Monthly Archives: September 2009

Sep 29 2009

Framework #26 – Persecuted Church: Doctrine of the Holy Spirit

PchurchblackFree resources for youth pastors:
1 – OT Storyline of the Spirit (mp3),
2 – NT Storyline of the Spirit (mp3)
3 – Make War – Holy Spirit’s Help (mp3 by Brian Metz)
4 – Fruit of the Spirit (mp3)
Persecuted Church: Holy Spirit (ppt)
Persecuted Church: Holy Spirit (Schedule)
Persecuted Church: Holy Spirit (Brief Preaching Notes)

 Our students walked into an almost completely dark student building.  Most of our lights were turned off, and a few of our led’s were turned to red and yellow to look like torches and turned down low.  The mood was set to look like many of the churches meeting around the world in secret, danger, and fear for their lives…as well as many churches like that back in church history.  We stripped away all of the bells and whistles.  We did 4 sessions (each an hour long) of 5 minutes of singing, 40 minutes of teaching, and 5-10 minutes of prayer.  Amazingly after 4 hours of sessions centered around teaching doctrine, our students simply asked, “Its over?  That’s it?  Can’t we stay longer?”  Now that is the joy and purpose of the Persecuted Church.  Here’s more about our Persecuted Church event…  Continue reading →

Sep 27 2009

CBSM Ski Trip 2009: December 28 – 31, 2009

skitripslideFree resources for CBSM Students and youth pastors:

2008 CBSM Ski Trip Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wHmA9in1xU

Medical Release Form (Ski Trip)

Freezing weather, ice-cold snow, and getting knocked over by out of control skiers for two straight days.  Have I talked you into our ski trip yet?  I don’t think there’s anything I could say to talk our students out of it.  Every year this is one of our highest attended and most fun event that we do.  The purpose is this even is just to grow closer together in friendships and as a student ministry as we stay at the hotel, ride ski-lifts, and fall down slopes together.  It doesn’t get any better than that!

Here’s what you need to know.  We will leave the morning of Monday, December 28 and return the evening of Thursday, December 31.  The total cost is $325.  This includes all your skiing, your hotel lodging, your charter bus transportation, and your meals while in Beckly, West Virginia.  Your initial and non-refundable $75 deposit is due BY Wednesday, October 7th.  The second installment ($150) will be due Sunday, Oct 25.  The third and final payment of $100 will be due Sunday, November 22.  We will provide ski equipment forms that you will need to fill out by the 2nd payment date: Sun, Oct 25th.  Also by the 2nd payment date (Oct 25th), you will need to turn in your application form (downloadable here on the blog).  The only other money your student will need is for 2 meals going up to WV and 2 meals returning from WV.  If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask!

Sep 24 2009

Storyline #59: 1 Kings 11-16 “Kingdom Divided: How Christ Reunites Relationships”

3---TitleFree resources for youth pastors and small group leaders:

1 Kings Sermon Intro Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LSGZNhiA7E

3 – 1 Kings 11-16 – Kingdom Divided (mp3)

3 – 1 Kings 12-16 – Kingdom Divided (fillout sheet)

3 – 1 Kings 11-16 – Kindom Divided (ppt)

3 – 1 Kings 12-16 – Kingdom Divided (outline)

3 – 1 Kings 12-16 – Kingdom Divided (order of service)

One of the most ridiculously cheesy magic tricks can be when a magician cuts their assistant in half.  But there are versions of this that are so good I can’t explain.  Penn and Teller’s version is like an explanation to the audience of how magicians do it, but their twist comes when they “accidentally” turn one half of the girl sideways and her “guts” fall out.  David Blaine is my most favorite.  He doesn’t cut the girl in half, but he pulls her in half while in a public park on a park bench.  The bottom half of her then stands up, and her top half army-crawls away because she’s so freaked out.  YouTube it!

