Bible Sessions - Yes We've Been Doing Them

So, for some reason I have totally sketched on posting the Bible Sessions for the past few weeks.  I'm going to briefly sumerize what we've been doing, and hopefully that will help keep you up to date.

Here is what we've been doing in the 12+ age group.  From May 25 - April 8th, we have been looking at various topics and scriptures and discussing them.  I present a short thought, and then we get right into the Word and discussion. The teens seem to enjoy this style, so we're sticking with it for awhile.

If you don't have a Bible, there are tons of phone apps and online resources you can use.  Online I really enjoy BlueLetterBible.com.  For an App, I like YouVersion.

3/25/13 Am I My Brother's Keeper
Today there seems to be this "live and let live" mentality with an over abundance of tolerance without question.  My challenge to you today is to look at life from a slightly different perspective. 

Gen 4:1b-13 (read aloud) - God obviously felt that in some ways Cain was his brother's keeper and that we are to be looking out for each other. (Discussed)

I John 3:11-15 (read aloud) - This passage reminds us of the story of Cain and Abel and calls us all to a life of love. (Discussed)

Matt 7:1-2 (read aloud) - Do not judge or you will be judged. (Discussed)



4/1/13 God's Promise of Excellence

At the Action Sports Conference one of the speakers talked about excellence. He said if you are going to do something for God, do it with excellence. Don't do something halfway. Don't copy what someone else is doing. Do what God has called you to do with excellence.

At the same time, do not sacrifice other commands of God in order to pursue excellence. Ex. Let's say God has called you to become a professional skate videographer. As you pursue being the best skate videographer don't dabble with the sex, drugs, and alcohol in the skate world. That may seem obvious, but what about taking shortcuts that may be a little bit in the gray area? What about going into debt? What about dating that non-Christian girl who happens to be the producer's daughter who might get you where you want to go in the industry?

What are your current or future dreams for excellence in your life?

Let's look at some Bible verses regarding excellence and discuss how these verses can be seen and played out in your life. We'll also discuss what your job is in each verse.

Joshua 1:7

Proverbs 16:3

Matthew 20:26-28

John 14:12

John 15:15-16 (Discuss. Then read vs. 17 and discuss some more.)

2 Corinthians 3:2-6 (Discuss where does our confidence come from.)



4/1/13 God's Promise of Excellence

At the Action Sports Conference one of the speakers talked about excellence. He said if you are going to do something for God, do it with excellence. Don't do something halfway. Don't copy what someone else is doing. Do what God has called you to do with excellence.

At the same time, do not sacrifice other commands of God in order to pursue excellence. Ex. Let's say God has called you to become a professional skate videographer. As you pursue being the best skate videographer don't dabble with the sex, drugs, and alcohol in the skate world. That may seem obvious, but what about taking shortcuts that may be a little bit in the gray area? What about going into debt? What about dating that non-Christian girl who happens to be the producer's daughter who might get you where you want to go in the industry?

What are your current or future dreams for excellence in your life?

Let's look at some Bible verses regarding excellence and discuss how these verses can be seen and played out in your life. We'll also discuss what your job is in each verse.

Joshua 1:7

Proverbs 16:3

Matthew 20:26-28

John 14:12

John 15:15-16 (Discuss. Then read vs. 17 and discuss some more.)

2 Corinthians 3:2-6 (Discuss where does our confidence come from.)

 

4/8/13 What Does The Bible Say About Revenge?

Revenge Dictionary Definition:

To exact punishment or payment for a wrong on behalf of yourself or someone else, especially in a resentful or vindictive spirit.

To take vengeance for, inflict punishment for, avenge.

Vengeance = infliction of injury, harm, humiliation etc on a person who has been harmed by that person.

Have you ever sought revenge for yourself or someone else?

What does the Bible say about seeking revenge?

Deuteronomy 32:34-35 This is part of the song of Moses. God had spoken to him about the nation of Israel falling away from God and look what God said in vs. 34. What did he say? Basically, he's saying I have logged this data. I will remember it. Then in vs. 35 whose job is it to deal with this? "It is mine to avenge."

Psalm 94:1 who’s job is it?

Proverbs 25:21-22 What does this verse have to do with revenge? How can you really get back at your enemy and still please God?

