The Feed: 12.05.2007

News you can use for this week…

1. We will continue practicing for our Christmas presentation this Saturday, December 8th here at church. Here’s the schedule
   • 3:00 pm: Praise team practice
     
   • 4:00 pm: Seniors only
   • 5:30 pm: Entire Floodlight youth group
2. Check out our Deeper page (formerly known as “Spiritual Growth”) for resources to help you walk closer with Christ during this Advent season.
3. Floodlight is having a Christmas party on Sunday, December 16th after church. Deacon Son has graciously invited us over for a time of celebrating together!
   • Gift exchange: This year, as part of our fun, we will have a round-robin gift exchange. We’ll explain more later, but for now, just pick up a gift that is no more than $15 and is appropriate for either boys or girls.
   • Join the conspiracy: Also, as part of our gathering, we want to give meaningful gifts to make an impact in the lives of people in need. After all, Jesus came to serve others, not to be served. In recognition of this, Floodlight will collect $5 per person to give a collective gift that will serve the needs of others.
   • More details (exact time, directions, etc) on Sunday…

As always, if you have any questions (or want to lend me your copy of Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess) just let me know! See you all on Saturday — bring your dancing shoes and your beautiful voices!

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By the way, here is the link to the Junky Car Club that I mentioned on Sunday. Their goal is to learn to live with less so they can give more — a great way for us to prepare the way of the Lord during this Advent season!

Spiritual Growth – Week of November 25th

 

 

Taking It Home

For the week of November 25, 2007:

Prayer Journal

How will sharing your problems with God help you solve them?

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Driving Home the Point

“Many Christians are convinced there’s less to God than meets the eye… their theology owes more to The Wizard of Oz than to the Bible. Behind God’s booming voice and powerful deeds is a little man pulling levers. They suspect this is true of God because they know it’s true of themselves.” — Tim Woodroof, Walk This Way

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Talking at Home

Read John 16:33 at home. Consider these questions:

• Have you ever felt embarrassed or hurt because of your faith in Christ?
• What does Jesus promise in this verse?
• How do these promises encourage people who love and serve the Lord?

Look for evidence this week of God’s peace. Spend some time journaling about those God-given moments of peace.

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Daily Challenge

• Find other verses in the Bible that remind you that God wants you to turn to Him when you’re worried or upset (try using the Bible Gateway if you need help). Spend time committing those verses to memory this week, so you’ll remember them next time a tough situation comes along.
• Think about the anxieties you’re facing right now. Write them down on a scrap piece of paper, spend time praying over those things, and then crumple them up and throw them away. Ask God to help you to keep those anxieties “thrown away,” and not to worry or stress out over them any longer.
• If there’s a friend or family member who’s anxious right now, share with him or her how God loves us and wants us to cast our cares upon Him. Volunteer to help that person through his or her situation, if you can.

Adapted from FaithWeaver Bible studies

 

Spiritual Growth — Week of November 11th

 

 

Here is our last “Take It Home” entry.  For this week’s update, please visit the Spiritual Growth page.

Taking It Home

For the week of November 11, 2007:

Prayer Journal

What can you do to remind yourself that God is with you continuously?

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Driving Home the Point

“Despite an uncertain future, we can be sure of one thing: Christ will face it with us. Whether we are going through a private trial or a public grieving, we are never going alone.” — The Voice of the Martyrs, Extreme Devotion

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Talking at Home

Read Deuteronomy 31:1-12 at home. Consider these questions:

• When you think about the Lord God, how do you feel?
• When we feel alone, how can we know God is with us?
• Why do you think we sometimes feel God’s presence and other times feel as if God is nowhere to be found?
• How do we experience God’s presence?

Think about God’s command to be strong and courageous. How can remembering God’s Word help you to be strong during difficult times?

