Current Series: Imitate
Title: “TAG (Time Alone with God)”
The Word: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Joshua 1:7-9, Romans 12:1-2, Psalm 119:105.
Main Thought: For students to pause daily to spend TAG and live it.
Message Explanation: Where is there time for a TAG? We need to Pause. We NEED Jesus everyday through His Word to see through the FOG of this world. We are inundated with temptation, struggle, and pain. God’s Word is the light for our lives.
Psalms 119:105: Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path."
Our time alone with God each day is crucial to learning to imitate Jesus. We need to hit the pause button on our lives and connect to the Power Source. Only when we understand that we cannot live on our own strength do we begin to grow.
The Bible is the best-selling book of all time. The Bible is in many languages and I’m sure most of us have numerous Bibles at home. It wasn’t always this way before the fifteenth century. John Wycliffe began translating the Bible into languages because he wanted people to be able to read it. Wycliffe and his followers translated the English Bible in the 1380’s for the first time, giving people the opportunity to study the Bible.
But, don’t we all take the Bible for GRANTED? Why is reading the Bible Important? Every relationship is dependent upon quality time. We need to be in fellowship with Jesus throughout our daily lives.
2 Timothy 3:16-17: “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.”
Every word of the Bible is God’s voice. It is His love letter to you and me. The only way to know God’s heart is to read His Word.The Bible is living and active and is not meant for the bookshelf!
Joshua 1:7-9: "Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. 9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
How do I build a T.A.G daily?
Hit the PAUSE BUTTON on your life.
What distractions are causing you to rush through life? What consumes your thoughts right NOW?
We are all busier than ever. As much as technology speeds up it tends to cause each of us to speed up. We live in a culture of multitasking. We have smartphones, game systems, TV, YouTube, friends to hang out with, relationships, sports, church and more. With all that is going on in our lives we can easily miss out on the most important relationship.
Romans 12:2:Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
2. CONNECT to the Power Source. Connect daily. We know God’s Word by reading it. It is that simple. When you disconnect from the power source, you are living on your own power.
How to SOAP daily:
Scripture: Read the Bible until God speaks to you.
Observe: Ask the questions about the background of the scripture.
Apply: How do you live out what the verse(s) in your personal life?
Pray: Write down specific prayer requests about your personal needs.
3. Live from God’s Power. God’s Word wasn’t meant for information but transformation.
Read the Bible and obey what you read. Apply it. Live it.
Express to God that you desire a closer relationship with Him. Ask Him what do I need to STOP doing so I can START having a T.A.G.?
Element of Fun: The middle school students played a game called, “Make it or Break it.” It is a video driven game that each grade competes each week for this series!
Music: Running, Our God, Give me Faith, Only to You.
Favorite Moment: Students deciding to commit to spending TAG with God each day to grow to imitate Christ.
What’s Next: We will continue the series, “Imitate” as we talk about the importance of giving.
To watch any of the series messages, check out the vimeo page.
We all like to hear stories about other people. It is in the makeup of our flesh as human beings. It is an insatiable desire to be in the know and to feel better than others.
You might hear some say to you, “Did you hear?”
Or my all-time favorite, “I have a prayer request about a person…Okay! I’ll let you know what is going on so we can “pray” for them.”
What does it mean to assassinate a person’s character?
The Bible talks about it. It is the word, "slander." To slander someone, this means literally, "to whisper."
It is a simple but deadly approach that people take towards others. Sometimes people assassinate others because they feel hurt by another person. Sometimes they are feeling inadequate and want to put others down to make themselves feel elevated.
"Having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame." 1 Peter 3:16
Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler. Proverbs 20:19.
In every conversation we have an opportunity. Do we continue to assassinate someone's character or refuse to join in it. Many times I have failed and listened and even shared my thoughts about others. Learning to love people and applying Matthew 18 should be the goal of every Christ follower.
How do I learn to use words of healing instead of assassination?
Ask these questions:
Is it True? Remember this rule about gossip: The more interesting it is, the more likely it is to be false.
Is it Helpful? Will your words help bring about a solution to a problem?
Is it Inspiring? Will your words build up someone?
Is it Necessary? Do we have to say anything at all?
Is it Kind? Are your words based on a desire to help?
Overall, instead of assassination of character, we should seek to speak life into others.
Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. Hebrews 12:14-15.
What happens when 31 people with the same heart and same vision converge on a short-term mission trip?
Life change!
We spent the week serving all around San Ramon, Costa Rica and sharing the love of Christ. One of the most rewarding parts of student ministry is watching students serving others. I loved watching students share their faith, testimonies, songs, scripture and more. I believe that this generation is the church now and not later.
We created three vbs teams and each team went to two spots per day. We gave out almost 50 bibles to new disciples and those who did not have one. One of the most heartbreaking moments was running out of bibles and children and youth asking for one. I am not used to people so hungry for the bible! I was able to see in that moment that being on mission is being the hands, feet and voice of Christ. We need to show it by our actions and take the next step to verbalize the gospel. God showed up at each location through the simple extension of people who love children. See how Jesus responded to children!
Luke 18:15-16, "One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering him. Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. 17 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”
One of the greatest ways to understand the gospel is through the eyes of a child.
We spent the last day and a half on a side trip to relax as a group. We went to the arenal volcano where we spent Friday afternoon and evening at the hot springs. We went zip lining through the rain forest canopy of the volcano on Saturday morning. Our guide Tyler (who was also the worship leader at pura vida mission) took some of us to a waterfall with a rope swing. It was a great ending to a fun and life changing mission trip.
Pura vida missions is the best in leading groups to serve. They take care of all the logistics of transportation, food and translators once you land in San José, Costa Rica. Not only are you given a great opportunity to serve but they serve you! Each evening there is a worship service geared to your group with worship and teaching. After a full week at pura vida, your heart will leave full of encouragement, group unity and the love of Christ!
If you are looking into a mission organization for your student ministry, I hope you will check them out! www.puravidamissions.com