Matthew 5:38-42 What do you think about these verses? How do you see this realistically playing out in your daily life?

Romans 12:17-21There is a lot in this section. What do you see in these verses?

• Do not repay evil for evil.
• Live at peace whenever possible.
• Don't take revenge: leave that for God. He'll handle it.
• Do exactly the opposite of what you may want to do, and treat your enemy with love and kindness.
• Overcome evil with good.

I Thessalonians 5:12-15 Make sure no one pays back wrong for wrong. Have you ever heard the saying 2 wrongs don't make a right?

I Peter 3:8-14 Why are we supposed to repay insult with blessing?

Revenge does not equal Love. God is love. We are to be his hands, his feet, his mouth. We cannot seek revenge and act in love at the same time. Even if you are seeking revenge on behalf of someone you love, you cannot be showing love to the person you are acting out against. At least 19 times in the New Testament, we read that it is our job to "love on another." As you leave Bible Session tonight, go back to school, back to your friends, back to your families, keep those words in your heart and mind, "LOVE ONE ANOTHER."

Kids Are Cooking - A HUGE SUCCESS!

The first ever MAD Skates Kids Are Cooking event went really well.  The only downside was that it took much longer to cook than we had anticipated, so we ran out of time for the Bible study.  Lesson learned, and we'll get it all in next time!

Bev, Gary and Brett were in the kitchen.  Jeremy and Melody ran the Skate & Rec area.  Jeff moved between the two places helping out where needed.

We had 8 kids in the kitchen helping out.  After some initial instruction and going through the routine one time, they caught on quickly! It was like a pancake and sausage factory in there.  Kids swapping between the dry ingredient station, the wet ingredient station, the electric griddles stations and the sausage station.  Seth definitely became the Sausage King and spent most of his time there.  Caleb L got the perfect pancakes on the griddle, while his brother Dakota seemed to have mastered the triangular/corner pancakes.  Ethan tried every station available and even helped wash up some utensils we needed to use for both dry and wet ingredients.  Ella, McKenna, and Kristen worked as a team the entire time and jumped from dry station, wet station and griddle many times.  We ended up making 5 batches of the recipe and by the end of the night all the pancakes had been eaten along with a tub of strawberries, a tub of grapes, and 40+ sausages a gallon of milk and a half gallon of OJ.  I don't think anyone went home hungry last night.

Special thanks to Tina Berry for dropping off the syrup even though her girls couldn't come.  Also, special thanks to Christine Brown for lending us her griddle, and to Nicole Cormier for giving me her griddle for last night and any future griddle needs.

 

 

News On The Board

Here are the articles being put on the bulletin board this week...

Youth Parent Support Group

Youth Parent Support Group
Wednesdays, 7:00pm
Eastside Foursquare Church - Room 107
14520 100th Ave. NE
Bothell, WA 98011

"This drop-in group for parents with teenagers is all about supporting each other and our student ministry team through listening, sharing, prayer and topical discussions.  We want to help parents raise healthy teens in a challenging culture."

For more details, please contact Mark and Stephanie Hedman at stephhedman@gmail.com.

KIDS ARE COOKING!

KIDS ARE COOKING!

Next Week - April 15^th

Pancakes & Sausage

*Kids – Be here at 6:00 if you want to be one of the chefs.  Open to all ages 6-18.

 

 

 

Support Appreciated

Hello Folks,

We're running low on operating funds, and would love your prayers and any financial support you feel led to give.  Donations can be made via PayPal, cash or check.  Checks should be made out to MAD Skates and mailed to 21705 2nd Avenue SE, Bothell, WA 98021.  MAD Skates & Rec Center is a 501(c)3 organization, and all donations are receipted.

Thank you for your continued support,

Brett Elizabeth Spore

Cool Stuff Coming up at MAD Skates

Next week - Dinner provided by the Cormier family.
March 25th - Pizza and video for the 6-11 year olds.
April 1 - No joke! Dinner will be provided by the Jones family.
April 8th - Dinner by Bev.
April 15th - We get to use the kitchen for our first "Kids are Cooking" night!  We'll be making applesauce pancakes for dinner, so stay tuned and tell your kids to get ready to sign up to cook.

More fun stuff on the horizon that is still to be determined. 

