Student Ministries Blog

Temptation: A Spiraling Reality

2008-09-24T21:19:19Z

This Sunday in Quest, we talked about cheating. In that discussion we touched on the ways that cheating can create a spiraling reality. For example, cheating on a test will create the "need" to lie in order to cover it. Sin leads to sin. In some ways this is not only true for cheating but for any temptation. It is almost as if any time we are tempted to do something God does not want us to do, we risk getting deeper than we initially thought we would.

So, on that theme, here is a Bible passage to think on for the week. In Genesis chapter 4, we get the story of Cain and Abel. Cain and Abel were brothers... both were sons of Adam and Eve. They both made a sacrifice to God in order to worship. When Cain's sacrifice was not as pleasing as Abel's, Cain was tempted to do evil to Abel. God says one of the scariest lines in the Bible. He could tell Cain was up to no good. So he said to him, "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it."

Essentially, the temptation Cain was facing had huge ramifications. If Cain chose to give in to his temptation (which he did), then it wasn't just about that sin. Sin itself desired to own him. So temptation for Cain was a doorway to a reality... a struggle as much as a single event. Chew on that for a while. WWJDSI! (For our current prayer ideas click more.)
]]>

PRAYER JOURNAL

Below are fill in the blank sentences that we will use as we learn how to communicate better with God and allow him into our lives to love us and lead us. Throughout your time away from church, use these (and create your own) ways of talking to God about your day and your life. Prayer is just simply communicating with God, even if it is a simple thought, or word, or a sigh directed towards him.

DON’T BE AFRAID OF PRAYER! The same way you talk to your friends, talk to God. Even if it is just to say “hi”, or release your frustrations. The only way to know someone better is to talk to them! So let’s start our journey of getting to know God, by talking to him regularly about big things and little things!

Father I, ________________________________________________________________

Thank you for, ___________________________________________________________

I think I need help with, ____________________________________________________

I hope __________________________________________________________________

The things that tempt me are ________________________________________________

Journaling: Slowing Down Into Discipleship

2008-09-17T18:34:58Z

My mind tends to move too fast for its own good. That isn't an indication that I'm smart... probably the opposite. I don't really complete a thought before I'm on to something else. I'm also very easily distracted. All of this makes prayer and discipleship pretty difficult. It is hard to get real... to dig deep... when a prayer about forgiveness turns into a random thought about something a friend said to me earlier.

One of the ways I've learned to slow down and dig deeper in my life is by writing. Pen on paper focuses my thoughts. When that thought is a prayer it also tends to burn deeper and give space for the Holy Spirit to speak to me. So I'm praying... I'm listening... and I'm focused.

This Semester, some of the students in our Youth Group are going to try to slow down a bit with me. They want to dig deeper. They want to connect with God with earnestness... with intensity... on the slow. So this Semester, we've identified some of the areas we want to pause and think through. We are adding some journals to our bag of tricks. Everything we talk about at Quest or Youth Group we want to bolster our prayer life and our digging deeper as we personally talk to God on the slow.

This Blog is going to focus on this as well. I'll be typing some ideas to inspire conversation with God on the topics of temptation, judgment, patience and swearing... some areas we could all use a bit more Jesus in our lives. WWJDSI!

Youth Sunday Participants

2008-07-05T18:43:11Z

Here are the young adults who led Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church in worship last Sunday. They did a great job doing things like reading scripture, leading prayers, singing solos (and as a trio), played piano, trumpet and clarinet... they did it all. "Don't let anyone look down on you for your youth but be an example in speech and in conduct and in faith and in love and in purity." (1 Timothy 4:12) Oh, by the way, Patty and Sydney also helped out but were MIA at picture time.

Does Anyone Care What the Youth Pastor Has To Say?

2008-06-26T22:56:05Z

Well the answer to that is probably white noise... at least if you are in a room full of youth trying to teach a bible study. It might be white noise when you consider this blog so I might just be talking to myself. But maybe that's the perfect audience for a beginning. Hopefully this will be a fun place for me to air my thoughts. If that interests you or you want to take a peek, come on by. I'll post as I see fit. Otherwise, you can assume all that is going on in my head is simply that white noise.
]]> Well the answer to that is probably white noise... at least if you are in a room full of youth trying to teach a bible study. It might be white noise when you consider this blog so I might just be talking to myself. But maybe that's the perfect audience for a beginning. Hopefully this will be a fun place for me to air my thoughts. If that interests you or you want to take a peek, come on by. I'll post as I see fit. Otherwise, you can assume all that is going on in my head is simply that white noise.