Source SM Recap: Volume #8
Teaching series: Rhythm - Week 1 "Wonder"
Main Thought: We will discover that being in rhythm with God means that He alone has captured our sense of wonder
Length of service: 70 minutes. We have separate teaching time for middle school and high school. We have a unified worship experience with the band in the middle of the evening. We have small groups immediately after the teaching and response by grade and gender.
Messsage Explanation: The first week of the Rhythm series sets up the premise that in the beginning, God established a rhythm. We will be talking about the glory of God in creation and always being captivated by His wonder. We will also look at God’s response to Adam’s sin, and we'll see that God continues to seek relationship with us even after things have fallen apart. The cross isn’t just where Jesus died. It is where we come to die with Him. Scripture: Genesis 1:27, Genesis 3:1-13, Isaiah 53:5-6, Romans 5:10, Luke 19:10, 1 Peter 2:24.
Element of fun: The middle school students played the old school game of "Simon says" but with one of our leaders names, "Jason says." It was a great night to welcome our new 6th grade students into the student ministry!
Music Set: You Deserve, Love, God is Able, All I Need is You, Give Me Faith, It is Finished (closing)
Favorite Moment: Sensing the excitement and passion from the students on our first Wednesday night at Source. We had a great turnout for our first night and look forward to what God has in the future!
What's Next: We will be continuing our series "Rhythm" next week. We will be talking about discovering the heart of discipleship. Jesus died so He could be our life, not just part of it!
Download Notes from this week: Rhythm - Wonder (teaching outline) Leader Small Group Discussion Guide Student-outline- notes
The Wonder of the Cross
Broken. Hurt. Anger. Pride. Bitter. Gossip. Pain. Depression. Lust. These few words are a picture of the brokenness that surrounds us.
Why is there so much hurt? Why are their families in disarray?
Humanity’s rhythm is broken: -Spiritually: We are disconnected from a relationship with God without Christ. -Physically: disease, aging, and physical death. -Socially: conflicts in relationships, broken homes, divorce, sexual abuse, -Emotionally: Anti-anxiety medicines, antidepressants, cutting, self-abuse. -Morally: Overflowing prison system, abortions, college scandals, sexual abuse, verbal abuse.
I want to go back in time. Back to the beginning. God created everything. Perfectly. He breathed the stars in existence and breathed life into mere dust and created man. He created people in His own image. Adam and Eve were in a perfect, harmonious relationship with God. One quick decision to disobey left the relationship and rhythm in disarray.
Since the fall of man, man has tried to find purpose. This is where Jesus enters in a small town in Bethlehem. In a dirty, humble and not so "silent night," The God of the universe put on flesh and bone and came on a rescue mission. His mission? To rescue humanity.
Jesus came with one end in mind. He endured a life of selfless ministry and finished with a cruel death by Roman crucifixion. It is a wonder that a perfect Savior would take my place on a cruel cross. Why? God is love. Simply.
The horrible cross became wonderful. God poured out His wrath on sin upon His only Son, Jesus. I marvel at the fact that God gave up His only son for us.
I will never get over this truth. The greatest story ever told. A perfect God comes to rescue broken mankind.
“The gospel is that I am so flawed that Jesus had to die for me, yet I am so loved and valued that Jesus was glad to die for me.” Timothy Keller