Monday, August 25, 2014

Four Moments:

Ministry to children and youth for both parents and church workers focuses on cultivating followers of Christ with sustainable faith. Basically, we want the faith of our young people to stick when they leave our homes and churches to live as independent adults.

As I listen to and observe the faith journeys of former students and young adults, I often see pivotal moments along the way that constitute “make or break” tests of their faith. Discipling my students, I am preparing them for these four moments.

1. The semester with the persuasive, atheist philosophy professor.

Whether in college or in a coffee shop, every young Christian will meet people who do not believe in the truth of Christianity and can argue persuasively against it. Particularly in college, students will encounter professors with an ax to grind against Christianity and with a desire to use their classroom as a platform against the religion. Many times, students without a deep theological base have their faith wrecked by slick arguments.

I want my students to ask hard questions and to have experience logically arguing for their belief in the veracity of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. So we dedicate much time in our youth ministry to working on apologetics. In particular, we focus on the validity of the Bible as God’s Word, the historical facts surrounding the resurrection, and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies in the life of Christ. I have found Tim Keller’s video series The Reason for God to be an indispensible tool for giving students both exposure to and practice in engaging arguments against Christianity.

2. The day their best friend dies in a car accident.
Deep suffering is the biggest challenge to the faith of young people. They have heard that God is good and that he loves them. They have been told that God has a wonderful plan for their life. Then they get a phone call that their best friend died in a car accident or that doctors have diagnosed their mom with terminal brain cancer. Their experience of suffering seemingly contradicts the claims of God’s goodness. They understandably ask, “If God loves me, why is he allowing this to happen?”

A vital aspect of youth ministry involves preparing young people to suffer. They have to know that they undoubtedly will suffer in this life. Furthermore, they need the tools to interpret tragedy through the scriptural lens that will enable them to walk away from trauma with steadfast confidence in God’s character. Broadly speaking, I spend much time teaching about the origins of suffering, God’s purposes in suffering, and God’s willingness to suffer in Jesus Christ.

3. The year when they don't feel God’s presence at all.
The nature of faith is that some people enjoy euphoric experiences of God’s presence in their life, while others never feel anything all that unusual. Too often, Christian leaders who have been blessed with powerful spiritual encounters with God lead others to expect that all believers should or will have the same experience. In reality, many faithful Christian people never “feel” God or hear from him in these ways. They rest in God’s Word but have never enjoyed such overwhelming, supernatural encounters with their Creator.

Too often, I have seen students walk away from Christianity because they have never “felt” God. They believe that if the religion is true, then they will feel something to validate that it’s real. I have heard college students and young adults develop serious doubts because they have suffered a dry season where they do not experience God’s presence at all.

As a result, in our ministry we try to monitor the expectations students have of the Christian life. We acknowledge that some people have a more emotional faith with real spiritual experiences, while others have a more cerebral faith without mystical moments. We do not want kids to think that getting a “Christian high” validates whether or not God is real.
We do not want kids to think that getting a 'Christian high' validates whether or not God is real.
4. The day when their fiancĂ©e breaks off the engagement, even after they have remained abstinent. 

I have been surprised, even amazed at the number of Christian young people who lose their faith after a serious disappointment. Things do not go the way they expected in everything from relationships and jobs to fraternities and graduate school admission. In turn, young people often respond with a sense of outrage that God did not grant them their wishes. In these cases a tone of entitlement frequently emerges, as if God owes them. They feel that they have lived the right way—paid their dues in other words—and, consequently, God should give them what they want.

If students grow up under a law-driven faith, where they either implicitly or explicitly learn that they win God’s favor through obedience, then they cannot help but believe that God should reward them for their faithfulness. When life does not meet expectations, they feel as if God has betrayed them. Their theology suggests, “I’ve fulfilled my end of the bargain, God. Now it’s your turn. I didn’t sleep with my girlfriend; therefore, my heart should not be broken.”

Consequently, it is critically important to constantly reinforce the fullness of the gospel. The full gospel says that we are sinners who have earned nothing but God’s wrath. God does not owe us anything. Jesus has fulfilled both our end and his end of the deal in his life, death, and resurrection. Everything we have in life comes through God’s grace.

The gospel reminds students that God is not obligated to grant them their wishes, but he is always for them, even in their season of disappointment.

Original Article: Four Moments I'm Preparing Students to Face:
Original Date: August 8, 2014

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Monday Morning Humor:

If you are watching on a phone here is the link: Monday Morning Humor

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Monday Morning Humor:

If you are watching from a phone here is the link: Monday Morning Humor

The Gospel According to Cats and Dogs:

Some people have a gospel according cats.

And others have a gospel according to dogs.

The gospel according to cats has God saying, “Please me. Stroke me. Fear me. Don’t get too close to me. Love me. Serve me and I may pay attention to you on occasion.” It portrays God as someone who is fickle, preening, and demanding.

The gospel according to dogs has God saying, “I love everything about you. You never upset me. You never do anything wrong.  Don’t ever change. I don’t care what you do or who you are. You are my master and I love  you. I am so happy to be with you–no matter what!” It portrays God as someone desperate for affection, without standards and without any real concern for our behavior or well-being.

The gospel according to cats offers no grace. The gospels according to dogs expects no obedience. Take your pick: a Christianity without mercy or a Christianity without repentance. Neither are truly Christian.

Don’t trade the bad news of finicky love for the false gospel of unconditional affirmation. There is more to grace than “it’s okay” and more to the law than “shape up.”

Run to Christ. Be forgiven. Die to self. Get happy. Follow Christ. Live forever.

Author: Kevin Deyoung
Original Post: The Gospel According to Cats and Dogs
Original Date: August 14, 2014

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Luke 10:1-2: Sermon at FBC Stanleyville



Good Morning!
My name is T Welch, wife: Julia, daughter: Piper. We have enjoyed meeting each of you this weekend and look forward to partnering with you to reach youth and Winston Salem for Christ.
Turn in your Bible to Luke 10:1-2
 As you are turning in your Bibles allow me to walk you through the first 9 chapters of Luke. Luke 1-3 records the Christmas story or the birth of Jesus Christ. Luke 4-6, tells the story of John the Baptist, the calling out of the first disciples and the attitudes a follower of Christ should possess. Luke 7-9, records Jesus teachings on love and forgiveness, as well as his prediction of His own death for the very first time. Luke 10 opens up with the sending out of seventy individuals. Luke 10:1-2 records the sending out of the seventy into the villages and cities in which Jesus is about to go. The sending of the seventy is important because this is the first time the Lord appoints missionaries. MacArthur writes, “Jesus first appoints the highest rank of spiritual service, the Apostles, down to the next level. And here we find what everybody else was commissioned to do and that was to proclaim the message of Jesus Christ. They are set apart to be the first Kingdom missionaries.” Today, we are going to walk through two verses and ask ourselves four questions, “Who is the Lord of the Harvest, Who are His laborers, where are the fields and what are are we to do?
Please stand for the reading of God’s word: Luke 10:1-2
Who is the Lord of the harvest?
The Lord of the harvest is none other than Jesus Himself. The same person who sends the seventy out and the same person who sends us out is also Lord over the harvest! We must remember that the Lord of the harvest is the same God who created everything. God spoke and the world came into existence. The Lord of the harvest is a God of diversity, creativity, and sophistication which He has put on display in the universe, on earth and in our bodies. The Bible says that the Heavens display the glory of God… God is SHOUTING at us with blue skies, He is SHOUTING at us in the humidity of summer, He is SHOUTING with brilliant sunsets and sunrises. Through it all, He is SHOUTING, worship me, trust me, and surrender your life to me.
The Lord of the harvest is not only creator but He also never changes. He has no birthday. No time when He came into being, He has always existed and He will always exist. He was the living God when the Universe was created and He will be the living God 10,000 years from now when every building on this campus has crumbled to the ground. The Lord of the harvest is all-knowing.  He knows our thoughts before we think them, our actions before we commit them; He knows our lying down and our getting up. God knows all. God is holy and because of His holiness He cannot look upon sin. Man is sinful and cannot get to God; however, thanks be to God because He has made a way. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. Who is the Lord of the harvest? The lord of the harvest is none other than the eternal creator, the all-knowing, all sufficient, everywhere, never changing, creative, and holy but loving God!
Who are His laborers? (Vs. 2b)
In the immediate context these are the seventy elders who are going out and as they are going they are told to pray that God would raise up more men and women to go and share about Christ. A Pastor in Philadelphia writes, “The extraordinary thing about the seventy which Jesus sent out is there ordinariness. There lack of extraordinary abilities.” We should take great comfort in this quote. Let me read it again, “The extraordinary thing about the seventy which Jesus sent out is there ordinariness. There lack of extraordinary abilities.” God’s workers, God’s laborers are ordinary men and women who have fallen in love with an extraordinary God. Do you feel ordinary this morning? Do you feel inadequate? PERFECT! You are just the man or woman God desires to use. God uses ordinary people to proclaim His extraordinary love! Every one of you can change the world. Every one of you young or old can impact your family, your school, your church, your neighborhood, your city, your state, your nations, and yes, even the world! Who are these workers? They are ordinary men and women who have fallen in love with an extraordinary.
Where is the harvest? (2b)
Jesus sends out the seventy into every city and place where He is about to go. Now; the harvest obviously is a lot bigger and includes the whole world. Did you know that there are 7 billion (with a b), 7 billion people on this planet and sadly over half of the world’s population has little access to the Gospel. Where is the harvest? The harvest is in every corner of every city in the United States. Did you know that in Winston Salem alone there are 20,000 individuals who don’t claim a religion? 12% of the population has no religion. Think about where you live. Do your neighbors know Jesus? Do your co-workers know Jesus? Do your classmates know Jesus? What about your family members? The harvest is not only in America but the harvest is in Africa where there are 300,000 tribal animistic religions completely devoid of God. The harvest is in East Asia; where there are 350 million Buddhists. The harvest is in South Asia; where there are 950 million Hindus worshiping more gods than you or I could even imagine. The harvest is in communist nations such as North Korea, China, and Cuba where individuals have grown up in an atheistic philosophy that completely denies the existence of God. The harvest is in the Middle East where there are 1.3 billion Muslims fasting, giving alms, making pilgrimages to Mecca and praying five times a day to a false god. Where is the harvest? The harvest is on every corner of planet Earth.
What will be our response?
There are only three responses to today’s sermon: go, send or disobey.
GO:
I believe God has been working in someone’s heart this morning and He is placing a burden on your heart to reach the nations. We need individuals to go! We need men and women to go to every corner of every city in the United States because there are hundreds of millions of people who are going to a Christ less eternity and we should long to see them worship God. We need men and women to go to Africa and tell the tribes that there is a God and He is worthy of every single one of their praise. We need workers in East Asia and South Asia because Buddha is not worthy of worship, Jesus Christ is! Hindu worshipers must be told that there is ONLY one God and He is the way the truth and the life. We need workers in the Middle East working with Muslims because Allah is not worthy of praise, NO, only Jehovah is worthy of their praise. Will you take the Gospel to the Nations both at home and abroad?
SEND:
The second option is to send. Senders are those who for whatever reasons are unable to go to the mission field but God is going to use these individuals through another avenue. This avenue is sending. Look at verse two; look at what the senders are commanded to do: we are commanded to pray. We are commanded to pray for the nations. While you watch the news take time to pray over the nations. Pray that God would open the eyes of those whom the enemy has blinded. Pray that God would send missionaries to the unreached peoples of the world. Pray that God would encourage missionaries serving overseas. Pray and ask God what your role will be in taking the Gospel to the nations. Second, partner with other missionaries which your church sends out. Do you know the missionaries which your church supports? Talk with your WMU, GA, deacons and pastors for information about missionaries and then send the missionaries a word of encouragement. Third, send money. Every little bit helps. Did you know that if you make $25,000 per year you are in the top 10% of the world’s wealthiest people? Please, use what God has given you in order to send out more missionaries.
3) Disobedient:
The seventy elders could have chosen not to go when Jesus sent them out. They could have chosen to stay at home, enjoy time with their families rather than listen to their king, but instead they went. The same is true for you; you may choose to open your mouth and share the Gospel or you may choose to remain be disobedient and remain silent. 
Conclusion:
In closing, after this sermon church will end and your church will be called into council to vote on whether or not you will call myself as Associate Pastor/Minister of Students. My wife and I are excited about the possibility of serving God with each of you in the coming years. While the vote after church is important there is a more important vote going on today and that is the vote which will take place in each of your hearts. Every day we have the vote to either join Christ on mission to take the Gospel to the world or to be disobedient and remain silent. How will you vote on that question? Will you vote yes to take the Gospel to the Nations or will you vote no? Will you vote yes to prayerfully supporting missionaries or will you vote no? Will you vote yes to sharing the Gospel with your neighbors, co-workers and class mates or will you vote no? How will you vote?

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Ten Promises:

Below are ten promises which I make as the Minister of Students at FBC Stanleyville...

