Who else can't believe this year is coming to an end?
I know I can't. I often wish I could slow down time, especially when I feel like I can't keep up. But I'm always thankful for the process that the Lord takes us through of growing and seeing others around us grow in life and within our faith. I'm grateful for that within our student ministry as I think about this past year, and the fantastic growth shown by so many of our students in the Lord. I am honored and privileged to get to be your youth pastor, get to know these teenagers, and also take from your wisdom as parents. Thank you for allowing me to partner with you in ministry. I am very thankful for that.
Some victories to celebrate within our ministry over the past month include having great Wednesday Nights continuing in the book of Mark and having a fun-filled night of Friendsgiving & Operation Christmas Child Packing Party. We were able to pack 27 shoe boxes this year! That is 27 children somewhere around the world who will not only receive gifts out of the box but also be offered The Greatest Gift, a Gospel story booklet Samaritan's Purse developed for shoebox recipients, and invite children to participate in The Greatest Journey discipleship program. Who knows how many new members of God's family will be added because of boxes sent by our youth group. Great job!
Please look below at what we have planned for December and the future! It's a great time to be a part of this ministry!
Dayton
Next. HS Model Group to begin TBA
MS Guy Small Group: Will begin one when we have enough interest.
MS Girl Small Group: Contact Angela Burson for more info about when and where our MS girls meet.
A movement is happening around the world, and you can be a part of it. In 2024 at Student Life Camp, we are looking to scripture to see how the God of revival redeems His people and how we fit His plan to redeem the world.
Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.” - John 8:12
MARK
SERIES OVERVIEW:
Mark demonstrates that Jesus is Israel's Messiah who inaugurates God’s kingdom through his suffering, death, and resurrection. The book is a carefully crafted story that gives an account of Jesus' life and addresses whether He is the Jewish Messiah. Jesus is our suffering servant! In this series, we will slowly read through the Gospel of Mark, learning how to dissect scripture and rest in God's Word.
Advent Guide
A Christmas Discipleship Guide
What is Advent?
Traditionally, the Advent season is a 4 week long period meant to prepare our hearts for Christmas Day – when we celebrate the birth of Jesus! Advent means “coming.”Similar to those who awaited the arrival of the Messiah over 2,000 years ago, in this Advent season we await the celebration of Jesus’ birth and anticipate His coming again one day.
How to use the guide:
There are endless ways to use this discipleship guide but the hope is that you would use it to continue to seek true fulfillment in Jesus Christ, starting in your own heart and home this Christmas season. The guide can be used individually or with your family to spark gospel centered family discipleship. The guide is designed to be done once a week, during the best time that works for you or your family. Use the following steps to help guide you. 1. Read the Bible Passage 2. Discuss or reflect using the 4 domains guide. 3. Pray. 4. Do the activity listed.
About the 4 Domains:
The four domains of the Christian life are designed to help believers experience true fulfillment in Jesus Christ. We “START WITH THE HEART” – our personal relationship with Jesus. If we are experiencing true fulfillment in our heart domain we see the habit of RESTING in the truth of God’s love. Next, the Home Domain reflects true fulfillment in Jesus through BLESSING those in our home and family. Then, if we are experiencing true fulfillment in Jesus in the Gather Domain, we prioritize GATHERING with a community of believers. Lastly, the Go Beyond Domain expresses true fulfillment in Jesus through the GOING OUT and sharingHis love with others. The focus of the next four weeks will be to examine the themes of Advent through the domains of our lives.
December 39:30 AM - 10:20 AMLOCATION: Student Lounge
The Gospel Project is a weekly Bible study that helps teens dive deep into the big story of the Bible—God’s plan to rescue His people through His Son, Jesus Christ. Every session shows how all Scripture leads us to Jesus by a chronological study that explores the uniting gospel story and essential truths of Scripture.
Come join us! Donuts and kolaches are provided for breakfast!
Mark Study
December 66 PM - 7:30 PMLOCATION: Student Lounge
Regular Night Schedule
6 PM: announcements, game, and worship.
6:45 PM: main lesson.
7:10-730 PM: small groups for discussion.
7:30ISH: Dismiss
This will be the schedule for both MS & HS. There will be no dinner at 5:30, but we will try to keep some snacks in the student lounge. Students are more than welcome to come hang out around the student lounge anytime after 5 PM.
Students Sunday school
December 109:30 AM - 10:20 AMLOCATION: Student Lounge
The Gospel Project is a weekly Bible study that helps teens dive deep into the big story of the Bible—God’s plan to rescue His people through His Son, Jesus Christ. Every session shows how all Scripture leads us to Jesus by a chronological study that explores the uniting gospel story and essential truths of Scripture.
Come join us! Donuts and kolaches are provided for breakfast!
Mark Study
December 136 PM - 7:30 PMLOCATION: Student Lounge
Regular Night Schedule
6 PM: announcements, game, and worship.
6:45 PM: main lesson.
7:10-730 PM: small groups for discussion.
7:30ISH: Dismiss
This will be the schedule for both MS & HS. There will be no dinner at 5:30, but we will try to keep some snacks in the student lounge. Students are more than welcome to come hang out around the student lounge anytime after 5 PM.
