You Can Trust Him

September 25, 2006 kensapp Leave a comment

He is unparalleled and unprecedented.
He is the centerpiece of civilization.
He is the superlative of all excellence.
He is the sum of human greatness.
He is the source of divine grace.
His name is the only one able to save,
and his blood is the only power able to cleanse.
His ear is open to the sinner’s call.
His hand is quick to lift the fallen soul.
He’s the eternal lover of us all – every one,
And you can trust Him.

He supplies mercy for the struggling soul.
He sustains the tempted and the tried.
He sympathizes with the wounded and broken.
He strengthens the weak and the weary.
He guards and He guides the wanderer.
He heals the sick and cleanses the leper.
He delivers the captive and defends the helpless,
and he binds up the broken-hearted.
He’s for you … and you can trust Him.

Jesus is the key to all knowledge.
He’s the wellspring of wisdom.
He’s the doorway of deliverance,
and He’s the pathway of peace.
He’s the roadway of righteousness.
He’s the highway of holiness.
He’s the gateway to glory,
And yes-you can trust Him.

Jesus IS enough … He’s the all sufficient KING…
He’s the King of the Jews.
He’s the King of Israel.
He’s the King of Righteousness and He’s the King of the Ages.
He’s the King of Heaven.
He’s the King of Glory.
He’s the King of kings and He’s the Lord of lords.
And “yes” again, you can trust Him.

And rejoice in this, my friend … He is a Sovereign King.
There is no gauge to measure His limitless love.
There is no barrier to block His blessings outpoured.
He is enduringly strong and He is entirely supreme.
He is eternally steadfast. He is immortally faithful.
He is imperially powerful and He is impartially merciful.
He is Jesus-God’s Son-and you can trust Him.

I wish I could more accurately describe Him to you; but
He’s indescribable. He’s incomprehensible.
He’s invincible. He’s irresistible.

You can’t outlive Him and you can’t live without Him.’
The Pharisees couldn’t stand Him, but they found they couldn’t stop Him.
Pilate couldn’t fault Him. Herod couldn’t kill Him.
Death couldn’t conquer Him
and the grave couldn’t hold Him!

My friends…
He’s the Alpha and Omega, the first and the lost.
He’s the God of the future and the God of the past.
And we rise to speak His Name again and again … Jesus … Jesus
He is Jesus … He is for us … and WE CAN TRUST HIM!

Inspired by a prayer spontaneously offered by the late Dr. S.M. Lockridge

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Food for Thought

What Money Can Buy

September 24, 2006 kensapp Leave a comment

Money will buy:

A bed BUT NOT sleep,
Books BUT NOT brains,
Food BUT NOT appetite,
Finery BUT NOT beauty,
A house BUT NOT a home,
Medicine BUT NOT health,
Luxuries BUT NOT culture,
Amusement BUT NOT happiness,
A Crucifix BUT NOT a Savior,
A Church pew BUT NOT Heaven.

What money can’t buy, Jesus Christ can give freely without charge.

Creative Teaching Ideas

Identifying Feelings

September 23, 2006 kensapp Leave a comment

For a unique perspective on a Biblical story, provide this list of emotions to the youth and have them choose what the various Bible personalities might be feeling at different points in the story.

Positive Feelings
Affectionate, Alive, Amused, Accepted, Beautiful, Brave, Calm, Capable, Caring, Cheerful, Cherished, Comfortable, Competent, Concerned, Confident, Content, Courageous, Curious, Delighted, Desirable, Eager, Excited, Forgiving, Friendly, Fulfilled, Generous, Glad, Good, Grateful, Great, Happy, Hopeful, Humorous, Joyful, Lovable, Loved, Loving, Loyal, Passionate, Peaceful, Playful, Pleased, Proud, Quiet, Relaxed, Relieved, Respected, Safe, Satisfied, Secure, Self-reliant, Sexy, Silly, Special, Strong, Supportive, Sympathetic, Tender, Thankful, Thrilled, Trusted, Understanding, Understood, Unique, Valuable, Warm, Witty, Wonderful, Worthwhile, Youthful

