FBCJ SOLID Youth

When it comes to dealing with our flesh, violence of action is a necessity. On the heels of Winter Camp, this message once again goes back to the Old Testament as our picture book to illustrate the practical ways that we kill our giants by faith.

We close out Winter Camp with looking at a group of common warriors in the Bible who made themselves fools for God, and as a result God was able to do impossible things through them. What are you prepared to do for your King, watchmen?

This isn't your typical David vs. Goliath story. Here we see the fight hit home in our own lives as we need to decide if we're going to let our faith be as tall as the giants we face.

In what was a riveting and heartfelt message , the Sr High was presented with a firsthand account of the reality of the spiritual war that lies before them. If you listen with ears to hear, you will be too.

We kick off our Sunday School hour with the first message of Winter Camp and our theme "Spiritual Warfare: My Personal Battle". Tune in as we see that a proper mindset is the key to determining the outcome of any and every battle.

Our final message leading into Winter Camp sees us looking at two Old Testament kings to help illustrate how we are to be as New Testament kings ( Rev. 1:5-6; 5:9-10 ). If last week's lesson on priests was to evaluate our closeness with God, this lesson should cause us to evaluate what kind of leaders we are in this day and age.

Today, we close out our series on Spiritual Gifts by looking at the gifts in their proper context where they appear in Scripture. This message serves as a recap as well as a final challenge to get your hands into the work and utilize your gift(s) for the edifying of the body, for the work of the ministry, and for the perfection of the saints ( Eph. 4:12 ).

This two part series will serve as both a springboard into winter camp as well as an introspective look at our service the last six months. As we are called New Testament kings & priests by our Lord ( Rev. 1:5-6; 5:8-10 ), we need to ask ourselves: "are we living up to the standard of those titles"?

Listen to the first 11 minutes of this message before deciding "this gift isn't for you" and skipping it altogether. God has used men and women to forever alter the course of history because they embraced their gift of singleness as God empowered them.

We close out James with the need of every man: his soul to be saved and his sins covered. Disciples who are growing in their walk will be continuously focused on this as they have fervent charity to cover a multitude of sins ( 1 Pet. 4:8 ).

When thinking of a gift that can be used to minister to the body of Christ, the most obvious one to have the most effective impact is the one that people probably consider the least. This lesson on mercy is a very practical and sobering gut-check for us all to be compassionate towards one another within the body.

Do you know what manner of person God is seeking for? Do you know what it means to agonize in prayer? Tune in to hear some examples from scripture, and ask yourself whether you're willing to be one of the few who have stood before the Lord.

This week's lesson on "ruling" is a great compliment to last week's gift of "governments". If "governments" is concerning the behind the scenes administration of leadership, then "ruling" is the carrying out, or execution of the plan. Some people are built to be up-front leaders. Are you one of them?

Last week's lesson on persecution leads perfectly into this week's message on being steadfast and patient during afflictions. Romans 5:3 says " And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience ". Nowhere can we glorify God more during trials than when we suffer patiently. We are to have this attitude until the Lord comes back!

* Last week's recording on "giving" was lost, but you can download that study sheet along with this week's here *. The gift of governments is often lumped together with the gift of ruling. Today we uncover why they're distinct as well as looking at some interesting examples for those who possessed this gift in scripture.

Not for the faint of heart...James 5:1-6 shows us the bitter end to those who make their kingdom and wealth upon this earth as well as the defining characteristic of what it means to be godly. If you want to be like Christ, prepare to suffer affliction ( 2 Tim. 3:11-12; Heb. 11:25 ).

We thought we were done with James 4, but James 4 wasn't done with us. This message serves not only as a recap of our Discipleship trip to Gulfport, MS but also a passionate charge of where we're going next as a youth ministry. Like in target practice, if you want a clear sight picture of your target, you need to first align your sights prior to aiming.

Want to know what it means to be a "gap filler"? This spiritual gift is all about that. It is the epitome of what it means to have a servant's heart like Joshua, Aaron, and Onesiphorus. While this may seem like a similar gift to "helps", we'll see the primary difference between the two in today's lesson.

Today we begin our last sub-series of the Spiritual Gifts known as the "Service Gifts". Helps are usually done behind the scene and with very little recognition, but they are just as important. Much of what makes a church function properly is due to this all-important gift.

One might think they know the definition of the gift of exhortation. While they wouldn't be wrong, a simple walkthrough of the verses containing it might just reveal a surprising element that you normally wouldn't associate with exhorting your fellow brother or sister.

Be an example and mature in your walk. How do we do this? In word, conversation, charity, spirit, faith, and purity.

Continuing our sub-series on "Speaking" gifts is that of shepherding a flock, or the gift of pastoring. This is not only a calling, but a gift given from God to build up the local body of believers. Here we dive a little deeper as to what the Bible says about this role along with the challenge for you to prayerfully consider if God has gifted you with a shepherd's heart.

Tune in as we look at three different Old Testament characters and how their lives and character qualities match up with James 4. Through it, we will see demonstrated the greatest character quality a disciple can model.

This gift, to some degree, is given to us all at salvation due to the Great Commission to make disciples ( Mt. 28:19-20 ). However, some are supernaturally gifted to be able to speak publicly like Moses ( Ex. 4:10-11 ). Like an evangelist, the best way to determine if you have this gift is to practice doing it.

The Middle of James' letter centers around the tongue and how deadly of a weapon it can be. Like it or not, when our tongues are "set on fire of hell" we have more in common with the demonic horse locusts of Revelation 9:13-19. If you want to mature in your walk, we need to learn how to control the tongue.