AM High School 12.18.2016

1 Samuel 26.7-25: Better Laid Plans

Saul was obsessed with killing David. This drove David into hiding. He and his small army of supporters hid in caves, lived in foreign lands, and did whatever was necessary to survive. From David’s perspective, the whole situation must have been somewhat confusing. He was minding his own business when Samuel brought him out of the countryside tending his flock to anoint him as king! He was defending God’s honor when He defeated Goliath. He was serving his king when God blessed him with military success. God gave him the victories, the popularity, and the success. So, why was he on the run?

Quick questions: where do we find these phrases in the Bible?

1. All things work together for good.
2. God helps those who help themselves.
3. This, too, shall pass.

Answer: Nowhere! These aren’t actually found in the Bible, crazy enough.

David’s story also speaks to a common misunderstanding. When good things happen, people see it as a sign of God’s approval. When bad things happen, people see it as a sign of God’s disapproval. That theory is disproved time and time again in the Bible. Hebrews 11 recounts multiple people who were approved by God for their faith, but they still went through difficult times. Difficulty is not necessarily a sign of God’s disapproval.

In this passage, we also see that opportunity for revenge is never part of God’s plan. David had the chance to kill King Saul, God’s anointed, and chose to spare his life instead. Why? Because that would be against God’s will, and David knew it!

This week, talk with your students about revenge. Revenge is never ours to take. The “justice” that we believe we are enacting is actually something that belongs to God. Ask them the following questions:

• Has anyone made you mad this past week? Did you want to do something to “get them back”?
• What would that accomplish, other than hurting someone else and causing friction between you and them?
• What does the Bible tell us about how we should react? (Turn the other cheek!)

Have a great week, and Merry Christmas!

AM High School 12.11.2016

1 Samuel 25.1-38: Disaster Averted

It’s easier to focus on what God is doing behind the scenes when you actually know the scene. Chapter 25 begins with the death and burial of Samuel and the relocation of David to the wilderness of Paran. Here, we see how David responds to the foolish and offensive actions of Nabal. If it were not for God sending Abigail, David would have attacked Nabal and many lives would have been lost.

Instead, we find that God intervenes and directs the steps of those who are willing to humble themselves before Him. Our students talked about the following saying: “You cannot always control what happens to you, but you can control how you respond.” If David had not been in tune with God, had he not been open to what God wanted, he would have ended many lives and done something against the will of God.

Our students talked about how we are sometimes like David, rash and reactive. In order to counteract these tendencies, we must focus on God daily, and be open to His intervention and direction. Sometimes, however, we need to be like Abigail, and focus on speaking the message of God to others at the right time.

One way or another, we need to be open to be used by God in positive ways. Our students realized that the only One in control in life is God. We don’t tell our cells to reproduce, or our hearts to beat. We have only minimal control, and that control can be taken away in the blink of an eye. This means, that whatever happens to, with, and around us shouldn’t turn our thoughts away from God or His will.

This week, I encourage you to get to know your children in a deeper, more intimate way. Take time to figure out what makes them tick, and then help them in whatever way you can!

AM Middle School 12.04.2016

The Nativity Story

Each December, our middle school class watches a movie called The Nativity Story. It is a story which we all know so well. It’s the story of the birth of the Messiah, Jesus. I would encourage you to watch the edited, 16-minute version found below. Then, talk with your students about the reason for Christmas and what different traditions mean. God bless you this holiday season!

AM High School 12.04.2016

1 Samuel 22.6-17: Godless Ambition

This week in our high school class, we talked about ambition, specifically the difference between Godly and Godless ambition. Defined, ambition is “a strong desire to do or to achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work” (Google).

Before David would become king, he would go through his own wilderness experience as he ran from Saul. During this time, Saul’s leadership went from bad to worse as he let his godless ambition get the best of him. Reading through the past few chapters, you’ll realize clearly why God rejected Saul as king. His desire was selfish, it was greedy. He wanted the power for himself, and when David seemed to be taking the spotlight, Saul began plotting to kill him!

Saul may have known that Samuel anointed David in chapter 16. If this is the case, then he should have acknowledged David as the anointed of God, just like himself. Then, he could have created a transition for David to the throne, and he might have stayed in God’s good graces. But instead, his godless ambition drove him to seek David’s death. He became so crazed that he actually had 85 priests killed for aiding David! He killed those appointed by God to be the religious leaders of Israel!

Our students should be ambitious: about academics, about athletics, about friendships, and about many other things. But if their ambition isn’t grounded in God, it’ll end in ruin. We have to constantly be on the look for things impeding or distracting our ambition away from God. This week, talk with your students about ambition, and feel free to use the following questions:

• What are the top three things that drive you? What do you want to get better at, that you’ll do whatever you can?
• How does God fit in your ambition for the above-mentioned things?
• Who do you look up to, whose ambition drove them to do great things? What can you take from their life and apply to your own?

Have an awesome week!

AM Middle School 11.20.2016

2 Kings 2.13-25: Elisha and the Two Bears

So, we’re in our second week of our study on unusual and unfamiliar events from the Old Testament. This week, we talked about the prophet Elisha and some of his experiences in 2 Kings 2.

Our goal in talking about Elisha was to help students see how Elisha prepared himself for ministry, and how he stood up for God in his ministry. We talked about how it can be hard to stand up for God, but when we do, God will help us. And we helped students consider how they could honor and respect those who do God’s work.

As you go throughout the week, help reinforce this teaching in your child’s life by asking the following questions as you have the opportunity:

• Why is it easier to take a stand for God when you have lots of people joining you, instead of just one or two of you standing up for God?
• When was the last time you were blown away by the way God answered a prayer?
• What people do you know who do God’s work, either as a paid job or volunteer? Why is it important to honor them and show respect for them?