Negative Feelings
Afraid, Angry, Anxious, Apprehensive, Ashamed, Awkward, Bitter, Bored, Confused, Contemptuous, Defeated, Dejected, Dependent, Depressed, Despairing, Desperate, Devastated, Disappointed, Discouraged, Disgusted, Distrustful, Embarrassed, Exasperated, Fearful, Foolish, Frantic, Frustrated, Furious, Guilty, Hateful, Helpless, Hopeless, Horrified, Hostile, Humiliated, Hurt, Ignored, Impatient, Inadequate, Incompetent, Indecisive, Inferior, Inhibited, Insecure, Irritated, Isolated, Jealous, Lonely, Melancholy, Miserable, Misunderstood, Muddled, Needy, Old, Outraged, Overwhelmed, Panicky, Pessimistic, Phony, Preoccupied, Prejudiced, Pressured, Provoked, Regretful, Rejected, Remorseful, Resentful, Sad, Self-conscious, Shy, Sorry, Stubborn, Stupid, Terrified, Threatened, Tired, Touchy, Trapped, Troubled, Unappreciated, Unattractive, Uncertain, Uncomfortable, Uneasy, Unfulfilled, Used, Useless, Uptight, Victimized, Violated, Vulnerable, Weary, Wishy-washy, Worn-out, Worried

Other uses for this list of emotions

Youth sometimes find it difficult to identify the feelings they are having. Use this list of positive and negative feelings to help youth identify their feelings about a circumstance or situation.
Randomly select emotions from the list for a game of charades or pictionary.
Attach an emotion to the back of each youth. Using only yes/ no questions they must discover the emotion on their back.
Attach an emotion to the back of each youth. Without speaking they must discover the emotion on their back.
As a crowdbreaker, randomly assign youth emotions from the list so that there are two youth for each emotion. Then, using only facial expressions they must find their partner who has the same emotion.
As a crowdbreaker to divide the youth into groups have one emotion for each group. Randomly assign youth one of the emotions as they arrive. Using only facial expressions they must group themselves according to the emotions.

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Food for Thought

Just Like You

September 22, 2006 kensapp Leave a comment

Once there was a congregation in which every member was just like you. Each one cooperated and supported every church program just the way you have been doing. Everyone worked as hard and attended the same services and church functions as you do. The elders, the deacons, and the preacher were all as interested in the church as you are at this time. They put the same emphasis on their recreation, business, and other material affairs that you do. Each member gave to the church as you are giving. Within a year or so, this congregation….

Food for Thought

Shade Trees

September 21, 2006 kensapp Leave a comment

Man has made a start on the meaning of life when he plants shade trees under which he knows he will never sit.
– Trueblood

Youth Ministry

Paradoxical Commandments of Teaching

September 21, 2006 kensapp Leave a comment

Youth are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. Develop a trusting, caring relationship anyway.
If you develop an unconditional philosophy in loving your youth, you may be accused of selfish motives. Love without hooks anyway.
If you are sucessful in your teaching, you may generate jealousy and envy from some people. Succeed anyway.
The little things you do for your youth will be forgotten tomorrow. Do the little things anyway.
Having uncompromizeable convictions and beliefs make you old fashioned. Have them anyway.
Prophets of gloom and doom are eager to let you know there is no hope. Have hope anyway.
People center on negatives and few positives. Develop a positive mental attitude anyway.
The energies you expend in being successful can be destroyed overnight. Be energetic anyway.
Your youth really need guidance, but may reject you. Give guidance anyway.
Give your youth the best you have and you will experience mixed gratitude. Give them the best you have anyway.

