For King and Country – Baby Boy
Soaring melodies, driving rhythms, theatrical instrumentation and personal themes are the heartbeat of for KING & COUNTRY’s sophomore album, RUN WILD. LIVE FREE. LOVE STRONG.
The duo, comprised of Australian brothers Joel and Luke, has accomplished several notable feats on their new record. Perhaps the most remarkable is that the award-winning rock/pop duo has achieved the unexpected.
Not only have they ventured into new musical territories with some of the highlights being a collaboration with hip-hop artist Andy Mineo, their continued creative partnership with artist/producer Aqualung and their discovery of new soundscapes with producer Tedd T. (MuteMath) as well as Seth Mosely, but for KING & COUNTRY also managed to surpass the bar that the brothers had set for themselves with their debut album. They raised expectations tremendously with the release of 2012’s Crave and a win for New Artist of the Year at the 2013 GMA Dove Awards, where they received six nominations. Billboard also named them as one of the New Artists to Watch for 2012 and American Songwriter called them “Australia’s answer to Coldplay.”
the 62 Worst and Weirdest Nativities (the 2015 revised list!) | whyismarko
MARKO is a Youth Ministry GURU and also specialist in finding the WORST or WEIRDEST NATIVITIES!
Yup, I’ve seen the Coke can nativity. And I’ve seen the one with the pack of Camel cigs. And the live dogs posed as a nativity. And, yeah, the many glorious combinations of Barbies and Godzillas and just about everything else. But they’re not on my list of the XX Worst and Weirdest Nativities. That’s…
Source: the 62 Worst and Weirdest Nativities (the 2015 revised list!) | whyismarko
Unexpected: Middle School Christmas Series
Unexpected: Series Overview
When it comes to Christmas, there is a lot to look forward to. Candy canes, tinsel, twinkling lights, and—oh, right. The gifts. If you’re like most people, you’ve probably spent some time thinking about the gifts you’re hoping to receive this Christmas. Maybe you’ve even made a list so your friends and family know exactly what to give you. But while it’s fun to unwrap a gift you’ve been waiting and hoping for, have you ever been given a gift that took you entirely by surprise? A gift you didn’t even know you wanted until you opened it? A gift that was completely unexpected? Unexpected gifts have been at the heart of the Christmas story for more than two thousand years, beginning with the very first Christmas. And believe it or not, it was God who began the tradition. For the next few weeks, we’ll talk about three times God surprised the world with a gift that was entirely unexpected. And, as we do, we might just discover how much those gifts continue to matter today.
SESSION 1: SILENT TREATMENT (November 29)
BOTTOM LINE: God is with you.
SCRIPTURE: “… And Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.” MATTHEW 1:1-16 (NIV)
“But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son.” GALATIANS 4:4 (NIV)
SESSION 2: BY MY SIDE (December 6)
BOTTOM LINE: Jesus gets you.
SCRIPTURE: “…She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel.’” MATTHEW 1:20-23 (NLT)
“[He] understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do.” HEBREWS 4:15 (NLT)
SESSION 3: POWER SOURCE (December 13)
BOTTOM LINE: The Holy Spirit helps you.
SCRIPTURE: “‘Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.’” MATTHEW 28:18-20 (NIV)
“‘And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth.’” JOHN 14:15-17A (NIV)
Soul Fuel: “Agents” Against a Spiritual SPECTRE
“Agents” Against a Spiritual SPECTRE
Bond…James Bond.
Wouldn’t you love to introduce yourself that way? Or at least meet Agent 007, the legendary character who has inspired 23 films over the last 50 years!
Think about it, if you are a teenager, then your grandparents probably went to see a Bond movie back in the day. And as well, the original actor who played the first Bond (Sean Connery) could BE your grandpa!
But here we are in 2015, with Daniel Craig’s steely blue-eyed gaze that penetrates the hearts of the good, the bad and the ugly in his explosion-a-minute world. In this latest release, he comes face to face with an organization called SPECTRE, which stands for: Special Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion.
You gotta give these guys props for being very straightforward with their motives — right? Basically this is a global terrorist organization with no political alliances made up of characters from The Gestapo, The Mafia, drug cartels and a host of other groups that don’t play well with others.
But when they play together, they wreak havoc on people and property in a very “specter”-like fashion (spectre is the British spelling for specter—meaning “ghost”— get it?)
Enter James Bond—a man armed and ready to foil the evil plans of SPECTRE and bring justice for their victims. He is a powerhouse combination of brains and brawn, and he is fearless in the face of danger.
Man—I would love to be James Bond for a day. I’d love to come face to face with an eeeeeeevil SPECTRE agent and take him down to Prisontown—wouldn’t you?
But wait…if you and I are followers of Christ, we are faced with the battle between good and evil on a spiritual level each and every day. Our enemy is not SPECTRE, but it is a much more powerful array of forces drawn together under the leadership of SATAN.
And when we feel discouraged or overwhelmed in the battle, we can gain great hope from this amazing encounter:
They sailed on to the country of the Gerasenes, directly opposite Galilee. As he stepped out onto land, a madman from town met him; he was a victim of demons. He hadn’t worn clothes for a long time, nor lived at home; he lived in the cemetery. When he saw Jesus he screamed, fell before him, and bellowed, “What business do you have messing with me? You’re Jesus, Son of the High God, but don’t give me a hard time!” (The man said this because Jesus had started to order the unclean spirit out of him.) Time after time the demon threw the man into convulsions. He had been placed under constant guard and tied with chains and shackles, but crazed and driven wild by the demon, he would shatter the bonds.
Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
“Mob. My name is Mob,” he said, because many demons afflicted him. And they begged Jesus desperately not to order them to the bottomless pit.
A large herd of pigs was browsing and rooting on a nearby hill. The demons begged Jesus to order them into the pigs. He gave the order. It was even worse for the pigs than for the man. Crazed, they stampeded over a cliff into the lake and drowned (Luke 8:26-33, The Message).
Amazing—right? Jesus comes face to face with a man who has the strength of The Hulk and a host of powerful demons.
But the Son of God need only speak a word, and the evil was blown away like a leaf in a tornado. The man was freed from Satan’s power, and if you read the rest of his story, he went back to his hometown and became a powerful witness for Jesus.
Did you know that the same power Jesus used to cast out the demons lives in you? The Holy Spirit indwells your soul, therefore through Him you have the power to blow away evil as well!
But don’t make the mistake that many Christians make—thinking that people are the problem. No, the evil we fight is spiritual in nature and demonic in origin. So the “weapons” we use are things like the Word of God, prayer and faith that God will be victorious.
So if you aren’t feeling as bold as Bond lately in your efforts against the powers of darkness, remember the power of Jesus and the tools He has given us to be effective “agents” in the overthrow of the Kingdom of Darkness.
And may your heart be shaken—not just stirred—for THE Cause!
Let’s take a cue from 007 to be motivated in our efforts to be used by Jesus! If Jesus can cast out a mob of demons in one man, think about what He can do in your situation!
PRAY: Father, thank You for Your power over all evil and the Kingdom of darkness. Help us be bold and confident in the calling you’ve placed on our lives.
READ: Ephesians 6:10-12. A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
GET: Youth Group 2 Go: Know Thy Enemy: Youth Leaders! In order to defend ourselves, we must understand our enemy and his agenda so we can effectively engage in spiritual warfare in the power of the Holy Spirit. Check out this excellent, downloadable youth group lesson that explores how we can battle against Satan and his demons who are seeking to destroy the plans of God and the people of God.
Want to use this Soul Fuel as a bible study with your students this week? Copy and text them the following: “Did you know that the same power Jesus used against spiritual darkness lives in you? Learn more in this week’s devo: http://hubs.ly/H01lKWw0“
Middle School – Out Of This World Series
OUT OF THIS WORLD: Series Overview
Have you ever been part of two very different groups? Maybe you go to a different school or you’re in different classes than the people in your neighborhood. So you’re a part of both groups. Or maybe you play on a different sports team than all of your friends. So after practice hang out with the team but on the weekends, you hang out with completely different people. When that happens, we feel like we’re from one world and living in another. We’re torn. And if we’re honest, sometimes going to church or being a Christian can make us feel that way too. We go to church and what we hear makes sense. We see people living out their faith and it looks perfectly normal, maybe even fun. But what looks good on Sunday doesn’t always feel comfortable on Monday. Back in the everyday world, living as followers of Jesus can make us feel like we’re from another planet. But does it have to be that way? And what does it look like to live for God in a culture that doesn’t necessarily think the same way? Believe it or not, these aren’t 21st century questions. Long ago, the Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the church at Philippi as they figured out how to navigate their faith and culture at the same time. As we spend the next few weeks talking about what he said, we may find that Paul’s advice to the Philippians is just as relevant for us as we learn to manage the tension and live in a way that is out of this world.
November 1 – BOTTOM LINE
Out of this world thinking is about here and there.
SCRIPTURE
“They think only about this life here on earth. But we are citizens of heaven, where the
Lord Jesus Christ lives.”PHILIPPIANS 3:19-20 (NLT)
“Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of
the Good News about Christ.” PHILIPPIANS 1:27 (NLT)
November 8 – BOTTOM LINE
Out of this world thinking puts others first.
