Monthly Archives: November 2010

Yeah, I Doubt It…..

The book of Matthew comes to an end in chapter 28, verses 16-20 with Jesus risen from the grave.  I would love to know what Jesus tells His disciples during the time after the resurrection, before He leaves for Heaven.  I assume it’s the stuff in the Gospels, since so much of the books are things they couldn’t have known.

Today, as I read through it, the one thing that hit me was in verse 17.  “When they saw Him, they worshiped Him, bu some doubted.”  Really?  Even at this point, some doubted?  You see Him die.  You know He was buried.  Know He is talking to you.  But you doubt. 

It’s logic.  Their brains are telling them that this is not possible.  The grave was a fake.  He didn’t really die.  People today call it the “swoon theory”.  Jesus didn’t die, He just passed out, and then came out of the grave a few days later. 

Why include that detail?  It’s embarrassing to the new movement.  Here is the start of the church, and at it’s core are some guys who doubt themselves.  I personally would bury that little by-line so deep that no one would ever know.  I would have painted the picture of a huge party where everyone was so sure, that no one was surprised He was there.   But Matthew doesn’t.  He comes clean.  Some doubted.  I don’t get it.

Until I doubt Jesus myself.

He’s been so good to me, proven Himself daily for 35 years in my own life, and then I do it.  I doubt Him.  He calls me to believe something that doesn’t line up with how I experience life, and I doubt it.  I doubt Him. 

What is His response?

“I have all authority on heaven and earth, and I am telling you to go.  Make disciples out of people.  Teach them to obey everything I’ve said.  Baptize them, but do it in the name of my Father, Me, and the Holy Spirit.  I will be with you forever.  I promise.  Now go.”

Our doubt doesn’t slow Him down.  At all. 

So, yeah, you doubt Him.  Ok.  We all do.  That’s not the end of the story.  Matthew 28 doesn’t end with “but some doubted, so He gave up and went to Heaven, leaving us on our own.”  It ends with a promise that no matter how much we doubt, He is with us.

That’s a great ending.


And beginning.

Beyond – Senior High Youth Group in Review 11/28/2010

Last night we had a Night of Worship, where the whole night is set aside to taking part in different ways to worship God.  It always amazes me how God will take our small efforts and produce so much beauty and good from them.  Students regularly tell me these are their favorite nights of the year, or that God moved in them in brand new ways.  It’s amazing to see and be a part of.  Here’s the schedule from the evening:

Open with prayer
Music
Psalms 16:1-2 (MSG)
1 A David song Keep me safe, O God, I’ve run for dear life to you.
2 I say to God, “Be my Lord!” Without you, nothing makes sense.
SONG – Counting on God
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
SONG – Take It All
Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)
14 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
 Philippians 2:14-16 (NIV)
14 Do everything without complaining or arguing,
15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe
16 as you hold out the word of life–in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.
SONG -  We Shine
1 Timothy 1:15-17 (NIV)
15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners–of whom I am the worst.
16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.
17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
SONG -  King
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NIV)
11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
SONG -  Beautiful Things
Skit – Julia and Jacob – Julia Tindall and Jacob Blackburn did a terrific skit about taking Jesus with us wherever we go.  It was very moving, and made all of us think.
Read Romans 9:19-21 (MSG)
19 Are you going to object, “So how can God blame us for anything since he’s in charge of everything? If the big decisions are already made, what say do we have in it?”
20 Who in the world do you think you are to second-guess God? Do you for one moment suppose any of us knows enough to call God into question? Clay doesn’t talk back to the fingers that mold it, saying, “Why did you shape me like this?”
21 Isn’t it obvious that a potter has a perfect right to shape one lump of clay into a vase for holding flowers and another into a pot for cooking beans?
 
Worship Stations – We had students design and set up different worship stations around the church.  The group was given 45 minutes to move from station to station to experience different ways to worship.  The catch is they have to do it totally in silence the entire time; no talking, whispering, or goofing off.  They did great, just like they always do.  Here are the stations they had:
Prayer Wall – We put butcher paper on the wall and had students write out their prayers to God.  It was very moving to see how honest and heartfelt the prayers were.
Communion – Our students designed a communion table with cards that students wrote their names on and pinned them to a tree, symbolizing their sins being paid for on the cross.  Then the students each took communion on their own.
Play Doh Art – Students were encouraged to create models out of play doh, symbolizing how God controls our life and creates beautiful things from it.
Sand Prayers – Everyone had a chance to write their mistakes and sins on a huge table covered with sand.  Then they wiped them away to symbolize how they had been forgiven.
Reflections – This room full of mirrors was one of the toughest.  Students were to sit in front of a mirror and look into it, and talk to God about how they are “fearfully and wonderfully made”.  It was a very moving experience for many people.
Journaling – We had students write letters to God, thanking Him for what He has done in our lives.