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Daily Challenge

• Continue journaling this week. See what God does with those situations you’ve prayed about. At the end of the week, look over your journal. Thank God for what He’s done and continue to pray fr those things you’re still wanting to hear from God about.
• Set aside time each day to talk with God. Pray, and give Him everything that’s bothering you right now. And then listen for God’s whisper. Read His Word, learn what He has already said, and ask for His help in understanding His Word even more.
• Find someone you know who may be suffering from loneliness — for example, a new kid at school, a friend who is struggling — and be a friend to that person. Share with him or her how you’ve turned to God when you have been lonely in your life. Let them know that Jesus is faithful.

Adapted from FaithWeaver Bible studies

 

Prayer Journals — Questions To Consider This Week

As a follow-up to this past Sunday’s message and Bible study on Elijah, your challenge this week is to take a few minutes every day and answer the following questions in your prayer journals:

• How would you respond if the Lord asked you, “What are you doing here?” Why?
• Where is your focus when you feel threatened or afraid?
• How can you deepen your relationship with God today so that you know He is always with you?

Spiritual Growth — Week of November 4th

 

 

Taking It Home

For the week of November 4, 2007:

Prayer Journal

How will you focus on God and serve Him daily?

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Driving Home the Point

“For every man the music of hope is found in Jesus Christ.” — Richard Lee, Issues of the Heart

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Talking at Home

Read Matthew 25:35-46 at home. Make a list of projects you can do (maybe even together with friends or family) to serve the Lord. Think about your neighborhood, your community, your country and your world. Then consider these questions:

• How is helping other people like serving Jesus?
• What will Jesus say to those who have helped others?
• Which family projects on your list include helping people in need?

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Daily Challenge

• What choices did you identify that you could relate to following God? Start making those changes this week.
• Take a “fast” from spending money this week — buy absolutely nothing that you don’t need. Notice how your life is affected by leaving out unnecessary purchases, and think about what changes you could make permanent.
• One of the best ways to serve God — and to think less about other “gods” — is to serve others. Come up with at least one specific way you’ll serve someone else for God this week.

Adapted from FaithWeaver Bible studies

 

Spiritual Growth — Week of October 14th

 

 

Taking It Home

For the week of October 14, 2007:

Prayer Journal

Why is devotion to God important?

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Driving Home the Point

“The Christian is called upon to hold on, work hard, and look up. Work hard for your convictions and expect to hear His voice say, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant’.”

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Talking at Home

Read Isaiah 42:14-17 at home this week — you might even consider reading every morning before you go to school, or first thing when you return back home.

• Why is it tempting to trust things other than God with important issues?
• What prevents us from being devoted to God?

Go to a local park and silently walk around the park once — or, if you’re not close to a park, try walking around your neighborhood once. A you walk, think of times you, your family or friends have shown genuine devotion to God. Then, consider a time where you were not devoted to God. Take a second walk around the park or neighborhood and, this time, pray and ask God to deepen your love & devotion to Him.

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Daily Challenge

• What is one way you’ve identified that you can more devoted to God? Resolve this week to put it into practice. Seek God and the advice of Christian friends and adults who can help you to make this a reality in your life.
• Identify something you’ve been giving too much attention and set it aside this week. Consider how much priority you’ve given this, and what you could do differently. You might even give it away to someone else.
• Serve a friend this week, who you might not normally serve. It’s a great way to forget about the things that distract you from God, and will help you to remember to put others’ needs before your own.

Adapted from FaithWeaver Bible studies

 

Happy October 18th Day!

Alright, so it’s not a holiday (well, maybe “Alaska Day”)… but everyday is a new day filled with God’s mercy, right? So… happy October 18th day everyone! Here are a couple of quick updates:

• House Church Update: No house church gathering this Saturday (October 20th) because Pastor Dan will be a the National Youth Workers Convention this weekend. We will start up house church again next week, on October 27th.
• Going Deeper: Check out the spiritual growth page for a new devotion. Also, you can catch up anytime or check out previous devotions by going to the bottom of this page and clicking on the spiritual growth category link — last week’s is posted just below this one.
• Saddle Up Your Horses (Again)! Finally, remember that Hallelujah Night will be on Wednesday, October 31st from 6:00 to 8:30 pm. We need your help, so please clear out your schedules for that night!! We are going to have an awesome “Wild West Fall Fest”!!

Spiritual Growth — Week of October 7th

Taking It Home

For the week of October 7, 2007:

Prayer Journal

Why is wisdom important to you?

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Driving Home the Point

“Determine right now who you’re going to listen to. It doesn’t matter how polite, popular or fun someone is — if he’s giving you the wrong directions, you’ll be doomed if you follow them. Jesus Christ and his holy Word are our authorities.” — Susie Shellenberger, Devotions for Teens

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Talking at Home

Read 1 Corinthians 1:20-31 at home this week — you might even consider reading every morning before you go to school, or first thing when you return back home.

• How can we know when someone is wise?
• What are some important qualities in a wise person? What does it take to gain wisdom?
• When you think of the wisest people you know, what qualities do they have that you would like to emulate?

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Daily Challenge

• This week, use the online Bible Gateway and try a search for “wisdom.” As you examine all of the different ways in which the Bible talks about wisdom, do you see anything that applies to your life right now?
• The book of Proverbs is 31 chapters — perfect for reading one chapter a day for one month. For one month, try reading through the book of Proverbs and become familiar with how God defines wisdom. Ask for God’s help in understanding how to apply his wisdom in your life.
• Do you have a friend who needs God’s wisdom? Share with him or her how God has given you wisdom in the past. Don’t brag, but share how God has helped you and how He can help your friend as well.

Adapted from FaithWeaver Bible studies

 

In The News This Week

After this past Saturday’s SAT was finished, you could almost hear the sigh of relief being breathed all across the area Hopefully, you’re all having a great week so far… Here are some updates for this week:

• House Church Schedule:
  
  • This Saturday, October 13th we will gather for house church at 6:30 pm here at church
  • October 20th: We will not have house church on the 20th because Pastor Dan will be at the National Youth Workers Conference.

• Hallelujah Night:
  
  • Date: Wednesday, October 31st
  • Location: Church
  • Time: 7:00 to 9:00 pm
  • We will need lots of help with our Wild West Fall Fest as we share in God’s love through games, activities and lots of fun!

• Check out the Spiritual Growth page for this week’s “Take It Home” questions. And, as always, feel free to talk to Pastor Dan if you have any questions or would like any guidance or direction in your walk with God.

• Let’s be Facebook friends! If you are part of the Facebook social network, email me at pastordanso@gmail.com. I might even throw a cow at you, if you’re lucky!!

Spiritual Growth — Week of 09/30

Taking It Home

For the week of September 30, 2007:

Prayer Journal

How can you diligently seek God’s wisdom?

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Driving Home the Point

“A disciple s simply ‘a learner.’ The word comes from a root that means ‘thought accompanied by an endeavor.’ So a disciple of Christ can be defined as a learner of Jesus who accepts the teaching of his Master, not only in belief but in lifestyle.” — J. Oswald Sanders, The Joy of Following Jesus

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Talking at Home

Read James 1:5 at home this week — you might even consider reading every morning before you go to school, or first thing when you return back home.

• Who do you consider to be the wisest member of your family? Wisest friend? Explain.
• Why is it important to understand what Christlike wisdom is?

This week, develop some “wisdom goals.” These might include a set time for reading your Bible or a prayer time devoted to asking God for His wisdom.

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Daily Challenge

• Spend some more time studying today’s verse about God’s wisdom; find some other verses as well that remind you of the importance of finding God’s wisdom. Keep them on your wall or in your noteboo so you can refer to them whenever you need and ask for God’s wisdom.
• Where could you really use God’s wisdom this week? Pray daily for the wisdom you need, and search God’s Word for answers. As God answers your prayers,write them in your prayer journals and share them with a friend.
• Spend time praying for a friend who needs God’s wisdom. Share with him or her how God heps you when you need wisdom and encourage your friend to seek God’s wisdom too.

Adapted from FaithWeaver Bible studies