"Hey Billy, what did you learn about in small group tonight?"
"Nothin."
Ever heard that before? I'm sure most of us parents have. I would encourage you to continue asking and pressing in and don't settle for the first answer designed to stop you from prying any more. Your kids are learning some great things on Wednesday nights in small groups, and we want you to know that our volunteer adult leaders are working hard at leading discussions that are engaging and relevant. The 6th graders are using Middle School Talk Sheets on the Life of Christ published by Youth Specialties. Grades 7-12 are using a curriculum called LIVE! put out by Simply Youth Ministry. I am so excited about the strategic, intentional discipleship that is happening. Here's an overview of the tracks the students are learning.
Just a friendly reminder that tomorrow is the deadline for the Winter Retreat Early Bird Non-Refundable Deposit of $60 which will lock your kids in for a total cost of $160 for the retreat (Regular Cost $175 if registered by November 18th).
"What a shock to see so many beautiful tree uprooted or broken. My yard looks strange. The carport was dismantled today and now we begin again. Three vehicle were damaged. This all can get fixed. My family and friends are all safe. Thank you Lord. Our church lost the entire back section we put up for the Sunday School. We will have to start over. The power meter and lines were torn off the building as well. We may not have service tomorrow night. Keep praying for the recovery and rebuilding process. And the funds we need to do that. I'll send pictures." - Ron
Here are a few pictures of the back section of the church that was there when we were there this summer, which was lost in the hurricane. Friend Pastor Ron on Facebook for updates.
Hey Mom & Dad! Here's a tremendous resource for you. HomeWord seeks to advance the work of God in the world by educating, equipping, and encouraging parents and churches to build God-honoring families from generation to generation. (“Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6)
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Nuclear families have dropped to below 25% of all households.
The number of single dads grew 70%, and the number of households headed by single moms grew 25% in the last decade.
Every thirty minutes in America - 29 kids will attempt suicide, 2,795 teenage girls will become pregnant, and 22 girls will get abortions.
Studies reveal that 85% of the people who make a commitment to Jesus Christ make the decision by the age of 18, or they never will.
Churches are generally not equipped to respond to the needs of parents
HomeWord is a place where Parents Get Real Answers! In response to the overwhelming needs of parents and families, Jim Burns founded HomeWord in 1985. HomeWord is a Christian organization designed to provide assistance to adults worldwide as they help young people make wise decisions and lead positive, vibrant, Christian lifestyles. Multiplication and Leverage: While absolutely committed to young people, HomeWord equips parents, grandparents and youth leaders; those who daily reach out to kids. By equipping adults, and leveraging those adults to reach kids, HomeWord reaches more young people more cost effectively.
Four Strategies to help adults help kids...
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Tonight I will be facilitating a conversation about bullying at PI-678 for our middle schoolers. Here are two videos I'll be showing. The first one features author Frank Peretti talking about his past, and the second one is a music video inspired by his book No More Victims.
At Group having a great conversation about grafting. Read the Scriptures below, watch this video, and reflect on this reality of life in Christ.
Romans 11:11-24
11Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. 12But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!
13I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry 14in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. 15For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
17If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in." 20Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. 21For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.
22Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. 23And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!
John 15:1-17
The Vine and the Branches
1"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
9"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command. 15I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17This is my command: Love each other.
Grafting ... Video, Scripture, & A Powerful Meditation
Meet Wednesday Nights 7:30-9:00 p.m. All students gather together for a brief time of worship then get into small groups by grade to study the Bible and discuss matters of life and faith.
