DNOW 2008 What A Weekend!

WOW, what a weekend we had for our annual Disciple Now. For those of you who kept thinking DNOW was some odd acronym Dave made up – that’s what it stood for, praise God for the clarity!

Well, here are just a few things God did over the weekend:

· God opened the eyes of some students to living a new identity, not for self but for Jesus Christ! Here is a quote from one student “This weekend you made me realize that when I accepted Christ when I was 8 I didn't do it because I wanted to but because I saw my friend do it. I would like you to pray for me because i said that prayer at disciple now and accepted him as my Lord and savior…”
· God brought together 3 church youth ministries with over 150 students and over 75 adults (not to mention 1 Canadian from Manassas, VA J). It is a rare thing for churches to partner together. Most of the time churches are territorial and see getting together as competition. There was none of that here and Jesus’ prayer for unity in John 17:21 was lived out this past weekend. Our students need to see the Church at large and understand that God is alive & moving beyond our own church walls.
· God introduced 8 new students to our youth ministry at SCBC. Some of them heard the gospel probably for the first time. Please pray for the seeds that were planted. Thanks to the teens who rose to the challenge Dave gave a month ago to take the risk and invite unsaved friends to our ministry events.
· God was glorified through the selfless service of so many adults and parents who sacrificed sleep, time and energy over the weekend. Honestly, I know that each of the 3 church youth pastors/directors cannot express enough appreciation for your help… so thank you for all you did, God noticed! AND, if I can promote for future events… we could have used several more adults helping with small groups and engaging students with the weekend content as well as a few other areas. So next time, do not just sit on the sidelines, get in the game. It’s worth it!
· God was honored through the creative talents students shared with the group over the weekend. We had a puppet team share a very cool neon black-light skit, three different youth groups led praise and worship through musical abilities. It is powerful to see how God has gifted the next generation with creative skills to praise Him and spread the gospel. I pray God continues to ignite and stir the passion in others.

This is just to name a few things. Every student has a story to share of how God spoke to them and is bringing together circumstances to make himself known in their life and family. I encourage you to walk up to our students and talk with them. You just might be pleasantly surprised to hear what God is up to.

Piper, one more time

I had to post one more link this week from Piper that speaks of growing godly generations. The value of a senior pastor who is interested, invested and involved in the lives of youth goes a long way to encourage parents and facilitate the partnership between the home & student ministries at church. This is my prayer and what I am working toward at SCBC

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/2008/2726_Let_No_One_Despise_You_for_Your_Youth/

Piper

One author/preacher I enjoy reading is John Piper. Though honestly, if you've read one Piper book you've read them all in some sense. I appreciate how he tries to focus everything... and I mean everything, on God and His character. Here is an excerpt on a new book he is writing that I thought related to the title of my blog - Growing Godly Generations. His book will be about marriage and in this section on raising children.

http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/1202_children_understand_the_universe_before_they_know_there_is_one/

The most fundamental task of a mother and father is to show God to the children. Children know their parents before they know God. This is a huge responsibility and should cause every parent to be desperate for God-like transformation. The children will have years of exposure to what the universe is like before they know there is a universe. They will experience the kind of authority there is in the universe and the kind of justice there is in the universe and the kind of love there is in the universe before they meet the God of authority and justice and love who created and rules of the universe. Children are absorbing from dad his strength and leadership and protection and justice and love; and they are absorbing from mother her care and nurture and warmth and intimacy and justice and love—and, of course, all these overlap.
And all this is happening before the child knows anything about God, but it is profoundly all about God. Will the child be able to recognize God for who he really is in his authority and love and justice because mom and dad have together shown the child what God is like. The chief task of parenting is to know God for who he is in his many attributes, and then to live in such a way with our children that we help them see and know this multi-faceted God. And, of course, that will involve directing them always to the infallible portrait of God in the Bible.

Of course, I can't wait to get the book.

The Be With Factor for kids

Part of the strategy of discipling students and growing godly generations is "being with" them (Mark 3:14). Here's a link of things to do being with kids

http://www.destroydebt.com/articles/90-low-cost-or-no-cost-activities-to-entertain-your-kids-all-summer-long.html



For fun, here's a pic of my wife with my daughter... sorry, they're just too adorable :)

Revelation's End

Here is our last lesson on Revelation. I hope you have learned as much as I have. As I said last week, I am growing to fear God more and more because of how incredibly powerful and sovereign He is... but my fear does not distance me from God, it drives me closer to Him. I know that in Him there is protection, love and acceptance. What ultimate reality!

Hell is real, avoid it.
The book of Revelation comes to a close when Jesus returns to earth. At His return, Jesus will conquer those who wage war against Him (Armageddon). At this time there will be a great white throne judgment where the books will be opened and the dead are judged according to their deeds. Files will be read! “Anyone’s name [that] was not found written in the book of life, was thrown into the lake of fire.”




Hell is a real place that is described as eternal darkness (Matthew 25:30). It is filled with unquenchable fire (Matt 25:41) and punishment (Matt 25:46). The torment never rests day or night (Rev 20:10). There are some who believe that unbelievers do not experience such atrocity but they cease to exist; annihilationism. This view seems contradictory to the rest of Scripture, nevertheless the point is to avoid Hell and judgment at all costs.

Paul says Romans 9:2-3 “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers”

God says Ezekiel 33:11 “As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?”

Heaven is real, accept Him.
As much as Hell is a reality for unbelievers so is Heaven a reality for believers. Revelation 20 speaks of a Millennial kingdom that will take place on earth for 1000 years. Jesus will reign with believers having areas of responsibility under Him. After that, Satan is forever defeated and eternity begins. John says a new heaven and a new earth will be created. Our imaginations cannot begin to understand how beautiful these places will be. As it is written, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him – but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit” (1 Corinthians 2:9-10). Heaven is a gift that only a Person can offer, that is Jesus Christ. You must accept Him before you can enter.


·Does knowing the prophecy about future end time events give you confidence or concern? Explain.
·Have you ever thought that there will be a final judgment for all people? Do you look forward or fear this time?
John 5:24 “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.”
·What does it mean to store up treasures in heaven? How should this effect the way you live your life?
·When you hear about the realities of Hell, what comes to your mind?
·Read Romans 9:2-3 and Ezekiel 33:11. How do these verses impact your life?
·List some of the major things you have learned through our study in Revelation. How have these things impacted you?