From John Freeman

Great Scriptures from our Healthy Dating Series

Westover Church — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 20:00:17 GMT

1 Cor 6:17-20
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. ESV

Prov 25:28
A man (or woman) without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

Song of Solomn 2:7
I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem,
by the gazelles or the does of the field,
that you not stir up or awaken love
until it pleases.

Prov 12:18
There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Prov 31:30
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Phil 4:19-20
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Eph 5:31-33
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.

Prov 4:23
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

Sun am - MERGE

Westover Church — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 13:32:09 GMT

Merge - Sundays 11am (Cafe of S001): The purpose of this class is to integrate students into what we believe God is doing in our youth ministry & church. This class is not to replace attending the Core, big church or serving on Sunday morning. We want new students to have a place where they are introduced to others and challenge everyone to find their place of service on Sunday morning. The class will involve a video driven curriculum and will be discussion oriented. Have questions? contact Carol Edmiston cedmiston@triad.rr.com

John's Notes from Core 03.07.2010

Westover Church — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:38:13 GMT

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?

Notes from the Core 02.07.2010

Westover Church — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:48:42 GMT

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!

Notes from the Core 01.24.2010

Westover Church — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:34:13 GMT

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

John's Core Notes 12.13.09

Westover Church — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:25:23 GMT

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!!!!

serve and lead in the High School Ministry

Westover Church — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 23:59:24 GMT

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