Pastor B My Life, Oakwood, Spring

God, the Inventor of Love

C.S. Lewis

“God, who needs nothing, loves into existence wholly superfluous creatures in order that He may love and perfect them.

He creates the universe, already foreseeing – or should we say “seeing”? there are no tenses in God

– the buzzing cloud of flies about the cross, the flayed back pressed against the uneven stake, the nails driven through the mesial nerves, the repeated incipient suffocation as the body droops, the repeated torture of back and arms as it is time after time, for breath’s sake, hitched up.

If I may dare the biological image, God is a “host” who deliberately creates His own parasites; causes us to be that we may exploit and “take advantage of” Him.

Herein is love. This is the diagram of Love Himself, the inventor of all loves.”

― C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

Pastor B Oakwood, Parent Cue, Spring

Discovering Your Gifts

SPIRITUAL GIFTS LIST:

“WE HAVE DIFFERENT GIFTS, ACCORDING TO THE GRACE GIVEN US.” ROMANS 12:6

Click here for the LeaderTreks Blog Article

As followers of Christ, we have all received special God-given abilities that are a part of how the Lord has uniquely wired and gifted us. When we begin to identify these gifts, we are able to use them more effectively as well as grow more comfortable with who we are and how we’ve been designed – which is why we’ve complied them into a spiritual gifts list.

With definitions and scriptural connections the spiritual gifts list below covers 15 different spiritual gifts, which can be used for your own assessment or teaching your students. Looking to go deeper? LeaderTreks offers a comprehensiveSpiritual Gifts assessment.

BELIEVING – Faith – Definition: Believing is a special God-given ability to trust God’s will and act on it, with an unwavering belief in God’s concern, presence, and active participation.

This gift is listed in 1 Corinthians 12:9 where is is translated as “faith” or “special faith.”

COMFORTING – Mercy – Definition: Comforting is a special God-given ability to understand and come alongside people who are troubled or suffering, bringing them comfort, insight, and hope.

This gift is listed in Romans 12:8 where it is usually translated as “showing mercy” or “showing kindness.”

DIRECTING – Leadership – Definition: Directing is a special God-given ability to instill vision, motivate, and guide people to work together effectively to achieve worthwhile goals.

This gift is listed in Romans 12:8 where it is usually translated as “leadership” or “he who leads.”

DISCERNING – Discernment – Definition: Discerning is a special God-given ability to distinguish between truth and error, good and evil, and to show good judgement in matters involving character and relationships.

This gift is listed in 1 Corinthians 12:10 where it is usually translated as “distinguishing between spirits” or “discerning of spirits.”

ENCOURAGING – Exhortation – Definition: Encouraging is a special God-given ability to affirm, uplift, and restore confidence to individuals who are feeling discouraged or defeated.

This gift is listed in Romans 12:8 where it is usually translated as “encouraging” or “exhortation.”

EVANGELIZING – Evangelism – Definition: Evangelizing is a special God-given ability to effectively communicate the Good News of Jesus Christ to non-believers so they can respond and begin to grow in their faith.

This gift is listed in Ephesians 4:11 where it is usually translated as “evangelists.”

GIVING – Contributing – Definition: Giving is a special God-given ability to contribute cheerfully, generously, and regularly to the church and other important ministries, causes, and people in need.

This gift is listed in Romans 12:8 where it is usually translated as “contributing to the needs of others” or “he who gives.”

LEARNING – Knowledge – Definition: Learning is a special God-given ability to gather, analyze, and share information appropriately with others, leading to greater understanding and insight.

This gift is listed in 1 Corinthians 12:8 where it is usually translated as “message of knowledge,” “word of knowledge,” or “gift of special knowledge.”

MENTORING – Pastoring/Shepherding – Definition: Mentoring is a special God-given ability to guide and support individuals or groups as they grow in their faith and in their capacity for ministry.

This gift is listed in Ephesians 4:11 where it is usually translated as “pastors.”

ORGANIZING – Administration – Definition: Organizing is a special God-given ability to plan, organize tasks, and follow through so that complex projects are completed efficiently and effectively.

