Middle School! recap of Col. 1:1-17

Hey, since it's mid-December, there's finals, and our brains tend to freeze and/or hibernate at about this time, I decided to post everything we've covered in Sunday School up to this point. Hope this is helpful! If you have any questions, e-mail or IM me.

Background: Col. 1:1-2
The book of Colossians is a letter written by Paul to the church at--you guessed it, Colossae. The new believers in Colossae were struggling with thoughts from the culture around them, called Gnosticism. They believed that physical matter (I.e. things you can touch) was evil, so God would never be man, and therefore Christ was not the Son of God. Another aspect of Gnosticism was they believed they could think their way to knowing God.

Week 1 (12/3): Col. 1:3-8
There are two things: Truth and Untruth. 1+1 = 2. 1+1 = 500. Both cannot be true. In our lives, we believe in all sorts of truths--there are twelve months in a year, etc. Because of this, we’ll never buy a calendar that says one year has thirteen months in it, and we’ll never see ourselves writing the date 13/04/06 on the top of a homework sheet. As believers, we stand on the Truth that Jesus is the Savior, and when we place our faith in Him, we are adopted as God’s children and forgiven of sin. Just like the whole solar system revolves around the sun, we as believers revolve our lives around the Truth that salvation is in Jesus alone, and this impacts everything we believe and do. Just like in the Colossians’ day, knowing the Truth changes lives, and it changes the lives to all who believe--including us; it shifts a me-centered world to a Truth-centered world, which changes everything.

Week 2 (12/10): Col. 1:9-14
God saved you when he did for a reason--he wants to use you! Just like when God called the Colossians to salvation, he did not want to them to sit like bumps on a log and do nothing, he wanted them to know Him and to share this knowledge with others. In Matthew 22, Jesus sums up the Old Testament law by saying that believers should love God with all we have, and then love our neighbors as ourselves. God doesn’t want us to be confused about how we should love, or to study up on creative ways to love, he just wants us to keep our eyes open for opportunities and do it! Loving people goes hand-in-hand with knowing God. The Message Bible paraphrase says it like this: "As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us." How do we know how God works? We pray, we study the Bible, we talk about it with other Christians, and we try it out.

Week 3 (12/18): Col. 1:15-17
Sometimes people today wonder what God would look like as a human being (not just physically, but how he would act). As Christians, we don’t have to wonder--God who was invisible made himself visible as Christ. Christ fully represents who God is, like an icon. Some of us have buddy icons on AIM which represent something about us, and that’s how Christ was to God, only Christ showed us who God was fully. Before Christ came to earth, he was in heaven--and he existed even before the heavens were created. Paul says (as well as John in John 1) that everything was created through Jesus, and for Him. The same goes today--everything happens because of Jesus, and it is only by Him that we’re allowed to do anything: sleep, eat, go to school, hang out with friends, exist. Jesus is so powerful that he sustains everything that goes on in creation, including the earth which would flood/dry out or freeze/burn if something was slightly changed with the moon or its distance from the sun. (If you want to hear more, check out Louie Giglio’s videos on it here & here.)

This Sunday we’ll be studying Col. 1:19-23. Rita will come through as the good Sunday School teacher and bring some goodies for us to eat, and we’ll have our Christmas festivities in the first half hour, so don’t be late!

Ski Trip to Perfect North

Hello all,

I know that you are excited as you all got letters explaining the details of our "Five Love Languages" Ski-Trip. If you did not receive a letter and would like information please stop by the office and we will get these things to you. Here is a link to the letter online-SkiTrip Letter

First, let me say that I know that with the holidays just around the corner and the after holiday price shock that most families experience. I am working diligently to enable everyone to be able to attend at a resonable cost. So please don't let the sticker shock kill the deal. I realize that this being a family event offers a larger dimension of financial obligation. In so many words, it costs a bit.

I want everyone that wants to go to go even if you are unable to ski,snowboard, or tube just your presence on the trip will be welcomed. We will have time to play some games in the lodge (anyone for go-fish) or (spades). Also this might be a time for parents to get together and enjoy each other's company as the youth hit the slopes. The main point here is that we all get a chance to be together and learn a little more about how to communicate with each other through the use of our "Love Language". Skiing will be one of the ways we will be able to put into practice what we learn.

If you have any questions about the trip email me at iwillsingforhim@hotmail.com or call the office.
You can also see a detailed description of PerfectNorth at the website. www.perfectnorth.com

Ice-Skating a Blast!

