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chic 2009 undone july.11-july.18

Parent Packet 

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the pretender

After 8 days together with many of you It was real to see the community and family that emerged.  I contend that we can thank the putting-aside-of-who-we're-not-in-exchange-for-God-has-created-us-to-be
for this happening.  With that in mind it seamed fitting to discuss how truth has found it's way into culture once again in the vehicle of the Foo Fighter's song "The Pretender":

"So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you."

Keep in mind how the thinking Christ-follower is to approach truth in culture:

"Three Important Questions
Ed Stetzer, a church planter and missiologist, has developed three insightful questions to ask as we engage our culture through a biblical worldview and wade through the many complexities of being sent by Jesus to reach the world:

o    What aspects of culture do we receive?
o    What aspects of culture do we reject?
o    What aspects of culture do we redeem?

These questions take into account that God created all things good, but that sin has twisted, marred and stained all of creation. Thus, the question of whether to accept certain aspects of culture is rarely straight-forward, but must be looked at carefully as there are components that we are able to accept, some that we reject, and many that we are able to redeem. This is the task of every Christian who has been changed by Jesus and joins him on his mission of reaching the world for the gospel. Thus, each month we “Engage” in order to help students think as missionaries, view the culture through a biblical worldview, and develop a heart for joining Jesus as he carries out his work of redemption."

Jesus spoke about forgiveness in Matthew 18:23-25.  His statement that just as the Father has forgiven us so must forgive others stands in apposition to the cultural idea that we withhold forgiveness and therefor have power over the one who caused us pain.  So what do think?

What aspects of the Pretender do we reject?
What aspects do we receive?
What aspects do we redeem?

apologize

Over 22 million request have made it clear Apologize(Timbaland and OneRepublic) is ab incredible hit.  Making it apparent that the theme of this song people relate with -  which mainly revolve around the idea that at some point, it is too late to apologize and make things right again. 

I'm holding on your rope
Got me ten feet off the ground
And I'm hearing what you say
But I just can't make a sound
You tell me that you need me
Then you go and cut me down
But wait...
You tell me that you're sorry
Didn't think I'd turn around and say..

That it's too late to apologize, it's too late
I said it's too late to apologize, it's too late...

When it comes to entertainment and culture how are followers of Christ to respond?  Mars Hill Proxy, a student ministry in Seattle engages this crucial question as follows:

"Three Important Questions
Ed Stetzer, a church planter and missiologist, has developed three insightful questions to ask as we engage our culture through a biblical worldview and wade through the many complexities of being sent by Jesus to reach the world:

o    What aspects of culture do we receive?
o    What aspects of culture do we reject?
o    What aspects of culture do we redeem?

These questions take into account that God created all things good, but that sin has twisted, marred and stained all of creation. Thus, the question of whether to accept certain aspects of culture is rarely straight-forward, but must be looked at carefully as there are components that we are able to accept, some that we reject, and many that we are able to redeem. This is the task of every Christian who has been changed by Jesus and joins him on his mission of reaching the world for the gospel. Thus, Proxy is launching “Engage” in order to help students think as missionaries, view the culture through a biblical worldview, and develop a heart for joining Jesus as he carries out his work of redemption."

Jesus spoke about forgiveness in Matthew 18:23-25.  His statement that just as the Father has forgiven us so must forgive others stands in apposition to the cultural idea that we withhold forgiveness and therefor have power over the one who caused us pain.  So what do think?

What aspects of Apologize do we reject?
What aspects do we receive?
What aspects do we redeem?

never settling

                             When Miracles become mundane
John 5:1-9Jerusalem¹Afterward, Jesus returned to for one of the Jewish holy days. ²Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, was the pool of Bethesda, with five covered porches. ³Crowds of sick people—blind, lame, or paralyzed—lay on the porches. ⁵One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years. ⁶ When Jesus saw him and knew how long he had been ill, he asked him, "Would you like to get well?"
⁷"I can't, sir," the sick man said, "for I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred up. While I am trying to get there, someone else always gets in ahead of me."

⁸Jesus told him, "Stand up, pick up your sleeping mat, and walk!"

⁹Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up the mat and began walking!

• It’s      easy to PURSUE COMFORT
• It’s      easy to MAKE      NON-CHRIST-FOLLOWING EXCUSES
• It’s      easy to MISS MINISTRY      OPPORTUNITIES

Truths that require action . . .

1. Respond to God’s CALL ON YOUR LIFE.

2. Identify your pool OF HURT.

3. Ditch the EXCUSES.

The question isn’t whether people are hurting…the real question is whether healed people have the courage to help those who are hurting because they’ve been healed by the Great Physician.

he did what?

Bible reading: John 9:1-41

Jesus and . . .

• The      hurting
• The      skeptics
• The      followers

Jesus brings healing to hurting.

Jesus has answers for the skeptics.

Jesus proves his power to the followers.

SO WHAT?

Hurting: RESPOND TO JESUS IN FAITH

Skeptic: ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT JESUS

Follower: WATCH FOR CHANGED LIVES

"I don't know whether he is a sinner,” the man replied. “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!" (John 9:25).

The blind beggar is a great example of life-change.

