STRETCH

Need a laugh? - WOW!

They found a Leprechaun!

That flute is "thousands of years old" - Jesus possibly used it! Jesse

Secret life continued...

This is week three of our series 'The Secret Life of an American Teenager'.  This has really been a powerful series for our teenagers.  This week is a no holds barred 'Q & A' session.  Students have been writing questions for about 3 weeks now and putting them into a box that one of students made.

We will also let students text their questions to be answered at the end of the Q & A.

Here is a sampling of the questions:

"What does the bible say about Masturbation?"

"Why do guys wear tight pants?"

"Can I still be friends with my friends that are gay?"

"Do you agree with this statement?" 'You can be one of God's few successes or one of his many disappointments.'

"Why so much homework about math, which we don't use in real life?"

"If God made sex to be good, why is it so perverted now?"

"Do you think dating teaches you how to cope with divorce?"

"What do you say to someone who smokes, drinks and takes drugs?"

"Matthew 15:4 says that dissin' yo mama should get you killed. What does that really mean?"

So, there are a few questions from our search.  Some are silly and some a real - wither way, our students have questions.  

I wonder how often we are providing answers to questions they aren't even asking.  Make sure you have a good grasp on the pulse of your group.

Stretch yourself,

Jesse

Twitter NO-NO's

So, someone decides to follow you on Twitter. You think, "that's cool, I will follow them as well."  A couple of weeks later, you realize they aren't following you anymore.  No longer are you a potential friend, but you've become a number, a follower of a 'twit'.   A 'twit' is someone who follows people for the add and then cuts them loose to look like they are following less people than those following them.

They love 'em and leave 'em.  

Ministry leaders are doing this.  Guys, do you realize you are erasing the potential influence you carry when you do this?   

The love 'em and leave 'em philosophy makes my top 5 Twitter no-no's.

Jesse

Would've, could've, should've,

Samuel said to Saul, "You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you.  For now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue."

When we step into positions of authority, God removes the external barriers from our life.  God gives us his anointing, a position and the potential to become a great leader.

Even though the external barriers are taken away, the internal roadblocks remain.  These are the character issues that we must deal with and allow God the freedom to remove them one by one.  Here are a few in Saul's life - see if you relate to any.

• Fear  
• Impatience 
• Denial 
• Impulsiveness 
• Deceit 
• Jealousy 
• Anger  

All of these dealt with Saul's character.  Unfortunately, he was more concerned with looking good than getting right.  As Maxwell says, "Because he never removed the lids from his leadership, God removed him from the throne of Israel."

What could've been for Saul?  What would have been?  What should have been?

What could be for you?  What would be for you?  What should be for you?

Stretch yourself

Jesse
  

Are you effective?

Leadership is my thing.  We all gravitate towards something and I am passionate about becoming a better leader.  I want to be someone worth following.  Am I good leader?  I know that I am certainly a better leader today than I was 3 years ago, for that matter I'm a stronger leader today than I was last year at this time.  But I want to keep improving, keep learning and continue to grow as a leader.

Here is what I'm learning through my long distance mentor, John Maxwell:

"Every person has the potential to become a leader."

Leadership ability determines a person's level of effectiveness.  To reach the highest level of effectiveness, you have to raise the lid on your leadership ability.

"While others wait to see what's going to happen, leaders step forward and rise to the challenge."

Good leaders never admit their shortcomings, ask God's forgiveness and blessing, and improve himself.  

Stretch yourself

Jesse

What is the point?

Each ministry should have a point of destination.  Some define this as a purpose or as a reason for existence.  For our student ministry at Phoenix First, the point of destination is actually not the end of the journey.  It is the beginning.

The 'point' is clearly defined so leader and students understand what we hope to accomplish in the spiritual lives of our young people.  The 'point' can also be called the vision.  This is what we hope to see our students become.  Our vision at Student Impact is to help students become complete in Christ.

Everything that leads up to the 'point' is simply foundation for what they are to begin.  For instance, we want to take students who are far from Christ and systematically move them through the process of spiritual development to the point of completion.  Once they arrive to this destination, we believe they have the tools to reach others and walk through that process with someone else.  

The process is as follows:

Outreach

Connection

Development

Completion

Each of these categories have programs designed to assist the student in that particular path of development.  For example, under outreach we would include Activate which is an outreach driven event built around our band.  Events would fall under connection.  Small groups would be listed under development and student leadership would be with completion.  

This helps us stay committed to our 'point'.  So, 'What is the point of your ministry?'

Stretch yourself

Jesse

*Thank you to Seven Ministries for inspiration.