We ended the evening singing the song Beautiful Things with just a guitar unplugged, and prayed.  Then students went to small groups.

Some questions you can use to talk to your student about the night:
1. What was one of your favorite parts of the night?  Why?
2. Which was the most difficult for you?  Why?
3. What do you think had the most impact on you?  Why?
4. What is one thing you’re doing differently this week as a result of what God showed you Sunday night?

A Resource Worth Looking At

For all of you who have control of a website, you need to check this out. It’s a widget you can add to your site that gives visitors a really cool explanation of the Gospel. I love it. You can see it running on edgeandbeyond.org if you want.

Here’s the link to it. Check it out.

The Story | How it all began and how it will never end… | The Gospel Story/Metanarrative for your Website and Social Networks

The Early Bird Gets the Lightning Angel

The story comes to an end with Jesus’ resurrection.  As I was reading it today, something hit me I hadn’t really focused on much before.  Look at the beginning of Matthew 28.  Mary Magdalene and another Mary (Jesus mom or someone else?) get up at dawn to go see the tomb of Jesus.  Now, chapter 27 ended with them sitting at the tomb of Jesus, watching it get sealed up.  Here, early the next day, they are up, together, and heading for the tomb again.  Why this obsession with the tomb?

They took Jesus at His word.  He had told them He would rise after three days.  They have enough faith to go and watch.  So, they are up early, walking to the graveyard.  Who else is with them? 

No one.

Not Peter, the Rock on which Jesus will build His church.

Not John, the one Jesus loved the most.

Not Thomas, who wanted physical proof to believe.

None of Jesus’ brothers or sisters.

No one.

Except them.

They are the only ones who see the miracle.  An angel comes with so much power that there is a violent earthquake, he is wearing lightning for clothing, and he is so powerful he terrifies the Roman guards to the point that they pass out.  Mary and Mary are there to see it.  No one else. 

This angel of gigantic power and majesty looks them in the eye, and talks to them.  He gives them a message, straight from God.  They become the first people in history to know that Jesus is alive.  No one else is with them.  They are the only ones.

As you read it, it feels like the angel is waiting for them to come, before he starts the show.  They are his audience, and he makes it well worth their time.  They get this amazing front row pair of seats to history being split in two, all because they took some crazy statement of Jesus at face value, and didn’t want to risk missing out on it.

This is the type of faith you and I need.  Jesus tells us that He wants to save everyone.  We all have that person who we don’t believe is really on the list, the one too far gone.  Jesus tells us He wants to resurrect their life, to give them a new start, to make them new.  But we doubt it.  Today, let’s be like Mary, not Peter.  He was home asleep, she was at a graveyard, meeting with an angel.  Yeah, we will be just like them, filled with joy and fear if we obey.  But some one’s life is hanging in the balance. 

Do you really believe in resurrection?  Put feet to your faith, and go.

Beyond – Senior High Youth Group in Review 11/21/2010

Lesson Series - “Live”
Lesson Title - “Unstoppable”
Big Idea - If Jesus is for us, who cares who is against us?
Bible Verses - Romans 8:26-39
Overview of the night
Gym game – We let the students hang out while the Colts lost on the big screen in the gym.  Some of the students played Bombardment (a dodgeball game), while others hung out, talked, and laughed.
Announcements -
1. We have a worship night next Sunday night from 6:30 – 8:30 pm.  Parents are invited to come as well as students.  The band will lead in some music, and we will have several interactive worship stations set up by students that everyone can take part in.
2. December 5th is our Christmas on the Circle trip.  Sign ups are due by next Sunday.
3. On December 12th we will be sending everyone out on service projects for Christmas.  Everyone will need a permission form, and if you’d like to drive, let us know.
4. We will not be meeting on December 19th or 26th.
5. We have Nerf Wars on Tuesday December 28th
6. We have a Video Game Challenge on Wednesday December 29th
7. We have cards students can fill out to turn in prayer requests each week.
8. We have One Minute Bibles available for $5.
Lesson - The lesson was taught by Vince Bradburn.  It’s Vince, by the way, not Mr. Bradburn.  Just so we have that straight.  We showed a video called Iron Head.  You can see it here.  Vince did an amazing job of walking students through a section of Romans that was very, very packed. 
His points were:
1.God Helps Us All – God is not picky in who He loves or cares for.  None of us are outside of His passion and love.
2. God Wants to Complete Us  - God has amazing plans for us, and will see them through.  If we trust Him, He wants to make us the best we can be as we become more like Him.
3. Nothing Can Separate Us From God’s Love – No matter what we may do, or how bad we may mess up, if we want His forgiveness, He gives it to us every time.
4. Knowing Him and His love for us changes how we face our problems – When we follow Him, we are not ruled by our fears and mistakes, but by His love and wisdom.  It makes all the difference in the world.
Everyone ended the night in small groups.
Follow Up – It was a great night, full of fun and truth.  Here are some questions to ask your students/friends about what they learned:
1. When you think about the four points Vince taught, which one is the easiest for you to believe?  Why?
2. Which of the four points is the toughest for you to believe?  Why?
3. How does knowing that God loves you forever change how you approach your problems?
4. What is one thing here at home we can do as a family to trust God more?

