This weekend is about Seeing - eyes open while everyone else is asleep
Not fooled into thinking that this is all there is...there is a reality to our lives that not everyone experiences
the complete world is understood when our 6th sense is awakened - when we see what others cannot see - physical + spiritual
How Do We Know God?
1 We Have to See
Matthew 13:11-17
“blessed are your eyes, for they see...”
what is there to see?
go back to the beginning
God
creator
sin
chosen
Redeemer Gal 3:13-14
how was it that their spiritual eyes were opened?
Faith
See it again in Paul’s testimony: Acts 26:18
Paul - spiritual eyes closed until he met Jesus
he was a law breaker
(Eph 1:18)
Are your eyes open?
Conversion / Born Again / New Life / Made Alive
A question everyone must deal with...
What do I do with the invitation?
if you aren’t sure now, you won’t be sure tomorrow - deal with it today!
Many people say Yes, and have a testimony as a witness of the power of God
John 5:24 - moved from death to life
How Do We Know God?
2 We Identify with Him - this is my new life!
Life of obedience - that’s what the rest of this weekend will be about
We don’t always use our new ability to see
Obedience begin with baptism
baptism isn’t necessary for salvation but it is necessary for Christian growth and maturity
why? it is given to us as a next step (I didn’t make it up, Jesus did, he thinks it’s important)
It is important
Matthew 28:19
1 people follow Jesus
2 people are baptized
3 people begin to learn what following means
•Identifying with the Death and Life of Jesus
•encouragement to the Church
•it sets you in the right direction
•it is all about Jesus
•my life will be one of obedience
3 We walk with Him
restored Relationship with the creator
what was broken in the garden is fixed
No more hiding - but rather intimacy with God
Made possible in Jesus
Cultivated through the Word
It’s time
“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” CS Lewis
Are you settling for less than the fullness that God has planned for you?
There is an invitation to everyone of us - to taste and see that the Lord is good!
Come in!
Stop fooling about with things that will leave you empty
Hebrews 12:1-2
now is the time to evaluate what is holding us back from godliness - must be a personal pursuit as we take personal responsibility for our futures
The Anchor lines (family, friends, familiarity, fun) that hold you to faith and keep you involved with a body of believers are going to be cut (sooner for some of you than others = Graduates) What happens then? Is your relationship with Jesus enough for you?
What kind of college student will you be? what kind of young adult will you be? What kind of parent will you be? What kind of old dude will you be?
The choices you make today affect the kind of person you will be in the future
So set your eyes on Jesus
Colossians 3:1-4
Climb the mountain
Taste the drink
Open your spiritual eyes, fill them with the goodness of The Lord
Small Group Questions:
1 What does darkness look like in today’s world?
What “mud pies” have you fooled about with?
(referencing the CS Lewis quote)
(maybe...selfishness, self-promotion, worry, laziness, wasting time, normalization of sexuality immorality, negativity, discontentment...its more subtle and tricky than just like “murder” or “drugs”)
2 When did you come to know the Lord? (see if some of the students would share their testimony, be ready to share some of yours)
3 What have you been learning about the Lord lately? What aspects of God’s character or presence in your life are you seeing more clearly?
(referencing the 6th sense of seeing spiritual realities and growth in the knowledge of God)
4 What have you had to change recently that is now helping you see the goodness of the Lord (referencing Hebrews 12)
5 What next step in following Jesus do you need to take as someone who has chosen to Identify with Him? (maybe...make some changes? add some discipline? start new habits? strengthen some friendships)
6 What are some of your favorite passages of Scripture? (have some ready)
Wide Awake
Colossians 3:1-4, Matthew 13:11-17
Marc
Parents!
