Important Dates

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

I hope you are enjoying your day :)!

Here's some up and coming dates for our group:

• We are thinking of resuming back on Monday the 3rd of January! Depending on who's away and what everyone wants to do...
• I'd also like to organise a movie night or something where we can hang out! Or a social event... or something along those lines... so watch this space...

A big thank you to Coralie for bringing us our weekly supply of milk. Who knows where we'd be without milk for tea! :)

1 Corinthians 12

• The last couple of weeks we've been looking at our role in the church and how we could contribute to the church as young people
• Last week we especially looked at gifts and identifying them in our lives
• Today I wanted to look at 1 Corinthians 12:4 - we are all members of the body of Christ

• Talks about rather than asking about "Can we all have the same thing?" Are we all teachers? Can we all work miracles?" etc, look at what YOU can do. 
• Each gift is from the same spirit!

• We will do something a bit different- can we all read this chapter, and can we think about:
• What is the message that is coming across?
• What was the original problem in the biblical context?
• What is the resolution expressed in the beginning of chapter 13?
• But what happens if I want to be an eye??!
• Instead of looking at others and wishing we could do what they can, or feeling that you can't play a role in the church because eg you can't sing, EMBRACE your part! (Ie, embrace yourself- not everyone is a singer or a nose- but each of us has our own unique role to play. Minus the sniffing)
• When we function correctly in the body of Christ, (that is, serving God with our gifts), the body isn't lacking. BUT, if for example the "little toe" decided it didn't want to work one day, what effect would that have on a body? (Such a small part of the body, but it plays a part in keeping us balanced- without it, we may be falling over!) Even if you feel like you have a "small part" to play, each person is very important and all adds the the functioning!
• Stop worrying about what everyone else has and if you have it too , but rather start developing your own gifts with God!
• Pray- think- write- talk- what do you enjoy doing? What don't you enjoy doing?
• Pray and ask God to develop these things with in you!
• Thoughts on Chapter 13? Gifts are wonderful... but if no love? Don't forget!

Bible Study 2: Isaiah 5:1-7, John 15:1-8

The Song of The Vineyard

Monday, 13 December 2010

6:00 PM

Looking at Isaiah 5:1-7 and John 15:1-8

• David Ritchie on Sunday talked about 'investment in people' -
• God starts from scratch and grows the vineyard himself- in us.
• Isaiah 5:1-7 is a beautiful metaphor about how Israel is the vineyard

• John talks about how we need to live "In the vine"- Jesus is the true vine!

• Last week we talked about our role in the church as young adults- and how we approach responsibility/roles in the church.

• We talked about identifying gifts in our lives- and through the Holy Spirit and the 'laying on of hands' from our elders (2 Timothy 1:6) and 'fanning into flame' our gifts.

• Brain storming- from last week, what are the areas in your life that you enjoy? What are you good at?
• These gifts in our lives- need to be the product of being connected with God - and imagine what He can do with them! 1 Peter 4:10 - "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms."
• Reading- 1 Corinthians Chapter 12 - different gifts for different people, 'one body, many parts!'

• "No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine" (John 15:4)
• Fruit of the spirit is Galatians 6:22.  - Good indication between 'stinking' fruit and 'delicious!' fruit

Bringing it all together

• To bear tasty fruit- we need to follow Jesus' command of "Remain in me, and I will remain in you" (John 15:4)
• Gifts in our lives are normally 'tasty fruit- - if we allow God to use them, how much more delicious will they be?

• Ask God to identify the "stinky" fruit and carry out the process described in John 15:2. (it's not easy- but it's all about trusting in God , and believing that He knows what He is doing!)

• Can you think of how God can use your gifts/fruit in the church?

• How can we all work together?

Bible Study 1: 1 + 2 Timothy

1 & 2 Timothy Bible Study

Monday, 6 December 2010

6:00 PM

What is relevant to us as young adults in our church? How can we function?

Some background…

• Paul writes in both of these books instructions directed at a younger minister, whose name is Timothy. (Although he is suspected to be in his 30's, that is still a pretty young age to be leading a church!)
• Paul was in charge of this particular church - the congregation at Ephesus - who were "one of a kind" - and because he was travelling/in goal, he needed someone to head up the local church.
• They are explicit instructions on how to be living life- and how to organise the church and have it function correctly, and how to act appropriately in life/in relation to others in the church.
• Although two short books, I think they offer insight into our situation and we can learn a lot from what Paul has to say!

Highlights

• 1 Timothy 1:3-7 - Something that stands out here is Paul writes to Timothy (the mild, quiet Timothy!) to stand up and correct the members in the church who are teaching false beliefs- "myths and endless genealogies". I am not suggesting that we have been called to do such a thing, but Paul continues to write that engaging in this type of talk "Promotes controversies, not God's work of faith". With our church situation, how can we promote and support God's work- not gossip? What else do you think? 2 Timothy 2:16
• 1 Timothy 2:1-4 - Prayer and worship together, for everyone! " [God] wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." ALL MEN -  all ages, genders, walks of life- everyone.
• 1 Timothy 4:4, 7.  Thank God and focus on what is important- GOD, and what He has done! Rather than focusing or worrying about all the different things people do or can't do or shouldn't do and whether you should do them- trust and believe in God! "For everything God created was good… Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives tales; rather, train yourself to be godly."

• 1 Timothy 4:12, 14 ** REALLY IMPORTANT!!!!!** Timothy's gift was given to him by the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands by the elders.  Paul writes not to neglect this gift- which means its something that we need to work on. 2 Timothy 1:6-7 reinforcing the link between the elders and the young adults. It is a transference and a link from them to us.

• 1 Timothy 5:1-2 - How to treat elders in the church- respect !

• 2 Timothy 2:22 "Flee the evil desires of youth" - say what?

Bringing it together

• God is for everyone- young and old!
• Timothy was young with all this responsibility - but he didn't do it alone, God worked through him.

• How can we foster a link between the young adults and the elders? How can we overcome the generation gap?

• How can we take responsibility and learn? (No one is going to do it for us!) How can we get involved?

• It is important to receive the gift of God from our elders, and use it ! We are the future elders!

• Can we identify what we feel we need as young adults in the church? How can we implement that? How can we serve God and work together in the church body?

© Emily McIntyre, 2010