The Story In Each of Us

Jesus dies. It’s the darkest day in the Bible. The saddest story ever told. It’s the model of every story we cry over, the basis for all truth that moves us to our core. It is what breaks our heart, no matter how many times we read it. It is the story of history splitting in two. Jesus dies.

Matthew 27 follows Jesus through the crucifixion. But it only gets 18 verses (vs. 32-50) Have you ever wondered why? Shouldn’t this, the very cornerstone of our faith, be laid out in verse after verse, consuming chapters of the Bible? Honestly, shouldn’t the crucifixion have it’s own book, giving us minute by minute details in real time? If this is what our belief system revolves around, why does it get so little attention in the story?

I think it would, if it was the end of the story. If it was the climax, where the story ran to, it would take pages to cover. But it isn’t. It is only a tool, a step, a phase to get to God’s plan. But don’t miss what all is going on in this short story.

Get your Bible out and read Matthew 27 today. Picture it in your mind. Listen to the emotions, the pain, the loss, the fear. Imagine all of the players in the story, where they are, what they are feeling. And understand it was all a gift. It was a gift for all of us, one that did not have to be given, but was given in love. It is your story. It is what defines you. Read it today, and ask God what He wants you to see in it. Read it several times, and let it soak in.

It is the story in all of our hearts, whether we realize it or not.

the Edge in review – November 17, 2010

I am stealing this idea from a couple of friends of mine.  I’m going to try and post a basic review of what went down at youth group the night before, so that parents and any students who couldn’t be there can see what went on.  If I miss any details, feel free to add them in.
Lesson Series - “What I Really Want to Know Is…”
Lesson Title - “How Can I Know that God is Real?”
Big Idea - We know God is real through faith.
Bible Verses - Hebrews 11:1
Overview of the night
Gym game – We played Four Team Smashball for our game.  It’s baseball, only with tennis rackets and tennis balls, and a whole lot of chaos.  We had a great time, everyone laughed a lot, and I have no clue whatsoever who won.  But no one asked, so it’s all good.
Table Teams - For our table game, we did a flash game on the screen where the students had to scream as loud as possible to drive a car down a race track.  We went guys verses girls, with the boys claiming the win both times.  Our boys are loud!  They also work together surprisingly well.  You can see a sample of the game here: Race This!
 If you want to see our announcements, they are available here:
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The Edge Announcements on Prezi

Each week we do a drawing for dumb prizes.  If a student memorizes a verse from the Bible, quotes it to their table leader, and can explain what it means, then their name goes in a drawing for prizes.  Last night, we had 16 students enter, five were drawn for prizes.
Lesson - The lesson was taught by Jason Richardson.  He did an excellent job walking the kids through the idea of faith.  His points were:
1. We use faith everyday. - The idea of faith is nothing new.  There are all sorts of things we believe in that we can’t see or touch.  (Love, wind, farts, etc.)  Faith is nothing to be afraid of, it’s normal.
2. Faith is not the same as pretending. – Sometimes people accuse Christians of just wanting there to be a God, when there isn’t.  They think Jesus’ followers are playing pretend.  But when we are pretending, we know it.  We are clear about it.  No one accidentally plays pretend.  We know that faith is different.
3. God proves Himself to us everyday. – There are a 1000 things a day that God does to show Himself to us, if we are willing to look.  The issue isn’t whether or not He shows up, but whether or not we are looking for Him.  Jason encouraged the students to look for themselves and see if God was trying to get their attention.
Everyone ended the night in small groups.
Follow Up – It was a great night, full of fun and great truth.  Here are some questions to ask your students/friends about what they learned:
1. What do you think faith is?
2. What is something that you can’t see or touch that you think is easy to believe in?  Why?
3. What is something that you can’t see or touch that you think is hard to believe in?  Why?
4. On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being easy, and 10 being crazy difficult, how hard is it for you to believe in God?  Why?

