Tonight is the first time we are regathering as a youth group at the church. We have stayed connected through Zoom, but it's not same. Being our first gathering together in more than 2 months, it feels like something brand new. So we are going to review tonight who we are and why we gather.
***This is a repost of my June 14, 2017 post***
Welcome to LOFT Youth Group!
It is my opinion, and I may be biased, but I believe youth group is one of the most exciting times of life. I love youth group and I am so excited that you are a part of it. For those who are first timers tonight, to those who have been here for a while, I am excited to have you here.
Why?
Because youth group is a special time and opportunity for you. This is a time where you get to be with your friends, make new friends, step out of your comfort zone, play games, learn more about the Bible, but most importantly grow closer to Jesus.
You will make some friendships that will last a life time. You will connect with some adults who love you and will be there for you through the tough times of life. You will have opportunities to serve others locally and internationally.
Our youth group is called LOFT, which really refers to the awesome space we meet in upstairs, but The Room Upstairs Where Youth Group Meets or TRUWYGM doesn’t roll off the tongue very well. However, LOFT has become to mean so much more!
One student suggested that LOFT should mean, Living Our Faith Together, and that has stuck ever since.
Faith is the central part of the equation. What is the Faith? Faith in what? We are talking about faith in Jesus Christ, that He is the Son of God, lived a perfect life, shed His blood and died on the cross for sins, was buried and rose again! By faith, we mean that we are a Christian, or follower of Jesus.
Living: Faith then needs to be alive! It is in living out our faith (Romans 12:1-2). Faith needs to be a part of everyday life. It should impact your relationships with your parents, siblings and friends. It shapes your decisions and your goals. It changes everything.
Our: Faith is personal, as in you have to choose for yourself to believe Jesus. We need to move from “your” faith, to “THE” faith, then “my” faith and see it as “our” faith. Notice the movement from distant to ownership and belonging. You see, faith is not private, it is communal. That means that Jesus didn’t save you to isolation, but to community. This is what the church is, a community of believers, a new family. Youth group can become like family to you.
Faith: it is the evidence of things unseen. Faith in Jesus is to trust Him, that He is who He said He is. That He has done what He said He did. That He will do what He promises to do.
Together: Again, you are not alone. We are called to carry each other’s burdens. Jr and Sr High can bring some of the toughest choices and the hardest times in life. You will be learning so much and exposed to so much. You need godly, Christian friends to come alongside of you and to help you.
That is what LOFT is all about. And we developed this around 4 principles.
Principles #1 – it’s about Jesus. John 14:23; Matthew 22:37-38
I know that you have come with a lot of expectations and desires, but principle #1 will help you see that it is not about you, but about Jesus.
When asked what the most important commandment was in all the Bible, Jesus’ response was, “to love the Lord your God…” with everything you are. The first and most important reason LOFT exists is that we learn to love Jesus first and most. We will learn about who Jesus is, what He has done, and His Word that He gave to us. We will learn about our desires and affections and how we are tempted to love other things more than Jesus. We will discover together that learning to love Jesus will lead to obedience.
Loving Jesus together comes in the form of teachings, service opportunities, worship times and being together.
Principle #2 – care for each other. Matthew 22:39-40
Principle #1 helped us see that it is not about us, but about Jesus. When we understand that properly we will see that it leads us to put others before ourselves. Another reminder that “it’s not about you.”
We’ve already mentioned the importance of friendship and Christian community. When you learn to value the people around you in this youth group, and see them as your brothers and sisters in Christ, you will find that this group will transform you as your care for each other.
Jesus said, “they will know you are my followers by your love for each other.” As you learn to love other believers like Jesus commands you to, you will create a community that is compelling. People will want to know Jesus because of how well you love each other. It’s true! I’ve seen it! LOFT Youth Group has been and can be a group that loves each other well and draws people to Jesus.
Caring for each other comes generally by gathering together weekly, participating in activities, retreats, camps and small groups.
Principle #3 – tell others. Psalm 107:2; Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 1:16
This part flows from the first two. When you learn to love Jesus first, you will not be able to contain your joy and will want to tell others. When you have a community that you care for and all hold the faith in common, you will encourage each other to communicate the Good News.
We’ve talked about loving fellow believers by growing in community. Well, to love unbelievers is to tell them about Jesus. Loving the world is to point them to God and His Word. It is learning to step out of your comfort zone, bring God up in conversations and share about Jesus with them. It can be scary, but it will be life changing when you do.
I remember the first time I shared the Gospel with someone. I grew up in church, Bible studies, Sunday School, camps… the whole 9 yards. But I was scared to tell others. Until that day and everything changed. Let me briefly share my experience.
I was on a missions trip and we were going door to door telling people about Jesus (crazy right?). I kept playing the “prayer warrior” card, meaning I was too afraid to talk so I’d pray for the person talking. Then, out of now where, I heard myself say, “I’ll talk at the next house!”
I was so nervous and had no idea what to say. Fortunately, we had studied the Romans Road and I had those verses underlined in my Bible. I started with Romans 3:23, asked her if she would read it and asked her what it meant. Then I went to the next verse, same thing. When I got to the end, Romans 10:9-10 which talks about believing Jesus and confessing Him, I asked her, “is that what you would like to do?” She replied, “YES!” And I said, “are you sure?” because I couldn’t believe God would allow me the privilege of leading someone to Christ.
She bowed her head and received Jesus right there! I was so excited and I couldn’t wait to tell others. After that experience, it was as if a switch was flipped in my soul. I became so excited to share, and I began to understand more about Jesus and His Word.
Communicating the Gospel will activate your soul and deepen your relationship with Jesus.
LOFT encourages communicating to others by regular reminders of the Gospel, practice sharing the Gospel, missions trips, and opportunities to welcome your friends weekly to youth group or events.
Principle #4 – You get out of it what you put into it. Galatians 6:7-9
The Bible says, “You will reap what you sow.” This principle is so important to understand. It refers to planting seeds. If you plant an apple seed, you will reap an apple tree. If you plant a tomato plant, you won’t get beets, you guessed it, you will get tomatoes.
The principle is that the fruit you receive is based on the efforts you put in to it. Youth group is like that. You will determine what kind of experience you have in LOFT. I can promise you that youth group will provide the same opportunities to all of you.
Some of you will embrace it and grow in your relationship to Christ and each other. For those that do, LOFT will be some of the best times of life for you.
For others, you will keep LOFT at an arm’s length, you will keep up your walls and you won’t buy in. You may have a good time, but it won’t be transformative.
The question is, what outcome do you want? Will you buy into these four principles? Will you put forth the effort? Are you willing to step out of your comfort zone?
If you do, I promise you won’t regret it and you will have the time of your life in LOFT.
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