Remember all ChicaGO SEMP Team Members. You need to post once a week on what you're learning and being challenged in from what you're reading in Max Q Devotional.
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May 1 - Next Training Meeting
Meet in Preteen Room from 12:00-3:00 pm
May 7 - ChicaGO SEMP Team Serve with First Serve Saturday at Prairie Camp
* Bring a Rake to use and wear gloves
** Meet at Prairie Camp
*** Dress according to the weather
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John 3:34
ReplyDeleteFor the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the spirit without limit.
Something I think we can all cling to.
Dana Keller
Here's some interesting quotes and thoughts I saw as I read.
ReplyDelete"Most are not angry with God. No, unbelieving teenagers distance themselves from Christians. They reject the pictures of church they see reflected in the lives of the believers they know."
"Even children and SINNERS felt welcome around him."
- Children I can understand but it says that "sinners" felt welcomed around him.
"The bottom line is that God wants to use your LIFE to convict your unbelieving peers. That's been his plan all along."
These statements really stood out to me. I think that it is significant that SINNERS felt welcomed around Jesus. They need to feel that way around us. We need to put out a message and feeling of love instead of condemnation or judgment. That is the picture of the church they need to see in us, not the bad example that maybe they already have in their minds. That isn't what Jesus or the church that He wanted is about. I also found it very significant that they said God wants to use our LIFE to convict our peers, not our words. It is so much easier for us to tell people how they need to act instead of SHOWING them through our LIFESTYLE. Maybe that's where we need to spend more time and effort in our day to day walk. At least that's what I was challenged with this week.
Those were some insights that stuck out to me.
- Chris
This week the thing that most stood out to me was to be Authentic in the way of showing that you hurt, your fear, and you care, to be Relevant and relate to unbelivers in a way of what they know to get to them about God, to be Enjoyable and have God's joy flow through me, and to be accepting to others even though their past might be ugly. (day 2) Also, what the peace of God truly means stood out to me today a lot because I was stuggling on wednesday and thursday on a few things but just knowing that God is always there for you and stuggling along with you by your side is nice to know and to think about in hard times. His peace in the form of joy usually flows though me but not when I am down I have realized. (Something I need to work on; to "be joyful always...")
ReplyDelete~Bethany Metzler
This week:
ReplyDeleteJohn 15:19
"If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but i have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you"
Apparently, i am a foreigner, but that is alright with God so it should be alright with me.
Last week:
on day five when it told me to journal my thoughts again i said this,
"He is great, huge in fact. He is moving my family to France. This is a big change, big move, a big dream, and my big God will make it possible for me to accomplish any big obstacle. He is taking care of me even with a big schooling need, big money to raise, he really is a big God and can get me through it."
bailey dahlgren
Jesus had to be the most patient, humble, and gracious person who ever lived. He lived His life quietly, but with purpose. He was single-minded in fulfilling His Father's will for Him on earth. He spent all His time preaching and teaching and taking care of people. I want to model my life after His. I know that I am not sinless like He was, but I want to make it my goal to spend my life influencing others for Christ.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad this chapter talks about God's peace. You don't truly know what the term peace means until you have experienced God's peace in your life. I hope and pray that you students get the opportunity to experience it at a young age. I was 30 years old the first time I experienced it. It is an assurance that no matter what happens, I will be ok because of my faith in Jesus. God's peace is more wonderful, more amazing, and MORE IMPORTANT than actual healing and answered prayer!
I was very touched by what I read this week in John. Especially the prayer Jesus prayed for us specificly. I am so in love with the way our Lord cares for us and the peace he gives us. I hear his soft wispers and gentile callings at the right time when I need them the most. He knows my heart and what I long for and I am so grateful for that.
ReplyDeleteA quote that stood out to me was "your task is to reflect the personality and purpose of Jesus to your world right where u are" that reminded me a Christian we have to live our lives that reflect GOD even through the hard times! Another thing was " you must show that u hurt, you fear, you care. That you don't have all the answers" this is something I struggle with, this just reminded me that I can show my unbelieving friends that I don't have all the answers. A uplifting promise that helps me is when GOD promised us peace in the mist of a storm.
ReplyDeleteJaylin miller
no one quote stuck out to me it was all about fear. fear is a powerful emotion and i think its the main one that influences our decisions, how we act, who we talk to, and wat we do in our daily lives, and last Wednesday derry was talking about the spirit world and fear and i think he said 550 times does the bible say do not fear or be not afraid so i think thats wat i need to work on is to not be afraid
ReplyDeleteKylee Stutzman
This week the thing that has stood out the most is just how opposite our way of thinking is from an unbeliever. So of course there is going to be conflict, the thing is even if we go through the hardest of times, Jesus promised that we would feel at peace. And that is enough for me.
ReplyDeleteMarcus Poland
this week I saw in a new light how Paul went from having favor with the Sanhedrin to being stoned by them. Many people are searching for God but they don't know what He looks like and they are confused by Christians who live a dual life with one foot in the church and one foot in the world. As part of the body of Christ it is our job to show them how a person who is filled with the Holy Sprit should be. Also we should watch that people do not follow us but that they follow God.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that God doesn't give earthly peace. When you receive peace from Him, it's eternal peace within your soul!
