Bringing the NOISE!!

From your very own.. JUSTIN SMITH

The vision that I have is that Jesus brings the noise. I have written on a sticky note that Jesus was a radical. He was too. Though He was very meek and peaceful, He was a very confrontational person, especially with those who misunderstood something about Himself or the Kingdom or His Father or the Sabbath... He was willing to share the really difficult messages because He loved. And loved. And loved. He cared enough about people to show them what they really needed though they couldn't see it. 

Examples of His confrontations are in Luke 12. Here He says some very tough stuff to deal with. And He also says things that can do no less than just jack up those who follow him and know that he speaks Truth! Check out Luke 24:39; John 3:21, 5:24, 6:47-48, 8:31, 10:28-30, chapter 15; Revelation 1:8, 1:18, 3:20, 22:7, and easily one of my favorites, bar none, is Rev. 22:20. Keep in mind "amen" literally means "and let it be so."

 

How can you, as small group leaders, take these thoughts and apply them to YC? Reflect on this and pray that God would help you apply this aspect of NOISE

 

Spend time this week reading through the above scripture references.

and… Remember to be praying for:

-       The registration for YC

-       Your small group

-       Nate as he is preparing his sermons (if you do not remember, he is the main session speaker)

-       For confidence in delivering the difficult messages

-       For love to love others- even the seemingly unlovable

-       What ever else concerns you about / makes you excited about / or anything in between regarding YC

 

Responding to Pain

In working with youth, one thing I have frequently experienced is the familiar question, "Why does God let bad things happen?" or students are going through a painful time in their life and can't make sense of it. One of the most powerful things you can do as a small group leader is to listen to the pain in their lives and not pretend like you have all of the answers, but that you can turn a student to Christ through Scripture to begin the healing process.

This may be a heavy topic coming off of spring break, but perhaps some of you were immersed in experiencing pain at home or on a mission trip and are trying to sort through things in your own life. One of the biggest road blocks in my own relationship with God have been times of pain that seem senseless to me. When I come back to Scripture, these times ultimately result in growth.

Take a look at this article from the Fuller Youth Institute at Fuller Seminary in California. Hopefully it will provide some helpful insight to answering students' questions about pain. Perhaps it isn't anything revolutionary, but it puts big ideas into words.

http://fulleryouthinstitute.org/2009/03/your-pain/

Megan

Cut Out the NOISE

I don’t know how many of you remember back to Youth Conference focus chapel, but Nate’s chapel address has stuck with me. He looked to Christ and saw a model for ministry preparation (solitude, community, then ministry).  For this week I want to examine solitude.

Solitude, cutting out the NOISE or distractions: Christ sets an example for us as seen in Mark 1:35, “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed.” This was Christ’s top priority, to get His heart and mind focused. He knew as soon as the day would begin, so would the bombardments. How often do you go to a solitary place? I can be very difficult, especially at Taylor. Again look at the verse; Christ had to go very early in the morning to find this place. Many commentaries say this is because it was so difficult for Him to escape form the crowds and distractions. This does not mean you too should wake up before the sun just to spend time with God. But, I do want to focus on time spent in silence and solitude with God. What is it like to cut out ALL the “NOISE’?

This next week is Spring Break, so there is less going on than the norm. I encourage you to, at leas once, go to a solitary place and spend time with God- no NOISE, no distractions.  This is not easy, even our thoughts can become a distraction, but God speaks in amazing ways when it is only you and Him, and He will continue to prepare your hearts for YC weekend.

So this week  (or rather 2 weeks- yay SB 09!!)

1.     Spend time in complete silence and let God shape your heart and mind. (again I encourage to journal your thoughts and incites)

2.     Continue to ask God to reveal “NOISE” to you.

3.     Pray that God will help you cut out the negative noise in your life.

 

Swaheet Waheek One!!

Proverbs 16:3 “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed”

 

As small group leaders, you all have such a unique privilege to touch the lives of high school students (and maybe even some middle school students). When I was searching through Proverbs thinking about YC this verse stood out to me.  I desire (as I am sure all of you do) to see God work in the lives of every student that attends YC. But, how are we supposed to see God working if we are acting out of selfish ambition? (this is a trap I so easily fall into)  I am a bit of a perfectionist, so often I take full control rather than watch my efforts “fail”. That is when this verse reminds me that it’s not about me. If we remember to commit everything to the LORD while in preparation for YC, at YC, and even the weeks that follow YC, our plans will succeed. This does not apply to plans that are selfish or out of God’s will. However, when we are whole-heartedly pursuing God, and truthfully committing to Him, our desires will line up with His. Commit your actions and plans to the LORD during this preparation process and wait expecting to see God work in powerful ways in your small group.

