Mission Statement Making a difference in our community through Christian outreach in a fun and safe environment.

Purpose Statement Our primary purpose is to expand the knowledge of Christ among youth by setting a positive example and providing a safe place for recreation.

Vision Statement To be Washington's premier skatepark and recreational facility by providing each guest with a variety of activities in a friendly, affordable, Christian environment.

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Bible Session Notes - Monday, March 24, 2014 - Matthew 3


Matthew 3:1-17 (3-24-14)

Matthew 3:1-3 (student read)

Question: What was John the Baptist’ main message? Repent, for the kingdom of God is near

Question: What does repent mean? To feel so sorry for sin or fault that you change your life for the better – turn away from your sin

Question: What is the kingdom of heaven?  The kingdom of God.  The word for heaven was another way of saying God not the place where God dwells.  It represents the ruling, saving, liberating, redemptive acts of God.  It is Christ on earth, the power of redemption, and the people who choose to follow Christ fully.

Matthew 3:4-6 (student read)

*Even though John the Baptist was a little strange - don’t take your fashion tips from him -  the people believed his message and came to be baptized by him.

Question: Why do you think he dressed that way and ate such an odd diet?  Student Response

Question: Why do you think people believed him?

*John the Baptist was a prophet.  We don’t know why but prophet’s often dressed strangely even in the Old Testament times.  2 Kings 1:8

Matthew 3:7-10 (student read)

*The Pharisees and Sadducees are a great example of who NOT to be.  They were great at obeying laws and doing “all the right things” but with an unclean and unrepentant heart.  They were working with the wrong motives.

·         *Having Christian parents does not make you a Christian.

·         *Produce fruit that shows your repentance – meaning your heart is turned away from sin toward holiness and from that heart you will do good not evil.

·         *Anyone – like the Pharisees and Sadducees – not producing good fruit from a repentant heart will be thrown in the fire.

*Later on in Matthew, Jesus says, “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?  Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you.  Away from me you evil doers!’” (Matthew 7:22-23) Why would he say that?  Because their motives were wrong and their hearts were not right with God.

Matthew 3:11-12 (student read)

Question: Who is John the Baptist talking about?  Jesus Christ

Question: John the Baptist baptizes with water.  How will Jesus Christ baptize?  With the Holy Spirit and fire

Question: Who is the wheat and what is the barn? Wheat = Christians Barn = Heaven (reward)

Question: Who is the chaff and what is the fire? Chaff = Non-Christians Fire = Hell (judgment)

*Side note – A winnowing fork was used to separate the good wheat from the useless chaff

*John the Baptist did not “save” people.  The baptism illustrated what was happening in people’s hearts.  The faith expressed through baptism was a public sign of repentance and that the person was ready for the Messiah’s salvation. Today we baptize in water to illustrate this same choice typically AFTER someone has accepted Jesus’ salvation.

Matthew 3:13-15 (student read)

*Jesus goes to John to be baptized and John is like “What are you doing here? You should be baptizing me!”

Matthew 2:16-17 (student read)

Question: When Jesus came out of the water, what descended?  The Spirit of God like a dove

Question: Who is the voice of heaven?  God

Question: What did the voice of heaven say?  This is my Son, whom I love with him I am well pleased.

Ponder don’t answer: Is this something you wish your dad would say about you?

Ponder don’t answer: Is this something you want God, your heavenly father to say about you?

Question: What did Jesus do to “earn” this response from God? He obeyed. 

Interesting Thoughts and Questions:

Listen and think: 

Have you repented and turned your life over to Jesus?

Have you been baptized?

Are you producing good fruit?

When you get to the gates of heaven will God say “I never knew you” or will he say “I am well pleased.”? This isn’t a question of how much good work you do here on earth but where your heart is in what you do.  What are your motives? To help yourself in your place on earth or to help the kingdom of God?

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Bible Session This Week 3/17/2014 - Matthew 2

Matthew 2:1-2 (student read)

Question: Jesus was born where? Bethlehem

Question: Who was king at this time? Herod

Question: Who did the Magi/Wisemen say Jesus was? King of the Jews

Matthew 2:3-6 (student read)

Question: Herod and the people of Jerusalem were bothered by Jesus’ birth. Why? (Student response)

Question: The prophecy states out of Bethlehem will come a ruler who will be what to the people? A shepherd

Matthew 2:7-8 (student read)

Question: Herod figured out when and approximately where Jesus was born.  What did he tell the Magi to do? Find the child

Question: Why? So Herod could worship him

Matthew 2:9-12 (student read)

Question: The Magi find Jesus, give him gifts, worship him and leave.  They don’t tell Herod where Jesus is.  Why? Told in advance not to go back to Herod

Question: Should the Magi have obeyed the government or God? Student Response

Matthew 2:13-15 (student read)

*Again God speaks through a dream.  Again Joseph obeys.

Matthew 2:16-18 (student read)

*Unfortunately for everyone else who stayed in Bethlehem, Herod gets angry about the Magi not telling him where Jesus was and he orders the killing of all boys under 2 years old.

Question: How do you feel about this huge sacrifice of so many lives because of Jesus’ escapte? Student response.

Matthew 2:19-20 (student read)

*Herod is dead.  Joseph, Mary and Jesus can go back home.

Matthew 2:21-23 (student read)

*Again Joseph is warned in a dream, so they ended up in Nazareth not Bethlehem and fulfilled the prophecy that stated Jesus would be a Nazarene. 

Interesting Thoughts and Questions:

1 – Do you believe God still speaks to us today like He did during the time of Jesus birth?

2 – I’ve had a lot of conversations with various people over the years regarding whether or not God gives us something to do and then later changes our direction.  It seems this may be one of those times when God did.  Joseph was told to flea Bethlehem.  Then he was told to go back to Bethlehem.  But then he was told to go to Nazareth instead.

3 – What do you think would have been different if at any point people (ex. Magi/Joseph) in this story would not have obeyed God?  Student Responses

Monday, March 17, 2014

Bible Session from Last Monday Night - Beginning our study of Matthew


Matthew 1:1-25 (3-10-14)

Matthew 1:1 (student read)

Question: What is a genealogy? (Student responses)

Matthew 1:2-16 (teacher read)

Question: Why include the genealogy? (Student responses)

Matthew 1:17 (student read)

Question: How many generations in total from Abraham to Christ? 42

Matthew 1:18-19 (student read)

Question: What do we call it today when someone is pledged to be married? Engaged

Question: Why would he need to “divorce” her when they were only engaged? Student Responses

*In those times, when someone was committed to marry they acted in public as if they were already married.  They did not live together or sleep together. They also did not “back out” of an engagement.

Matthew 1:20-21 (student read)

Question: Do not be ___________?  Afraid

Question: The baby is from whom? The Holy Spirit

Question: What is the purpose of Jesus? To Save his people from their sin

Matthew 1:22-23 (student read)

Question: This all happened to fulfill what? A prophecy

Matthew 1:24-25 (student read)

Question: Did Joseph obey? (student responses)

Interesting Thoughts and Questions:

1 – It took a lot of courage and faith to marry Mary when Joseph knew the baby wasn’t his.  His character was tainted by this.  It wasn’t like today where people are often having babies and not being married.  This was highly looked down upon.

2 – If God asked you to do something that marred your image and tainted your social standing… What would you do?

Prayer Requests: