Pillar Two: Build Relationships

This is a second blog post in a series. These talk about our core values as GraceSTUDENTS, but can be applied to any Christ-follower, at any age.

2. Build Relationships

God designed us with a need for intimate relationship. In fact God in His very nature is in relationship. (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) As Christ followers, we are brought into a relationships with God the father through his Son.

If we are in Christ then we are designed to build relationships with those around us to continue the process that God designed. And let's face it. Life is easier when we have people that are willing to walk along side of us and help us through the hard times.

We offer small groups in GraceSTUDENTS to help teens get connected with other students. But the truth is you can build relationships just about anywhere. The main thing we want is for students to build deep, meaningful and intentional relationships with other students. (and by "intentional" I just mean that we take care in how we handle friendships and know that what we do really can effect others).

An important thing to remember is to build relationships with those in the faith. We need people that have our back and understand what it means to be a student of the cross (a daily Christ-follower). We need people that can be praying for us and that are willing to hold us accountable. These relationships will be like water to us in dry times.

So if you don't have a group of friends like this, check out our small groups at Grace Fellowship. You will be glad you did!

Pillar One: Worship GOD

I really love what I do. I love the place I work and the people I work with. (that's YOU!) But many times it is easy for the purpose of our ministry and the vision to leak. So that's why I wanted to write a few blogs about who we are and our purpose as GraceSTUDENS. You can find a short synopsis of our tenants on www.gogracestudents.com as well.

1. Worship God.

Two words with monumental meaning. We all worship something regardless of faith. We all have something that we put front and center in our life. As a ministry we choose to put God front and center. We want God to be the object of our attention and our affection each and every day. This is only possible through Christ.

This pillar of our student ministry is numero uno because without worshipping the one true God, you cannot do anything else. You can pretend by acting religious and doing "so called" good deeds, but it really means nothing if you do not know who God is.

I find that most external struggles/sin we deal with really begin as internal struggles. Even more so our struggles begin with the heart. If our heart is not rightly related to God through Christ, then of course our outside world will be wack (even wiggida wack)!

In college we had this worship service called "Power Source". Yeah, I know. Cheeseball. But as kinda lame as it sounds, there is truth in those words. We cannot do anything aside from being plugged into God. Only God alone can birth in us the ability to love people and change our world. SO my question to the students is, What are you worshipping? Because only someone who worships God day in and day out can live out the life God has called us to.

Sunday Night Re-Cap 9/20

Great Sunday everyone!

1. We had another good Sunday, with new faces and new leaders!

2. We covered the second week in our "Back to the Start" series, in which we went over what it means to worship God! We have been traveling through the book of Acts, which has also been quite cool.

3. We have a few students already excited about Baptism, which is coming up Oct 18th. Please let me know if you are interested!!!

4. Small groups are up and running this week please check here for details!

5. Last but, definitely not least, @mcadkins brought a great message in the main service series, "Making Love Last!" If you havent heard the podcast yet, go check it out! Also we should have video up on the web by Tuesday AM!

What determines your direction, is the object of your affection

"Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe" John 20:27

Times are tough. Money is tight. Lately life has just been tough. I know that you have been there. I dont know your circumstances, but I know we have all been swallowed up by disdain at one point or another.

But here is the deal. God is not asking you to pull up your bootstraps. God is not asking you to make your own way. God is simply asking you to "believe". Now Im not talking believe like the Shamu show at Sea World, or to believe dreams do come true.

God is asking you to believe in the One He sent. What determines your direction is the object of your affection. Is God not who He says He is? Did Jesus not escape death and rise again to change the fabric of who we are? As I write this I think about my circumstances. Things are hard. We are sometimes living paycheck to paycheck. I wrestle with life and wrestle with how to lead students to Jesus.

But when Jesus becomes the only object of my affection, everything else becomes strangely small. When I look into the blazing eyes of Jesus I become less and He becomes King. Jesus never changes. And He really can make a way.

Test your affection today. To whom or what is your heart bound to?

Fall Kickoff--- Sept 13th!

It's that time of year again! That's right, not only is football kicking off, but @Gracefellowship we have our Fall kickoff!

Last year was off the chain, so you know we are going to bring it this year! Grace Students is going to have Middle School @ 10:30 and High School @ 11:45! We have a few surprises planned for those that show up this Sunday. So you know its's a great day to bring a new friend!!!