An even more shocking act of being torn apart is God’s Kingdom.  How do we explain an all-powerful, all-wise, and all-loving seeming to allow His solemn covenant to be torn into pieces?  How does God’s Kingdom getting divided even make sense?  Many of us as Christians have broken relationships.  How does that make sense for Christians?  Continue reading →

Sep 18 2009

CBSM Small Groups Leaders Training Retreat

Framework-Small-Groups-(new)Free mp3s of Small Group Leaders Training Sessions

Small Group Leaders Retreat – Biblical Fellowship – Session 1

Small Group Leaders Retreat – Big Picture – Session 2

Small Group Leaders Retreat – Be Christ-Centered – Session 3

Small Group Leaders Retreat – Biblical Importance of Storyline and Application – Session 4

Small Group Leaders Retreat – Big Questions – Session 5

I don’t know about you, but earlier on in my ministry I would have done just about anything to get my hands on a very practical series concerning small groups (or Sunday school) specifically for student ministry.  I’m putting this resource out there for everyone in case it might be a help and a blessing to your youth ministry…wherever you are.  These mp3s are the teaching sessions of our annual small group leaders retreat.  Continue reading →

Sep 17 2009

Storyline #58: 1 Kings 5-11 “cbsMtv Cribs: Checkin Out God’s House”

2---titleFree resources for youth pastors and small group leaders:

2 – 1 Kings 5-11 – Solomon Temple (mp3)

2 – 1 Kings 5-11 – Solomon Temple (fillout sheet)

2 – 1 Kings 5-11 – Solomon Temple (ppt)

2 – 1 Kings 5-11 – Solomon Temple (outline)

2 – 1 Kings 5-11 – Solomon Temple (Scripture)

2 – 1 Kings 5-11 – Solomon Temple (service order)

            One of the most amazing houses I’ve ever seen is Tiger Woods’.  Is it me, or is there just something sweet about living on the ocean, swimming in a pool overlooking that ocean, having colored-neon lights in your ceiling, and just having the ability to get lost in your own house?!  People can use houses today to represent themselves by how much money the make, their style, how big their family is, and where they live.  What about God?  Is He represented by His house?  Does He even still have a house?  If so, His house has got to be the most important and incredible house in the whole world!  His house is still around today.  Let’s look at where it is and what it has to do with you.  Continue reading →

Sep 14 2009

CBSM Promo Video

Hey Yall! Check out our CBSM Promo Video that we want to spread around our community. Let us know if you see any helpful changes that need to be made.  You can email me at CHIPPERNET2@YAHOO.COM

Shanks!

Sep 9 2009

Are You Smarter Than a 9th Grader?

are_you_smarter_than_a_5thAre you spiritually smarter than a 9th grader on the gospel?  One of the questions to be on our KTL Leadership Ministry Team was to define the gospel.  Here was a 9th graders answer.  I thought you would enjoy…

“The Gospel~ many people think of the gospel as simply matthew, mark, luke and john because it has all the stories with Jesus actually speaking but there is so much more. all through out the bible it is talking about Jesus all the way from genesis 3:15-16 to revalations is all pointing to the center of the whole gospel Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ: The Son of God who was placed in the virgin mary and God said you shall Have a boy and to name him Jesus, mary gave birth to him in a stable in bethleham the city of david. this ultamately fulfilling prophetcies in the book of isaiah and other OT books… Jesus lived a sinless life, he started his ministry at the age of thirty and fulfilled his ministry at the aga of 33 by dying on the cross for our sins. the perfect son of God who knew no sin became sin on our behalf. for while we were still sinners at the right time Christ died for us on the cross. He didnt have to but he did he bore the sins of the world dispised and rejected by many. but like the song says after he died and spent 3 days in the grave the grave could conceal him no longer.. on the third day he rose just as the prophets said…so to sum it up the Gospel is Jesus living a perfect life dying on the cross and rising again on the 3rd day fulfilling the prophetcies.”   Continue reading →

Sep 7 2009

KTL: Training Leaders in Fall 2009

ministry teams - ktlFree file for youth pastors:
KTL FALL 2009 Application

KTL Fall 2009 Schedule

God made it ridiculously clear when He first led me here to start this KTL ministry.  When I first came there were 3 guys called into pastoral ministry, but there was no ministry seriously equipping them.  So, Spring of 08 God had us start our first KTL semester.  It was a semester of training our called guys on how to preach and teach the Scriptures in a Christ-centered way.  We ended up with about 6 guys that semester in the class.  The next semester, I invited two guys from every grade (8th and up) to be a part of our KTL ministry focussed more on how to be a Christ-like leader.  Then in Spring 2009, we had about 10 – 11 guys who went through the preaching KTL ministry course.

Now, we are in the Fall 2009 KTL Ministry course, and we’re doing things a little different.  Continue reading →

Sep 5 2009

6 Crucial Questions for Teens Making Wise Choices

choicesGod has taught me so much just thinking through the issue of WISDOM while studying the life and kingship of Solomon in 1 Kings 1- 4.  I’ve learned that wisdom is not just knowledge, but it is using knowledge for the glory of God.  Proverbs speaks of wisdom as a way of life (Prov 14:12).  Proverbs speaks of wisdom as a person (Proverbs 1, 30).  I’ve learned that God made the Person, Jesus Christ, our wisdom as He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6 and 1 Corinthians 1:30).  This means that Solomon is not the wisest king in the Bible…Jesus is!

So as our teens wish to glorify, serve, honor, and worship King Jesus with their lives, they have some serious choices to think through.  Relatoinships, colleges, friendships, jobs, sports, and many other opportunities cloud their minds with confusing choices that will make a difference in their life for Christ.  So when thinking through all this, here are six questions for students to pray and think through when tough decisions arise.

1.  God, will you give me wisdom?  (James 1:5)  God is the giver of wisdom and He has asked that we request it from Him.

2.  What do the Scriptures say?  (2 Timothy 3:15-17)  God does not ask us to ONLY pray through everything, but He has given us His Scriptures to make us wise to live life in wise ways as we continue to pray.

3.  Which decision will glorify Jesus most in my life and in the life of others?  (Philippians 2:9-11) God is most glorified when we worship and live for Jesus.

4.  What will my decision mean for my personal future and the future of others?  (Proverbs 3:5-6)  Just as God has a will and plan of His own that directs the future, He has created us in His imagine so that we too should consider the outcome of our futures concerning the choices we make.

5.  What do my authorities tell me?  (Hebrews 13:17)  God has placed spiritual authorities in your life, and He has given them wisdom to help you.  These are people like your parents, your pastors, your small group leaders, your mentors, and other more spiritually mature people than you who know Christ and His Word.

6.  God, will You specifically tell me what to do?  (Eph 3:20)  God may not tell us specifically what to do in all situations, but He certainly does in some or many situations.  We should never shy away from asking an all sovereign and still personal God exactly what we should specifically do in every situation of our lives.

Sep 3 2009

Storyline #57: 1 Kings 1-4 “Don’t Be Stupid: Understanding What God’s Wisdom Is”

kingdomdividedtitleFree files for youth pastors and small group leaders:

1 – 1 Kings 1-4 – Solomon Wisdom (mp3)

1 – 1 Kings 1-4 – Solomon Wisdom (fillout sheet)

1 – 1 Kings 1-4 – Solomon Wisdom (ppt)

1 – 1 Kings 1-4 – Solomon Wisdom (Scripture)

1 – 1 Kings 1-4 – Solomon Wisdom (outline)

I love to brag on my church…ahem, boast in Christ on my church!  We have some seriously smart people around here in the Huntsville, AL area.  Half of the church’s email addresses are “@nasa.gov”.  We have someone in our church with a masters degree in “theater campaign war strategies” from West Point who helped plan the attack on Iraq.  We have a video game programmer who designs situational combat games for the army.  We have a guy in our church with well over 10 U.S. patents in his name in the area of diffusing bombs.  Apparently, when the L.A. bomb squad has a question, they call him!  Even our students talk smack about who made the highest 30 on their ACTs.  Nerd alert!

The main truth when taking a look at 1 Kings 1 – 4 is wisdom.  I think at times an educated society can become complacent in its intelligence and knowledge which will, in turn, hinder us from becoming truly wise.  Wisdom is far different than facts and smarts.  Continue reading →