1. He acknowledged his blind condition and need.

2. He did not argue with Jesus’ plan to change his life.

3. He submitted himself to Jesus through obedience.

4. He experienced the miracle of life change.

shouting with your voice

This week Nathan and Meredith shared from there life and experience in campus ministry on the importance of how we use out words when reaching out.

 Simple Main Points

a. God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life

                             John 3:16

b. All of us sin and fall short of perfection which separates us from God

                              Romans 3:23

c. Jesus Christ is God’s way for us to have a relationship with Him. Through Jesus we have forgiveness for our sin!

                             John 14:6

d. We have to accept God’s free gift to have a relationship with Him.

                             Ephesians 2:8,9

                               Revelation 3:20

 
Walking across the room

a. People are not likely to wander into youth group to hear the gospel. You need to share it without being asked.

b. Relevant

c. Listening

d. Loving

e. Consistent

f. Present

 
 Jesus Commissioned us

a. Luke 15:16

shouting with your lifestyle

• You      are like SALT                       

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its salty taste, it cannot be made salty again. It is good for nothing, except to be thrown out and walked on” (Matthew 5:13).

• You      are like LIGHT

"You are the light that gives light to the world. A city that is built on a hill cannot be hidden. And people don't hide a light under a bowl. They put it on a lampstand so the light shines for all the people in the house. In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and will praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16)

• You      are like a FRAGRANCE

As far as God is concerned there is a sweet, wholesome fragrance in our lives. It is the fragrance of Christ within us, an aroma to both the saved and the unsaved all around us (2 Corinthians 2:15).

WHAT DO OTHERS FIND ATTRACTIVE ABOUT A CHRISTIAN L.I.F.E.?

Laughter & JOY

God belongs to you. You people who are now hungry are happy, because you will be satisfied. You people who are now crying are happy, because you will laugh with joy.kingdom of Man.“Jesus looked at his followers and said, “You people who are poor are happy, because the “People will hate you, shut you out, insult you, and say you are evil because you follow the Son of But when they do, you will be happy. Be full of joy at that time, because you have a great reward waiting for you in heaven” (Luke 6:20-23).

Internal ATTRACTIVENESS

It is not fancy hair, gold jewelry, or fine clothes that should make you beautiful. No, your beauty should come from within you—the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit that will never be destroyed and is very precious to God (1 Peter 3:3-4).

Faithfulness to GOD’S WAY

The whole Bible was given to us by inspiration from God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives; it straightens us out and helps us do what is right. Using the Bible, the person who serves God will be capable, having all that is needed to do every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Endures through TOUGH TIMES

But in every way we show we are servants of God: in accepting many hard things, in troubles, in difficulties, and in great problems. We show we are servants of God by our pure lives, our understanding, patience, and kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by true love, by speaking the truth, and by God's power. We use our right living to defend ourselves against everything (2 Corinthians 6:4,6,7).

What life do you want to live?

[ ] A life that seeks the attention of others and honors myself.

[ ] A life that grabs the attention of others while seeking to honor God. 

A closing question:

Your life is constantly being watched. What do you think others are SEEING?

shouting with your life

Good News comes from good friends who . . . 

1. Take an INTEREST

Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others (Philippians 2:4). 

2. Are AVAILABLE

There are "friends" who pretend to be friends, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24).

3. Speak less, LISTEN MORE

My dear brothers and sisters, be quick to listen, slow to speak (James 1:19).

4. Use words that BUILD UP

Good people have good things in their hearts, and so they say good things. But evil people have evil in their hearts, so they say evil things (Matthew 12:35). 

Words satisfy the soul as food satisfies the stomach; the right words on a person's lips bring satisfaction (Proverbs 18:20). 

 5. Tenderly CORRECT

It is better to correct someone openly than to have love and not show it. The slap of a friend can be trusted to help you, but the kisses of an enemy are nothing but lies

(Proverbs 27:5-6).

making space for Greatness

Although he died on the cross in weakness, he now lives by the mighty power of God. We, too, are weak, but we live in him and have God’s power—the power we use in dealing with you (2 Corinthians 13:4).

Taking action on busyness . . .

•  Just say “no;”

“Go on to the festival. My time hasn’t yet come, and I am not going” (John 7:8).

•  Stop the stories;

•  Turn it off;

Then the Lord said to Elijah, ‘Go. Stand in front of me on the mountain. I will pass by you.’ Then a very strong wind blew. It caused the mountains to break apart . . . But the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake. But the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake, there was a fire. But the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a quiet, gentle voice (1 Kings 19:11-12).

•  Leave some room;

. . . a wise person does the right thing at the right time (Ecclesiastes 8:5).

•  Clean it out;

•  Recognize when enough is enough.

First, help me never to tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs (Proverbs 30:8).

So then, if we have food and clothes, that should be enough for us (1 Timothy 6:8).

            Come and see what God has done. See what amazing things he has done for people

(Psalm 66:5).

Making changes toward a simplified life isn’t simple. Pulling yourself free from the seduction of busyness is no easy task. God wants space in your life so he can use you for greatness. You can’t find simplicity or space on your own power . . . or you would have already. Making difficult choices combined with God’s power is the only way for you to ruthlessly ELIMINATE BUSYNESS.