Devotion by: Jared Graves and Josh Knabel
Introduction (JARED)
Last year, we had Launch Day. On that day, we decided to change our identity from a youth group to a movement. We also launched a new mission statement. We said that we would strive to move towards God, with each other, and into the world.
We also launched individual ministries. The junior high is Impact Ministries. We carry over the same mission statement, except we look to encounter God, each other, and the world.
Every year, at the start of the school year, we are going to take time to remind us of our mission statement and to remember what we are all about. Today, we are taking a look at the first step of our mission statement, moving towards and encountering God
Moving Towards God (JOSH)
· Acts 2:42
o The four ways we move towards God:
1. Devoting to the apostle’s teachings
· How does knowing the Bible move us towards God?
· Challenge: To download sermons, read commentaries, etc. to try and further your biblical knowledge.
2. Devoting ourselves to fellowship
· How does fellowshipping with one another move us towards God?
· Challenge: To get an accountability partner.
3. Devoting to the breaking of bread
· Does this mean that we have to have communion every week?
· This is literal, but it also reminds us that we are to remember Christ in all that we do.
· How does the breaking of bread, and all that entails move us towards God?
4. Devoting ourselves to prayer.
· This is probably the hardest part of moving towards God.
· How can we improve our prayer lives?
· How does prayer move us towards God?
· Challenge: Pray through each day
o Analyze your day to see what God showed you, where did you sin?, what blessings were given?
Encountering God (JARED)
· Background
o Ahab has become king of Israel and instead of following God, he and his family are worshipping Baal.
o Elijah has sent Obadiah to Ahab and now we are ready for a UFC fight between God and Baal.
· 1 Kings 18:16-39
o Verses 18-20
§ Ahab and his wife Jezebel were so entrenched in worshiping Baal and Asherah, that the prophets of these gods were eating dinner with them every night.
o Verse 21
§ Basically Elijah is saying, quit having ADD, pick one or the other
o Verses 22-25
o Verses 26-29
§ These people were so entrenched in their beliefs that they were slashing themselves and hurting themselves to try and get their god to show up.
o Verses 30-39
§ Notice Elijah’s prayer. He did not pray for him to not look like a fool. He prayed that God would be brought glory, and that He would be real in these people’s lives.
· Do you think it is possible that God will show up in our lives when we ask Him to?
· How can we encounter God?
o Through prayer
o Reading His’ word
No comments:
Post a Comment