 

Beginning to dig into YC ’09.

            NOISE. This five-letter word brings so much to mind: memories, experiences, songs, silence, emotions, and the list goes on… but how can it teach us about our God? There are many different takes and angles, as well as many verses pertaining to noise. This week spend time mulling this word over and over (I guarantee God will show you a new aspect every time). Spend time in silence, spend time in noise and journal your thoughts. Ask God to reveal Himself to you. Take this week to acclimate yourself to “NOISE.”

 

            Start this leadership process by gaining focus. Focus on your intensions (what are you committed to?), as well as on the theme. Seek the LORD and He will reveal truth to you, for He is truth. I am so excited to see what God has in store for small groups during YC’09!

 

So this week…

1.     Spend time contemplating Proverbs 16:3. (I highly recommend writing down your thoughts. This way you can revisit them later and continue the learning process.)

a.     How does this verse relate to YC and small groups?

b.     What does it look like to commit to the LORD?

c.      What are you committing to the LORD?

2.     Ask God to reveal the meanings behind “NOISE”.

a.     What does this theme encompass?

b.     How do they relate to YC? to you? to your co-leader?  to high school students? to your small group?  

TRUST JESUS

 

We are so excited to introduce you to the YC 2009 blog where you can dig deeper into the theme and your role as a small group leader. We would love for this to be a place where you can post your comments, thoughts, struggles, and questions.

As a cabinet we have been exploring this year’s theme -- Noise.

We live in a noisy world. Our senses are constantly flooded with sound. Can you imagine a world in which there are no cars or planes speeding by, no speakers blaring, and no roaring televisions? Imagine if there were no iPods attached to our ears or cell phones continually ringing. Would there be any noise left? Our lives would be silent in comparison to today's society. Think about it. Such silence would be uncomfortable. The silence would be deafening.

How does all of this noise affect our relationship with God?

This journey on looking at the affects of noise and faith started during an hour long car ride with no music. It was surprising to find how many things I could think through and the number of ideas I could grasp in this time of silence. Noise had been getting in the way of completing a thought. So often, our inability to tune out the noise leaves us tuned out to what God is doing in our lives. Engaging in the discipline of silence and solitude can be significant ways to learn how to listen again. When was the last time you were in a space of listening to God’s voice?

We can find God in both the silence and the noise. In Scripture we see that Jesus spent time away from the crowds in quiet prayer and reflection, as well as time teaching and preaching. The Psalmist exhorts us to “Make a joyful noise to the Lord.” This presents an interesting paradox. Though the noise of today's society impedes on our relationship with Christ, we also need to create noise that aligns with the Christian worldview which deafens all falsehoods and allows truth to be heard.

Noise is the starting place for Youth Conference 2009. We are excited to explore this issue with you and to see where God leads us in this journey. You are going to be the face to the theme.

We are so thankful that you have committed to invest your time, your energy, and your heart to serving the students who will be coming to YC this year. The way God uses each and every one of you to touch the life of a high schooler makes your work invaluable. God speaks. God will speak through you and to you during the next six weeks as you begin preparing for YC.

You will be Christ to the students and youth leaders who come to Youth Conference 2009.

You will be the hands and feet of Jesus to the freshman guy whose parents were recently divorced and who is supposed to be spending the weekend at his dad’s house.

You will be the hands and feet of Jesus to the sophomore girl who is insecure and dresses to get attention from guys in order to feel loved.

You will be the hands and feet of Jesus to the junior guy who is trying to figure out how to follow God, but his teammates keep pulling him down.

You will be the hands and feet of Jesus to the senior girl who wants to come to a Christian college, but her parents can’t afford it.

What an exciting opportunity to be Jesus to a group of students who need him so desperately and to need to know that he is real and his promises are true. It is our desire that this time of training will be valuable, not only during YC, but as you participate in ministry throughout your life.

Bryant and Megan