I am so excited about our High School Winter Retreat to the mountains of North Georgia. This year, 45 of us are making the trip, and it is going to be a great chance for us to continue to connect as a community of believers. This weekend is about taking some time to cultivate the vital relationship we have with Jesus by looking into His Word. Jesus calls His people to follow Him, to live differently, and then to help other people follow Him. The theme this weekend is: NOCTURNAL - we want to be awake (alert, aware, ready) while the world around us sleeps (misses opportunities, deceived, lazy). It may seem dark now, but the Day is coming! We have 6 sessions of Bible Study planned to help us dive into these ideas. We will be leaving Friday, Feb 15 @ 3pm. Please eat something before you arrive; we’ll eat a light dinner in Helen once we get settled. We will provide all meals on trip but you may want to bring some money for snacks or souvenirs if we go into town. We will be back on Monday, Feb 18 @ 3pm. The cost is $75 and can be paid the day we leave. Please bring the attached Permission Form with you Friday as well. The responsible adult chaperones and teachers for this trip are me, Rodney Eslinger, Craig Tognarina, Jonathan Murphree, Anne Marie Andrey, and Lisa Meyer. We will be staying at cabins in Helen, GA. Guys and girls will be sleeping in separate headquarters. Here’s what we’ll be expecting from our students while we’re http://gone...these guidelines will help us as we strive to create and maintain an atmosphere that glorifies God by honoring Christ with our group witness. Maybe have a chat about these as a family before you send your kids my way! • Our youth will participate and contribute • They will show respect to all adults • They will respect the personal property of others • They will not possess or use controlled substances • We don’t want to be immature, impure, or negative Here is a quick ‘what-to-bring’ list: • Clothes: we will be both indoors and outdoors so be prepared as it could be cold. Make sure you have shoes for hiking. The cabins also have hot tubs so you may want a swim suit. • Personal Hygiene Items: shampoo, deodorant, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste. • Life Items: Bible, notebook, pen, guitars, music, ocarinas, Eno, etc (but don’t bring inappropriate things that will get you hunted down by The Law). • Bring some of your own snacks if you are picky or are a bottomless pit of hunger. • Bring a towel and pillow just in case. I’m really looking forward to a great trip! Call me if you have any questions.
Schedule
Friday Arrive: 6p Dinner: 7p Session 1: 8p Roll out: 10p Saturday Be at the cabin: 10a Session 2: 10:30a Lunch: 12p Hiking: 12:30p Dinner: 6p Session 3: 7p Roll out: 9p Sun Be at the cabin: 10a Breakfast: 10:30a Session 4: 11p Lunch: 12:30p Helen/Golf: 1p Dinner: 6p Session 5: 7p Roll out: 9p Monday Clean / Pack: 8:30a Be at the cabin: 10a Session 6: 10:30a Lunch: 11:30a Load up / Roll out: 12:30p
the Day
Craig
Review: -being ready for Battle - know the Word 2 Kings 6:17 the servant saw the hills full of horses and chariots to see and trust the promises of God -we aren’t alone in the battle and we must understand the spiritual nature of the battle Romans 12:2 - be renewed James 4:8 - no more sleepwalking, tolerating sin and laziness in our lives -equipped to be sent out -the Spirit helps us in our weakness Proverbs 25:2 - search it out! Perseverance -the ability to not give up - comes from Hope -Christian hope is more than a worldly “wish” - it is confidence in the promises of God - not a wish but a knowledge that He will do what he has said -perseverance is needed in the battle - not when things are easy / we fight the good fight -encouraging others to persevere is part of our Christian responsibility -prayer shows where our trust is, involves the Lord in the details of our lives 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 We are of the day: because we have been united by faith to Jesus who is the light references the armor of God (see session 2) we are destined for life, not wrath - there is a day coming when salvation will be fully known part of the ministry of the body of Christ to think of others and encourage them in the truth 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 encouraging the Corinthian church to persevere as they are renewed day by day - with eyes fixed on Jesus Romans 13:11-14 these verses are pure power the armor of light! Dawn breakers he is using us and ministering through us as we wait for the Day to fully come salvation nearer - the reward of the presence of God fully known 1 Corinthians 13:12 - then I will be fully known Hebrews 13:14 - seek the lasting city Further up, further in / there is more of Him to know