The Mid-Week Update!!!

A ton of information this week...so read carefully!!!

Lesson Recap

My Story

Think of something interesting, exciting, or unusual that happened to you or someone you know this week.  It can come from your world of family, work, or recreation.

You are at a convenience store paying for gas.  A couple of adults walk in that capture your attention.  Almost immediately they rob the place.  At the request of the attendant you stick around to give a report to the police.  Think of what you would tell the police, and why.

Who trained you to tell your story?  How many times did you practice telling your story prior to the arrival of the police? What responsibility did you have in making sure the police believed your story?  Story telling comes more natural to some than others, BUT every one can tell a story.  In this lesson we talked about how to tell our story, and why.  We looked at one of Paul's examples in Acts for our guideline.

Components of our story:

1. Life Before Christ
2. How I Met Christ
3. Life After Meeting Christ
4. You too Can Know Christ

Paul's Story  Acts 26:4-31

Life Before Christ vv 4-12

How I Met Christ vv 13-18

Life after Meeting Christ vv 19-27

You Too Can Know Christ vv 28-31

If I am asked questions after telling my story, what am I to do?  Follow the the example in Jn 9:13-33.

Life Before Christ v 13

How I Met Christ vv 14-15

Life After Meeting Christ vv 16-26

You too Can Know Christ

You do not have to be a biblical scholar to explain how God changed your life with the sacrificed blood of Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit!

Conclusion: Take a few moments to write out your story using the four components.  Remember to keep it short and to the point.  A good rule of thumb is this- be able to tell your story in the amount of time it takes to ride an elevator to, say, the 10th floor.  Do not forget the fourth component.  It will vary based upon the setting, the person, and the leading of the Holy Spirit.  Remember, successful story telling is telling the story in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results to God.

Benefit Car Wash

Hello friends,

Hope you can come by to support my sister, Carol...

 

WHAT:    Car Wash & BBQ

                to help my sister Carol Weidenhoffer with her cancer medical costs

                since she has no health insurance

WHEN:    This Saturday, August 20, 2011

                10:00 a.m. -- 6:00 p.m.

WHERE:  Auto Zone in Affton

                9401 Gravois (near Mackenzie & Gravois -- just past DQ and JoAnn's Fabrics on same side of street)

                (314) 544-0500

We'd also welcome any extra car wash helpers if you'd like to hang out a while!

Would be great to see you.  Thanks for your help in any way...getting car washed, eating or helping!

Carol is fighting strong ~~ see her picture below!

If you have any questions, please call us.

Rich & Linda Conrad

Rich:  (314) 221-2035

Linda:  (314) 221-2036

Business Meeting

A business meeting will be held after church this Sunday to discuss and possibly vote on the new prospective youth pastor, Ben Wahlman.  Many of us parents were at both the meet and greet last week, as well as the Q and A session held last Sunday.  If you have any questions we can give you information if you were not there!

Door Hanging

One of the big events we do want to share with you that is happening before the new time change is “Door Hanger Sunday” which will be the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, September 4^th.  There will be one service at 10:30am that Sunday and we will have a hot dog lunch for everyone who will take packets of Door Hangers to distribute in the local neighborhoods that afternoon announcing the time change.

Each packet will have approximately 25 door hangers and a map of the neighborhood where you are to distribute the door hangers so that we don’t ‘double hang’ some neighborhoods.  I think, if a team of three people took one or two packets it will go real quickly.  One could drive and the other two could walk on each side of the road and you would be finished before you know it.  We hope a lot of folks will participate.

SPOTlunch

...is this week, and the chosen restaurant is Incredible Pizza.  Bring your Incredible Appetites and share in some fellowship!

Facebook

As mentioned last week, and in class on Sunday we now have a presence on Facebook!  This will enable real quick communication that everyone can post on easily.  The Blog will remain for all the administrative stuff.  You can find us on Facebook HERE!!

