I Have To Do What!?!

This week we are beginning a three week series that will come from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7. To give parents a better idea of what we’re talking about and to help them bring the discussion home, we wanted to make sure you have an overview here.  Take a look and make a note to discuss each after church or sometime the week following each message.  The series is titled “I Have To Do What?!?!” because the Sermon on the Mount has some revolutionary ideas. Jesus gives a lot of life instructions in this sermon. Most of the time when we read it, we are overwhelmed by the challenge that Jesus puts before us. It is almost like Jesus says, “You think you have your life under control, but you actually don’t.” We are going to take a close look at three different chapters that make up this Sermon and see how what Jesus is asking us to do is actually possible and that it will certainly change our lives for the better.  Jesus did not give us impossible commands; He gave us the blueprint on how to live a happy, healthy, fulfilling life.

• 5/6 – Above and Beyond – We’ll take a look at Matthew 5:38-42. Jesus tells us that we should not retaliate when we are injured by other. We will learn what exactly it is that we are supposed to do in those situations. Instead of retaliating, Jesus calls us to respond with love and forgiveness, not the last laugh.
• Think of a situation at school or home when you have retaliated and tried to get someone back. What did you do? How did you feel? Would the scenario have played out differently if you had responded in love and forgiveness?
• 5/13 – Anxiety Away – We’ll take a look at Matthew 6:25-34 to see what Jesus has to say about worry. Worry seems to be an accepted part of everyday life, but Jesus calls us to live a life free of worry. That worry will disappear as we begin to truly trust in Him.
• Worry seems to be a part of everyday life. What is it that you worry about most often? What area of your life do you need to trust Jesus with? Think about why it is that you worry about certain things.
• 5/20 – Judge Not – We’ll take a look at Matthew 7:1-6 and take a look at what Jesus says about judgment. It is a difficult call to follow. There are situations where we have to be able to make judgment calls. We will learn what Jesus meant when He told us not to judge.
• We make judgment calls all day, but we also judge many people that we see. What causes us to judge others? How do you feel when someone judges you? When is it okay to judge?

Heart of a Champion series

This week we’re beginning a three week series in Velocity called Heart of a Champion.  We’re taking a closer look at someone the Bible says was, “A man after God’s own heart.”  To give parents a better idea of what we’re talking about and to help them bring the discussion home, we wanted to make sure you have an overview here.  Take a look and make a note to discuss each after church or sometime the week following each message.

•  4/15 – A Look Inside – We’ll take a look at the story of David & Samuel found in 1 Samuel 16.  We’ll learn that people tend to look at external appearance but God looks at the heart.
• Thinking about the people at your school, what do they tend to judge people on?  If you’re honest, what are the things you tend to think about first when you think about people?  Are they internal or external?
• 4/22 – Measuring Up – We’ll take a look at the battle between David & Goliath found in 1 Samuel 17.  We’ll learn that God doesn’t need the biggest and strongest to go great things, just the people who will trust Him with their whole heart.
• What do you think is standing in the way of God using you or your friends to do great things?  If you knew God was going to work through you, what one great thing would you want to do for Him?
• 4/29 – Learning to be Loyal – We’ll take a look at the friendship of David & Jonathan in 1 Samuel 20.  We’ll learn that even people with a great heart need loyal friends to help them through the toughest times.
• Do you have someone in your life like Jonathan who will always be there to help when you need it?  Who are the people in your life who you know you’ll always be there for like Jonathan was for David?

Giant Sundae Sunday

Next Sunday, April 1st at 10:15AM, Velocity is going to to be HUGE!  As a wrap up to our How To Save A Life series we’re going to have an extra special program for April Fools day and we’re encouraging EVERYONE to invite a friend.  We’re making it a perfect Sunday to bring friends and we’re hoping to have a record breaking number of students with us for all the fun we have planned.  Not only will we worship together and play some extra fun games, we’re going to have a GIANT ice cream sundae.  We’re talking epic.  You won’t want your friends to miss it!

Invite Idea: Consider having a sleepover the night before.  Pizza and video games (or late night giggle sessions for the ladies) are a great lead in to fun worship and a giant banana split.  Have a sleepover and then come to church together in the morning!

How to Save a Life Breakfast

Beginning this Sunday, March 11th we’ll be going through a new series in Velocity all about how to share the life changing message of Jesus with those around us.  Sometimes that means breaking the rules or going against the norm but God has big things in store for us if we’ll learn to step forward in some simple ways.

On March 18th, we’ll be beginning the series in adult worship as well as we lead into Easter early next month.  There are some big things planned for that kickoff on the 18th so our student minitries are planning to all attend the 11:30AM service together.  That day we will NOT have our regular Velocity programming at 10:15AM.  Instead, we’re planning a fun breakfast and some games (we’re even breaking out 9 Square-in-the-Air!) at 11:00AM in E205.  Then we’ll all head down to the worship center in time for the 11:30AM service to begin.  You won’t want to miss it!

