We are beginning our new series Click. This Wednesday we will start with the thoughts of being accepted. Schools have groups in them known as cliques that are made up of a certain type of individaul. Cliques have a remarkable power to make you feel like you have the world on a string or feel like you belong on Mars because you dont fit in anywhere on earth. They can lead to extreme happiness or intense depression. Since we're starting on accepted we'll be discussing the positive impact of acceptance and the dangers of having to be accepted to feel like you belong. I'm not sure why we decided to call the series click instead of clique, but what they hay.
Be For Each Other
1. Think of a moment when you were accepted by someone or something that meant the world to you.
2. Why did it have such a significant impact? Focus on the feeling it gave you.
Follow Jesus
1. Think of all the friends and intresting people He met. Was there anyone he didn't accept?
2. Why is this?
Look Beyond Ourselves
1. Remember back to that amazing feeling of acceptance back in the first question? How can you give another person that amazing acceptance.
2. Remember we are no better or cooler than anyone else. In what way's can you remember this when faced with an opportunity to accept or reject?
Reflections
1. Since John's talk last week have you come upon a tough experiece that cause you grow and mature?
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Wednesday September 26th
To get the blueberries something has to get burned.
Hey gang, this is John
In the first week of this series IGNITE Kyle talked about something that really resonated with my life and journey. He mentioned that after the destruction of a forest fire new life is given a chance to grow. Light can now shine through to places that were once shaded by the canopy of the trees. (I’m sure you can already begin to see the spiritual implications.)
It is with this theme in mind that I want to expand and end our series IGNITE. I’m sure that as you think about the anticipation and excitement that fills the SIC (student impact center) on Wednesday nights the last thing that seems fitting to talk about are hard times -keeping with the theme – times were we have been burned. However, as counterintuitive (or backwards) as it may seem, our most difficult and challenging times can be our most formative and life-changing
We will not delve into the theological debate as to whether God creates hardships in our lives intentionally – endless amounts of talks, books, lectures, etc., have yet to settle it and we’re certainly not going to try in one night at Elevate. However, it is very clear that God uses these times to bring us closer to him and do life-changing work in us.
Be For Each Other
1. As a group share times that have been really challenging?
2. Looking back, did any of those times shape who you are today? Did anything good come out of them?
Follow Jesus
1. Jesus makes clear that just because we follow him doesn’t mean we won’t experience hard times. During these times in your life did you feel closer or farther away from God?
2. How can we lean into God during hard times and look for “new growth/life” opportunities in the midst of the fire?
Look Beyond Ourselves
1. Most often God works through people, aka us. Therefore, it is up to us to BE Jesus to our friends, family, and even the World when they are going through difficult times. What are ways we can BE Jesus to other people during these times?
Reflections on last week
1. Last week Paul talked about people in our lives that IGNITED us, and challenged us to emulate (be) that ignition to, and for, other people. How have you ignited those around you in the past week?
Hey gang, this is John
In the first week of this series IGNITE Kyle talked about something that really resonated with my life and journey. He mentioned that after the destruction of a forest fire new life is given a chance to grow. Light can now shine through to places that were once shaded by the canopy of the trees. (I’m sure you can already begin to see the spiritual implications.)
It is with this theme in mind that I want to expand and end our series IGNITE. I’m sure that as you think about the anticipation and excitement that fills the SIC (student impact center) on Wednesday nights the last thing that seems fitting to talk about are hard times -keeping with the theme – times were we have been burned. However, as counterintuitive (or backwards) as it may seem, our most difficult and challenging times can be our most formative and life-changing
We will not delve into the theological debate as to whether God creates hardships in our lives intentionally – endless amounts of talks, books, lectures, etc., have yet to settle it and we’re certainly not going to try in one night at Elevate. However, it is very clear that God uses these times to bring us closer to him and do life-changing work in us.
Be For Each Other
1. As a group share times that have been really challenging?
2. Looking back, did any of those times shape who you are today? Did anything good come out of them?
Follow Jesus
1. Jesus makes clear that just because we follow him doesn’t mean we won’t experience hard times. During these times in your life did you feel closer or farther away from God?
2. How can we lean into God during hard times and look for “new growth/life” opportunities in the midst of the fire?
Look Beyond Ourselves
1. Most often God works through people, aka us. Therefore, it is up to us to BE Jesus to our friends, family, and even the World when they are going through difficult times. What are ways we can BE Jesus to other people during these times?
Reflections on last week
1. Last week Paul talked about people in our lives that IGNITED us, and challenged us to emulate (be) that ignition to, and for, other people. How have you ignited those around you in the past week?
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Questions for Wednesday September 19, 2007
Be For Each Other
1. What are some things that gets you and your friends FIRED up?
2. Name a phase that you got caught up in and why you had to be a part of that phase?
Follow Jesus
1. What was so attractive about Christ that made people come to Him?
2. What draws you personally to Jesus and what do you admire about Him?
Look Beyond Ourselves
1. How can you show other students Jesus and spread the FIRE about Him?
2. In what ways do you see the staff showing Christ to others, if at all?
Reflections
1. Last week Kyle talked about spreading Jesus’ love like wildfire, how have you done this?
1. What are some things that gets you and your friends FIRED up?
2. Name a phase that you got caught up in and why you had to be a part of that phase?
Follow Jesus
1. What was so attractive about Christ that made people come to Him?
2. What draws you personally to Jesus and what do you admire about Him?
Look Beyond Ourselves
1. How can you show other students Jesus and spread the FIRE about Him?
2. In what ways do you see the staff showing Christ to others, if at all?
Reflections
1. Last week Kyle talked about spreading Jesus’ love like wildfire, how have you done this?
Wednesday September 19, 2007
Kyle talked last Wednesday night with an emphasis on fuel for our fire, and what is the catalyst to our passion like oxygen is to fire. This week we’re digging a little deeper into the vortex that is theology and focusing on bringing that passion to our relationships, particularly our friends and people we meet.
Was there ever a person in your life that you really looked up to or aspired to be like? Conceivably it was an older sibling or classmate, maybe even a teacher or youth leader. Whoever the person was, there was an unarguable presence and character about them that attracted you. Maybe you liked the way they treated you or maybe they had all the cool possessions, perhaps they just took the time to talk to you and made you feel like you belonged. Unquestionably however, was that persons affect on you, you wanted to be their friend, you wanted to be around them and maybe even be like them. Jesus had that affect on people. People would come from different places and walks of life to see Him and get to know Him. They would freak out and get His attention by any means, look at Zacchaeus climbing thee old sycamore.
How can we bring this excitement and passion to other so they can get to know Jesus. Last week was about getting excited ourselves and this we’ is bout “brinin’ the noise, halla at ya boy.” We’re looking at Jeremiah 23:29
29"Is not My word like (A)fire?" declares the LORD, "and like a (B)hammer which shatters
a rock?
How can we get God’s love to spread like a little pair of spandex on a big biker? The truth is that it could be different depending upon where we go. Think about this, put on some spandex, and we’ll see you Wednesday night. God Bless, Paul Maloney
Was there ever a person in your life that you really looked up to or aspired to be like? Conceivably it was an older sibling or classmate, maybe even a teacher or youth leader. Whoever the person was, there was an unarguable presence and character about them that attracted you. Maybe you liked the way they treated you or maybe they had all the cool possessions, perhaps they just took the time to talk to you and made you feel like you belonged. Unquestionably however, was that persons affect on you, you wanted to be their friend, you wanted to be around them and maybe even be like them. Jesus had that affect on people. People would come from different places and walks of life to see Him and get to know Him. They would freak out and get His attention by any means, look at Zacchaeus climbing thee old sycamore.
How can we bring this excitement and passion to other so they can get to know Jesus. Last week was about getting excited ourselves and this we’ is bout “brinin’ the noise, halla at ya boy.” We’re looking at Jeremiah 23:29
29"Is not My word like (A)fire?" declares the LORD, "and like a (B)hammer which shatters
a rock?
How can we get God’s love to spread like a little pair of spandex on a big biker? The truth is that it could be different depending upon where we go. Think about this, put on some spandex, and we’ll see you Wednesday night. God Bless, Paul Maloney
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Conversation Thoughts Continued for Ignite - September 12
Hey team!
These are the thoughts that were supposed to accompany the conversation questions. Sorry they are coming in this order! Thanks for your patience as we together navigate this new system. Hopefully the conversation questions will make a little more sense!