Let me know what else you’d like to know about the night.  We’ll try to post these after Beyond on Sunday nights, and the Edge on Wednesday nights.  Thanks!

Playing with a Pair of Kings

Over and over in the Passion story at the end of Matthew, there are these comparisons between two people.  Today, in Matthew 27:11-26, it’s the tale of two Kings; Jesus and Pilate.  Jesus is falsely accused in court, again.  It’s the second time He has had a false trial against Him in one day.  And again, He doesn’t defend Himself against the lies and accusations.  Why?  I think part of it is that He is on a mission, and the lies are necessary to get Him where He is going.  If He is going to die on the cross, it will take lies and hatred to get Him to it.  Nothing else can kill the Son of God.  Truth never could.  So, He embraces the lying and hatred as part of the process to get to where God wants Him to be.  This ability to embrace the hurt, the ugliness, the pain in life so that you can get to your goal is seen in virtually every great leader on the planet.  Jesus is the supreme example of it, on a scale never seen before this story, or after it. 

Then there is Pilate.  A territorial governor desperate to hold on to his little plot of power.  He is impressed with Jesus, and knows He is innocent.  By law, He must be let go.  But to maintain favor with the power brokers around him, he can’t let Jesus go.  Pilate is stuck in a swamp of indecision.  His wife tries to point him in the right direction, as most wives do.  He ignores her, and later pays dearly for it, as most husbands do.  He tries so feebly to ride the fence, with a non-decision.  That blows up in his face.  Now he has to sentence an innocent man of incredible character and worth to death, and he has to release an enemy of the state who is out to bring down Pilate’s kingdom.  Double fail.  Trying to walk your own path to get to your own good at all costs will always bring this level of destruction.  Pilate had been governing this way for a long time.  He was hated by everyone, because he tried to keep everyone happy.  It never works long term.

Obviously, we are not kings, ruling over kingdoms.  But, we are all people with choices and great influence on others.  Today, tomorrow, this week and month, we will each be faced with choices.  We can pursue our own gain, which will lead to us kissing up to people we don’t like to win friends we don’t want, or we can pursue God’s plans.  When we follow God, He promises to give us strength to face anything, peace to withstand any storm, and wisdom to work through any problem.  But it will require embracing some level of pain.

So, whatever pain you are facing, it is a crossroads for you today.  You can turn towards God’s plans, and embrace it all as part of the process to get to the goal.  The way to heaven always has a cross on the path.  Or you can try and ride the fence, and avoid the pain.  But that direction is just a savings account for pain.  You can deposit it today, and get rid of it.  But soon, it will come back on you with interest.  Never a good option.

Which way will you go today?

Worthless Bot Info

I saw this digging around on my blog tonight.  Apparently musings on the Bible by a Hoosier youth pastor are big in Russia.  I’m not sure what to think about the fact that Poland ranks 6th in my top 10.  Hmmm…..

 
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Abandoned by All. Trusted by a Few.

Ever made a decision that you knew was bad, but you did it anyway?  And then, when the decision is carried out, you’re hit with total heart break over it?  Yeah?  Well, Judas did too.  He sold Jesus out for money, and then regretted it.

The problem is, He still didn’t understand Jesus, even in his sadness and guilt.

Peter denied Jesus three times, but later Jesus offers him the chance to be forgiven, and he goes on to lead the church.

Judas would have been offered the same forgiveness, had he been willing to face the pain.  But he took the quick way out, and missed out on redemption.  His shortcut ended any chance of forgiveness and joy.

So, what will you and I do today?  We will make mistakes.  We always do.  But what we do after those mistakes is the crucial part.  Do we run from them, create shortcuts, deny God, and ultimately let our mistakes destroy us and kill us?  Or, like Peter, will we be broken by our mistakes, and give God the chance to redeem us and offer us forgiveness?

Mistakes are universal.  We all blow it.  We all wander off on our own, sell God out, and deny Him at times.  It’s called sin.  It is going to happen to each of us today, at some point.  But how we respond is what tells the world Who we belong to.  Judas was sad for selling out Jesus, but He still didn’t trust Him.  Peter did.

When you blow it today, will you turn towards Jesus, or away from Him?  It makes all the difference between life and death.