We started a new series based on the first chapter of the book of James.
You in Real Life.
Real Pain.
Real Smarts.
Real Temptation.
Real Speech.
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Last night we started with part one. Real Pain.
Here is what the message sounded & looked like.
I told a personal story of real pain.
Showed this clip on pain/suffering from Dan in Real Life.
Read
James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Luke performed a poem by Bradley Hathaway called "On Being Joyful And Content".
He tore it up, by the way.
I talked about that when we are suffering or experiencing real pain, we have a choice to believe and trust in God, and when we do, we become mature.
We showed this incredible video 99 Balloons
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Then we had small cards on the stage, and challenged those students who are dealing with pain and suffering, to write it on the card.
And then to take a balloon and attached a card to it with the string.
Then we went outside where we prayed and ask got to help us with our pain and suffering, and as a symbol of releasing that to God, we released the balloons with the card attached.
Creative Idea: Balloon Launch
God Help Me Banner - Creative Element
As people walked into the auditorium on Easter they saw a 6' x 15' blank canvas banner hanging from the ceiling on the stage.
During the conclusion of the message, we started the song "God Help Me" by Rebecca St. James. And 12-15 students stormed the stage armed with paint, brushes and ladders. The students painted different "sins" on the banner during the song.
At the end of the song. The students got out of the way, and another 6' x 15' banner pre-painted with the words "God Help Me", dropped over the banner covered with the sins.
Getting Pumped. The Banner is Hung
Luke helped get everything ready today for a creative element for Easter.
The banners are 6' x 15'.
Details on the creative element.
I love the 80s - Theme Night
Our students ministries is going to be having an I love the 80s theme night.
I have setup a brainstorming google document.
I'd love for the world to contribute ideas to it, but google docs doesn't allow me to open it up publicly to be edited. It is invitation only.
So I am inviting you blog readers, except I don't have you email address.
So.
If you are interested in contributing let me know me here.
I will leave the document up so others can use the ideas.
From A to Z part 1
We started a series at The Pipeline last night that deals with the virtue of orderliness.
We read Genesis 1, where it gives a very descriptive account of God creating the universe in 6 days. If you think about it God could have created it all in a -poof!. But God created it an orderly 6 days not for his benefit, but for ours. God was giving the ultimate example of orderliness. We challenged the students to write down their 2008 spiritual goals on 4"x6" cards, and then list orderly ways that they can achieve that goal.
Here are some elements we used.
Forest Countdown Video - Free
Bowl of trivia powerpoint Game - Free
Luke and I did a skit borrowed from Conan O'brien, that we titled "In the Year 2008". I've done different versions of this skit, the first youth service of the year, for years and years. Thanks for the past inspiration Mikey.
Chaos Video - $15
Here is a great video we got off of YouTube called What Song is It?, that deals with doing things in order.
In the Year 2008 script.
Luke: It’s time, once again, to look into the future.
Evan: The future, Luke?
Luke: That’s right, Evan. Let’s look to the future, all the way to the year 2008!
Evan - "Kevin Federline will score a number one hit when Fox ranks the top ten white trash moments on 'Cops.'"
Luke- "Barry Bonds goes on national television to admit for the first that the he injected himself, not with steroids, but with cajun spices.”
Evan - "Americans will be enthralled when 'Survivor' joins forces with 'The Apprentice' and 16 people see how long they can look at Donald Trump's haircut without laughing."
Luke - "When it is discovered that it takes exactly 437 licks to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop, it will be announced that science is officially over."
Evan - "A strange virus will kill every man in the world except Luke Greer, and every woman in the world except Hannah Montana. The marriage will last 32 days."
Luke - Atheists will win a landmark court battle making it illegal to say god bless you after someone sneezes. Instead, the law will require us to say, "Yo, zippy, you just sprayed me with some nasty."
Evan - A movie will be made about all the people who find Travis Spencer funny. The movie title -- "The Fantastic Four."
O Holy Night
Tonight was the 2nd week of our december series called "Peace". We started out the service with a christmas theme powerpoint game (which we forgot to announce the winner of and award the prize.) Did only 1 worship song, due to sound issues, and then we faded to Sufjan Stevens "O Holy Night". I then spoke a couple meetings about that Jesus came to earth to bring peace between you and God. Ashley read some scripture on the birth of Christ, and then I opened i asked an open air question, "does anyone want share how they came to have peace with God?" and I walked off of the stage.
After about 90 seconds of awkwardness, Travis went on stage and took a couple minutes to talk about how he came to have peace with God, and then Nakari talked (whom I had asked beforehand to get things going). But after that it was student after student that would stand up and talk, some went on stage, while others just stood at their seats.
It was not all good theology that was shared. But there was power in students verbalizing how they came to have peace with god. Confession is good for the soul. It was a pretty amazing night as probably 8-10 students shared.
Last week we talked about our lives being filled with anger, and their was no room for peace. We used the illustration of a jar being filled with dirt (our dark stuff. sin) and because of it, there was no room for peace. So at the close tonight, if students needed to have peace with God. they went to this bowl of dirt, grabbed a handful, and identified what was in their life that they needed to get rid of, then they threw the dirt in a trash can, and then put their hands in a bowl of water, representing God cleansing them and giving them Peace.
Students took a couple minutes doing this, and then we concluded with reflecting on what God had just done, while we listened to O Holy Night.