  1. Every teenager will be prayed for by name daily.
  2. Every teenager will be taught how to reach the lost through strategic cultural engagement.
  3. Every parent of an FBC Youth will quarterly be made aware of developments in youth culture.
  4. Every teenager will be taught a robust theology, exalting Christ and encouraging missional living from every page of Scripture.
  5. Every teenager will receive a birthday card, Facebook post or funny video on their birthday.
  6. Every teenager will be given the opportunity to be involved in camp, retreats, banquets, lock-ins, field trips, fundraisers, and other events yearly.
  7. Every parent of an FBC Youth will be kept up to date of events and activities via phone, email, newsletter and/or social media.
  8. Every teenager will be encouraged to discover their spiritual gift and given opportunity to serve.
  9. Every teenager will be connected with other Christians from FBC Stanleyville who attend their middle or high school to provide friendship, accountability and encouragement.
  10. Every teenager who shares in youth group will have what is shared kept in strict confidence unless the teenager is believed to be a danger to him/herself or someone else.

Monday, August 11, 2014

Mission Statement of FBC of Stanleyville Youth:

The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.-Helen Keller

Helen Keller said, "the only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision." Helen Keller understood the importance of vision. Vision is important for every organization and the youth group of FBC Stanleyville is no different. Our mission is to reach 7th-12th grade students providing a place of fellowship and growth where we can exalt the Lord, evangelize the lost, equip the Saints and encourage one another.

Our mission statement may be broken down into four key points:

Exalt the Lord: Psalm 16:11, "...in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Teenagers will be taught that God is the Sovereign King of the Universe who rules and reigns from Heaven. Teenagers are encouraged to submit to Christ's lordship in every arena of their lives. Teenagers will exalt the Lord in worship, study of God's word, and living on mission with Jesus Christ.

Evangelize the Lost: 1 Peter 3:15 "...always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you." Teenagers will be taught how to reach the lost through strategic cultural engagement. Teenagers will be taught that they have been placed within their circle of influence and gifted by God to evangelize the lost and engage culture. Teenagers will be encouraged to discover their spiritual gifting's and passions and directed towards ministries to join Jesus Christ on mission.

Equip the Saints: Hebrews 4:12, "the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." Teenagers will be taught a robust theology exalting Christ and encouraging missional living from every page of Scripture. If teenagers are able to learn trigonometry in high school than they can be taught the Bible and theology in church. Teenagers will be equipped to make war against sin and pursue Christ in their daily lives.

Encourage One Another: 1 Thessalonians 5:11, "encourage one another and build each other up." Teenagers will be taught that the church is one family, and our sanctification is a community project; therefore, we must look out for and encourage our "spiritual brothers and sisters". Teenagers will be connected with other Christians from FBC Stanleyville who attend their middle or high school to provide friendship, accountability and encouragement.

In conclusion, the mission of the youth group of First Baptist Church of Stanleyville is to reach 7th-12th grade students providing a place of fellowship and growth where we can exalt the Lord, evangelize the lost, equip the saints and encourage one another.

Who am I?-Identity in Christ



Everyone is special to God. Each of us is loved by God. The Bible reminds us that we are...
 
·  Accepted, Ephesians 1: 6
·   Loved, Ephesians 1: 4
·  Adopted, Ephesians 1: 5, 6
·  Forgiven, Ephesians 1: 7
·  A child of God, Romans 8: 16
·  A friend of Jesus, John 15: 14
·  Saved by grace, Ephesians 2: 8
·  Chosen, John 15: 16
·  Complete, Colossians 2: 10
·  Redeemed, Galatians 3: 13
·  Rescued, Colossians 1: 13
·  Cared for, 1 Peter 5: 7
·  Blessed, Ephesians 1: 3
·  Healed, 1 Peter 2: 24
·  Eternal, 1 John 5: 11, 12
·  A new person, 2 Corinthians 5: 17
·  A masterpiece, Ephesians 2: 10
·  An heir, Romans 8: 17
·  A temple, 1 Peter 2: 5
·  An example, Ephesians 5: 1
·  Declared not guilty, Romans 3: 24
·  Not condemned, Romans 8: 1
·  Made right with God, 2 Corinthians 5: 21
·  Led by the Spirit, Romans 8: 14
·  Living by faith, 2 Corinthians 5: 7
·  Being transformed, Romans 12: 1, 2
·  Not afraid, 2 Timothy 1: 7
·  Strong in the Lord, Ephesians 6: 10
·  Victorious, Romans 8: 37
·  An overcomer, 1 John 4: 4
·  A co-worker with God, 1 Corinthians 3: 9
·  A workman, Philippians 2: 13
·  One in Christ with other believers, Galatians 3: 28
·  Part of the church, Ephesians 5: 29, 30