Teens For Christ Blog: Who is Jesus? Who is Jesus to You?
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Who is Jesus? Who is Jesus to You?
On Monday nights we have begun a series of looking at Who Jesus Is - Who He is to you personally, and who we are in Christ.
Here is recap of the list we looked at Monday night. We will be taking the next few weeks looking at other names that describe Jesus.
Almighty - Jesus is all powerful - Revelation 1:8
Nothing is beyond His reach or impossible for Him.
Author and Finisher - Jesus is our start and finish - Hebrews 12:2
Jesus was at the beginning of creation and will be there to the end. He is both the author of all that is and the one who sees His creation through to the end.
Beloved - Jesus is at the center of God's love - Ephesians 1:6
Chris is the Beloved Son of the Father, and as such, the desire of all people who love God. All who love God will be drawn to Jesus.
Bread of Life - Jesus is our Sustenance. John 6:32-35
Jesus was born in Bethlehem, which means," the house of bread." He is our spiritual nourishment and the sustenance of the world. All things are kept alive by Him.
Bridegroom - Jesus leads and cares for us. Matthew 9:15, John 3:29, & Revelation 21:9
Jesus is the bridegroom and His church is the bride. He is the head of the church and cares for her.
Chief Cornerstone - Jesus is our rock of safety. Isaiah 28:6, Psalm 118:22, Ephesians 2:20, & 1 Peter 2:6
Jesus is the cornerstone which religious leaders rejected, but which God chose from eternity to build His house, a temple of living stone! We can rely on Him as our solid foundation.
Door - Jesus is our gateway. John 10:9
Jesus is our opening to God. He is the only way to heaven.
Emmanuel/Immanuel - Jesus is God With us. Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 8:8 & Matthew 1:23
Jesus was born on earth as a real human being. He entered space and time to become one of us so we might be with God forever.
As we learn more of who He is and what He has done for us, we will begin to look at Who we are In Him.
In our small group time, some of the teens described Jesus as:
My Friend,
My Comforter
My Super Hero
My Redeemer
The one who gives me Peace
Someone I can tell everything to
The One who helps me
What comes to your mind as you read over these names that Describe who Jesus Is? What has Jesus done for you today?
We looked at video by Mike Donehey from 10th Avenue North that described Jesus offering the cup of wine to his disciples at the last supper and how that parallels the Jewish custom of the day of a Jewish man proposing to a woman.
He describes how the Jewish man would offer a something (a price that had to be paid) for the CHANCE to propose.
When we think about it - God sent his only Son (The Bridegroom) to be the price that would be paid for the Chance that we would become His Bride.
Jesus dying on the cross does not guarantee that we will automatically become His Bride. The price Jesus paid made a way for us to accept what He was offering.
How many of us would offer something so precious for JUST A CHANCE at something?
Will we be ready when the Bridegroom comes?
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Outdoor Movie: Reaching our community
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| 2-story screen? Yes, please. |
What started as a night just for fun quickly turned into an outreach event, and inspired a way to serve and connect with the community around us.
An Experiment
Last Tuesday night, we had our first-ever outdoor movie at TFC. Weather-wise, we had a perfect night to set up on the lawn outside of New Life Fellowship’s gym; it was warm, but the skies were clear – perfect for stargazing or catching the occasional meteor. Teens gathered around the firepit, waiting for dusk to fall, with cartoons playing in the background. (Sidenote: Can you believe that some didn't know what Talespin was?)
As soon as it was dark, Jason Metzger’s video projector turned the side of the building into a crystal-clear 14-foot screen, to watch the 1982 classic E.T., while the sound was broadcasted to portable FM radios scattered among the moviewatchers.
The most interesting thing about the night though, was the attention we drew from neighbors. I went and talked to one nearby group of teenage girls to ask if they’d like to come watch the show. “We’re scared,” one of them said. I laughed and told them we are nice people.
In the end, several young people joined us for the movie and shared in our s’mores, and we had the opportunity to share a little about Teens for Christ and invite them to get involved. This simple touchpoint inspired a way to reach out to the homes nearby.
An Inspiration
On Friday, Aug 31, TFC will be coordinating with New Life Fellowship to sponsor a Community Event for Hinote’s Corner and the surrounding neighborhoods. We will show a family-friendly movie, promote upcoming events at TFC and New Life, and encourage the community to build relationships with their neighbors.
A Call to Action
Please pray for this event. We want it to be both a service and an outreach, and we want the community see the love of Christ reflected in our actions.
We also need volunteers to help with the logistics of an undertaking of this size. Please contact us if you would like to help with delivering promotional flyers, contacting local businesses for sponsorship, or helping with supervision and organization on the evening of the event.