So get there early and come excited because its gonna be straight ballin' cousin!!! Can't wait to see YOU there!!!

Sunday Night Re-Cap 9/6 (Labor day edition)

Wow. 

Sunday was so much fun, and Im pretty sure that it rocked too! 

1. We had a great ending to our "New Friend Request" series! Next week we start "Back to the Start" where we talk about the genesis of the church and about how we fit into the long line of God's work on earth!

2. I am beat, now I really can appreciate what @mcadkins goes thru ever Sunday!!! Geez!!! Thanks for all of your support.

3. Its labor day today so I am definitely taking a break! Much love to all my readers, go out and BBQ today!!! ;)

Sunday Night Re-Cap 8-30

I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene... I don't even know where to begin. Yes I do... Thank you so much Christ for working in the lives of students. Thank You, Thank you, Thank You!

1. This Sunday was great. I was floored by the true message of Christ's relentless love for us in the story of him washing the disciple's feet. DANG Jesus!

2. The leaders really got it this week. They continued to dig deep with the students, and build good relationships with them as well. It is so cool to see teenagers and adults actually having conversations. Trust me in my world that is a big deal!

3. We moved to a High School service which was great. We had a bunch of new faces and I can't tell you how happy I was that we had the biggest group of HSers ever!

4. Middle School service rocked me as well. They were so dialed in to God's word and I know they are going to make a difference in their schools. I am believing on it and praying on it, and you guys are living it out at your middle schools so well! Proud of YOU!

5. Our worship leader Chad Wyatt is such an unsung hero. He puts in so much time and preparation (musically but more importantly spiritually) into each service and he definitely gets my props for this week... and every week. If you don't make it to service on time... You need to. Seriously. Do it.

Sunday Night Re-Cap 8/23

Man, what a weekend! I love Sundays and I really love all the people who make it possible. By their tireless commitment to Christ and to seeing new people take their next step toward Christ. 

1. Largest Sunday ever. Im not sure the exact numbers but we maxed out the room in a serious way. We definitely had 50+ people in there with leaders and all. !WOW!

2. Our new intern @diazdave blew it up this week. I am very excited about what he brings to the table. His commitment to Christ and to the students is bar-none!

3. We started a new series called "New Friend Request" and it comes as a great time as school starts tomorrow and we are getting ready to launch our "first friends" program.

4. Thanks to our production team for working through the glitches and hitches that a blowout Sunday brings. 

5. Again, I love it when my wife is off on Sunday, (she usually has to work) it's just fun for her and for me to hang together doing what I love to do. I love you sweetheart!!!

6. Again Mike blowed it up in the service with a bomb of a message. We are going through our ONE life series and you need to take a listen if you have not heard it.

Thanks be to God, who is the giver of all good gifts. I thank you for your support and constant prayers as we travel through this journey of life together. AMEN!

Stoked about the new series!!!

We are going into a new series next week called "New Friend Request". It's gonna be sweet!

Let's just admit it, having friends is great. Whether you want one, already have one, there's just something about having other people in life that you can count on.

Friendships may seem to happen randomly, but there is an intentionality about who we allow close to us. This series is designed to help students learn that the people who are closest to them have influence on their life. Many times they shape who we are.

So who are your closest friends? How are they influencing you? That's what we'll talk about and more in our new series "New Friend Request."

Sunday Night Re-Cap

I tell you what, it's so good to work at the GFC! I enjoy the people I work with and we just git down and have a great time on sundays.

1. We got some great adult leaders, you guys always rock my socks off! Thanks for what you do! Brent stepped up in a major way by pulling a surprise interview on me! What tha?

2. Had a visiting student give great words of encouragement at how welcoming our graceStudents were and how they included him instantly (i love hearing that!)

3. One more week of the "Reality TV" Series, It's been great to break down the book of 1 Corinthians. Paul dropped some knowledge in this one. DANG! Go God!

4. Man if you missed "ONE Life" in the main service, you are gonna want to check out the podcast! ...and be HERE next week as @mcadkins drops some knowledge from the life of Elijah!

5. @Chadwesley and the team broke off a great worship set and brought us to the Throne of Glory today!!! Like I said if you missed it, you don' wanna miss next week!

6. Just got to be a part of what God is doing another day! AMEN!