SCRIPTURE
““Don’t be selfish, don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others too.” PHILIPPIANS 2:3-4 (NLT)
““You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had…” PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11 (NLT)
November 15 – BOTTOM LINE
Out of this world thinking changes what we do
SCRIPTURE
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing: Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
PHILIPPIANS 4:8 (NLT)
November 22 – BOTTOM LINE
Out of this world thinking impacts others for eternity
SCRIPTURE
20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
PHILIPPIANS 3:20-21 (ESV)
Wurst Bowl Sunday Oct. 25 @ BIG TENT in Oakwood Parking Lot!!!!
Look for the BIG TENT in the front parking lot!
Sunday, Oct 25 – Wurst Bowl Sunday, the Wurst Sunday EVER! -an “outside the box” crowd event with combined Middle School and High School activities.
SCHEDULE
9:15 – Outside Tailgate Games, Food and Fun
10AM – Big Tent Gathering with Crowd Game(s) and Team Shout Out
10:30 – Worship Music led by Billy Stephens
11AM – Speaker: Nick Person
11:45 Response Time
12pm – Dismiss
Pray for your School
What if prayer in your school went from scarce to abundant and God was invited into the building, what could happen. Imagine if this wasn’t just your school, but the school down the street, across town and the entire country.
The partners of the Campus Alliance are extending a Call For Prayer inviting churches, youth groups and ministry organizations across America to fervently pray for every high school and middle school student and campus.
Prayer is vital in bringing Gods presence and power to the lives of over 25 million students throughout our nation. It can literally change the spiritual atmosphere at a campus. Through prayer God opens hearts, brings blessing to a school and removes the spiritual blindness that keeps students from seeing and understanding the gospel message. Prayer is often the only thing that will change things and advance the Kingdom of God.
The GOAL – every school and student is prayed for asking God to bring his truth, blessings and love to their campus and personal lives. If every church and youth ministry in every community joins in this nationwide call for prayer, an entire generation will be covered.
What can each of us do?
1. Every local church, youth group and campus ministry mobilize a dynamic school prayer effort.
- Identify the schools that your church and youth group will pray for on a regular basis this school year.
- Gather info about the schools including the names of administrators, teachers and students. One way to do this is obtain a copy of the most recent school year book, or visit with students and teachers from the school. This will help you map the campus for prayer. Youth groups can easily list both adults and students at their school for whom they will pray.
- Pray for your schools at your worship services, youth group, small groups, youth network meetings, etc.
- Students claim your campus and mobilize your friends to pray for your school. Form prayer triplets at school. Plan to participate at See You At The Pole.
- Mothers – join a Moms In Prayer group.
- Youth Leaders organize prayer for every school through your network of youth ministries in your community.
- Everyone, make prayer for schools a personal daily discipline. Even as you drive by a school consider it a prayer zone and lift up the school in prayer.
2. Schedule a Sunday in your church and youth group to pray for schools.
Three Sunday opportunities are coming this fall that you can use to mobilize prayer and ministry for local schools:
- Moms In Prayer Bless Our Schools Sunday (September 16)
- Pray For Schools Sunday (September 23)
- Campus Challenge Sunday (Choose your best date)
3. Go to www.everyschool.com and ADOPT the school(s) in your area.
By adopting your school you are joining a national movement to pray for and reach out at every campus.
4. Spread the word through social media.
Through your Facebook page, texting, emails and websites invite friends to join the movement and pray for their school. Direct people to everyschool.com and encourage them to adopt their school.
We believe the time is now for transforming prayer to be raised over our schools and we are asking you to join in this courageous call for prayer.
The Campus Alliance is a coalition of more than 50 national church denominations and youth ministry organizations working together to serve schools and share the gospel of Jesus with every student in our nation.
* Quote from D.L. Moody, American Evangelist 1837-1899
YouTubeYouCanUse
Volume 5, Issue 37
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6_dJDPgac0
Topics:
Parents, Honoring Your Parents
Bible:
Exodus 20:12
Discussion Starter:
One of the 10 Commandments goes like this, “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” It’s important to remember that there’s not an asterisk in that commandment but there is a condition.
In other words, it doesn’t say “Honor your father and your mother unless they tell bad jokes.” Or “Honor your father and your mother unless they are annoying.” In fact, it’s not as if God didn’t know that parents might sometimes be annoying to their children or full of bad jokes when He gave that commandment to Moses.
Why? Because ultimately honoring your parents isn’t about their behavior towards you, that’s usually out of your control. Instead it’s about your attitude towards them.
3 Questions:
- Who tells the worst jokes in your life?
- Is there are parent or adult in your life you find it hard to honor?
- If you could eliminate one of the 10 Commandments, which would it be?
Chew on this:
Is there a difference between honoring your parents and respecting their authority?
Soul Fuel: We Live in a Rogue Nation
We Live in a Rogue Nation
Most (if not all of us) have things we love about summer…
Maybe going to the pool? Taking trips to the lake, beach or mountains?
Or just plain old having time off from school and sipping lemonade in your backyard?
But one of the things I love most about summer is the massive competition between movie companies for the best blockbuster! The end result is about a half-dozen films that provide two or more hours of “cure for the occasional summertime blahs.”
And my vote—for what it’s worth—is the spectacular return of Ethan Hunt and his stellar crew in MI5—Rogue Nation. Adore him or abhor him for his personal life and other (ahem) affiliations, anyone who literally hangs on to the door of a jet while it’s taking off has got my respect!
And from that opening scene, the plot keeps ascending and Tom keeps cruising while the audience is strapped in for a cinematic ride with the disavowed IMF running for their lives and simultaneously trying to save others.
But wait a minute…if you’re a Christ follower, doesn’t that storyline sound a little familiar in real life? Not that you should try the jaw-dropping stunts that Ethan Hunt pulls off, but let’s look at a few of the fascinating parallels between the movie Mission: Impossible and the seemingly impossible mission of the believer:
First, are we—no matter what country on earth we inhabit—living in a “rogue nation”? Well, if the definition of rogue is “dishonest” and “evil,” then the Bible tells us we all very definitely citizens of just such a world! Jesus tells us that the devil is “the ruler of this world” (John 14:30), and that his purpose is to “steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10). The villains in the MI series are often secretive and shadowy, but our archenemy is openly seeking to devastate and obliterate those who name Jesus as their Savior!
The Bible also warns that Satan “prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Lions often use deception and misdirection, so we always need to be vigilant and wise about whom we trust and who might be out to get us!
Second, do we have a seemingly impossible mission and incredible weapons to use in our efforts to fulfill it? You betcha!
The Bible unveils our arsenal in this way:
It is true that I am an ordinary, weak human being, but I don’t use human plans and methods to win my battles. I use God’s mighty weapons, not those made by men, to knock down the devil’s strongholds. These weapons can break down every proud argument against God and every wall that can be built to keep men from finding him. With these weapons I can capture rebels and bring them back to God and change them into men whose hearts’ desire is obedience to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:3-5, TLB).
Ethan Hunt and gang may have the latest and greatest techno-weapons that nobody sees coming, but as believers we have the very armor of God and the infinite power of prayer to Almighty God on our side!
How do we use these spiritual armaments? We wake up each morning asking the Holy Spirit to fill us and Jesus to give us wisdom in our decisions. Then throughout the day we focus on how we can reach out to the lost and share the love of God and the truth of the gospel with everyone we can.
Though we are being hounded and harassed in this rogue nation, we must make use of the defenses He has provided for us, then get on our knees and fight relentlessly!
Fight for what? Well, that brings us to the Mission: Impossible…
He told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and earth. Therefore go and make disciples in all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and then teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you; and be sure of this—that I am with you always, even to the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:18-20, TLB).
Jesus gives every believer this mission, and at face value, it very much seems impossible. How are we to “make disciples” of every rogue nation? On our own, there is no way. But, He promises to be with us “always, even to the end of the world.” In other words, when the going gets tough and we’ve lost the will to keep fighting for THE Cause of Christ, it is then that we sense His power and presence working in our lives, and we find the strength to battle for the souls of our friends and families for another day.
So enjoy the pool, the lake, the beach and the mountains, but don’t sit all summer sipping lemonade and watching movies, because we have an impossible mission to accomplish, made possible by the very power and presence of Jesus Christ!
You may not be Ethan Hunt, but you are a follower of Jesus Christ with the power of the Holy Spirit on a Mission: Incredible! Make great use of your remaining summer and enjoy the adventure God has laid at your feet!
PRAY: Lord God, we are humbled by the task that You have given us to make disciples of all nations. Help us stay focused on what is truly important as we live each day by faith in You.
READ: Acts 1:8: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
GET: Dare 2 Share: A Field Guide to Sharing Your Faith. Newly revised and updated! Pick up a copy of this essential faith sharing how-to manual. Learn how to intentionally engage others in real, give-and-take dialogue and invite them into the most life-changing relationship they’ll ever experience. Get ready for the conversation that matters most!
Want to use this Soul Fuel as a bible study with your students this week? Copy and text them the following: “Want a thrilling summer mission? Check out this week’s devo: http://hubs.ly/H011Bkz0”
LEADERS: Be sure to check out the Discussion Guide for this week’s Soul Fuel – We Live in a Rogue Nation!
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