One Youth Pastor’s Opinion (OYPO)…

It Takes a Village

My wife was buried in the passenger seat under a mound of popcorn treats.

“Who’s that for?” I asked.

“The teachers at church.” She said. “This is not even counting the choir members or adult teachers… just the ones who help our kids.”

I was amazed. The old saying proves true: “It takes a village to raise a child.”

We began to talk through who the treats were for, and, sure enough, each of the 20+ bags was for a separate person or family who invests in our kids. Nursery workers, teachers (for three separate classes), Master Clubs helpers and teachers, Jr. Church workers, kids choir directors and more… it takes a village.

My daughter tells me in the most animated ways what she learns in Sunday school. Mrs. Tisha gets through to my daughter in ways I never can. Seriously. My daughter Charlotte learns SO much from her class lessons, and can repeat the story almost perfectly. Every week. It’s awesome.

Even my two-year-old, Gwen, learns the Bible verses and Bible stories in her Sunday school class. “Even… winds… sea… obey HIM!” she says, so excited that she remembers her verse. “Call… me… I… answer… VEE!” It’s Jeremiah 33:3, of course. Not quite KJV, but a precious version of the Bible, nonetheless.

Abe knows things I never knew he learned. In the course of everyday conversation, sometimes he will spout out Bible principles that I have never taught him. That’s six years of village-teaching, folks.

So many voices speak into our children’s lives, and we need all of them. Sure, even the “bad” voices can be good for teaching moments with our kids. A nine-year-old screamer at SeaWorld prompted a conversation about brats, discontentment, and unthankfulness. That’s a good thing.

I love and appreciate everyone who helps me raise my kids.

Now… if I could just find my wife under the pile of goodies…-RR

Sermon Summary

Sunday School

Among the many theological debates is the topic of Calvinism. Thankfully, we settled every question in our Sunday school class.

Not so much.

But we DID get a grander view of God, which is one of the points of studying Romans 9. Reaching settled conclusions is difficult in a 30-minute sermon, yet the challenge to the teens was to trust that a sovereign God is completely righteous and good and merciful in all his dealings with men, and orchestrates the good with the bad to (tying into Romans 8:28) work all things for good. Somehow.

Our view of God is not so limited that WE can control HIM through our unbelief… in fact, it’s an even bigger view of God to believe that although we can’t fully conceive HOW his sovereignty controls the movements of history without determining our very choices and desires, we still believe THAT HE can.

Last Wednesday

Last night’s class lesson through the book Change Into His Image showed the “doing” side of how we respond to God’s grace. Our love for God ought to show up in our extravagant gifts, attention, and focus on Him in everything we do.

Teen Announcements (click to expand)

This section is relevant to our church members only…
DEC. 19:
Wow, I Was So Impressed
Last week, we checked everyone’s journals, and I was so impressed with the great work that has been put into those. I respect that. A lot.
Then, for youth night, some of you men dressed up to serve as ushers. That is exactly the kind of initiative and planning ahead that I’ve always wanted in the Teens of Faith, and to see it coming around (in our young guys especially) is awesome. I love that. Keep up the good work.
Also, the offertory on Wednesday was great. The piano accompaniment was great. The special was great. Everything. I love it. So impressive.
And, wow, Sunday was fantastic. Our orchestra sounded phenomenal (I don’t think it’s ever sounded so good!), and it was full of teens… YOU! I really praise God for that. Great job.
And if you pulled double duty and sang in choir too… that’s double the blessing. You’re doubly awesome.
God has blessed you all with some incredible talents. Thank you for using them.
God has blessed MANY people with talents that, for whatever reason, they choose not to use for God. People who can sing don’t sing. People who can serve don’t serve. People who can give don’t give. What a bummer!
Thank you for serving. Ushers, ladies group, pianists, instrumentalists, singers, Bible studiers… all of you are doing a great job. Thank you for being a blessing to me. It’s great to see. -Bro. Ryan

NO TOF CLASS NEXT WEDNESDAY
WINTER CAMP – Jan. 25-26 at Ironwood. Cost will be $70. More details later!
EAST COAST MISSIONS TRIP – a $100 deposit is due Jan. 13 for qualified students.

DEC. 16
Merry Christmas (Almost)
There’s a lot in the Bible about the birth of Jesus. Compared to what we know about his teenage years, his infancy has a LOT of details.
A couple years ago I wrote a kids book of Christmas stories. I was surprised by how much info there is.
And the prophecies that Jesus fulfilled… whoa.
If Jesus is not the Messiah, there is no Messiah.
One of the prophecies is that Messiah would be cut of via a violent death, and then the second temple would be destroyed after that. Jesus was killed on a cross, and about 30 years after that, the Romans destroyed the temple in Jerusalem. There hasn’t been a third temple yet (it’s coming in the future).
Who cares?
Well… modern day Orthodox Judaism teaches that Messiah is still coming, but if it wasn’t Jesus, it can’t be anyone, because the temple is gone.
This is one example of several that show not only a Divine Messiah but a Triune God. Christmas is that time of year to celebrate the birth of Christ.
A case can be made for the timing of Christ’s birth, and pastor just released a booklet about it (available in the foyer), but, honestly, the timing doesn’t matter all that much.
What matters?
The fact that He was born matters more than when He was born. Jesus Christ was born, lived, died, and rose again… for you.
The Christmas story is God’s grace to you. Romans tells us we were enemies of God, yet through His Son, we can be reconciled—made right—with Him. That’s the truth of Christmas, and a glorious truth to celebrate today!
-Bro. Ryan

WINTER CAMP – Jan. 25-26 at Ironwood. Cost will be $70. More details later!
EAST COAST MISSIONS TRIP – a $100 deposit is due Jan. 13 for qualified students.