Biblical Encounters with Christ - Simon Peter, A Fisherman (12+ Bible Session 3-11-13 )

Biblical Encounters with Christ – Simon Peter, A Fisherman

3-11-13 Brett Spore

(Adapted from EFC sermon series)

 

Scripture: Luke 5:1-11

Vs. 1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God.

Vs. 2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets.

Vs. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon (Peter), and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

Vs. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

At this point, if I was Simon Peter, I would be thinking “Man, I just finished fishing all night and caught nothing. I’d like to put my nets away and go home for the day. I’m tired.  I’m depressed that we caught no fish, and honestly I’m not really thrilled about the idea of a teacher telling me how to fish.”

Vs. 5 Simon (Peter) answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.  But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

Despite his distain at the thought of Jesus Christ telling him to put his nets out again, he does what Jesus tells him to do.  Why?  “Because you say so.”  I sort of picture Simon Peter being like “Fine. Whatever. I’ll show you there are no fish right now.”  Or maybe he thought, look this guy’s pretty wise, maybe by some miracle he actually knows something I don’t know after spending my whole life as a fisherman.

Vs. 6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.

What do you think God could do in your life if you would simply obey him?

Vs. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

Suggestions: Don’t ever underestimate the power of God, and don’t be surprised if he overwhelms you to the point of needing to call for reinforcements.  Ask for help when you need it!

Vs. 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”

Simon Peter just recognized God’s power in Jesus and Simon Peter’s own frailty.

Vs. 9-10a For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.

They were all blown away by the sheer volume of fish they had caught.  I get the impression they had never in their entire lives seen that many fish caught at one time.

Vs. 10b Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.”

Why would Jesus tell Simon Peter not to be afraid unless Simon Peter was showing signs that he was afraid?  In Vs. 8 the Bible says he fell to his knees, which is a sign of submission in every culture I know of to date.  I am picturing a guy who thought, as many people say today, that Jesus Christ was a wise man, a moral man, and a good teacher.  But after the fishing incident, Simon Peter realized that Jesus Christ is so much more than that. HE IS GOD!  And Simon Peter is afraid.  So, Jesus tells him not to be afraid and that from this day forward he will be a fisherman of people, catching men and women with the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Vs. 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

They left EVERYTHING! Their biggest catch of their lives. Their Olympic God.  Their platinum record. Their CEO of Microsoft job.  Their starting spot on the soccer team. Their full-ride scholarship to the college of their dreams.  They left EVERYTHING and followed him.

Challenge Question:
What are you willing to leave behind to fully and wholeheartedly follow Jesus Christ wherever he takes you to be a fisherman of men and women?  Are you willing to go? 

3-4-13 Bible Session Notes

Biblical Encounters With Christ – The Samaritan Woman

3-4-13 Brett Spore

(Adapted from EFC sermon series)

Bible Drill:

Revelation 22:17 – The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!”  Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.

John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

The following conversation Jesus has with the Samaritan woman illustrates clearly how fully “whoever” means anyone!

Read:  John 4:1-42 (If you don’t own a Bible go to http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Jhn&c=4&v=1&t=NIV#top to read this passage.)

Samaritans (the woman) and Jews (Jesus) hated each other as people groups. – Jesus spoke to her anyway.

The Samaritan woman had previously been married 5 times and was now sleeping with a man who she was not married to. – Jesus offered her life anyway.

The Samaritan woman is considered a cast-off, garbage, dirty & unclean. – Jesus loves her anyway.

Jesus broke through the social, racial, and political boundaries to reach a life, to change a life, to save a life.

Discussion Questions:

1.       Why did Jesus do this?

2.       Why did the disciples go to town & only bring back food while the woman went to town and brought back everyone she could?  What was the difference?

3.       What can you learn from Jesus’ actions?  How can you apply what you learned?

4.       What can you learn from the Samaritan woman?  How can you apply what you learned?

News

* Everett just got a new indoor skate park.  So happy for all the skaters and a huge thanks to the Sanchez family for opening this place.  The Garage is on Rucker Avenue in Everett. Check it out.

* Skate & Rec Night dinners are covered for the month of March.  We are in need of people to sign up for the month of April. Please contact me if you are able to provide part or all of a meal.

* Excited about some fun stuff we are planning for Skate & Rec Night.  We hope to see you all there!