ReplyDeleteP.S. Sorry, I forgot to post earlier! (:
~Emily Hoffman
Your non believing friends are looking for relevance. Growing up in the church, you have the stories and meanings explained to you but for a non-believer to sit down and read it, they might need someone to explain it, b/c no matter how long ago it was written it is still relevant!!
ReplyDelete_Kelly Miller
When looking through Matthew Mark Luke and John I just kept seeing how forgiving Jesus is and how much he loves the outcasts and sinners. I started asking myself if that is how I am and in many situations I'm not and God has challenged me to forgive others no matter what they have done and to love everyone even if they are nonbelievers.
ReplyDeleteLindsey Allen
This week I was reminded of the sting of rejection. Jesus was rejected, and I have been and will be too. It will be tough to be rejected by the people I interact with daily, but I can't be perfect. This is something I will face positively knowing that Christ is always on my side.
ReplyDeleteHolly Prawat
Rejection and hurtful words from peers for the actions you take as a Christian or the different you are can really sting, especially when it's a friend you have known for a long time. But God promises us peace through the Holy Spirit in John 14:27 and in other places in the Bible. He has experienced everything that I have, am, and will in this life. That's really comforting to me, knowing that when I ask for his peace He knows exactly what I need it for.
ReplyDeleteJustin Krakowski
This week i have realized that i need to be more accepting and enjoyable while walking through the hallways at school! If we are always showing anger and never being happy "lost" people see and and think "if thats what Christians are like, then i surely dont want to be one" we have to be enjoyable and set good examples for people who are unbelievers.
ReplyDeleteTaylor Hiester
I just realized that i need to rely on gods promises, and obey what god tells me to do.
ReplyDeleteMatthew Prochno
On day 4 of this week it came right out and said that YOU WILL BE REJECTED. This hit me really hard! you have to have a strong enough relationship with God before you go out and preach about him.
ReplyDelete-Tanny white! :)
I learned that the way you act and hald things is somethimes the key. By showing people that you can handal things good and not be over tempered at a situation, they will see that and think of you as different. they wont understand why you handled it that way but it will make them think and ultimetly thats what you want to do. to be able for them to take in the postive influnces in there life and maybe be effected and change the way they live.
ReplyDeleteshayna graverson
ok well this week i was reminded of rejection and how i have had this many times before. It says you will always be rejected but if you have a strong enough relationship with God it doesnt matter what other people say Just Do It and preach the word
ReplyDeleteAustin Sanders
The one thing that has really stuck put to me this week was on day two, where they summed Jesus' characteristics up into being: authentic, relevant, enjoyable, and accepting. It has really opened my eyes to my one personality as I go about my life, now almost after every time I do or say something I stop and ask myself if it matched any of the one traits Jesus possessed because ultimately we are trying to be like him.
ReplyDeleteAuthenticity has been the biggest one I've been battling through.
"You must show that you hurt, you fear, you care. That you don't have all the answers."
I don't exactly wear my emotions on my sleeve so this quote has been burning in my mind, while I've been trying my best to live out a truly authentic life.
-Amy Fanning
The thing that stood out to me the most this week was the part about being enjoyable. Jesus was always enjoyable to be around, sometimes when life gets tough it's hard to not be angry or sad. Who wants to be around people like that who follow christ, to me it makes it seem like people who follow the lord are always miserable. We all know this isn't true it's just the way we are supposed to go about expressing out feelings of sadness or being mad. If it's in a positive way you, it can be easier to be around when it gets tough. If any of this makes sense.
ReplyDeletei need to be more authentic. i shouldnt pretend like i have it all together. the fear in being authentic is that they may not look the same at me. but through me being authentic, i can show what God has done for me.
ReplyDeletespencer dahlgren
Something that stood out to me from this week was this: The church is not a building. It's an extension of Jesus. That means that the church should reflect the personality of Jesus. It should have his same purpose. To seek and to save what was lost. To bring glory to the Father in heaven by bridging the gap between sinful people and a holy god.
ReplyDeleteI am the church of Right Now. And my task is to reflect the personality and purpose of Jesus to the world right where I am.
p.s. sorry its so late:)
-Haley Miller-
on day three, it talks about how your unbelieving friends will look at you and you will be the constant reminder of everything they are not. i have recently had an experience with this. i noticed that a lost friend of mine was countinually looking at himself and then looking at me and other Christian friends and he would almost be frustrated by it
ReplyDeleteP.S. sorry its sooo late! :)
What stuckout to me most was the characteristics we could use to talk to people about Christ, and that our personality can actually help us talk to people about Christ
ReplyDelete-Daniel Clickovich
Week 2!!! WOW!!!
ReplyDeleteThis helped pin point some of my major!!!! flaws!!
Accepting!! It's just so difficult for me. It's so easy to judge people! Showing unconditional to EVERYONE is a challenge i am willing to take!!!:)
Dani Hudson
Also on day threewhen it says the whole weight thing that you think the scale is wrong(denial) or that you should throw it away(rejection)
ReplyDelete~austin conrad