Adapted from Gene A. Bedley, Former USA National educator of the year

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Devotional

Appearances

September 20, 2006 kensapp Leave a comment

“But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

God warned Samuel against judging by appearance alone. When we judge by externals, we easily overlook outstanding people who lack the particular physical qualities society currently admires. Outward appearance doesn’t reflect what people are really like or their true worth.

When the time came to anoint a successor to Saul as king of Israel, Samuel was confident he knew a king when he saw one. Eliab, Jesse’s oldest son, was the clear choice.

To God, and hopefully to our church, there is a complete acceptance of people regardless of these outward things, and a love that turns that insecurity into peace. Samuel should have remembered that God judges by faith and character, not appearances. Since only God can look within the human heart, only he can accurately judge people. Many people spend hours each week maintaining their outward appearance; we should all do more to develop our inner character. While everyone can see your face, only you and God know what your heart really looks like.

“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” (1 Peter 3:3-4)

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Parents Ministry, Youth Ministry

The 5 C’s of Building Strong Families

September 20, 2006 kensapp Leave a comment

Center on God
Make all of life God-saturated. Make the Bible the most important book in your home and something the family reads everyday together. Pray with them and for them daily. Youth need to see the Word of God “fleshed out” in your life.

Care
This is “agape” love “that is unconditional, sacrificial, and unshakable.” We all need to be appreciated. Compliment your youth daily. Make it genuine and specific. Praise is the greatest motivation in the world for learning.

Connect
You must spend time with your youth. You can not buy your their affection. Youth are quite happy to exchange the luxury of “things” for their parents physical presence. You must be in physical proximity with your youth. Take them with you to the office or on an errand. If you travel spend as much of your “home time” with your youth as possible. Show your youth appropriate physical affection. A pat on the shoulder, a hug, a kiss, a hand held are means of touch that powerfully convey your approval. Discipline is also important but guard against abuse of any kind. Help them apply the principles that you have learned from God’s word.

Communicate
The less time spent in front of the TV the stronger the family. When the TV is off there is greater chance for conversation. Be spontaneous, be a good listener, be positive in your communication. Deut. 6:4-9 reminds all parents to teach God’s Commandments.

Commit
“Commitment is our resolve to always keep our families centered on God, to always love, to always build bridges to our children, and to always communicate to the best of our ability. It is a commitment to be a family no matter what circumstances or situations arise” (pp.16-29).

Source: Dr. William Mitchell and Michael Mitchell in “Building Strong Families”

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Evangelism Ideas

Handling Concerns Regarding Salvation

September 19, 2006 kensapp Leave a comment

Now is not time.
Don’t brag about what will happen tomorrow. You don’t really know what will happen then. (Prov 27:1)

I tried to be a Christian before, but then I failed.
God is strong and can help you not to fall. He can bring you before His glory without any wrong and give you great joy. He is the only God. He is the One who saves us. (Jude 24,25)

l am not good enough.
God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world guilty, but to save the world through Him. He who believes in God’s Son is not judged guilty. He who does not believe has already been judged guilty. (John 3:17,18)

I’m not so bad.
There is no one without sin. None! There is no one who looks to God for help. All have turned away … All people have sinned and are not good enough for God’s glory. (Rom 3:10,11,23)

I don’t want be Christian because being a Christian means no more freedom. I cannot do what I want.
Young people, enjoy yourselves while you are young. Be happy while you are young. Do whatever your heart desires. Do whatever you want to do. But remember that God will judge you for everything you do. (Eccle 11:9)

All religions are the same.
Jesus answered, “I am the way. And I am the truth and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.” (John 14:6)

It doesn’t really matter what I believe?
… those who do not know God … and those who do not obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ … will be punished with a destruction that continues forever. They will not be allowed to be with the Lord, and they will be kept away from His great power. (2 Thess 1:8,9)

I don’t need God
It is worth nothing for a person to have the whole world, if he loses his soul? (Mark 8 :36)

Life is quite meaningless.
I came to give life, life in all its fullness. (John 10:10)

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Food for Thought