4 Ingredients that Produce Life-Long followers of Jesus

Kurt Johnston, Saddleback Community Church Jr. High Pastor, blogged, "This morning, Kara Powell made a case for 4 ingredients of a youth ministry that produces students who remain Christ-followers as they enter college. Her 4 (in my words):* A clear understanding of the gospel.* A ministry that welcomes and provides opportunities for doubts to be shared.* Opportunities for inter-generational relationships.* Students learning how to feed themselves spiritually."

Thanks Kurt and Kara. It's statements like these that help me evaluate the effectiveness of the Youth Ministry I lead at ACC and challenges me to make the necessary changes to lead students to be Life-Long Followers.

1. Does our Student Ministry provide a clear understanding of the gospel?

2. Is our Student Ministry a ministry that welcomes and provides opportunities for doubts to be shared?

3. Does our Student Ministry provide opportunities for inter-generational relationships?

4. Does our Student Ministry teach students how to feed themselves spiritually?

All to early to answer; however, I do think we have some work to do to create the greatest opportunity for success...to see students passionately and intentionally follow Jesus for the rest of their lives.

NEW YOUTH ACTIVITY: "LED HOOPS"

Who said disco was out of style?

I don't know what all the obsession is with hula-hoops lately, but unique hoop options keep popping up on Geeky news. Maybe hoops are coming back as the activity or exercise of choice. But, an LED Hoop! How cool is that? All we need to do is have a DDR and LED Hula-Hoop Night and we will surpass the ever-so-popular Youth Group Halo Tournaments. NOT!

Love to see 3 or 4 hoops circling in one room.

A Must Read for Students and YP's!!!

Do Hard Things by Alex & Brett Harris

Checkout http://www.therebelution.com/ for more details.

Something Handy for "Summer Camp"

Designers Feijun Chen & Bin Zhao clearly were reading Skymall when they dreamed up these "Pioneer" sneakers with built-in recharging headlights. They've got a battery inside which charges on each step, using some mysterious tech that doesn't look piezoelectric. Apparently this can power the LEDs in the front for a full 12 hours. So you can, you know: run in the dark down dim-lit streets, or something. Who knows the cost!

Maybe they'd be handy for Youth Summer Camp?

Paper Covers Rock

Chris Davis posted this video from 12 Movies in 12 Months. It will leave you on the edge of your seat. Or, you might fall off your seat in laughter. You might not want to try this in your youth group, someone could really get hurt.

Does the Bible really claim that there is only one way to Heaven?

It seems like I answer this question every time I meet with students. It is not that I am intolerant, but the Bible states it very clear…

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6 NIV)

Jesus is the only way to Heaven. We may want to buy our way in, work our way in, or think our way in. But the Bible is clear—Jesus Christ provides the way in.

“But, what if I believe that everyone goes to heaven…what if I am good…what about Muslims and Buddhists and you fill in the blank?”

The Bible says, “Jesus is the way.” It’s Jesus or it’s Hell. That’s what it says. That’s what I believe.

My New Custom Made Toys

Yes I finally did it! And, yes they are all here. Now the real task is finding time in such a busy schedule to find my "chops" again. They sound sooo good. I just wish I did right now. It will not take long.

Either way, "This is my act of worship." I can totally get lost in the worship of Him when I am playing. Pray that I force myself to spend the time. If nothing else, my son Schyler has a great inheritance ahead of him.

How Are We To Respond To God’s Goodness?

Repent of our unbelief and ingratitude –

Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance? (Romans 2:4)

Rest in His goodness when encountering adversity.

How great is Thy goodness, which Thou hast stored up for those who fear
Thee, which Thou hast wrought for those who take refuge in Thee, before the sons of men! Thou dost hide them in the secret place of Thy presence from the conspiracies of man; Thou dost keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues. (Psalm 31:19-20)

Risk stepping out in faith like never before!

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD gives grace and glory; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
Psalm 84:11

It is my prayer that we all will lavish in and respond to God's Godness in the preceding ways. I challenged each Common Grounds participant to journal a leap of faith in which they will take before our next small group meeting. If you are willing, take the leap with us and jounal God's generocity. Feel free to comment.

What to Do With Old Youth Ministry Hula Hoops

Architecture & Activity

Beautify the Landscape around your Church and Create a unique Youth Activity.

Check it out...mass studies architecture studio created a temporary installation for the 25th Anniversary of Storefront for Art and Architecture Gallery in New York City. The installation was created from about a thousand hula-hoops zip-tied together to form a massive dome structure.

If we could just figure out what to do with old Rubick's Cubes!

3rd Graders Plot to Kill Teacher

Officials in Georgia have thwarted a plot by a group of third-grade special education students to kill their teacher.

Officials at the Center Elementary School in Waycross, Ga., learned of the plot on March 28, when a student told authorities about the plan before the start of the school day, the Waycross Journal-Herald reports.

The plot by as many as nine boys and girls was a serious threat, Waycross Police Chief Tony Tanner said Tuesday.

The students allegedly brought to school a broken steak knife, a roll of duct tape, handcuffs, ribbon and a crystal paperweight in a bid to kill their teacher, Belle Carter, the paper reports.
"We did not hear anybody say they intended to kill her, but could they have accidentally killed her? Absolutely," Tanner said. "We feel like if they weren't interrupted, there would have been an attempt. Would they have been successful? We don't know."

The children, ages 8 and 9, were apparently mad at the teacher because she had scolded one of them for standing on a chair, Tanner said.

