Redline Youth December 2014 Calendar

December is going to be a great month!!  Lots of events as we wind down 2014.  Here is what we have going on:

• 12/2/14 (Tuesday): Haven of Rest.  Those that have signed up will be meeting at CBC at 5:20pm to serve dinner at the Haven of Rest. 

• 12/7/14 (Sunday): IGNITE December- 5:30-7:30pm at Rootstown United Methodist Church on SR44, across from Talmer Bank.  We will meet there.

• 12/14/14 (Sunday): Redline Youth Group- regular Redline Youth Group, at CBC 5:30-7:15pm.

• 12/21/14 (Sunday): Redline Special, Live Nativity- we will meet at CBC at 5:30PM and then drive down to The Live Nativity at Camp Wanake in Brewster, OH (weather permitting).  We should be back around 9:00pm.

• 12/28/14 (Sunday): Redline Special, Year End Family Banquet- like last year, this will be a special Sunday night where we really want to encourage parents and siblings to come on out and spend the evening with us.  We will have a catered meal, and some special activities, as well as a devotional service and communion.  Please come on out, its going to be AWESOME!!

Others items of note:

• Sunday 12/21/14 will be our Christmas Play for the little kids, and Undie Sunday for the Haven of Rest.  Just bring some new undergarments for the Haven, and enjoy a Christmas Kids performance.  Service is at 10:30am
• Our church Christmas Service will be on Christmas Eve at 7:00pm.  We'd love to see you there.

I think this covers it.  Of course, if you have any questions please just let me know.
Stay close to Jesus- Vince

A Friday Psalm: Psalm 1

1 How blessed is the one who does not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand in the pathway with sinners, or sit in the assembly of scoffers!
2 Instead he finds pleasure in obeying the Lord 's commands; he meditates on his commands day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by flowing streams; it yields its fruit at the proper time, and its leaves never fall off. He succeeds in everything he attempts.
4 Not so with the wicked! Instead they are like wind-driven chaff.
5 For this reason the wicked cannot withstand judgment, nor can sinners join the assembly of the godly.
6 Certainly the Lord guards the way of the godly, but the way of the wicked ends in destruction.

Are You Really Ready To Be A Disciple Of Jesus?

Luke 14:25-26 The Cost of Discipleship
Now large crowds were traveling with him; and he turned and said to them, 26 “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

I believe that the Bible is the infallible, inerrant, authoritative Word of God. What that means is, since it is authoritative, it has authority over me. Or put another way, I am in submission to the Word of God. Or put yet another way, if the Bible says one thing, and I say another, then I am the one that needs to change. Now that we have that cleared up, how must we understand this passage?

This passage from Luke shows that Jesus is telling the crowds what the cost of following Him (discipleship) are, and Jesus is pretty clear: Nothing…NOTHING is supposed to be more loved in your heart, or higher on your priority lists than following Jesus. Nothing, nada, zilch, nyet, niente!! Jesus first, everything else behind. This means not your job, not your family, not your friends, nothing comes before Jesus and following Him. Hate your family though? Is that what Jesus wants? As you’ll read in the commentaries below that I included, Jesus doesn’t want you to “hate” your family in the sense of hatred towards them. That would fly in the face of Jesus’ teaching on Love and the law. However, if you love your family more than you love Jesus…something is wrong. You cannot be a Disciple and love anything more than Jesus.

What about Sacrifice? Are you ready to sacrifice for Jesus? Jesus is puting it out there, if you’re not picking up your cross and following Him, you cannot be His disciple. Discipleship means daily sacrifice, daily picking up the cross, and loving Jesus more than anything and anyone else.

Going to church on Sundays is easy. Going to outings, playing on church teams, helping out once a year at camp or VBS, attending a gathering or a weekend retreat…that’s easy. The question though is this: Are you ready to deny yourself, forsake all things and relationships in this World, and submit to sacrifice in service to the King? If you are, then you may be ready to be a disciple and one day hear the words below that we all long to hear! Stay close to Jesus- V

21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy servant; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ Matthew 25:21

Commentaries
Reformation Study Bible: Discipleship means loving the Master so much that all other loves are hatred by comparison.

Asbury Bible Commentary: In further teaching about discipleship, Jesus asserted the priority of loyalty to himself over the closest family ties. The word hate (v. 26) is an exaggeration. Jesus meant that love for family should take second place to devotion for him. People should count the cost of discipleship: giving up everything for Christ. Otherwise disciples become like salt that has lost its strength.

IVP New Testament Commentary Series: With this very short subunit in the journey section, Jesus' attention turns almost totally to his disciples. The leadership has been warned and rebuked. But what does following Jesus really require? The previous parable had hinted that other issues became higher priorities for the original invitees to God's kingdom. This single unit will make it clear that disciples should count the cost of following Jesus, because success will not come easily.

