENT/ Covenant:
1. Backstory – look at the agreement OLD COVENANT
conditional love based on Sacrafices and works
Deut 6:5-6 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
2. Better agreement
Heb 8:6 But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.
Heb 8:8-9 For he finds fault with them when he says:
"Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord,
when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah…
9 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers
on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt.
For they did not continue in my covenant,
and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord.
Heb 8:10-11 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
after those days, declares the Lord:
I will put my laws into their minds….
and write them on their hearts,
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
11 And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor
and each one his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,'
for they shall all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest.
Heb 8:12,13
12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities,
and I will remember their sins no more."
13 In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete.
And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
3. What Christ HAS DONE – the agreement between Jesus and the Father – the blood shed – HAS ALLOWED US TO HAVE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE FOR THOSE IN CHRIST.
4. LOVE AND VALUE = the Same
$50 ILUSTRATION
· Creased, crumbled, stepped on – still worth $50
· You mess, struggle, give in to old addictions, pride = still worth max amount to Jesus – LOVES you
· GOD’s value/love is rooted in an agreement/ covenant =>unconditional LOVE
· EVERY SOUL LONGS FOR!
5. HOW do I love the Lord God with all my heart, soul and mind?
A. Mind – Listen you have control what goes in your mind – you may not believe that – set you mind on what is true about God’s loving relationship with you.
B. Transformed by the renewing of your mind
C. Know His presence with you is LOVING – ALL THE TIME!!! Is He grieved when you mess up – sure – but
that is different from ANGRY!
D. I will post some verses on our blog that you can let wash over you (westoverhighschoolministry.com)
6. HOW will you know? To love God is RESPOND to His love EVERY PART OF YOUR BEING!!1 (he Loved us first)--- LIVE --- BE A KID --- LAUGH --- FREE --- EYES OFF YOU--- ADDICTIONS GO AWAY ---LOVE YOURSELF---- BASK IN HIS UNCONDITIONAL LOVE OF GOD… COOLEST VERSE IN THE WORLD IS
1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith.
7. Spills out of you!!!!! Manure Illustration?
8. Aware and Unaware---- REFER BACK TO $50 bill… just like you would receive this 20 in a heart beat = HE WILL RECEIVE YOU!!!!
When I started reading Matthew 22:37-40, the second commandment really smacked me in the face. Because even though I've read these verses more times than I can count, I don't know if I've really looked closely at what they say. It says to love your neighbor "as yourself." It could say a million other things, but it says "as yourself." So what's it mean to love the Lord with all that you are, to love yourself and then to love others as a follower of Christ? That's something that I've been challenged by recently--to love Him with my life, see myself the way Jesus sees me, to love others the way he created me to, and then to walk/live in that.
Here’s a little about me some of you may not know, and it’s a huge part of my story and how the Lord began to teach me about what it means to love him with all my heart and then to love myself as the person He created me to be and then to love my neighbors. It’s all tied together!
-Accepted Christ in my life in 1993 in sixth grade and then we moved back to Florida and I started seventh grade at a private Christian school. Middle school was a really awkward and difficult time for me, just like it is for a lot of people.
-In eighth grade I started losing weight but within a few months it became a full-blown eating disorder. I didn’t fit into any of the regular groups of people who are at high risk—I have an amazing family, I’m a Christian, etc. But what I know now is that it wasn’t even about the food—it was more of a spiritual issue.
Everyone has areas that are like targets for the devil to attack. But the Lord always provides a way out—do you take it? But here are some things that I learned and that I’ve been reminded of recently that absolutely tie in with loving yourself the way God intended:
LISTEN to His voice. Who does He say I am vs. who others say I am? We all know who the world says we should be, and that doesn't go away as you get older. But who does the Lord say I am? Do I listen to Him or to them?
-I'm chosen by God, holy and dearly loved, bought with a price
-Nothing will separate me from His love
-I am forgiven, by his wounds I'm healed
-I'm created by his hand--fearfully and wonderfully made
-All of my days are ordained, his plan is to prosper and not to harm me
-He has redeemed me and called me by name
-I can walk in freedom because He's set me free
-I'm called out of darkness and into His light
Jesus is the shepherd and He says that His sheep listen to His voice. I'm constantly learning to listen to His voice and making a choice to listen to Jesus instead of the noise around me. But the more you listen to someone, the more you recognize their voice. Example: My sis. So who do you listen to?
Look at myself the way He sees me. Seeing yourself as anything or anyone other than who He created you to be can have potentially devastating consequences--I know because I've seen it and I've been there. The Bible tells us that satan comes to steal, kill and destroy. But Jesus gives us life--and it's abundant life! So when you're being hit on all sides and are tempted to buy into the lies and see yourself as less that who you are in Christ, put on the armor and just stand (Ephesians). Sometimes just standing can be exhausting, but it's what we're commanded to do and it's for our own good. Who do you see when you look in the mirror? We're given a choice--to choose life or not. What do you choose? What do I choose and WHO do I choose?
Now LIVE!! You have to know Jesus--not just know about him--to really hear his voice and to see yourself through His eyes. It's about a living, breathing, exciting relationship; not about religion. He knows us and loves us more than we could ever comprehend. A consequence of that relationship with Jesus is that you desire to love Him with all your heart, soul and mind; and you begin to get glimpses of how deep, high and wide his love is for you. Only then can you even begin to truly love yourself and then love others the way God intended. I want to be someone who is so convinced of who I am in Him and so secure in His love for me that it comes as naturally as telling someone my name. I want to be about life because Jesus is about life--and I absolutely desire that for every student in the HS ministry.
Becca Warren is a high school volunteer at WHSM
Saturday, August 29, 2009
#
this year the HSM is experimenting with servant leadership teams. we desire to have enviornments where students can serve according to their passion and giftedness. If you are interested in serving or leading on one of these teams please email alisa at asmith@westoverchurch.com. connect with what HE is doing! make an impact through letting Christ express Himself through you.
Pick up a Spiritual Gifts test from the Merge Table! -john freeman 2 Cor. 4:1-10
Servant Leadership Teams of Westover High School Ministry
Impact Team: MEET AND GREET
Design: we need this team to welcome people at the Core as well as show them around and introduce them to other peeps. Yes sometimes awkward but very rewarding!
Helpful Gifts: Hospitality, Encouragement, Discernment, Helps
Impact Team: LOCAL MISSION AND COMPASSION
Design: we need a group of students with a heart for the lost, least and last of Greensboro. This team will lead the youth group in opportunities to serve locally. We have money budgeted to create projects, raise awareness, collect homeless items etc… but we need students to lead!
Helpful Gifts: Compassion/ Mercy, Administration, Giving, Service, Helps
Impact Team: TECH 5
Design: We need some people in the cage to help Luke with sound, slides, lighting, computer stuff. Setting up the stage, cleaning it off at the end of the night (in partnership with the worship teams) This is crucial.
Helpful Gifts: Service, craftsmanship, music
Impact Team: CREATIVE VIDEO
Design: we need some performers and videoers to work up some creative videos for lessons or publicizing an event or just random stuff. You will work closely with the MCs and Gamers to come up with some fun stuff.
Helpful Gifts: Helps, Wisdom
Impact Team: NEW YEARS EVE TEAM
Design: The New Year’s Eve dance is an alternative event to going out and partying. We want to use this kind of fun time to introduce people to our youth group and just have fun.
Helpful Gifts: Hospitality, Administration, Evangelism, Service, Helps
Impact Team: WORSHIP
Design: This team leads our youth group in worship. We have a team of adults that have already started some students on the process of auditions but we still want to know if you are interested and then will let you know the next round of auditions. Freshman… we want to wait until next semester before bringing you on.
Helpful Gifts: Music, Intercession, Leadership, Shepherding
Impact Team: DRAMA
Design: Sara Warren and Sarah Barnes are two staff people who want to crank up a drama/skit team. We have plenty of people with drama in their lives but this team needs to be able to communicate truths through acting/ participating in short skits. If you are comfortable up front, or have creative thinking for stuff like this sign up.
Helpful Gifts: Faith, Discernment, Service
Impact Team: COFFEE BAR
Design: Ok… so we have a great espresso machine and adults who can show you how to work the machine. This is a great way to serve others and meet new people.
Helpful Gifts: Hospitality, Administration, Service, Helps
Impact Team: ART AND WRITING
Design: At the Core we desire to communicate Biblical truths creatively. With good planning we can equip students to reflect on stories or passages of the Bible and write a reflective poem (for example) or paint a picture/ draw on the huge chalk board wall. You need to have drawing and/or writing skills. You may work close with the Teaching Team.
Helpful Gifts: Teaching, Wisdom, Knowledge, Prophecy
Impact Team: STRIKE SET UP AND CLEAN UP
Design: We have some manly men already great at setting up but if you want to help they could use it. Setting up the Core at 4:30 – tables, props, chairs, game stuff, food stations, cleaning up afterwards – trash, vacuuming etc…
Helpful Gifts: Service, Helps
Impact Team: MC and GAMES
Design: Alisa could really use some help in thinking up and leading games at the Core. It is a great way to connect people. Also if you are interested in doing announcements, being silly up front (takes confidence) please let us know. You will work close with the Creative Video team to publicize stuff/ announcements.
Helpful Gifts: Leadership, Shepherding, Encouragement, Discernment
Impact Team: NOTE WRITING
Design: Periodically writing notes can be a powerful ministry. Notes to our Westover shut-ins (elderly), Westover missionaries (especially our missionary kids) can be such an encouraging way to impact those around us and far away! Writing out prayers or just saying hello really goes a long way.
Helpful Gifts: Encouragement, Mercy, Intercession, Administration
Impact Team: VISION AND TEACHING
Design: John would love to have a few students to think about some Scriptures, talk about how they can be taught, and dig deep. You do not have to be a “speaker” to be a part but there could be opportunities to teach at the Core. The Second function of this team is to dream, visualize where God may want us to go as a youth ministry. So dreaming, praying, thinking about Scripture is a big part of this team. Upper classmen only.
Helpful Gifts: teaching, prophecy, wisdom, evangelism, shepherding