PennDel Youth Convention 2010 - "NEXT" from nicholas palomo on Vimeo.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Day 3: Faithfulness at a Great Cost
Revelation 2:1-7
We don't know exactly what the Nicolaitans believed, but it was obviously a false teaching. God commended the Ephesians for testing their teachers. Instead of blindly believing everything they heard, they checked to see if what was being taught was in accordance with Scripture. If it wasn't, then they refused to listen. We should trust those God puts in authority over us, but we have to be sure we're trusting the Word of God, not just the words of humans. Of course in order to do that, we need to know what the Word says.
Are you studying the Word so you'd be ale to spot even a minor false teaching if you heard it?
We don't know exactly what the Nicolaitans believed, but it was obviously a false teaching. God commended the Ephesians for testing their teachers. Instead of blindly believing everything they heard, they checked to see if what was being taught was in accordance with Scripture. If it wasn't, then they refused to listen. We should trust those God puts in authority over us, but we have to be sure we're trusting the Word of God, not just the words of humans. Of course in order to do that, we need to know what the Word says.
Are you studying the Word so you'd be ale to spot even a minor false teaching if you heard it?
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Day 2: Faithfulness at a great cost
2 Timothy 4:1-5
Everyone likes to be told they're right; it's flattering, and it makes us feel smart. On the other hand, people don't like to be told they're wrong; it makes them feel awkward and uncomfortable. This has always been true, even for members of the early Church.
Sometime God will use people to tell us thing that are hard to hear--things that cause us to recognize we're not acting as we should. Instead of running from such teaching (or dismissing it as wrong), we need to be open to it. If we don't, then we'll leave ourselves vulnerable to false teachers who tell us exactly what we want to hear. No one is right 100 percent of the time (not even you), so never assume you don't need someone to challenge you now and then.
How do you respond when you hear difficult things that convict you?
Ask God to show you if you have the same problem these church people did.
Everyone likes to be told they're right; it's flattering, and it makes us feel smart. On the other hand, people don't like to be told they're wrong; it makes them feel awkward and uncomfortable. This has always been true, even for members of the early Church.
Sometime God will use people to tell us thing that are hard to hear--things that cause us to recognize we're not acting as we should. Instead of running from such teaching (or dismissing it as wrong), we need to be open to it. If we don't, then we'll leave ourselves vulnerable to false teachers who tell us exactly what we want to hear. No one is right 100 percent of the time (not even you), so never assume you don't need someone to challenge you now and then.
How do you respond when you hear difficult things that convict you?
Ask God to show you if you have the same problem these church people did.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Week 40: Faithfulness at Great Cost
MEMORY VERSE
"Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly." (1 Timothy 4:7)
INTRODUCTION
I know of a youth group in which the students were in the habit of becoming very emotional during Wednesday night service. Being emotional isn't wrong, but they seemed to get emotional for no reason. The youth minister decided to test them. So he preached an impassioned talk and then asked if any of them wanted to come forward and accept Christ. The altar area was full of students! Suddenly he stopped the service and informed the teenagers that everything he'd just told them was wrong. Not a bit of it was supported by Scripture. They'd become emotional about something that was completely fake.
This danger isn't new. At the end of his third missionary journey, Paul was headed back to Jerusalem. On the way he stopped and met with the elders of the Ephesian church. He gave a farewell speech and warned the Ephesians to beware those who preach false teachings about God. Paul wouldn't be around to protect them anymore, so they had to learn to protect themselves.
We must also be on guard against false teaching. As you continue to mature in your Christian faith, you'll probably encounter false teachers. Unless you test the teaching against Scripture, you'll find you're like that youth group: Looking spiritual but having no substance.
"Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly." (1 Timothy 4:7)
INTRODUCTION
I know of a youth group in which the students were in the habit of becoming very emotional during Wednesday night service. Being emotional isn't wrong, but they seemed to get emotional for no reason. The youth minister decided to test them. So he preached an impassioned talk and then asked if any of them wanted to come forward and accept Christ. The altar area was full of students! Suddenly he stopped the service and informed the teenagers that everything he'd just told them was wrong. Not a bit of it was supported by Scripture. They'd become emotional about something that was completely fake.
This danger isn't new. At the end of his third missionary journey, Paul was headed back to Jerusalem. On the way he stopped and met with the elders of the Ephesian church. He gave a farewell speech and warned the Ephesians to beware those who preach false teachings about God. Paul wouldn't be around to protect them anymore, so they had to learn to protect themselves.
