Amelia Student Ministries - Amelia Church of Christ

Hey all,
I can’t even begin to tell you all what an awesome week this has been. God has blown me away with the progress he’s made in the lives of our students. These students are coming back with a passion to not only be the church as described in the book of Acts, but to step up and see how they can be able to lead the church. They have some dynamite ideas that the Holy Spirit has laid on their hearts including a couple of great ideas that came, from all people, Nick Tuke, who is the winner of my “most-matured” since Monday award. These kids have grown and they are ready to step up and win this generation for Christ.

Pray that they will feel the same level of energy when they get back as they do right now.

We’ll see you all Sunday!

Today, our students will discover where God wants them to MOVE to.

Texts:
Acts 1:8 – You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, Ends.
Acts 9:1-19 – The conversion of Saul. Ananias told to MOVE to Saul.

Bottom Line: Where is God calling you to MOVE?

God always has a plan. He is always on the MOVE. Too often we are content to sit on the sidelines and be a spectator. We want every student who comes to MOVE this summer to have a game plan for ministry in the next year. We want students to MOVE “for the sake of the gospel.” What would it look like if every student left with a written plan for ministry the next year of his/her life? We want students to begin choosing jobs for the sake of the gospel. We want students to be willing to choose clubs and sports in school for the sake of the gospel. We want to see students choose where they go to college for the sake of the gospel. We want to see students who would be willing to mow the yard and do the dishes just to earn the right to speak truth to a family who doesn’t know Christ. We don’t want students to simply attend an event but MOVE beyond the event to what Christ is calling them to.

Today our students will engage their boldness and face their worst fears. This will be the most critical day for our students, so please pray extra hard for each and every one of them today.

Texts:
Acts 4:23-31 – The believers pray for boldness.
Acts 5: 17-42 – The apostles cannot stop teaching about Jesus.
Acts 6 & 7 – Stephen chosen, serving, preaching, and being murdered.

Bottom Line: The Holy Sprit gives us boldness to MOVE against fear and apathy.

Our current culture seems to be becoming more and more ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We fear what people might think if we speak the name of Jesus. We fear getting in trouble at work or at school. We fear governments, and we fear for our reputations. We fear being persecuted or ridiculed. If we want to see the gospel MOVE, then we must get rid of that fear. Over and over in the book of Acts, it was the boldness of the church that caused the gospel to MOVE into new territories. Even in the midst of persecution, the church MOVED with boldness. When you look at the book of ACTS, time and time again we hear of the people speaking boldly. So many students have a spirit of timidity. They don’t know how to make a defense of their faith. They don’t know how to always give an answer for the hope that they have with gentleness and respect. While service is the basis for worship, acts of kindness can never be a replacement for the communication of the gospel. Both must walk hand in hand. God has called His church to MOVE in service and in speech.

Hey gang,

I just wanted to share with you this morning a couple of desicions that God has led two of our young people towards. First off, and most importantly, Amy Simes, one of our Senior High Students, gave her life to Christ last night and will be baptized at Grand Avenue Christian Church in Carbondale, IL this afternoon. We are so excited about this because we have been praying that Amy would lay down her life for Jesus and have been waiting on her to feel like she was making the right desicion and last night, she took the giant step of the most important desicion she’ll ever make in her life. We are so excited!

Secondly, another of our High School students, Andy Riley, felt the call of God on his life to do something for the church, but didn’t know what that was until God confirmed it for him last night. And that desicion was: Andy will be going into full-time ministry as a youth minister! I am so thrilled that he is willing to accept this call of God on his life and I will do whatever it take to pray, mentor, and be a resource for him as much as I possibly can.

God is doing some amazing things here in Carbondale and I have t tell you that he blows me away with what he can do every day of my life, more than I ever thought possible.

God is moving and so are we.
-Brian

Today, our students are learning how to MOVE in their community

Texts:
Acts 2:42-47 – The fellowship of the believers.
Acts 4:32-37 – The believers had everything in common.
Acts 5:1-11 – What true community DOESN’T look like.

Bottom Line: In community, believers MOVE toward one another.

Community in the book of Acts was more than what we see in most churches today. They had everything in common, and there were no needs among them. Community in the church is what tore down and rebuilt governments and societies. When everything was divided along race, economy and gender, it was the community of the church that turned it all upside down. It was the community of the church that called people to MOVE. This community moved in service, moved in worship, and moved in sacrifice. They shared everything…with everyone. God is calling His new community to MOVE.