Silverdale Student Ministries: St. Elmo

02/20/2018

We have an event called VIVE Weekend coming up March 23-25th. Register at http://www.silverdalestudents.com/lift/

We will spend the weekend in host homes, attending the Lift Tour student conference, and doing some service projects. Cost is $49. Feel free to send me a message for more info!

"Then you can tell the next generation detail by detail the story of God..."

01/24/2018

Hey Everyone!

The VIVE is on for tonight! I am excited to continue our series in John. We are going to walk through John 15:17 this evening. Be sure to ask your kids about it when you see them!

I wanted to fill you in on a few dates coming up.

----Don't Miss!---

January 31: This is the last date to lock in the lowest price for VIVE Camp at $149. Last summer we had two students attend from St. Elmo and both would attest to the life-changing experience they had. Register at http://www.silverdalestudents.com/camp/

February 4th: If we can get 7 students (1 girl at least) together for a team, the Bonnie Oaks crew is playing a flag football tournament. I'd love if we could bring a team over and show them how it is done!

February 18th: I would love to put together an evening for our students to get out and go bowling together. 6pm-8pm. If this date works for your family please let me know and I'll start putting our evening together.

----Stay Tuned for More Details----

March 17: Serve The City

March 23-25: VIVE Weekend/ Lift Tour Student Conference

Hope to see everyone this evening!

"Then you can tell the next generation detail by detail the story of God..."

12/20/2017

Don't forget, no VIVE this week. We will be back on January 10th!

12/20/2017

"It is the experience of someone or something causing us to briefly see Christ in a new way. Even if for a moment, it is like the veil of this world is lifted, and we are able to behold the awe-inspiring beauty of Christ and the Gospel."

I do not know many Christians who have gone their whole spiritual life without having to communicate some aspect of the gospel, big or small. It is inevitable that God will put us in a situation where we are called to tell someone else about our faith and God. For a parent, it can be in the home, for the business professional it may be right in the workplace. For our Pastor it is week in and week out to each and every one of us. I pray that the Holy Spirit would guide me to communicate the awe-inspiring truths of the gospel in ways that reveal the work of Christ in every magnificent detail.

12/13/2017

VIVE Christmas Party tonight at 6:30! Hope you can make it!

No Bible study tonight at 5:15.

12/11/2017

Our Christmas Party is this Wednesday night! After this week we will take a break and come back together on January 10th.

Segue...

Which means I enter a bit of a season of both reflection and planning. My time with the teenagers of our church is limited. I have to make decisions about what principles from the word of God are going to have the most lasting impact and then commit to driving those concepts home. I ran across someone else's list this morning.

https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/priorities-for-youth-pastors

I'd like to hear from you. What principles/concepts/truths from the Bible do you think are of highest importance and will carry the greatest impact? (Some explanation would be great). I'd love to see some of your ideas in the comment!

What are the fundamental truths that youth leaders and pastors should drill into the hearts of young people today?

12/07/2017

Looking for a little reading over the holidays? Do you also find yourself thinking, "I wonder what kinds of teachings influence that bearded guy I leave my kid with every week?" Well, look no further.

This may be my favorite book on the subject of student ministry. If you are a student, parent, or the one in charge of the ministry, we will all profit from sharing a solid understanding of some of the aims and goals of ministry to teenagers. We all know growth in Christ will never happen by accident. In all that we do we try to maximize the impact that the word of God and life in Christ can make on a teenager. This book discusses some of the ways we can do that while never taking our eyes off of the central message; Jesus Christ and him crucified for our sin.

Fun Fact: Liz Eldridge, a contributor to this book, lives right here in the scenic city.

This comprehensive handbook looks at every facet of youth ministry from a gospel-centered perspective, offering practical advice related to everything from planning short-term mission trips to interacting with parents to cultivating healthy relationships.

12/06/2017

Bible study and The VIVE is on for tonight at Silverdale St. Elmo! Next week is our Christmas party, and then we will be on a bit of a break. Hope to see you tonight!

12/04/2017

Psalm 78:4 "We will not hide from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done."

A couple of years ago I wrote a paper on the principles and practices family worship. Now, two years later, I have a dog and a beautiful wife (a family of my own) and I quickly grew a new appreciation for the amount of discipline it takes to make family worship a regular practice. (I'd imagine it comes as no surprise to anyone reading these posts who it is writing them.)

With that said, I can never expect to know the condition of my bride's heart if I am never asking her about it or leading and encouraging her to love Jesus more and more. So here is a reminder to both myself and anyone in our church or ministry who may let gathering the family around the word of God at home fall to the side, let's not drop the ball on this. Rather, let us commit to lifting God high in our heart and home.

Family worship doesn’t require much creativity, planning, or skill. Regularly enjoying God in his word and prayer is an easy burden with eternal benefits.

11/27/2017

A friend of mine asked a group of professing Christian students to share their testimony. He was surprised to find that several of them had their faith scattered around their "good lives" rather than at the foot of the cross.

Lukewarm Christianity is not a "faith" worth keeping. Ironically, faith in ourselves produces no righteousness at all. It is not uncommon that those who find their eternal security in their regular church attendance wonder why they struggle to feel passionate about God, his Son, and his word. It is because they are missing the one thing that actually has the power to save their wondering souls, faith in Jesus Christ.

Teenagers can be the most passionate followers of Jesus. So many hear the grace of God and are truly willing to give everything they call their own up in order to gain the Kingdom of God (Matt. 13:44). Just as many, if not more, find themselves in the middle, "lukewarm." One foot in and one foot out. Hope for the future seems fleeting when uncertainty lies at the core of their beliefs.

Don't miss out on the extra free time that the holiday's offer families. Preach the gospel in your homes, with your actions, and with your words. A firm faith in Christ alone for salvation is the only thing that can move someone from shaky "Christian" living toward a life-long disciple of Jesus.

I was separated from Christ, lost in my sins, under the wrath of God — all the while thinking I was a Christian.

11/22/2017

The holiday season is upon us! Parents, if you have a few minutes today, give some of it to this video. Media likes to paint a particular picture of what the holiday's "ought" to look like for a family. As Christians, we are often fighting some of those cultural values out of our homes and our own hearts for the sake of unity, gratefulness, and peace. I hope you find some of these ideas helpful for those moments when secular culture and Christian values seem to be at odds. Enjoy the holiday!

When Parents Must Contradict Culture October 4, 2017 | Jen Wilkin • Gregory Thornbury • Jason Cook Share Jen Wilkin is a wife, mom to four great kids, and an advocate for women to love God with their minds through the faithful study of his Word. She writes, speaks, and teaches women the Bible. She…

11/21/2017

No VIVE this week. Enjoy your Thanksgiving!