Spiritual Growth - Week 2 - Reading Your Bible

The Bible…it’s a hard read…almost 2000 pages, tiny print, and let’s be honest, piece by piece it’s not very exciting. Even more, it’s a story we know. Most of us have been told the same stories over and over again…why? 

• Why read the Bible?
• When you think about the Bible, about studying it, and about reading it, what are some thoughts that come to mind?
• What keeps us from knowing the Bible as well as we should?

It's daunting. We don't understand the words or the big picture. It was written a long time ago. Is it still relevant? Read the following passages. What do they say about the importance of God’s word? 

John 6:63

John 14:23-24

2 Timothy 3:16-17

We don’t read scripture just because we are supposed to or just because it draws us closer to God (although it will), but we read because it gives us life, it shows God our love for him, it reveals the truth, and God uses it to prepare us for what he has in store in each of us. God has been writing this We are all a part of his story.

Watch the Thread

The Bible, although not written in chronological order exactly is one big story. It’s God’s story, but it’s our story. Think of an author who writes a book and you are the character in that book. The Author knows the beginning, the end and everything in between. Generally, in the end of a book, things turn out ok for the main characters. As a character, we only know what’s happening to us right now. That’s kind of what it’s like with God. God is the author of our story. He knows the path we will take, the beginning and the end for each of us. God knows us better than we know us and getting to know him will help us understand us better.

Small Groups

Read Psalm 119:172-174.

·         When we talked about our thoughts toward Scripture earlier, did any one mention singing about the Bible? What does this say about the way the psalmist feels about God’s Word?

·         But what does this passage say about God’s commands?

·         Do you delight in God’s Word? If not why not? What needs to happen for you to begin to “delight” in it? 

·         God has given the Bible to us so that we could know Him and His ways. What changes do you need to make in your life to begin to read the Bible more?

So, we have a choice: we can choose to continue to be in the dark about what we believe (which is really no way to believe at all), or we can choose to truly embrace knowing God’s Word. Check out the current Bible reading plan we are doing as a church and considering joining us on the journey to know God's word better. 

Spiritual Growth - Week 1 - HS/MS

Over the next few weeks, our high school and middle school youth groups will be discussing how we grow spiritually. Just like we grow physically as we get older, we grow spiritually as we draw near to God and He reveals himself to us. We are all familiar with the passage from Jeremiah 29:11 – “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” The Lord goes on to say – “’Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (vv.12-13) We know that we can’t be in relationship with someone if we don't spend time with them. It’s the same in our relationship with God. We have to spend time with him in order to get to know who He is and his plan for our lives. There are a few ways scripture suggests we get to know him. The first one we are going to talk about is prayer.

·         What is the purpose of prayer?

While the Bible doesn't give direct answers to everything we face, there are some questions that have pretty clear answers. One of those is why we ought to prayer pray and for those of us who don't think we know how to pray - Jesus gives us an example in Matthew 6:9-13:

⁹ “This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
¹⁰ your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹ Give us today our daily bread.
¹² And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³ And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from the evil one.’

·         What pattern does Jesus use here? Find where he praises, gives thanks, and where he requests.

·         What are some ways we can pray?

o   Silence – listening instead of talking

o   Singing -

o   Arrow Prayers

o   Psalms

o   ACTS

§  Adoration

§  Confession

§  Thanksgiving

§  Supplication (requests)

Matthew 6:5-13

⁵ “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.⁶ But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. ⁷ And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. ⁸ Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Questions to Consider:

• If God knows what we need, why do we pray?
• 1 Thessalonians 5 :17-18 - 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
• James 5:16 - Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
• How does prayer change the way you think about God? What impact does prayer have on your faith?
• Have you ever seen God change a situation after you prayed about it? How did it affect your desire to pray about other things?

We closed our time with three different prayer stations for Thanksgiving, Confession, and Supplication.

HS - Revolutionaries - Week 2

Last week, we started a series on revolutionaries or change agents. We will continue this week to look at the lives of different people in scripture, history, and in modern times that made a significant difference in the lives of those they came into contact. We started last week with the most important revolutionary ever to have lived – Jesus. We discussed that it’s only because of Him that we exist and what we decide to do with the knowledge of Christ is one of the most important decisions we can make. When Christ left the world, he left a team of 12 disciples who made the decision to follow him throughout His ministry. Ultimately, these were the ones who would be responsible for sending his message to all corners of the earth. Jesus left them with these words from Acts 1:8 - “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

We learn a few things about how God works from these first revolutionaries.

• They were ordinary – fisherman, tax collectors, teenagers. 
• They were young – 1 Timothy 4:12 - “Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” Scholars suggest David was no older than 16, the disciples were likely all younger than 20 (except Peter), Mary was about 14 when she gave birth to Jesus. 
• They were few - Matthew 18:20 - “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
• They were willing to give everything for the cause – Following Jesus’ example, the disciples gave their lives so that all men would know. John 13: 34-35 - “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

John 14:11-14 – “Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”

Since Christ, lives in us through his Spirit, we have the power to change the world just like He did and He said we will do even greater things because of His Spirit inside each of us. Like the disciples, our lives are going to be the evidence of Christ’s work in the world. His power demonstrated through his people will be the force that changes the world.

Questions to consider:

• Why is change difficult, even when it’s better for everyone?
• What keeps us from pursuing change in our own lives or from helping others?
• What is something that you would like to see change the world around you (school, family, in the world)? Be specific. 
• How can you be a part of making the change happen?

To read about a modern day revolutionary who was young, ordinary, and started with just a few - read about Ryan's Well Foundation here: http://www.ryanswell.ca/

MS - Encountering Jesus - Final Week

This is our final week in the Encounter series. We have focused these last few weeks on learning about what happens when people encounter Jesus. If you remember, an encounter is an unexpected meeting of at least two people. So far, we’ve learned that every encounter with Jesus produces results that are beyond unexpected. In fact, we have seen that when someone encounters Jesus, they receive much, much more than they ever would have expected.

Let’s do a quick recap.

In our first lesson, we learned about Jesus’ encounter with a demon-possessed man whose life was saved when Jesus cast the demons into 2,000 pigs. Then in the second lesson, we learned about Jesus’ encounter with ten lepers who each were healed of his leprosy, but only one returned to worship Jesus. Then last week, we saw some friends who would do anything to help their sick friend have an encounter with Jesus, resulting in not only healing, but also forgiveness of his sins! Now, as we finish the series, we're going to look at one of the last encounters the disciples had with Jesus on earth.

Read Acts 1:1–11.

This book and chapter begin with a reference to the author's other book. The author of Acts is Luke, the same doctor and follower of Jesus who wrote the book of Luke. He has a good eye for detail, as a doctor should. He is making a shift now from his Gospel, which focused on the life and ministry of Jesus, to this history book that tells how the church began after Jesus went to heaven. Today, we are in the transition piece that connects the two books together.

In general, we know that the disciples were the men closest to Jesus and who spent the three years of his ministry following and helping him. They spent three years of their everyday lives with Jesus. They experienced so many encounters with him. But what makes this passage unique? It's actually one of the best to challenge us today in the church. And it's so simple we don't expect to get much out of it.

Look in your Bibles at Acts 1:3, "During the forty days after his crucifixion, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God." This might sound familiar. After Jesus was raised from the dead, he showed up and interacted with people for forty days. That's what Luke is talking about here.

In verse 4, it's almost like he says, "Here, let me give you an example." In fact, verse 4 begins with, "Once when he was eating with them...” Now, we know that while he was alive they shared plenty of meals, from simple ones in their normal, everyday lives to the big ones we have heard taught and preached where Jesus miraculously fed thousands of people.

Let's talk about food. Shout out some of your favorite places to eat. There are some great places here, but what about something as simple as your own home or a friend's house?  Some of my favorite memories from middle school are when I got to eat at my friends' houses or when they ate at mine. Sometimes that would be something like a birthday party, but sometimes it was just for lunch or dinner with their family.

Just like you shared, we enjoy eating with friends and family. Meals are an important part of relationships. Think about it. If you were eating at a restaurant and a total stranger sat down next to you, it would probably freak you out. But if it were a friend who showed up and sat next to you, you'd be excited! Why? Because we love sharing a meal with friends.

So, what makes this meal in Acts 1 special enough for Luke to mention it? What they were eating wasn’t important. We know this because Luke is a writer who notes all kinds of details and he doesn't mention anything about the food they ate here.

He shares in verses 4–7 about how God is going to be sending his Holy Spirit. Now, this was HUGE! Before this happened God's spirit only came on specific people for a specific task. You could worship God at the temple and He was everywhere. However, having God living inside a person through His Holy Spirit was not something they had experienced.

Look at the challenging words Jesus gives the disciples as he ends his conversation with them: (Acts 1:8) "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere - in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Wow! Talk about a challenge! These disciples are going to have God's power working in and through them and they will now spread the message and ministry that Jesus started with them!

So, in verse 9, the disciples watch as Jesus goes up into the sky and disappears into the clouds.  In verse 10, the disciples are standing there staring at the sky like some of you were staring at the screen earlier when you were trying to figure out what the pictures were. Only the disciples are trying to see Jesus as he gets farther and farther away. Two angels show up and ask why they are standing around!

This is where our text ends today but where the story of the disciples begins a new chapter. If you read on, they go where Jesus told them to, receive the Holy Spirit, and begin their own ministry—for the first time as leaders and not just followers.

How does this connect with us? One word: church.

We come here and study the Bible or go to the main worship service with our family and friends and hear a sermon. Then we have a choice. Will we be in that "stare" moment like the disciples, just sitting and thinking about what we’ve just experienced? Or will we start acting on what we’ve learned?

Now, you probably won't have a couple of angels come tell you to "get to work" this week, but that's what we'll talk about and challenge you with in this last "encounter" small group discussion time.

SMALL GROUPS

• Does anyone have a short story of a time you ate at a friend's house and something unexpected happened?
• Can anyone think of some of the meals the disciples had shared with Jesus?
• If the disciples had been a sports team with Jesus as their coach, this is the moment he is announcing he won't be with them anymore and they are now going to change from players to coaches. That's both scary and exciting. What do you believe the disciples were thinking? How would they have been feeling?
• Although the disciples had seen lots of unexpected things during their years with Jesus, they are in a zone just staring at the sky as they watched him leave. Describe how this sometimes happens to us after a sermon or lesson.
• Once the angels showed up, the disciples quit staring at the sky and headed off to begin the next chapter in the adventure of their lives. What is the one next step you need to make after today's lesson? After this series?

Today, we have been studying a passage where the disciples had a moment to pause, then were moved to action. They had one last meeting or encounter with Jesus and then began to realize how their lives had been changed forever.

Do you realize that if you have been coming to church for more than three years that you have had encounters with Jesus for longer than the disciples did?! How transformed is your life from those encounters?

How many weeks do you leave here and start acting on what you have learned? How many weeks do you leave here and basically just stare at the sky? (You may think about what we studied, but you don't do much with it.)

Today our last object for this encounter series is very simple. It's a picture of the sky. I want you to take this and put it on your mirror, inside your locker, or just somewhere you will see it on a regular basis. When others see it, they'll just see the sky.

Our hope is that when you see this picture, it reminds you of Acts 1. The disciples were staring at the sky, but the angels challenged them to stop watching the sky and start acting out their faith. We hope when you see that picture you’ll ask yourself, “What do I need to do next?" or "What do I need to do now?” Whenever you see it, think of the most recent time you have been here or at church or have read your Bible. What is the next thing you need to do with what you know or what you’ve learned? Our God is a God of action. He wants you to quit staring at the sky and start sharing His love so others can encounter Jesus!

*Adapted from the Encounter series distributed through www.juniorhighministry.org 

HS - Revolutionaries - Week 1

This week, we are beginning a series on Revolutionaries or Change Agents. We will look at the lives of different people in scripture, history, and in modern times that made a significant difference in the lives of those they came into contact.

• What do you think of when you hear the word revolution or revolutionary?

rev·o·lu·tion·ar·y  [rev-uh-loo-shuh-ner-ee]  - of, pertaining to, characterized by, or of the nature of a revolution, or a sudden, complete, or marked change

Sometimes we can find ourselves in a spiritual rut or wondering why Jesus is so important. What’s the big deal? How does his life really affect my own? Jesus is the first revolutionary we are going to discuss, because His life made the greatest difference for all of us. We can get so caught up in our own stuff that we forget that He is the only reason we exist and His love for us is all that we need. Hopefully, after tonight, you will have a better understanding of why Jesus matters. As we study those he taught and the impact of his ministry, I hope you’ll get an idea of what our role is in His ministry. So, let’s dive in.

From the beginning…The world was a broken place. Ever since Adam and Eve took a bite of the apple, the world has been in a state of disorder. That moment in history was the beginning of sin, brokenness, and chaos and we are still experiencing the ramifications it today through poverty, broken relationships, bullying, wars, etc. These tragedies are a result of life apart from God. Adam and Eve hid from God in their shame and rightly so. The first sin was disobedience to the word of God. Because of their sin, death enters the world. Every human is now subject to God’s wrath and deserving of death. We have inherited Adam’s sinful nature. Every bone in our body is bent toward evil. Paul says this in Romans “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out” (7:18) and in Romans 3, quoting the Psalms, “no one is righteous.” This is terribly depressing, but from that moment God had a plan that would change everything.