"It’s our understanding that she did in fact discipline one of the students, and they did not like it, he told FOX News. "After that, she began to plot revenge on the teacher."

What is possessing this culture to take things into there own hands? What makes them think that their actions do not have consequenses? We cannot continue to soften or neglect issuing consequenses in our school systems. At this time, teachers and administrators have no authority in the classroom. Why have we allowed this to happen? We are reaping what we have sown. Maybe we need to teach more Old Testament where the Israelites were not spared the rod.

Customer Service

"...are the people we deal with in church environments more like customers or more like employees?"

"It’s much easier to cater to everyone’s personal preferences than to challenge people to a life of service and accountability."

What would life look like if we all chose to be employees rather than customers? To serve rather than consume? It’s backward from our human nature and especially the Western mindset. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but Kingdom ways often seem upside down and inside out. But when employed properly, it changes the world. I don’t know about you, but that’s a gig I’m signing up for.

Erik Cooper
Lakeview Worship

I read a sentence from "The Knowledge of the Holy" by AW Tozer. Tozer states, "The first step down for any church is taken when it surrenders its high opinion of God." This statements forces us to ask ourselves and our congregations, "To you who is God? What is your perception of Him?" The response can directly affect wheather our churches grow according to this statement. I think most churches are holding on to the perception that Jesus was sent to make us happy...which causes many churches to decline in number and Spirit.

Great Points from Ministry Mutiny by Greg Stier

God works more in the whisper than He does in the big, the loud, the fiery, and the blustery.

How do I hear from God?
Get alone with God.
Read His Word.
Pray.
Listen.

Too many times our devo time is a mechanical time of forced reading and a prayer list. We need to…
Take much time to read His Word.
Think through what the Spirit of God is teaching us.
Spend time in silence, reflecting on how it applies to our lives at that very moment.
Discern the whisper of God during times of reflection.

When we listen for God’s whisper, we learn how to deal with teenagers more effectively because we are being sensitive to God’s Spirit. We impact more lives because God is making a maximum impact precisely through you because we are listening for His direction. The quiet revolution comes about when we spend time in quiet reflection and then act on what God is teaching us.

1Kings 18:17-40

Children and Ultimate Fighting

If we have outlawed things such as Dog fights and Cock fights, why are are we so reluctant to outlaw 6 year olds participating in Ultimate Fighting? Is is because there is no money exchanged during betting hour, or is there? What are we thinking? Everyone thought allowing children to watch Bugs Bunny and the Road Runner challenged brutality and increased violence in children, but what about this new phenomenon? My wife say, "Some parents are just idiots." I agree totally.

The Greatest Definition of Youth Ministry I Have Ever Seen

My Friend Josh Griffin posted this on his blog, "Morethandodgeball.com." This is the greatest because Youth Ministry is like herding cats...especially JR. High Ministry.

Kutless' "Strong Tower"

One of my favorite songs. Really ministers to me when doubt sets up camp in my life.

Check it out!

Knowing Christ is the Goal of Life!

I am preaching this weekend on the Life Goals from the premise that if we were to ask the Apostle Paul, "What is your Goal in Life?" Paul would probably respond, "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." (Philippians 3:10-11)

"What does it mean to really know Christ?"

J. I. Packer gives four characteristics of those who know God intimately and authentically:

1. Those who know God have great energy for God.

2. Those who know God have great thoughts about God.

3. Those who know God have great boldness for God.

4. Those who know God have great contentment in God.

If knowing Christ is Paul's Life Goal, what is yours?

Jesus is risen! He is risen, indeed!

Laurin, one of my Facebook friends, posted her thoughts on Facebook. I think her excitement about our Savior needs to be caught. Too many people just think of Easter as another day...ham sandwiches and chocolate bunnies. Let's boldly share this message of hope through out the remainder of the year, not just once a year! And, let's get excited...as believers, we have the hope of eternal life.

As my pastor shared on Friday night, Jesus' resurrection changed everything. Without it, His followers would've scattered, and what we know as Christianity would've simply died off as just another sect of Judaism. The faith would have died when Jesus did.

But He rose. And that changes everything. That means that everything He said was true. He was the Messiah, our Savior. He was God. He had come to earth to show us who God is and to show us how to live. And His death had bought us our salvation. The resurrection changed everything.

Many truths in scripture became true about us when we accepted what Jesus did on the cross as payment for our sins 2,000 years ago. "If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins" (1 Corinthians 15:17).

But He did rise. Our faith isn't futile. Our sins have been paid for. Our salvation is secure. Our King is alive!!"He is not here; he has risen, just as he said!" (Matthew 28:6). Thank You, Jesus! May we live in the truths You died to give us.
Live like the children of the King you are, y'all!! Have a great week, rescued ones!

Laurin Makohon, YW editor

New Again

God’s Longing

What does it tell us about our Creator that He would go to such extraordinary lengths to make himself accessible to us? We can see this throughout scripture, but even more so in Luke 19:41-44.

“As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace — but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."

Jesus wept because they didn’t recognize that He came from God. He wept because the consequences of their blindness kept them from knowing and experiencing His peace and forgiveness. Do we recognize the real Jesus? The rejection of Jesus did not divert His desire to know each us. He died on the cross saying, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”

What would happen in our lives if we actually began to believe that the God of all time and eternity wanted us to know him? It starts by understanding that God sent His only Son to die a gruel death, so that we might have life, but also so that we might know Him as He knows us. Do you want to know Him? You can today!

Adapted from GOD: As He Longs For You to See Him by Chip Ingram