Students Sunday school
December 179:30 AM - 10:20 AMLOCATION: Student Lounge
The Gospel Project is a weekly Bible study that helps teens dive deep into the big story of the Bible—God’s plan to rescue His people through His Son, Jesus Christ. Every session shows how all Scripture leads us to Jesus by a chronological study that explores the uniting gospel story and essential truths of Scripture.
Come join us! Donuts and kolaches are provided for breakfast!
Youth Christmas Party
December 206 PM - 8:30 PMLOCATION: Dayton's House: 546 Big Sky Loop in Buffalo Gap
Prizes will be handed out for the best Christmas Pajamas and the best Ugly Sweater!
Come on over for some pancakes, bacon, Christmas movies, games, and fellowship as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ together!
Church Family Chirstmas Eve Service
December 2411 AMLOCATION: Church Worship Center
There will be no Sunday School on the morning of Christmas Eve. Come straight to our Christmas Eve service and enjoy celebrating the birth of our Saviour with our church family!
No Youth
December 27
We are taking a break during Christmas Break. We hope you have a great time with your family and friends during this time! Can't wait to see you on Jan. 10th for our first Wednesday back!
Students Sunday school
December 319:30 AM - 10:20 AMLOCATION: Student Lounge
The Gospel Project is a weekly Bible study that helps teens dive deep into the big story of the Bible—God’s plan to rescue His people through His Son, Jesus Christ. Every session shows how all Scripture leads us to Jesus by a chronological study that explores the uniting gospel story and essential truths of Scripture.
Come join us! Donuts and kolaches are provided for breakfast!
In the quest to discover and adopt an identity, the teenagers you know and love are looking for answers to questions such as: Am I worthwhile? What makes me worthwhile? How am I unique from others? Are those uniqueness’ good or bad? What makes me special? And most importantly, who am I? In a perfect world, all of our teenagers would accept proper guidance and be drawn to Godly identity-shaping models. They would understand themselves and find their identity in who they are as unique individuals created in the image of God for a relationship with Him. But we don’t live in perfect world. Life in a fallen world presents kids with two options: either finding one’s identity in Christ, or choosing to find that identity in something else. Our kids embrace idolatry when they base their value, worth, and identity on someone or something other than God.
If our calling as parents and youth workers is ultimately about pointing kids to Christ and praying that He would embrace them so hard that they would find their identity solely in their embrace of Him, then what can we do to help our kids find their way through youth culture’s current muddled and confusing identity mess? Here are some suggestions to get you started.
First, continually look in the mirror to check on yourself, asking this question: “Where am I finding my identity?” Identity is a constant struggle for us all. Our example speaks louder than anything else to our kids. In his book The Reason For God, Tim Keller reminds us that “every person must find some way to ‘justify their existence,’ and to stave off the universal fear that they’re a ‘bum.’” Ultimately, our identity can and must be found in Christ and Christ alone. We must be sure that with Augustine we are able to say, “Our hearts our restless until they find their rest in Thee!”
Second, continually check in on the identity-shaping world of your kids. Watching culture is not a once-and-done past-tense activity. For the Christian parent, culture-watching is an active and on-going responsibility. Because culture is constantly shifting and changing, the responsibility lies on us to stay on top of the nuances of our kids’ youth culture, particularly the messengers and messages that are shaping their identity. But it’s not just something we do. It’s something we do with a purpose. Theologian John Stott calls this “dual listening.” He says that we “stand between the Word and the world with consequent obligation to listen to both. We listen to the Word in order to discover ever more of the riches of Christ. And we listen to the world in order to discover which of Christ’s riches are needed most and how to present them in their best light.” When it comes to the task of shaping identity – both our own and our students’ – dual listening is a necessity. We must know their world in order to bring the light of the Word to bear on it.
Third, confront the lies. Several times in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus issues “You have heard it said. . . . but I tell you” statements. Each and every time, Jesus is issuing a corrective to conventional, widely-held, cultural wisdom that his hearers had not only heard, but had allowed to become a part of their very lives. A hallmark of our parenting is continually assuming the same “you have heard it said. . . . but Jesus tells you” posture on identity matters.
History tells us that the famous monk Bernard of Clairvaux hadn’t always found his identity in Christ. He was born into the luxury-filled life of nobility. Eventually he learned that his identity could only be found in Christ. Out of that experience of living on the foundation of a new identity-base, Bernard would pen these words to his now-classic hymn: “Jesus, Thou joy of loving hearts! Thou fount of life! Thou light of men! From the best bliss that earth imparts, We turn unfilled to Thee again.” That, and only that, is the place where our kids will truly find themselves.
Here’s a little one-minute listen on telling kids the truth about their identity. . .
PARENT GROUP ME
If you would like to be included in a parent group me, click the link below! This is for further discussion into events, serving opportunities within the student ministry, and any questions needing to be asked.
(We still encourage everybody to be on our Remind 101 for event reminders, but this is just for further discussion. Scroll down to see how to sign up for Remind 101)
REMIND 101
To stay updated on all our events, please text # 81010 the message @fbcbgs to sign up for our remind 101 messages.