We must also be on guard against false teaching. As you continue to mature in your Christian faith, you'll probably encounter false teachers. Unless you test the teaching against Scripture, you'll find you're like that youth group: Looking spiritual but having no substance.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Communion – Day 4
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” - Luke 22:20
In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. – Hebrews 12:4
Today, let’s dwell on the blood of Christ. Again, think about what it was like for Jesus at the Last Supper. He passed the cup knowing that in just a few hours, he’d see his own blood splattered on the ground. He knew that scourging (or whipping) and crucifixion were coming – both excruciatingly painful, bloody affairs. Now read Hebrews 12:4. The author reminds us that our struggles aren’t nearly as hard as what Jesus did when he offered his blood for us. His love is that immense; his resolve that firm. So when you look at the cup during communion, realize that Jesus was giving his blood for you – on purpose – so that you could live and have eternal life.
In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. – Hebrews 12:4
Today, let’s dwell on the blood of Christ. Again, think about what it was like for Jesus at the Last Supper. He passed the cup knowing that in just a few hours, he’d see his own blood splattered on the ground. He knew that scourging (or whipping) and crucifixion were coming – both excruciatingly painful, bloody affairs. Now read Hebrews 12:4. The author reminds us that our struggles aren’t nearly as hard as what Jesus did when he offered his blood for us. His love is that immense; his resolve that firm. So when you look at the cup during communion, realize that Jesus was giving his blood for you – on purpose – so that you could live and have eternal life.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Communion – Day 3
Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, "We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again." - Luke 18:31-33
And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." - Luke 22:19
Let’s take some time to dwell on the body of Christ. When Jesus broke the bread at the Last Supper, he knew that in the new few hours he’d be severely beaten and tortured. He knew what was coming, and he still offered his body to be broken for us. Think about the immensity of that sacrifice. If you knew you were facing physical harm, not to mention torture, then you’d probably avoid the situation. Jesus didn’t. Instead, he walked into it on purpose, knowing it would cost his very life. He loves you that much. So when we take the bread, we need to remember the magnitude of the sacrifice Jesus made by offering his body to be broken for us.
Spend some time just thinking about what it would take to purposefully offer yourself for someone else.
Thank Jesus for his sacrifice for you.
And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." - Luke 22:19
Let’s take some time to dwell on the body of Christ. When Jesus broke the bread at the Last Supper, he knew that in the new few hours he’d be severely beaten and tortured. He knew what was coming, and he still offered his body to be broken for us. Think about the immensity of that sacrifice. If you knew you were facing physical harm, not to mention torture, then you’d probably avoid the situation. Jesus didn’t. Instead, he walked into it on purpose, knowing it would cost his very life. He loves you that much. So when we take the bread, we need to remember the magnitude of the sacrifice Jesus made by offering his body to be broken for us.
Spend some time just thinking about what it would take to purposefully offer yourself for someone else.
Thank Jesus for his sacrifice for you.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Communion – Day 2
When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God." After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” – Luke 22:14-20
This story may seem all too familiar to us. Even the setting is familiar: A meal with friends. We probably eat with our friends all the time. No big deal, right? Actually, this was a very special thing. In Jewish culture to share a meal was an intimate event. To invite someone to a meal was to say, “You’re one of the closest people in my life.” At his last meal, Jesus didn’t offer a review of his teachings; he reminded the disciples that they were his friends. So when we take communion, realize it’s not just a ritual. God is literally inviting us into the deepest of friendships. God wants to be united with us, so he invites us to his table.
Do you have a close relationship with God or is it more distant? Why?
Imagine what it was like to be part of the communion at the Last Supper.
This story may seem all too familiar to us. Even the setting is familiar: A meal with friends. We probably eat with our friends all the time. No big deal, right? Actually, this was a very special thing. In Jewish culture to share a meal was an intimate event. To invite someone to a meal was to say, “You’re one of the closest people in my life.” At his last meal, Jesus didn’t offer a review of his teachings; he reminded the disciples that they were his friends. So when we take communion, realize it’s not just a ritual. God is literally inviting us into the deepest of friendships. God wants to be united with us, so he invites us to his table.
Do you have a close relationship with God or is it more distant? Why?
Imagine what it was like to be part of the communion at the Last Supper.
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