John answered them all, "I'll baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." Luke 3:16
Last week, I was awakened by the LORD at 4:00 a.m. I could not sleep and the list of things I needed to do grew long in my mind. It made me think of a t-shirt I once heard about: "Why count sheep when you can count on the shepherd?" Might sound cheesy, but also pretty great theology. At any rate, when the LORD awoke me, my first thoughts were about this week's kick-off. We had decided to call kick-off IGNITE, and I started to think about forest fires, how they ignite, and the incredible damage that they do.
This past summer, the Gunflint Trail was ablaze for days because of the carelessness of a match-obsessed camper. It still amazes me that one small flick of a match can cause such devastation, but it can, and does. We read about places west that have wildfires every year. We read that the fire is necessary for the earth to recreate itself.
The next thought I had was about my faith and the song, "Light the Fire." How is it that Jesus baptizes us with fire and His Spirit burns within us, but so often we feel cold and dead inside? How does that fire go out? How does the wildfire keep burning in the wilderness? In a word - oxygen(air - you chemistry people can correct me if I'm wrong.) keeps that flicker alive and burning into an absolute force of nature. For me, the question has become this: If Jesus' Holy Spirit is my fire, who or what is my oxygen? What keeps me burning so that not only my life looks different, but so does the world that I encounter? I would love us to explore that thought. What is your oxygen? What keeps your Holy Spirit Jesus fire burning bright? For me, and many of you know this, it is people that are my oxygen. It can't be all that (people) because the Hebrew word for breath is ruah, and the same word ruah is Hebrew for Spirit. They are one in the same!
These are the thoughts that were supposed to accompany the conversation questions. Sorry they are coming in this order! Thanks for your patience as we together navigate this new system. Hopefully the conversation questions will make a little more sense!
John answered them all, "I'll baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." Luke 3:16
Last week, I was awakened by the LORD at 4:00 a.m. I could not sleep and the list of things I needed to do grew long in my mind. It made me think of a t-shirt I once heard about: "Why count sheep when you can count on the shepherd?" Might sound cheesy, but also pretty great theology. At any rate, when the LORD awoke me, my first thoughts were about this week's kick-off. We had decided to call kick-off IGNITE, and I started to think about forest fires, how they ignite, and the incredible damage that they do.
This past summer, the Gunflint Trail was ablaze for days because of the carelessness of a match-obsessed camper. It still amazes me that one small flick of a match can cause such devastation, but it can, and does. We read about places west that have wildfires every year. We read that the fire is necessary for the earth to recreate itself.
The next thought I had was about my faith and the song, "Light the Fire." How is it that Jesus baptizes us with fire and His Spirit burns within us, but so often we feel cold and dead inside? How does that fire go out? How does the wildfire keep burning in the wilderness? In a word - oxygen(air - you chemistry people can correct me if I'm wrong.) keeps that flicker alive and burning into an absolute force of nature. For me, the question has become this: If Jesus' Holy Spirit is my fire, who or what is my oxygen? What keeps me burning so that not only my life looks different, but so does the world that I encounter? I would love us to explore that thought. What is your oxygen? What keeps your Holy Spirit Jesus fire burning bright? For me, and many of you know this, it is people that are my oxygen. It can't be all that (people) because the Hebrew word for breath is ruah, and the same word ruah is Hebrew for Spirit. They are one in the same!
Monday, September 10, 2007
Here is the Conversation for Wednesday September 12, 2007
Be for Each Other
1. Introduce yourselves. Have everyone share their favorite something. For instance, favorite movie, book, song, mood to be in.
Follow Jesus
1. What is your oxygen that keeps you excited about Jesus?
2. What are some thoughts you have about following Jesus this year?
Look Beyond Ourselves
1. Kyle talked about our lives spreading like wildfire. How can you live your life so that you are spreading Jesus everywhere you go?
2. How is this looking beyond ourselves?
Reflections
1. What was your favorite memory from your summer?
2. How have the first few days of school gone?
Be for Each Other
1. Introduce yourselves. Have everyone share their favorite something. For instance, favorite movie, book, song, mood to be in.
Follow Jesus
1. What is your oxygen that keeps you excited about Jesus?
2. What are some thoughts you have about following Jesus this year?
Look Beyond Ourselves
1. Kyle talked about our lives spreading like wildfire. How can you live your life so that you are spreading Jesus everywhere you go?
2. How is this looking beyond ourselves?
Reflections
1. What was your favorite memory from your summer?
2. How have the first few days of school gone?
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