This passage is unique to Luke, though verses 26-27 are like Matthew 10:37-38 and verses 34-35 are similar to Matthew 5:13 and Mark 9:49-50. It is extremely significant that this passage is addressed to large crowds. Jesus offered himself to all, but he also was honest from the very beginning of his preaching about what the journey would involve. What Jesus asks for is first place in one's heart. That is what successful discipleship requires.
So Jesus calls for a follower who will hate his mother and father, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life. The point of the list is that no other relationship is first for a disciple. "Hate" is used figuratively and suggests a priority of relationship. Jesus is first. To follow Jesus means to follow Jesus, not anyone or anything else. A disciple is a learner, and the primary teacher in life is Jesus. This total loyalty is crucial, given the rejection and persecution that lie ahead. If his followers care more about family than about Jesus, when families are divided under pressure of persecution, they will choose against Jesus. This is what lies behind Jesus' remarks. Discipleship is not possible if Jesus is not the teacher.

This is why bearing the cross and coming after Jesus is the issue of discipleship. Learning from Jesus means following him, experiencing the rejection he experienced and so bearing the cross he bore. We cannot "learn Jesus" without being prepared to walk this path. Discipleship is basically allegiance. To follow Jesus is to rely on him. Paul makes the same point in different imagery in Romans 6.

How To Study Theology by Martin Luther

I want to point out to you a correct way of studying theology, for I’ve had practice in that. If you keep to it, you will become so learned that you yourself could (if it were necessary) write books just as good as those of the fathers and councils. This is the way taught by holy King David (and doubtlessly used also by all the patriarchs and prophets) in Psalm 119. There you will find three rules, amply presented throughout the whole psalm: prayer (oratio), meditation (meditatio), and testing (tentative).


Prayer

First, you should know that the Holy Scriptures constitute a book that turns the wisdom of all other books into foolishness, because not one teaches about eternal life except this one alone. Therefore you should straightway despair of your reason and understanding. With them you will not attain eternal life, but, on the contrary, your presumptuousness will plunge you and others with you out of heaven (as happened to Lucifer) into the abyss of hell. But kneel down in your room and pray to God with real humility and earnestness (as David did), that he through his dear Son may give you his Holy Spirit, who will enlighten you, lead you, and give you understanding.

Meditation

Second, you should meditate not only in your heart, but also externally, by actually repeating and comparing oral speech and literal words of the book, reading and rereading them with diligent attention and reflection, so you may see what the Holy Spirit means by them. Take care you do not grow weary or think you have done enough when you have read, heard, and spoken them once or twice, and that you then have complete understanding. You’ll never be a particularly good theologian if you do that, for you will be like untimely fruit which falls to the ground before it is half ripe. God will not give you his Spirit without the external Word.

Testing (Anfechtung)

Third, there is testing. This is the touchstone that teaches you not only to know and understand, but also to experience how right, how true, how sweet, how lovely, how mighty, and how comforting God’s Word is, wisdom beyond all wisdom. David, in Psalm 119, complains often about all kinds of enemies, arrogant princes or tyrants, false spirits and factions, whom he must tolerate because he meditates, that is, because he is occupied with God’s Word in all manner of ways. For as soon as God’s Word takes root and grows in you, the Devil will harry you and will make a real theologian of you, for by his assaults he will teach you to seek and love God’s Word. I myself am deeply indebted to my critics, that through the Devil’s raging they have beaten, oppressed, and distressed me so much. That is to say, they have made a fairly good theologian of me, which I would not have become otherwise. And I heartily grant them what they have won (honor, victory, and triumph) in return for making this of me, for that’s the way they wanted it.



Martin Luther, 'How to Study Theology'

Sin you say?

Sin is a difficult topic to discuss with relation to Scripture because the same word in English refers to several different states. In its most basic form, sin is a transgression of law and rebellion against God. Sin is any action that harms the relationship we have with God and/or another person. It is choosing to act in a way that pulls us away from God. He designed us to respond to Him in a way that is in agreement with His nature. Sin breaks that connection, refuses that gift, and rejects God. Cornelious Plantinga says that sin is the "willful breaking of Shalom". Shalom is that state of peace and perfection that God originally intended for man and creation. When we sin, we break Shalom.