Paul finishes up Romans 7 with “Thanks be to God who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord.” We have inherited a sinful nature. We cannot do anything good on our own, “but God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Through Christ’s saving death and resurrection, we are given new life.  (John 3:16) Christ took the punishment we deserved so that we would not have to. We have to understand the weight of this. It’s not just some story we tell so you will be nice to people and not hurt them. We only live, because he gives us life. We don’t have to fear death, because he conquered death for our sake out of His love. This great love is open to all who will receive Him. 

2 Corinthians 5:19-2019 God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

We are reconciled to God through Christ and called to bring this message of hope to others. The question to consider then is this:

• What will you do with Jesus?

C.S. Lewis said about Jesus in his book Mere Christianity "Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse." If we believe he is the Son of God then when we see the brokenness and pain in the world, our hearts should be filled with love and compassion for them. Every one of you knows someone in your life who is without God. You might be intimidated to share your faith. You might feel like you have too many questions or doubts of your own to be helpful. Those questions and doubts are part of seeking God. They help us grow stronger in our faith. If you are in a place of questioning and want to talk with or pray with a leader, just let us know. We have plenty of questions and doubts of our own, it’s part of the faith journey and God uses us in our weakness.

Over the next few weeks, I hope you will be encouraged by stories of people who took the message that Christ first gave to his apostles who passed it onto others until today with Christianity serving as the largest religion in the world. These aren't people you hear about on TV, or even in your history books, just those faithful to the call. 

MS - Encountering Jesus - Week 3

We’ve spent the last couple weeks talking about what happens when people have an encounter with Jesus. An encounter is an unexpected meeting of at least two people. So far, we’ve learned that when people encounter Jesus, the results are always unexpected. Two weeks ago we learned about a man who had been possessed by demons for a very long time. He was rejected by his friends, his family, and everyone who lived around him. Then Jesus came. And through this encounter, Jesus sent the thousands of demons into a herd of pigs so that this man would be healed. Last week, we looked at not one, but ten people who were healed by Jesus. Today, we'll see some friends who would do anything to help one of their friends have an encounter with Jesus.

Watch http://youtu.be/iokmg2fkL-c and read Luke 5:17-26

  

For this story to make sense, you have to understand the location. Jesus was teaching from someone's home. Most likely a home in Capernaum would have had room for about 50 people standing. So there was definitely a crowd of people filling this home to capacity. You have these men who come bringing their friend - who is paralyzed - to be healed. Sometimes you learn the difference between people who say they are your friends and those who really are true friends. These guys don't give up. The house is full. They can't get to Jesus. Some might have said, "Sorry man. We did the best we could."

Look at Luke 5:19, "So they went up to the roof...” Just stop right there. In most of our homes, this would be crazy. It's hard for a normal person to get on the roof. But somehow get up and drag your paralyzed friend up too? But the homes in Capernaum were different than ours. The homes had flat roofs. You could access the roof from an outside staircase. It could be used like a patio or porch that you might have outside your home today—it’s just that your patio is next to the house instead of on top of it.

So, now the story is strange, but makes more sense. We picture the friends carrying their paralyzed friend on a mat up the staircase to the top of the house. But it wasn't like there was a big screen up there where they could watch and listen to Jesus' teaching. What did they plan to do? The whole point was for Jesus to heal their friend, not just hear Jesus teach. That's where the strange gets stranger and we read about the unexpected happening in the rest of that verse.

"So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles.”  What?! Did you get that? They were removing a person's roof! Can you imagine the distraction for the fifty-plus people in the home while Jesus was teaching as the roof opens up? And that wasn't enough! It wasn't just to see Jesus or get his attention. The friends wanted to get their friend to Jesus and they were persistent and creative enough to find a way. They carried their friend to the roof. They made a hole in the roof.

And again, in verse 19, more unexpected happens: "Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus." I'm super impressed that they found just the right spot to lower their friend right in front of Jesus. But that's not the point here. The friends did whatever they could, even if it was super crazy in the eyes of everyone around them, so their friend could have this encounter—this unexpected meeting—with Jesus.

So what was Jesus’ response? Look at verse 20. "Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, 'Young man, your sins are forgiven." Okay, now I'm impressed and confused. Jesus can see the faith of this man's friends because they went to extraordinary measures to get their friend to Jesus. But wouldn't their goal have been for him to be healed? To be able to walk? And Jesus says, "Your sins are forgiven.” We know that's more important, but not the expected result.

However, the story doesn't end there. (And remember, this is a TRUE STORY!) Now, the next scene is a heated exchange between the religious leaders and Jesus. That's good for another lesson.

But we're going to skip to verse 24. "Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, 'Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!'  Wow! So now the friend has been forgiven and healed!

Luke 5:25, "And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up...”