Have an awesome week! Happy Thanksgiving!

AM High School 11.20.2016

1 Samuel 18.1-5; 20.12-17: Lasting Frienship

Our high school class was taught this week by none other than former youth sponsor Tim Hinrichsen! During class, Tim continued our journey through 1 Samuel by discussing what it means to have a lasting friendship.

David and Jonathan had a deep, committed, and lasting friendship. They were friends at a level that few people get to experience! Today, through social media, students are connected to more people than ever before, yet they are still lonely and long for meaningful friendships.

While on the run from Saul, David and Jonathan developed the kind of lasting friendship which so many of us desire. 1 Samuel 18-20 illustrates friendship in terms of covenant, loyalty, and steadfast love. Our culture often desires friendships that are convenient and self-fulfilling, but that is not what godly friendships look like. Jonathan and David’s relationship illustrates what friendship based on mutual love for God and genuine care for one another looks like!

This week, be sure to talk with your students and engage them in discussion. You can use these questions to help:

• What sort of impact has social media had on your friendships? Is it all positive, all negative, or a bit of both?
• What sort of person makes for a good friend? What qualities do they possess?
• How does your relationship with Christ impact your friendships?

Have a great week, and Happy Thanksgiving!

AM Middle School 11.13.2016

Judges 3.12-30: Ehud

Hey parents! We’ve started a new four-lesson study entitled “Old Testament Stories You’ve Never Heard Of.” We’ll take a look at four passages from the Bible that aren’t very familiar to many people—certainly not students in middle school.

Our first lesson focused on the story of Ehud, an unlikely hero to the Israelites. Ehud was seen as a man of physical limitation who came from a tribe that was considered weak. Our conversation was a reminder of how God can use our weaknesses (and our strengths) to help others.

As you go throughout the week, help reinforce this teaching in your child’s life by asking the following questions as you have the opportunity:

• What part of the story of Ehud surprised you the most? Why?
• Why is it important to give God glory and thank him for doing amazing things?
• Why might God sometimes prefer using “weak” or “unexpected” people in heroic moments?

Have a great week, and don’t forget to be present!

AM High School 11.13.2016

1 Samuel 17.32-50: Unlikely Deliverer

This passage might be one of the most well known stories in the Old Testament. It has everything you need for a memorable drama: a villain, an underdog, high stakes, fast-paced action… you get the idea! However, it is also important to not lose sight of where this chapter falls in the overall story of the book. This chapter marks the beginning of a new day for the people of Israel.

While David has been anointed, Saul is still on the throne. This creates a tension that will run throughout the rest of the book! 1 Samuel 17 tells the story of an unlikely deliverer in David slaying the giant, Goliath. Our goal this past week was to help students understand that while David’s actions are inspiring, the real hero of the story is God. The victory belongs to Him. He is the One who will fight for His name and triumph by sending Christ to conquer sin and death.

God will deliver us from our sins, through the power of Jesus Christ. This fact allows us to push away fear and build up confidence. It’s because of what He has done that we can be named victors with Him!

This week, talk with your students about underdog stories, trust, and the ultimate victory we have with God over sin. You can discuss with them the following:

• What’s your favorite underdog story? Why does it stick with you so well?
• Why do we sometimes avoid fully trusting others? Does them having power over us scare us?
• Do you ever feel defeated in life? How does knowing that God has our back and will help lead us to ultimate victory change your view of defeat in this world?

I will be praying for you and your students! Have a great week!

AM Middle School 11.6.2016

1 Corinthians 10.11 & 1 John 5.1-13: What is the Bible, pt. 2

This week, we continued our study of the Bible that we began last week. We talked more about how the Bible came to be.

The Bible was written over a span of 1,500 years, using 3 different languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek), by over 40 authors all while explaining a single, central story: God’s plan to redeem the world!

Our middle school students talked about the Bible and discussed how it is God’s message to us. They also talked about how the Bible is God’s Word and not merely humans’ ideas. And lastly, in essence, God uses the Bible to actually work within us. It’s His voice speaking into our lives.

This week, I encourage you to talk with your students and ask them pertinent questions, such as the following:

• How often do you read the Bible? If you do it regularly, how can you make it an even higher priority and also something you love to do more?
• If a friend comes to you and says, “the Bible is just a book filled with made up stories,” how might you respond?
• How does the Bible actually work within you? Has it ever given specific instructions on how to live, how to act, or how to think?

Have a great week, and don’t forget to pray for our youth ministry!

AM High School 11.6.2016

1 Samuel 16.1-13: Heart of the Matter

As we continued reading through and examining 1 Samuel, our high school students learned a little more about what it means to follow God with your whole heart. .

1 Samuel 15 found the first king of Israel losing the blessings of God. Samuel, the prophet of the Lord who found and anointed Saul, comes to a harsh reality: God has rejected Saul as king. This news grieved Samuel to the point that God had to guide him every step of the way on the path to anointing the new king.

Our students broke up into groups on Sunday and read different parts of this chapter, summarized them, made notes on things that were interesting, thought up 3 questions that needed answering, and then individually answered a few pertinent questions.

They then broke down their sections by group, teaching the class about what they learned. In this way, they took the responsibility of both teaching and learning upon their own shoulders.

Ask your students what their passage consisted of, and what questions they came up with. Then, you can discuss the following as well:

• Have you ever felt the hand of God guiding you, like He did with Samuel? It probably didn’t involve the audible voice of God, but it still could have been His hand, guiding seemingly coincidental events.
• How often do you doubt God? What has happened when you chose to do things your own way, instead of His? (Talk about your own doubts and worries)
• What would you do if God spoke to you in an audible way? What do you think His message to you would be?

Have an awesome week!