This gift is listed in 1 Corinthians 12:28 where it is usually translated as “administration,” “governments,” or “those who can get others to work together.”

PIONEERING – Apostleship – Definition: Pioneering is a special God-given ability to launch new ventures or lead change, confidently moving forward despite uncertainty or risk.

This gift is listed in 1 Corinthians 12:28 and Ephesians 4:11 where it is usually translated as “apostles.”

PROBLEM-SOLVING – Wisdom – Definition: Problem-Solving is a special God-given ability to provide practical advice to that leads to timely, effective resolution of problems.

This gift is listed in 1 Corinthians 12:28 where it is usually translated as “message of wisdom,” “word of  wisdom,” or “ability to give wise advice.”

 SPEAKING OUT – Prophet – Definition: Speaking Out is a special God-given ability to declare God’s truth boldly and publicly for the purpose of correction or instruction.

This gift is listed in Romans 12:6, 1 Corinthians 12:10, 28 and Ephesians 4:11 where it is usually translated as “prophesying,” “prophets,” or “ability to prophesy.”

SUPPORTING – Helps – Definition: Supporting is a special God-given ability to provide practical, behind-the-scences help that frees others to accomplish more than they might otherwise be capable of achieving.

This gift is listed in Romans 12:7 and 1 Corinthians 12:28 where it is usually translated as “helps,” “serving,” “ministry,” “forms of assistance,” or “those who are able to help others.”

TEACHING – Teacher – Definition: teaching is a special God-given ability to organize and clearly communicate knowledge and skills to others, and to motivate them to master and apply what they are learning.

This gift is listed in Romans 12:7, 1 Corinthians 12:28, and Ephesians 4:11 where it is usually translated as “teaching” or “teacher.”

THIS WEEK:

What can you do this week to use your gifts?

What are you going to do?

When are you going to do it?

Is there someone who can keep you accountable?

THINK ABOUT IT
“We cannot get Christ’s gifts without himself.” – Alexander Maclaren (The Epistles of St. Paul to the Colossians and Philemon, Volume 31 of Expositor’s Bible, 1905.)

MEMORIZE/MEDITATE ON THIS VERSE
For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

Romans 12:4-5 (ESV)

Pastor B Culture, Oakwood, Parent Cue

Middle School Parent Cue: Made Series

Fusion Sunday Feb Series
Download Conversation Guide Here

WEEK ONE:

PSALM 139:13-16

Because God made you, you are fearfully and wonderfully made.

Your middle schooler receives mixed messages related to sex all the time. In the movies they watch, the songs they listen to, the things their friends talk about, the social media they see, and even the education they get at school, the messages on sex are both constant and inconsistent, making it difficult for them to know what to really think about the subject.

WEEK TWO:

MATTHEW 5:27-28;
PSALM 139:14a

Because God made us all,
all of us are valuable.

Though your middle schooler may or may not yet be engaging in sexual activity, they’re definitely growing more curious about sex. But don’t worry! Curiosity is a natural part of growing and maturing—something your middle schooler is doing a lot of in this phase. Understanding their curiosity and not totally shutting it down is key to keeping the conversation about sex open between you and your kid.

WEEK THREE:

1 CORINTHIANS 6:18

Because God made sex,
sexual things matter.

Control can be a sensitive subject for many middle schoolers. They long for more authority in most parts of their lives, leading them to act out of frustration over what they perceive as a lack of control. They also struggle with self-regulation in this phase, making boundaries difficult to set and maintain.

WEEK FOUR:

1 THESSALONIANS 4:3-4;
PSALM 139:14a

Because God made you,
you are in control of your own body.

Understanding both their value and the value of others may be hard for your student at times. As middle schoolers, value is often based on immediate feelings. If your student doesn’t feel valued by others, it will make valuing that person (and even themselves) difficult to do.

Pastor B Oakwood, Parent Cue, Winter

I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas

1hch1

What do you desire for Christmas???

This Christmas novelty song was written by John Rox and performed by the ten year old Gayla Peevey in 1953.

