Here is a song I would like for us to sing this Sunday night.  It may be new to some of you, so you can get to know it by watching the video below!

As you know, we are planning to have a ski retreat in Maggie Valley, NC, with the Shackelford's on February 24-26.  I have the cost information for that trip so that you can plan accordingly.  Here it is!

Lodging (Staying with the Shackelford's at OMC): $50 ($25/night)

Ski Lift: $46

Ski Rental: $19 / Snowboard Rental: $30

So, if you plan to ski your total will be $115, and if you plan to snowboard your total will be $126.

Hope you will join us!  

On this past Sunday night, we began to prepare for our upcoming mission trips to Raleigh, Canada and Vermont by taking a look once again at our mission as Jesus gave it.  From the version of the Great Commission found in Matthew 28:18-20, I challenged our students to consider 3 questions from the message of those verses that are crucial in our preparation for service.  I want to place them here so that our students can continue to consider them as we prepare to go.

(18)  "...All authority in heaven and earth has been given to [Jesus]."

Question #1: Before we ever step on the mission field, do you recognize Jesus' authority and are you living your life in humble submission to that authority each and every day?  We cannot be living in rebellion to that authority and expect to be useful in God's mission as we go.  I should be no more submitted to this authority while on the mission field than I am right now in my everyday life.  This declaration and the authority of Jesus is the qualifier for the commission he gives.  Without his authority, the mission would be impossible and hopeless.

(19-20a)  "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."

Question #2: Are you about making disciples in your normal life now, even before you enter the mission field?  The only command Jesus gives in these verses is the command to "make disciples."  The other verbs (as you go, as you baptize, and as you teach) simply tell us how to do that.  God doesn't command us to make disciples only when we go, but as we are going.  We are to be doing in through our actions and words in our homes, in our schools, in our circle of influence, in our neighborhoods--EVERYWHERE we go.  We will make disciples by telling others about Jesus and the good news of the gospel and by teaching others about what God has revealed through his Word.  If we are not making disciples now, we cannot expect that to magically happen when we "go" onto the mission field.

(20b)  "And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Question #3: Are you experiencing the presence of Christ in your life everyday, compelling you forward in your journey of faith with him?  Whenever I think of this verse, my mind always goes back to verse 18 with Jesus declaring his authority over all things.  If, then, he is with us always, that means that his authority is always abounding!  We can sometimes become complacent and begin to simply practice religion.  Jesus wants our religion to die on the altar of relationship as we commune with him and grow with him as we press forward in life.  Sometimes the mission field can inspire conviction that leads us to repentance and a restoration of this relationship that had become dry.  I want to preempt that, though, and ask you to consider your personal relationship with Christ even now.

I believe these three questions are key as we dream about what God might do this summer as we go on mission with him.  My prayer is that we would spend some serious time considering them and strive to enter this season of going with hearts that are prepared for what he might have in store!

Hello all!  I wanted to place our last 2 talks from our Momentum Worship times here on the student ministry blog.  I really want to urge you, if you weren't there, to take some time and listen to these messages.  I really think that they are timely for us.  Even if you were there, it wouldn't hurt to take some time to listen back through them. 

First, from Romans 6:1-14...

Then, from Romans 6:15-23...

ok...please read this as it is VERY important information about the way we are approaching this semester.

as you know, we are doing small groups differently this semester. we are having 2 sets of 6-week sessions. the first of these will begin on sunday, february 20th. in preparation for these small groups, i MUST meet with each student one-on-one in order to have some evaluation and for you to set a goal for yourself in moving forward in discipleship (with your walk with the Lord).

i want to be clear about a couple of things. first, YOU MUST meet with me one-on-one in order to be a part of a small group. simply put, if you do not meet with me by next week sometime, you will not be able to be a part of a small group for the first 6-weeks. we will then need to plan to meet soon in order for you to be a part of the second 6-weeks.

please understand, though, that i REALLY want everyone to be able to be a part of this aspect of our ministry for both 6-week sessions. but, because evaluation is extremely important to this process, you will not be able to be a part if you do not meet with me.

one more important aspect of our new process. if you are not a part of small group discipleship you will not be able to participate in summer missions opportunities, such as our raleigh and canada trips. it is very important that we make sure that each individual on our mission teams are growing in their faith, making commitments to pursue that growth and being trained/equipped for ministry. so, please understand this aspect of this new ministry process.