Browniepalooza 2011

...will be on September 11.  Bake some your favorite brownie recipe.  Keep some for your family and bring a few to share in class.  Milk will be provided!

Snacks

•  8/21  Hurts
• 8/24    LaRowe's

Prayer Requests

 

• Liz Massey contracted salmonella while working at Kanakuk Kamp in Branson.  She is recovering and hopes to go back to college this week. 
• Jim Meinhardt's brain scan last week was still good.
• Jeff Bradshaw has a co-worker named Carol Masters.  She has some serious health issues that are undisclosed.  Pray for her return to good health.
• Continued prayer for Linda Conrad's sister. (See above about the fundraiser!)
• Susan Hurt's mom has finally been release from the hospital to go to assisted living for recouperation.
• Pray for wisdom for the church as we consider a new youth pastor.

     

Happy Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday today to Ronda Bradshaw!!  God's blessings on your special day!

Happy Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday today to Dani Cotter!!!  Have a great day! 

Happy Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday to Rachel Bradshaw today.  Imagine our whole class singing to you!

Happy Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday today to Daniel Smith.  May God bless your special day!

The Mid-Week Update!!!

Lesson Recap

Anger

Last week we talked about forgiveness.  With this lesson we shifted gears a bit.  What are some human emotions?  Which of these emotions does God experience?  Ever heard the expression 'you make me so angry I could scream'?  A definition for anger is 'a desire to get back for a real or perceived justice'.  Wrath is another word for anger.  Humans display anger where as wrath is usually reserved for God.  They are one and the same.  It is likely that any one living with teens experiences feelings of anger every now and then.  With this lesson we got a Biblical perspective of this strong emotion.

Quick quiz.  What is the first act of anger recorded in the Bible?  In Genesis 4 Cain killed Abel.  The first picture we see of God's anger is in Genesis 6 and the flood.  Here God got angry at all creation, and spared only Noah and his family along with two of every beast.  The second display of God's anger is in Genesis 11 and the Tower of Babel.  Here God got angry at all mankind and created language barriers between them.  The third act of God's anger occurred in Genesis chapter 19 with Sodom and Gomorrah.  Here he display his anger by destroying a select population of mankind.  We see through these examples that God was refining His anger, by using it in descending fashion.

When many people read the Old Testament they get the impression that God is a God of wrath and judgement, but in the New Testament they find a God of love.  Why is there this difference in Scripture? This is a question that all of us, including our teens, need to be prepared to answer.  So let's take a look at it.

Why Does God Seem So Angry in the Old Testament and Loving in the New?

There is no difference between the images of God presented in the Old and New Testaments.  Look and Jn. 1:8 "No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known."  John is saying that what one sees in Jesus is precisely the character of the Father, the God of the Old Testament.  Thus Jesus is no more loving than his Father.  The Father is no more judging than Jesus.  There is love in the Old Testament.  There is judgement in the New Testament.  The main difference in the Testaments is a judgement within history in the Old Testament, and the judgement at the end of history in the New Testament.

First There is love in the Old Testament.  God does not present himself first and foremost as a God of judgement, but as a God of love.  For example look at Exodus 34: 6-7.  Note how God states his: compassion, grace, love faithfulness and forgiveness.  He then notes that this is not to be taken advantage of, for those who do not respond to his love will not escape.  He will bring justice. Throughout the Old Testament God announces that he has chosen Israel to be His people.  God chose Israel out of love and grace.  Two books in the Old Testament are named after the prophets that are the main characters in the books.  They are Jonah and Hosea.  Jonah had his encounter with a big fish upon his refusal to go to Ninevah, while Hosea married a prostitute and bought her back from a pimp after she left him.  These two books are clues to reading all of the judgement passages in the Old Testament.  God is not in the judgement business, but rather the forgiveness business.