Peevey was a regional child star of the Oklahoma City area. When released nationally by Columbia Records, the song shot to the top of the charts and the city zoo acquired a baby hippo named Matilda.

A popular legend holds that this 1953 hit had been recorded as a fund-raiser to bring the city zoo a hippo; but in a 2007 radio interview with Detroit-based WNIC radio station, Peevey clarified that the song was not originally recorded as a fundraiser. Instead, a local promoter picked up on the popularity of the song and Peevey’s local roots, and launched a campaign to present her with an actual hippopotamus on Christmas.

The campaign succeeded, and she was presented with an actual hippopotamus, which she donated to the city zoo. The hippopotamus lived for nearly 50 years.

Gayla Peevey later recorded as Jamie Horton, scoring the Billboard Hot 100 charter “My Little Marine” in 1960.

This Christmas, Jesus wants to give you more than you desire.

Pastor B Culture, Fall, Oakwood, Parent Cue, Students

Fusion Thx – Bless the Lord Devo

 

 

 Bless the Lord Devo Download

 

 BLESS THE LORD

 Read It – Psalm 103 The Message

A David Psalm

   1-2

   O my soul, bless God.

From head to toe, I’ll bless his holy name!

   O my soul, bless God,

don’t forget a single blessing!

3-5

He forgives your sins—every one.

He heals your diseases—every one.

He redeems you from hell—saves your life!

He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown.

He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal.

He renews your youth—you’re always young in his presence.

 

  

 

LOOK

Number the 6 Blessings in the Psalm.

Draw a picture of yourself – beside the picture of YOURSELF, label how each Blessing would look on you.

 

  

 

 

 

LEARN

What do these 6 Blessings mean to you?

 

What do we learn about God?  

 

What do we learn about our relationship with God?

 

  

 

 

 

LIFE

How about you?  Think about what these 6 Blessings mean to you

 

Thank God for Forgiving YOUR sins, EVERY ONE.

Ask God to heal your diseases, EVERY ONE.

Thank God for redeeming and saving your life from hell.

Ask God to help you walk in His Love and Mercy.

Thank God for wrapping you up in His Goodness and Eternal Beauty.

Ask God to renew you in His Presence.

 

  

PRAY –  Think about what you just wrote down in each section.

 Ask God’s Spirit to help you live out His TRUTH in your life.

Pastor B Culture, Fall, Oakwood, Parent Cue

Trending Parent Cue

WEEK 1

EPHESIANS 2:10;
EPHESIANS 4:29

God created us as His masterpiece.

WEEK 2

ROMANS 12:4-5;
JOHN 13:34b

God created us for connection.

THINK ABOUT THIS:

WEEK 1:

Your middle schooler may hesitate to speak up when it comes to bullying. In this phase, reporting bullying to an adult is viewed as a form of tattling rather than standing up for themselves or someone else.

WEEK 2:

When you approach conversations about bullying in less direct ways, your kid may be more willing to open up. Questions like, “Did you run into anyone who was hard to get along with today?” may give you the answers you’re looking for.

DO THIS:

 MORNING TIME

Reach out to your kid’s school to learn about the programs or policies they have related to bullying. Get involved in any anti-bullying initiatives in your community. Simple things like this let your kid see that you’re taking an interest in an important topic.

 DRIVE TIME

Take time to reach out to the important adults in your kid’s life—their teachers, coaches, Small Group Leaders, and more. Ask them how your kid is doing and how they’re interacting with others to get an idea of what’s happening in your student’s life when you’re not around.

 MEAL TIME

Share a story from your own life (preferably in middle school!) of a time you played a specific role in a bullying scenario. Whether you were the bully, the bullied, or the bystander, tell your kid how it made you feel and how you handled it. Don’t ask them to share their own story; just be open to the possibility of the conversation from there!

 BED TIME

If your student has social media accounts, make sure you’re following them. Pay attention to the comments made on their pages and read the comments they’re making on the pages of others. This will give you a glimpse into how they’re interacting with the people around them.

For more parenting resources visit www.ParentCue.org