Sin entered the world at "The Fall" when Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The Tree that God declared out of bounds to them. We are now spiritually sinful because of the "sin nature" we inherited from Adam. We are born with the nature of sin and a natural tendency is towards sin. We are born with the inclination to reject God, since from the curse in Gen 3:16 we are at enmity with God. Because of our identity as descendants of Adam, we also carry "imputed sin." This is a term meaning taking something that belongs to someone and crediting it to an other's account. It is almost like being a fan of a certain team because they are the only team in town. We are identified with that team, which in our case is sin. Of course, sin is also each individual action which is counter to God's law.

Sin can show up in a variety of ways. The Hebrew 'awon means an iniquity or malevolent unfairness (1 Samuel 20:1). Rasha' infers restlessness or something that is out of control (Isaiah 57:21). Chata' is the most commonly heard definition. It means missing the mark or straying off course (Judges 20:16). 'Abar means to transgress or to go beyond that which is sanctioned (Judges 2:20). In the New Testament, the Greek hamartia is similar to the Hebrew chata' but it goes further. It is not only "missing the mark," but also the inner compulsion or nature that induced the offense (Romans 6:1). Similarly, it can be an organized power that deliberately sets about causing a person or group to fall into sin (Romans 6:12). Coincidentally, in seminary the study of sin is called "Hamartialogy".

Since all sin is the rejection of God, His authority, and His preference, sin automatically excludes us from His presence. And in reading you also see that pride plays a huge role in sin as pride turns our attention from God and towards us. But forgiveness of sin, as well as grace and peace and eternal life are found in Jesus Christ. Freedom from the grasp of sin is only found in God. Our inherited sin nature, our imputed sin, and our every little choice definitively separate us from God. Fortunately, Jesus' sacrifice covers all sins. Instead of Adam's imputed sin, we receive Christ's imputed righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21)—we choose another team to identify with. As the Holy Spirit indwells us, the sin nature loses its grasp, and we are no longer its slave. And when we commit individual acts of sin, we are authorized to approach the throne of grace with confidence (Hebrews 4:16), knowing that coming to God and confessing our sins will allow us to renew our relationship with Him.

Christian Relationships

So I have been thinking about this for a while, and I think I am going to go ahead and start writing a series of blog entries specifically for my Redline Youth Group addressing common questions that come up a lot, like questions about relationships, other religions, sin and forgiveness, heaven, etc. This is my first post. Enjoy!! Any ideas or comments, let me know.

Question: "Can you give me some Christian relationship advice?"

Answer: I have received this question a lot, and I am a little hesitant to give a direct relationship answer. As a Pastor people come to me for advice often, for Jr and Sr High students the ultimate authority in your life should be your parents (other than God, of course). Additionally, I do not presume to speak for God in giving authoritative relationship advice to Christians.

With that said, lets see what scriptural advice I can give. First, you should speak with God about your relationship. Pray to the Lord, asking Him to clearly reveal to you what He would have you do (Philippians 4:6-7), that is the MOST IMPORTANT THING: PRAY!!! Ask God to give you wisdom and discernment (James 1:5). God promises to grant prayer requests that are asked according to His will (1 John 5:14-15). Being wise and discerning are most definitely God's will. God wants you to make good relationship decisions. God desires Christians to be joyous and edified as a result of their relationships. If you ask God with an open heart and humble spirit, He will give you the relationship advice you need.

Finally, find wise counsel with mature Christians you can trust, and your parents. Seek guidance from your Youth Pastor or Sr. Pastor, or other mature church leaders (like youth leaders). Their years of experience enable them to speak from wisdom and the knowledge of God in their lives.

Page Turners Book Club Discussion Thread: "Redemption: Freed by Jesus from the Idols We Worship and the Wounds We Carry"

Hey Page Turners: This is the discussion board for this month's book. Please stop by often to post comments, questions, observations about the book!!! Enjoy!

Book: "Redemption: Freed by Jesus from the Idols We Worship and the Wounds We Carry" by Mike Wilkerson

Book Description: Exodus is a real story about God redeeming his people from the bondage of slavery and how their difficult journey home exposed their loyalties—though wounded by Egypt, they had come to worship its gods. Most Christians don’t make golden idols like the Israelites in the wilderness, but we do set up idols on our own desert road—idols like substance abuse, pornography, gluttony, and rage. And even those who don’t know the pain of actual slavery can feel enslaved to the fear and shame that follow sexual abuse or betrayal by a spouse, for we suffer at the hands of our idols as well as those created by others. We need more than self-improvement or comfort—we need redemption. Redemption is not a step-oriented recovery book; it’s story-oriented and Bible-anchored. It unfolds the back-story of redemption in Exodus to help Christians better understand how Christ redeems us from the slavery of abuse, addiction and assorted trouble and restores us to our created purpose, the worship of God. Readers will discover that the reward of freedom is more than victory over a habitual sin or release from shame; it is satisfaction and rest in God himself.