REAL Student BLOG

What would that look like?  George Muller in 2011...

Last Wednesday night, we watched a documentary on this great man of faith who lived in the 1800s.  We also read short excerpts of "Radical" written by David Platt--someone living in this generation.  What we came to discover is that "...there is nothing new under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 1:9 NASB)  In other words, there have always been those who are in need of compassion and provision.  And, when we take scripture at face value and actually apply what God says in His Word, amazing things happen.

Take a passage like Isaiah 58:6-7, where God says:

"...Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you.  Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people.  Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless.  Give clothes to those who need them..." (NLT)

Or how about James 1:27, which says:

"Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you." (NLT)

Such is the life that our hero of the faith, George Muller, lived.  He set a tremendous example for the rest of us to follow.  And, since there is nothing new under the sun, there is still plenty of work for us to do... plenty of people who might respond to the love of Christ--if only we would move beyond our comfort to demonstrate that love.  And, when we do, we WILL appear to be radical.  But guess what... that's exactly how God says we should appear to the rest of the world! 

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9 KJV)

So, it all comes down to this: God called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light... to live lives of complete obedience to His Word.  That kind of life might look peculiar, even radical to some, but if it means others are freed from their darkness as well... Isn't it worth it?

Take some time to listen to this song, meditate on the scriptures above, and pray... Just pray.  Ask God how He wants to use you.  I'll be doing the same.

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Did you know that October is Pastor Appreciation Month??  Sure is!  And we have some awesome pastors at SCBC.  In fact, I'd say they fit the description of the kind of pastor described in 1 Timothy 5:17.

"The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching." 1 Tim. 5:17

I'd say our pastors definitely deserve some appreciation and encouragement!  So, take a few minutes and write a simple note letting them know how thankful you are for they way they serve Christ by serving us!!  You can address them individually or as a group... however you feel led.  Then, when it looks like we've got some great appreciation and encouragement to pass along... that's exactly what I'll do!  By the time we get done, our pastors will know for SURE how grateful we are for them!!

I'll check back soon!

Michelle

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Thought we'd try something different this week... So, here goes!

The first SCBC student to name the Five Purposes of the Church AND two ways our Student Ministry fulfills those purposes wins an incredibly delicious treat, handmade, WITH LOVE, by your devoted Youth Pastor's wife. 

That delicious treat will be brought to Youth Group and given to the winner when we meet again next Wednesday.

If you don't see your responses posting... never fear.  I'll be out of the office (A.K.A. Home) from 1:30-4:00 PM.  The winner will be announced as soon as we have one!!

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I gotta tell you guys, I don't have any real teaching to leave you this Thursday.  Nothing to review.  I thought and thought about what I might write today, but my mind just keeps coming back to one place... I was proud of you Wednesday night. 

A week ago, we put a pop quiz in front of you--just to see where you were really at when it came to being familiar with your Bibles.  I'm just being real when I say (and I think you'd all agree) there was some serious need for improvement.  But let me also encourage you by saying, there will ALWAYS be room for improvement.  In fact, in the book of Philippians (which is an Epistle, by the way :) Paul wrote, "I don't mean to say that... I have already reached perfection.  But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me... I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." (Phil 3:12, 14)

There will always be room for us to keep pressing on, to keep learning, to keep growing, and to keep striving to know Christ in a deeper way.  And that's exactly what I saw in you guys Wednesday night.  Sure, we were playing a fun game.  But you knew answers that you wouldn't have known a week ago.  That tells me you were listening--soaking it up and willing to be taught.  And THAT, guys and gals, makes my heart just about burst with affection for you. 

This is my prayer for you:  That you would fall in love with God's Word.  That you will come to know your Bibles, not just because Pastor Troy is teaching you about them, but because you're in them every day...  And the more you know His Word, the more you know Him!

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So?  How's the memorizing going?  You all know you LOVED that fun little song :)  In fact, I'll bet most of you had it stuck in your head all day at school.  Well... maybe not, but it SHOULD be stuck in there!  And if it's not, maybe you should review the song! (hint, hint)

Alright, time to get serious.  Here's what I'm curious to know... After you completed last night's pop quiz on the books of the Bible, were you pleasantly surprised at how well you remembered them?  Or, (and be honest because we're all here to encourage each other!) were you a little disappointed that you didn't know them well at all?

AND, tell me something new you learned last night!  Maybe how many books are in the Old Testament?  Maybe the number of years that passed between the Old Testament and the New Testament?

So, c'mon! Let's hear it!  I'll start...

Name: Michelle Allison  Quiz Results: I've really gotten rusty on having my Minor Prophets memorized in order!!  Something New I Learned: A REALLY cool song to help memorize the books of the Bible!! :) 

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