He didn't just get up. He jumped up! Everyone, right where you are, jump up as high as you can on 3.  1, 2, 3! That's what a man did who had been paralyzed! He hadn't been able to walk. Now he jumps! (And remember, this is all recorded by Luke—the doctor!)

Luke 5:25 continues, "...picked up his mat...” That's right. The same mat he had been laying on paralyzed, when his friends carried his weak body up the stairs to the roof of the house, where they made a hole and lowered him down right in front of Jesus—that mat. “(He) picked up his mat, and went home praising God." We know how this man's life was changed from this encounter with Jesus. He was healed and forgiven. No wonder he went home praising God!

But how did this affect those around him who witnessed this? Our last verse for today, Luke 5:26, "Everyone was gripped with great WONDER and AWE, and they PRAISED GOD, exclaiming, "We have seen AMAZING things today!"

Yeah, that nice visit to the house to hear Jesus teach turned into a crazy experience witnessing the faith of some friends and both the healing and forgiving powers of Jesus! Sometimes, life is better when things don't go as planned.  But in your small groups today, let's really focus not so much on the demolition to the house, but on the commitment of the friends and how they truly did everything they could to help their friend meet with Jesus.

Small Group Questions 

• What's the craziest thing you have done for your friends?
• What's the craziest thing your friends have done for you? 

Do any of you read this story and think, "Someone's going to be in big trouble for tearing up that roof?” That's probably true. The friends probably either helped repair it or had to pay to have it repaired. 

• Are you willing to be that kind of friend who helps your friend out, no matter what trouble you might get in or what it might cost you? 

In a number of recent surveys, 8 out of 10 people said they would go to church if someone just invited them. 

• Are you really trying your hardest to make friends with people who don't know Jesus and invite them to church?
• In today's world, there usually won't be property damage with someone getting to know Jesus. However, what kind of challenges or obstacles do you run into trying to get your friends to church? To youth group or student service? Or even to meet Jesus?

HS - Foundations - Final Week

Read Luke 6:46-49

In the final part of our Foundations series, we will see why it is so important to build your life on the right foundation. There are two possible outcomes of your life. First of all, you can have:

A Life that Is Secure & Enduring – In the last part of v.48 we read that in spite of the storm the house did not fall, “…for it was founded on the rock.” The wise man is inside his house sitting in comfort and security, even during the storm. Has anyone ever stayed at the beach to ride out a hurricane? I’ve heard of a few that have, and they said they would never do it again. Those who do stay in such a storm do so only because they have confidence that their house is well-built.

The spiritual application here is that true faith will endure the test of time. There is nothing that lasts but God. The one who has built his life on the solid foundation of Christ rests peacefully upon Him. Troubles come one after another, but they do not sweep him away. And even the flood of great devastation cannot rob the Christian of peace and security. On the other hand, look at the other outcome.

A Life that Is Insecure & Ends in Tragic Loss – In the last of v.49 we see that when the storm came to the house built on sand, “…immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.” The furious rush of waters ate away at the sand underneath the house and undermined the whole house. And notice the result: “the ruin of that house was great.” This means that the whole structure fell so that the ruin was complete. Nothing was left standing.

Too many professing Christian have fallen away from following Christ. Many have fallen to temptation, & great was their fall. Others have fallen because of trials. This great fall will also describe many who find out too late that their life was not built upon the true foundation.

We have seen two builders, two buildings with two foundations, and two outcomes. The difference is not in the men who build; or in the materials with which they build; but in the foundation on which they build. All through the days of summer the buildings both appear to be the same.

This speaks so clearly of our character. On the outside things can look so good, so put together as if we have everything in life is going your way. But just wait. When the storms of temptation, trials, and hardships come, what will the two houses look like then? (Romans 8:31-39)

Build your life upon Christ and His Word, and no storm can wreck your life!

This is why the Bible is the most dangerous book on the earth. It is nothing like a novel, or entertainment weekly or USA Today. It does not just give you information but it holds you in to account. You will be judged by it words. When you are in the Word you hear truth and that truth can set you free and change your life. But if you simply listen and do not obey something happens to us inside. You develop a calloused heart. You harden your heart so much that the words come in and just bounce off.

Read Matthew 23:25-28

Things are not always as they seem. On the outside marriages can look good. Our relationships can look good and even when are in front of others it is easy to put our best foot forward making it seem that we have it all put together. But when the trials and storms come they reveal the foundation which we have built upon. So examine your life.

Do you desire, more than anything else, to obey the Word of Christ or do you live in disobedience and try to justify yourself? The validation of your foundation and the security of your foundation is found in a life of obedience.

*Adapted from TEAMeffort summer missions curriculum.