Second There is judgement in the New Testament.  There are around 108 uses of the word judge/judgement in the New Testament.  And Jesus is the one who warns about judgement.  Examples include: Mt. 5: 29-30, 7:13-29 24:45-25:46.  God's final judgement is the main message of the book of Revelation, as well.  We also must consider that Revelation is the revelation of Jesus Christ-He is the one that gave the message or revelation to John.

The New Testament preaches grace and love, but these two can be rejected.  The New Testament also preaches final judgement.  Everyone is worthy of this final judgement.  But God, because of His love, offers grace to those who repent.  Those that refuse His gracious offer of love face His judgement.  In this way the New Testament is like the Old Testament.  God offers grace to those that will receive it, and punishes/judges those that reject it.  In the Old Testament God sent the prophets with His message of love and warnings of judgement.  In the New Testament God send apostles and prophets preaching the Gospel calling people to repentance in the light of the coming judgement at the return of Jesus.

Third There is a difference in the two testaments concerning their portrayal of judgement.  In the Old Testament judgement happens within history.  When Israel sins, they are not told that they will go to hell when they are raised from the dead, but rather that they would be punished by the neighboring countries.  In the New Testament we are warned about the final judgement for those that reject God's love.  The Old Testament judgement does not talk of scenes like lakes of fire and the dissolving of the heavens and the earth, or the falling of stars, etc.  Instead it gives us vivid pictures of fearful events that the people living then knew all too well, such as famine, plague, invading armies and the like.  It is unpleasant for us to read about the pending doom but God is spelling them out so that people can repent and avoid them, not because He enjoys sending them.

So, does the Old Testament reveal a God of judgement and the New Testament a God of love?  Both of the Testaments reveal a God of love who is also a God of justice.  In both Testaments God offers men and women His love and forgiveness, urging us to repent and escape the terrible and eternal judgements at of the end of history.

Select References to Anger:

Eph. 4: 26 In your anger do not sin.  Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.

Jas. 1:20 Man's anger does not bring about the righteous life God desires.

Ex 34: 6 The Lord is slow to anger abounding in love.

1 Cor. 13:5 Love is not easily angered and keeps no record of wrongs.

Mt. 5:22 Anyone who is angry with his brother (without cause) will be subjected to judgement.

Pr. 22: 24 Do not associate with anyone easily angered.

Conclusion: What aspect of anger do I need God's help with?  Who do I know that has an anger issue I can pray for.

Meet and Greet

Ben Wahlman will be here to introduce himself as the prospective youth pastor.  On Saturday night at 6:00 PM Come on up to the Rafters to hang out, play games, and eat pizza with Ben.  Students and familes both are welcomed to enjoy this night of fun.  Then on Sunday at 12:00PM  Right after church go up to the Rafters again to have lunch and a Q and A with Ben

  Again, parents and families both are welcome to join in.

Browniepalooza 2011

...is being held on the start date fore the new church schedule...9/11/11 (our new time will be at noon, so not too much different!)  Bake you favorite brownie recipe.  Keep a bunch for your family, and bring several to class to share!  Milk will be provided!  Details are on the activity banner on the right column of this page!

Facebook Page

Along with the church and the youth, we now have a Facebook page!  My hope is that this can help us communicate prayer requests, share pictures,  and comments on a quicker basis.   Feel free to comment, chat...whatever you desire! The Email list and the Blog are still going to stay, but they will be use for more administrative stuff like the Lesson Recap, snack lists, and event listings and maps.  Between these two we should be able to really fellowship on the internet.  I sent invites to those knew of who are on Facebook.  If you want to join in just click here.  

Snacks

• 8/14 Massey
• 8/21 Hurt
• 8/28 LaRowe

Prayer Requests

• Susan's mother had surgery today to help remove an abscess in her abdomen.   All looks well at this point.
• Pray for Jeremy and Sarah as they start a new church.
• Pray for the youth as they undergo this time of transition.   

 

Important Update!!

Due to circumstances beyond our control Jeremy and Sarah are not going to be with us this Sunday, August 14.  We will try to line them up for a near future date.  Please keep them in your prayers as they venture out on this new ministry journey. 