Ok...I admit I am not an avid ice skater. I am not good at all. In fact this was my first time out on the ice. I had no idea how slick the ice would be. I know that sounds stupid because of course ice is slick, but man is it ever slick. However, I did not fall down thanks to the wall around the edge. I had a blast! Thank you to all those who went and put up with my poor skating, I will improve and maybe next year if we go skating I will be going out in the middle and doing some jumps! Ok...maybe not.
A good time was had by all!

Ice-Skating this Saturday!

Hello all you crazy youths!
I know that you will be checking the blog and looking for these details so here they are pass them around!
We are going Ice-Skating at Ice-Land Sports Complex (Louisville) and Mr. Gattis for pizza afterward!

Here is the link for Gattiland http://www.gattiland.com/louisville/index.html

• Van's will leave from church at 10:00 a.m.
• Ice-Skating and Pizza will cost $15.00 - games at gattiland will be extra. $5.00 should buy you tons of fun!
• We will skate from 11:15 to 1:30
• We will eat from 2:00 to 3:30
• We will return home from 3:30 to 4:00
• Dress warm you will be on ICE! ICE is cold, for those of you who aren't sure, believe me it is!

Any questions call me at home or at the office! Bring a friend!

See you Saturday!

Devin

They Made It!!

Our prayers were answered today as we have received word from Jimmy and his family that they have returned from their 40/40. You can read all about their adventures and see pictures from their safari at their new website. http://web.mac.com/jdbledsoe519/iWeb/Site
I incourage you to take a look and see what is going on in their world!

Africa!

Seussical the Musical

I caught Sunday's performance of Seussical, and I thought the performance was great (I'm not a fan of musicals, and I enjoyed it)! It was fun to see so many of you exhibiting the acting/singing talent you've been given. I also thought it was cool to see so many friends that have either come to youth group events in the past, or who I've seen you hanging out with other places. I think it's great that the youth that go to our church are able to be ambassadors of Christ in the CHS' theater department, and I'm sure it showed not only to your fellow students, but also to your director.

It's cool to see how God's blessed our youth group with so much talent in different areas--cooking, sports, music, writing, drawing, acting. Know that he's given you those abilities, and he knows exactly how you can use them to help other people know him better.

Keep Devin updated on other events you all have going on. I know there's a couple of band concerts in December, and that basketball season has started.

"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone." - 1 Cor. 12:4-6

Response to Paid in Full

First, let me say that it has been a while since I have had any time to post. Sorry, I know that you feel like you have been missing out.
So, I will take a moment to repsond to the previous post.
We had a Sunday night at the McCoy's that marked another spot on our Journey through the Gospel.
The Letter of the night was P. Paying the price for our sins, Jesus died and rose again.
The exercise that we went through that night was strictly for those who are believers. This is a break down of what happened in my group. I asked the everyone to write down the sin in their life that they believed was hindering their relationship to God. I wrote down my sin as well. I asked that they close their eyes and pray that God would forgive them of the sin that had been keeping them at arms length from God. I then asked that they would wait until they felt as if they had heard from God that they were forgiven, when they were ready I ask them to fold their paper up and place it in a small trash can that I had with me. As they placed their paper in the can I looked them in the eyes and said "Paid in Full" This exercise was to allow them to remember that their sin was completely and fully paid for on the cross. That as a "believer" (someone who has not only confessed their sin to the Lord, but has acknowledged that Christ paid for that sin on the cross and rose again. Who also has given themselves to the Lord as a servant and holds Jesus Christ as their savior and ruler of their life) they are no longer held in judgement because of their sin. God's wrath has been removed and they are set free from the penalty because of Christ. This exercise was not for the unbeliever. I was certain that within my group there was nobody that had not made that commitment. If there were people there who might have been unbelievers, I would have handled it much differently. As we take part in the Gospel Journey the focus for the first 8 weeks is centered around those who have already made a commitment to Christ. The exercises and the discussion will be different starting in January as we will be bringing friends to group that might not have a relationship with God, or even know much about Christ.
We are all sinners in need of a Savior. There is truly no one who seeks God. We are all dead in our sins and in need of the life giving power of Christ. He is the one in whom we place our trust and in whom we find true life and meaning. Without our lives being transformed in Him, we remain lost and headed for a life seperated from God for eternity. This eternity is not one of comfort, but one of despair and a literal Hell.
God seeks to redeem and transform His fallen creation, but we can only come to Him through His Son, Jesus Christ. He is the one who died on the cross paying in full the due penalty for the sins of His children. He is the one who has risen to life and reigns with His Father in Heaven.
I hope this clears up any misunderstanding on the "Paid in Full Exercise" if not please do not hesitate to ask me questions or call me I will be happy to discuss this matter with you.