Finally, you can help with your ongoing financial support of TFC. We have many ideas that we just can’t implement right now, either because I don’t have time in my work week (I currently have a second job to supplement my income at TFC), or because we just don’t have the resources in our already-strained budget. Thank you so much to those of you who regularly support TFC with your faithful giving. If you don’t already, please consider a monthly donation to continue the work of our ministry.
Donate Now
Thursday, July 26, 2012
11 Weeks Early: Helping the Powells
Last month, their new son Micah was born 11 weeks premature. He's going to be fine, but they still have a long road ahead of them.
Please join us in prayer over his recovery and read the letter below, from Gabe's sister Elaine, for ways to help the family.
Dear Family,
Friends, and Body of Christ,
On June 27th
Micah Nathanael was born at UW Medical Center at 29 weeks gestation – 11 weeks
premature. He weighed in at 3lbs, 3oz
and 16 inches long. Rachel endured a
dramatic and complicated c-section surgery that involved her losing half of her
blood volume. Needless to say God’s
grace and mercy poured over the Powell family that day! We are so very thankful to the Lord for His
hand of protection and severe love!
Rachel was
released from medical care merely four days after surgery! They expect Micah to stay at UW Medical
Center until his due date (September 12), depending on his progress. Gabriel and Rachel live a good two hours away
from the hospital, therefore, they will be making many trips back and forth
over the next couple months.
Since many
of you have expressed a desire to help, this letter is to inform you of specific
needs the Powell family have now incurred.
If you feel the Lord leading you to help in any of the following ways,
please do not hesitate!
1.
Financial Needs
- We have set up a Donation Account at WECU for anyone to
deposit any amount of money for the Powell’s to use during these next 2
months. Below is a list of what the
donated money would be used for.
a.
Since
Gabriel and Rachel live two hours from Micah’s hospital, they have found housing
associated with the hospital where they can stay from time to time. Although it is a reduced rate ($69/night) it
will still be costly over time.
b.
Driving
2 hours each way 2-3 times a week will also increase their gas expense.
c.
Though
they will try to minimize eating out, their food costs will go up during this
time as it will be difficult to pack food for every trip.
There are two ways to donate:
1.
Send
the Powell’s a check made out to Rachel Powell with “Micah Fund” in the memo line. Checks can be sent to 77 Polo Park
Drive, Bellingham, WA 98229.
2.
Go
into any WECU branch, and tell them you’d like to make a deposit into Guillermo (Gabriel’s first name) and Rachel Powell’s Micah Fund account.
2.
Meals/Groceries
- When Gabriel and Rachel are home,
having 2-3 readymade meals a week would be very helpful for Rachel. During the week you may drop off meals at: 615 W.
Indiana St., Bellingham, WA 98225, 360-739-3733, or at their home most weekends. Elsa Powell (Gabriel’s mother) or Elaine
Margeson (Gabriel’s sister) will be able to take any meals to freeze.
3.
Light House Cleaning – Going back and forth regularly
will make regular cleaning challenging. Help with simple tasks about once a
week will make a big difference!
a.
Vacuuming
b.
Dishes
c.
Laundry
d.
Bathrooms
As you can see, there are many ways
in which you can serve this family! Let’s
come together and show what we as a body can do for one another in love! We know that not everyone can do everything
and so we ask that you decide what you and your family are capable of at this
time. I will be forthright and say that
right now, financial support is the most
crucial and the most necessary, so if anything, a monetary donation to the
WECU account will be the most beneficial.
If you have any questions or concerns,
or have come up with another way to help Pastor Gabriel and his family, please
do not hesitate to call! I, Elaine
(Gabriel’s sister), write this letter on behalf of Gabriel and Rachel. I would welcome any calls!
Thank you so much for taking the time
to read and consider how the Lord would have you give and serve during this
time of serious need!
Most Sincerely in the Lord,
Elaine Margeson
360-739-3733
Friday, June 22, 2012
Should we still be keeping the Law of Moses?
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| Replica of an ancient Torah scroll, from Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary |
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have not come to abolish these things but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth pass away not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter will pass from the law until everything takes place."
Matthew 5:17–18 (NET)
Jesus says that he hasn't come to abolish the Law, but neither has he come to preserve it -- he has has come to fulfill it. That can mean two things:
- The promises made in the Law and Prophets will come true in him.
- The reason the Law was given, to make people holy, will finally happen.[1]
In some ways, verses 17-20 are Jesus' "thesis statement" for the rest of the sermon: no matter what you have heard about the Law before, it isn't enough to go through the motions externally. From now on, your righteousness must exceed even that of those rule-keepers, the Pharisees -- it has to come from inside you. In other words, keep the spirit of the Law, not just the letter.
What are some of your questions about the Sermon on the Mount? Comment below, or come share them this Monday, 6:30pm at Berthusen Park!
[1] Credit: Barton, B. B. (1996). Matthew. Lifeapplication Bible commentary (86–87). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers.
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