Special Sunday Class!!!

Next Sunday (August 14th) will be a very special one.  Sarah and Jeremy are going to be sharing with our class.  They will talk about the kids and and the direction that the youth ministry has taken.  This is also going to be a special opportunity to thank them for all they have done, and their hard work, sacrifice, and love for our kids.  You will be able to give thank-you cards, and a love offering.  Please pass this along to any CSM parent you know so they can join us on this special Sunday!  You can also press the Facebook button below this post and 'like' this announcement so others can see this invitation.  See you Sunday!

Happy Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday today to Jeanette Stubbs.  Hope your day is a great one!

Happy Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday to Kay Massey.  God's blessing to you on your special day!

The Mid-Week Update!!!

Lesson Recap

Do What?

Forgiveness

What aspect(s) of forgiveness is most difficult for us to practice?  What aspects of forgiveness are confusing to us? Not including Jesus' what examples of forgiveness can you recall?  The connection between forgiveness and grace is that forgiveness is always given out of grace.  See Eph. 4:32. The gospel is a message of forgiveness.

Let's look at one of Jesus' parables dealing with forgiveness.  Read Mt. 18:21-35 where we see one man's debt forgiven but he refused to forgive another's.  We've got a problem!  Jesus would have done good to stop at verse 34.  What are possible explanations for v 35? Therefore, it is to be expected that those who receive the forgiveness that God offers in the gospel, those who call him "Father", will display something of his character and show a forgiving attitude to others.  What does this parable teach about forgiveness?

When the disciples asked Jesus how to pray he responded with the model prayer.  Read Mt. 6:14-15.  Did you catch the astonishing statement at the end?  It sounds like v35 in chapter 18!  Perhaps this will help us understand Jesus' intent. 

Follow these statements using the diagram below.

1. Where there is a genuine response of love, then..
2. there will be a forgiving spirit, and where there is a forgiving spirit, then
3.  there will be a still greater appreciation of God's forgiving mercy, and
4. still greater love in consequence!

Read Luke 7:36-48 where the woman washes Jesus' feet with her tears.  Did she love so much because her sins are forgiven-or is it that love and forgiveness set up a chain reaction as above?

1. The more forgiveness then
2. the more love, then
3. the more love
4. the more forgiveness!

Does it sound like we're suggesting Jesus forgives some sinners more for salvation than others?  Consider the Pharisee that felt he needed little to no forgiveness.  He showed Jesus little to no love. The woman perceived she needed much forgiveness, so she poured out much love on Jesus.  In telling his story this is exactly the point Luke was wanting to make.

Look at forgiveness in other ways...

 

Of Enemies

Mt 5:43-44

Lk 6:34-37; 17:3-4 

By Giving Of Self

Pr 25: 21-22

Mt 5: 39-41

A Condition Of Divine Forgiveness

Mt 6: 12-15 (18: 21-35)

Mk 11: 25

Spirit of Results in Blessing

Rm 12: 14

1 Cor 4: 12-13

1 Per 3: 9

Disallows Retaliation

Pr 24: 39

Rm 12: 17,19

Disallows Rejoicing

Pr 24: 17

Conclusion: What aspect of forgiveness do you need God's help with?

 

Browniepalooza 2011

 

...will be on Sunday, September 14th during class time.  It will be the same as last year.  Bake your favorite recipe of brownies.  Save some for your family and bring the rest to share at class!  Milk will be provided!  This was a blast last year so be sure to be there!

 

Class Outreach

 

Watch in the coming weeks for new ideas on how to create new opportunities for the class, and way to help new members get acquainted with both the church and Connection classes!

 

Prayer Requests

 

• Susan's mother remains in the hospital with an abscess and an infection.
• Sally's upcoming wedding.  Pray for Ginger's sanity and Brook's checkbook.
•  Pray for the youth as things change and they come under new leadership.
• Pray for Sarah and Jeremy as they start a new church.