WOW 10 weeks done. So much hard work, and what a great journey for both you and your teen. The Parent classes went great, but those of you that went you pretty much know what those looked like. But what did your teens get out of their 10 weeks? Well I have that answer, over the next few blogs I will post only a few of the hundreds of comments/ feedback I received (written down) from our teens. The following are only the first eleven. Love you all.

_pastor tim

1. To obey my parents
2. Nothing matters unless Jesus is there
3. I started noticing my influence on others and I have to set an example of Christ
4. I am a Christian so act like it
5. I need to man up to my screw ups
6. To be an “alien” to this world
7. Read the bible
8. Just do what is right
9. This was a big verse for me it is hard for me to love my sister
10.  It takes lots of time for God to make us pure, it doesn’t happen overnight it’s a lifetime
11.  Its not the outside that counts, it’s the inside that shapes us

During this week our focus was to Finish Strong. I took a simple outline from Steve Farrar’s book “Finishing Strong” and discussed it with our teens. We live in an instant world, not understanding the importance of being consistent in the little things that God has given us, so we can hear, well done you good and faithful servant. The following are some notes from the small group discussions. You can take it further, and ask your teen about some of these things. Love you all _pastor tim

Finishing Strong week 9

THEY STAY IN…THE SCRIPTURES

Joshua 1:8-9

What does meditate mean to you?

Are you careful to do ALL that is written in it?

Do you see the benefit of meditating and doing what the Bible says at the end of the verse/ or in your own life?

THEY STAY CLOSE…TO A FRIEND

Hebrews 3:12-13

According to this verse it is important to have a good Christian friend to help encourage us so we do not turn from God, what do you think about that?

Do you have this kind of relationship?

Give some specific examples of how this friend encouraged you away from sin and encouraged you towards God?

STAY AWAY…FROM UNEQUALY YOKED RELATIONSHIPS

1 Corinthians 6:14-16

What kind of relationships is this verse talking about?

Do all the relationships you have look like the relationship in the previous scripture?

Are you afraid to talk about the truth? Are you concerned that they may cause you to stumble? Do they want the best for you? Do they agree with your convictions? Do they care what you believe to be truth? Are they asking you hard questions? Do they agree with boundaries…

STAY ALERT…TO THE TACTICS OF SATAN

1 Peter 5:8

Just remember Satan wants you to turn from God, and he will use relationships, circumstances, etc. to create a way for you to turn from God.

 This week was amazing; my goal was to challenge these teens in just being a “Christian”. This verse confirms what James says about being a doer of the word, not just a hearer. I really believe the teens were convicted of this and responded to God during worship, they were really challenged to look in the mirror and ask God to help them change. Yes, that is what we want. Here are some notes from the small group discussions. Love you all. _pastor tim

Fruit Week 8

Matthew 7:16-20

You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. ¹⁹ So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.

Does your life produce “good fruit” or “bad fruit”?

What does your “good fruit” look like?

What does you “bad fruit” look like?

What do you think of vs. 19?

Is that going to be you? Why or why not?

James 2:14-17

What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions (FRUIT)? Can that kind of faith save anyone? ¹⁵ Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, ¹⁶ and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?

 ¹⁷ So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds (FRUIT), it is dead and useless.

What does “good deeds” look like in your life? Give some specific examples/ stories.

This verse is saying you prove you are a Christian by your “good deeds” (FRUIT), what do you think about that?

Do you think people see you are a Christian by the way you act?

John 15:1-2

“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.” _Jesus

Are you willing to be pruned?

How are you pruned? What do you have to do? (you kind of have to think about this one and remember Pastor Tim’s sermon and the next verse can help you)

Do you want to be like Jesus and produce “even more”?

John 15:4,5,8
Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing…When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

We need to remain in Jesus, how do we do that? Be vary specific.

Matthew 3:10

Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.

Can we please remember this verse! As you go to worship, “remain in Him”.