III. Serve










The efforts that we are making with our Youth Group on Sunday evenings (5pm-7pm) have basically two main purposes:

  1. Provide a good (safe, fun, etc.) space for teens

  2. Provide spiritual instruction for teens


For part (1), we provide a meal at every gathering. Nowadays the meal begins very early in our time together. After the main activity (see below), there is time for the teens at the end of the gathering (maybe 6:30-7:00) to make use of and enjoy together the lower level of the church.

For part (2), we instruct in the context of a game show activity in the sanctuary. There is review each time of a lot of catechism material, to prepare the teens to play team-against-team. That game begins with the following theme song video:

HTML Video embed





The game board, then, looks like this, with categories changing each time:





The over-arching educational goals are to show the teens (a) the church’s teachings and (b) the beautiful, life-changing person that is Jesus. With this review-and-game-show format of instruction, walking teens through the teachings comes more naturally than showcasing Jesus as a person.


So…


Ways that you as an individual or (better yet!) your small group can get involved is to

  • pray for our youth group efforts

  • spread the word about this engaging ministry

  • get involved with…

    • meals

    • helping us make the lower level space as teen-friendly as possible

    • just being around as a positive influence during these gatherings

    • finding ways to showcase Jesus as a person in the midst of this educational format




Given all that, what would you want to discuss at this time with your small group?

(This is a super-open-ended question and you could take this any way you'd like. If nothing comes up, that's fine, too.)










Submit a prayer request.

Feel free to share your prayer request using the link below (which opens in a new tab).

Note: Prayer requests can be confidential (please indicate so!) and go directly to Pastor Garrett's email. Those requests that you indicate as public will appear on next week's online Small Group material.







Consider adding to your personal prayers a request that God would send you someone to help with your vulnerability. But for this week, at least, we will move on at this time to a final song.

Be real with God about your weakness with the song “Perfect in Weakness” by Lystra’s Silence.

(If you'd like, you can scroll through the lyrics found below this video after clicking play.)

Perfect in Weakness by Lystra’s Silence

I have tried to please you for so long.
Relied on my own strength—
what is grace?
It seems it’s lost its meaning.

So I have failed at every attempt.
Found myself losing sight of who you are
the lover of this broken soul.

But this is what I’ve learned:
to try is to fail,
to trust is to heal,
and in you, I’ve overcome.
’Cause you paid the way and conquered the grave
and in you, I’ll overcome these fears.

I have thought a time or two
that drawing near to you
would be so hard to do—
for how could I deserve this love?

But you have proved yourself time and again.
What is grace if there’s no sin?
Thank you for coming to save the sick.

But this is what I’ve learned:
to try is to fail,
to trust is to heal,
and in you, I've overcome.
’Cause you paid the way and conquered the grave
and in you, I’ll overcome
these fears, these trials, these dark, lonely nights.
How beautiful to see…

Strength made perfect in weakness.
Your strength made perfect in weakness.
Your strength made perfect in weakness.
Your strength made perfect in my weakness.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,

and the love of God,

and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all.

(2 Corinthians 13:14)

This week’s online Small Group materials were made possible by way of much content sharing from Illume.