now, all of that to say this...we will not be hanging out at mcdonalds this sunday night (2/13) after momentum worship. instead, i want to offer that time for students to meet with me one-on-one who have not done so yet. so, i will plan to stay after 7 for as long as it takes to meet with all of those who would like to meet during that time. PLEASE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY, especially if it is difficult for you to come to the church and meet with me during the week. if you cannot make it at that time, you must find a time to meet with me by next thursday in order to still be a part of our grow groups for the 1st 6-weeks.

i hope that will offer some clarity, but please feel free to contact me with any questions/concerns that you may have. i am REALLY EXCITED about this new direction and looking forward to where God is leading. and so far, every student i have met with has left our meeting excited about what God will do in their lives during the semester!

see you on sunday night at momentum worship!

right now we will plan to meet at the church next saturday @ 1:45pm. we will leave at 2. this is the earliest we have left for this event which means a couple of things.

1. you need to eat a good lunch before you come. we will stop BRIEFLY at a convenient store to get some snacks, but no true fast food stops will be made.

2. you need to plan to eat supper at the arena. remember, prices there seem to be a little higher than fast food, so plan accordingly.

3. this means that we will be in line at the arena for a LONG time. feel free to bring cards, games, etc...but whatever you bring, you will have to keep up with until after the concert is over. i will bring the madgab cards! :)

4. i'm going to say this now...we will have to stay together while in line. there will be NO requests to roam around during that time, other than bathroom runs, all of which will be accompanied by adults. we must stay together during that time.

5. you need to prepare your attitude for that long wait and begin praying now for patience. just make the most out of it and HAVE FUN TOGETHER!

remember, the concert costs $10 at the door. YOU NEED TO HAVE CORRECT CHANGE!! other than that, you need to have some money for supper and any other money you may want for souvenirs. plan to return to the church late. i will remind everyone to call home when we are about 30 minutes away from home.

I STILL NEED TO KNOW WHO TO EXPECT, so if you haven't texted/facebooked/emailed/called me to let me know you are coming, you need to ASAP. we want to have enough transportation.

see you on saturday!

Here is the screen presentation from Sunday night's talk.  Perhaps in looking it back over, you will recall some of the truths we discussed and that will lead to transformation.

After spending some time in Raleigh with Brett Carver this morning visiting Scotty B, our dates for summer student ministry mission trips have finally been fully confirmed!  We will be talking more about the trips in the weeks to come, but for planning purposes, here are those dates...

Mission Trip to Vermont (11th & 12th Graders): June 26 - July 2

Mission Trip to Canada (10th-12th Graders): July 8 - 16

Mission Trip to Raleigh (All Students): July 24 - 28

You need to begin praying now as to the Spirit's leading in your own life and which trips you may want to participate in.  Again, we will begin talking more specifics very soon!  I hope you are getting excited...it's going to be a great summer of ministry!

We wrap up chapter 2 of I John this week during our time in God's Word.  After looking at the two ethical tests given by John (obedience to God and love for others) we now turn to a warning he gives concerning what he calls 'antichrists'.  So, as you spend time looking at our text, I John 2:18-29, consider the following questions as you prepare for this week's Momentum Worship.

1. What comes to your mind as you read the word 'antichrist' or 'antichrists'?

2. What do you know about the Holy Spirit?  Spend some time either recalling or searching for Scripture dealing with the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer.

3. What do you think John means by "Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you."?  Something to ponder on...

4. John writes, "I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you."  What are some ways that the world seeks to deceive you every day?

 I'm praying for you, and look forward to seeing you on Sunday and spending some time unpacking these questions together!

     This week we once again pick up our study of the book of I John.  We will be looking together at 2:1-17.  Take some time this week to read through the passage (and take time to re-read through chapter 1 so you can be reminded of the context).  In fact, resolve to read the passage at least once a day until we study it together on Sunday night!  Ask the Holy Spirit to help you in drawing the truth from the passage and applying it to your own life.  I would love to spend time working through any questions you may have as you read together!  Just contact me and let me know.  Here are some questions to think about as you work through the passage this week.

1.  What does it mean that Jesus is the "propitiation for our sins?" (v. 2)

2.  What are the three tests given in the passage to help a person know if he/she knows and walks with God?

3.  What are some parallels and consistent themes that chapter 2 has with chapter 1?

4.  How does this passage convict you and what areas of your life are exposed and in need of change?

5.  Are you guilty of the question in verse 15?  What are some elements of "the world" that can become idols in your life?

     I look forward to seeing you Sunday!  I am praying for you as you deal with these verses this week and look forward to working through them together!