If students cannot attend the 11:30AM service with us, they should plan to attend worship that day with their families.

100% Pure Speech

This past Sunday we wrapped up our current series from 1 Timothy 4:12 called 100% Pure.  We talked about how we can strive to live our lives honoring God with the words we say.  During the message we had a “little” pillow fight.  We used the resulting mess to talk about how hard, or impossible, it can be to take back words once they’ve been said.  The only thing you can ever hope to do is clean up the mess, but sometimes even that is impossible.

We encouraged students to take two challenges this week based on Ephesians 4:29:

1. Go 24 hours without saying anything negative.  No put downs, complaints, gossip, etc.  (Tell people around you if you’re taking the challenge and have them give you a thumbs down as a reminder if they notice you using negative language).
2. Begin using postitive lanugage and give at least 5 compliments/encouragements in 24 hours.

Dear Mom & Dad

This month in Velocity we’ve been going through a series called LIFE.  We’re talking about some of the major parts of life and this week, both on Sunday and tonight at V-Groups, we talked about parents.  We gave kids a chance to write anonymous notes to their mom & dad and we wanted to share some of their comments with you.  They’re pretty powerful!

Dear Mom & Dad,

• Thank you for loving me and giving me the opportunity to have a relationship with God. I am sorry if I don’t understand where you are coming from at times. I love you guys.
• I wish that we talked about God more in everyday life.
• I wish my mom and stepdad would listen to me more after they get home from work instead of watching TV.
• I wish we could go out and do more things.
• I like it when you spend individual time with me, like playing basketball or going to lunch with me.
• It seems like you are never home.
• I wish that you would not yell.
• I just wish I could get you to sit down and actually listen to me instead of just saying “I’m the adult, you’re the child.” It makes me feel like you think I’m stupid.
• I wish you would spend time with me.
• Help me. Listen more often.
• I do not think that I say sorry enough.
• I wish you knew how much I really appreciate you.
• Make more rules.
• I am so happy that you give me so many rules. It helps me.
• I wish you knew how much I appreciate you and what you do for me.
• I love you. Thank you for being kind. I wish you could know that I want to spend more time with you.
• I can’t say how much I love you.
• I love you so much! You mean so much to me. I am so proud to be your child.

 Love,

Your Child

Weird Series – Matthew 5 1/2

This week we’re beginning a terrific series called “Weird.”  We’ll be following along with the rest of the church in this series, with some super fun Jr. High twists.  This week as we kick off we’ll be looking at Matthew 5 and we’ll see Jesus take many of the teachings of their day and turn them on their head.  Jesus called the people then to go against the norm and be weird.  He’s calling us to the same today. 

With the remaining four weeks, we’ll be taking a look at several specific ways Jesus calling us to be weird.  To go along with each, we’re crafted a New Revised Velocity version of Matthew 5 1/2 with some of Jesus’ potential teachings for each week. 

Weird Wear Sundays

This Sunday, along with the rest of the church, we’re beginning our Weird series in Velocity.  It’s a great opportunity to learn about the incredible, and weird, life Jesus is calling us to.  It’s also a chance for us to let a little weird out, always a good thing in Jr. High! 

Each week during our series, we’re challenging students to dress weird.  We’ve got a theme for each day, but most of all we just want you to be weird!

• 10/9 – The Case For Weird – Anything Weird Day
• 10/16 – Adopt a Weird Schedule – Dress Like You Parents Day
• 10/23 – Build Weird Relationships – Twin Day
• 10/30 – Very Weirdly Yours – Purple Day
• 11/6 – Carry A Weird Wallet – Celebrity/Costume Day

We’re looking forward to lots of fun stuff.  Just make sure you’re fully clothed and keep it church appropriate (don’t go to scary or violent).

Can’t wait to see lots of weirdos this Sunday!

Homosexuality

This month in Velocity we’ve been tackling some of the most difficult questions to face any Jr. High student. So far, we’ve discussed:

• Is it ok to have doubts?
• How do we know the Bible is true?
• Is Evolution fact?

This coming week we’re tackling one of our most difficult, but important questions yet. We’ll be covering the question, “What does the Bible say about Homosexuality?” In the culture our kids are growing up in, there aren’t many topics that will be much more important for our students to understand. However, since the topic is a little more sensitive than most, we wanted to make sure parents know ahead of time. If you don’t feel this topic is appropriate for your student feel free to have them attend adult worship or ABF with you this week.

Just Add Beach Balls

If you weren’t at Velocity on Sunday you missed a really fun morning. We signed close to 700 beach balls to send to our friends in Kenya. You can check out some of the pictures on our Facebook page now. We also watched a video shot in Kenya several years ago showing life in the Mathare slum and the difference the Missions of Hope schools have made in the life of several students we sponsor. Visit our Just Add Hope website to see the video and find out more.

And a quick video of our fun together: