Starting this weekend, the middle school and high school students will be having separate teaching. High school will leave the worship area and go to the Upper Room, while the middle school students will remain in the Zone.
Middle school series: Tempting Stuff
High school series: Sex By Design - an open, honest, Biblical view of sex
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Middle school updates
Middle School Summer Camp early-bird deadline is this Sunday! You can save $50 on camp with an early sign-up.
If your student is selling Otis Spunkmeyer cookie dough, the orders are due this Sunday.
Mark your calendars for the upcoming Middle School Lock In - May 20, 2011.
If your student is selling Otis Spunkmeyer cookie dough, the orders are due this Sunday.
Mark your calendars for the upcoming Middle School Lock In - May 20, 2011.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Visit the new Parent Resource Center
We are excited to announce the launch of the
Parent Resource Center!
It is located just inside the main doors to the Zone.
You'll find:
ParentLink flyers that offer basic information about Amplified Student Ministries;
Parenting books for your review (but please do not remove them from the Zone);
Volunteer forms;
A parent email sign-up list;
and a bulletin board with information geared toward parents.
Check it out this weekend!
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Teaching summary: April 16-17, 2011
Afterlife: Christianity
Pastor Dan spoke to the students about some of the basics of Christianity, to help them explain their faith to others. The main question to be answered was, "Who is Jesus?". A central answer is: Jesus is the director of all things. An example was given through the Palm Sunday account in Matthew 21:1-11 where Jesus told the disciples to find the donkey and colt on which he would ride into Jerusalem, fulfilling one of the sixty prophesies about Himself. All sixty were fulfilled in His life on earth, which is statistically impossible by chance, illustrating that Jesus is indeed directing all things according to His plan.
The students were challenged to think about one of the main differences between Christianity and the other religions: we have Jesus. None of the others have the Son of God, who came to earth to die in their place, for their sins. The other religions teach that their deeds will earn them a place in heaven.
The account of the Passover is a good way to explain salvation. When the Angel of Death was going to come through Egypt to kill the firstborn sons, Moses instructed the Israelites to take a spotless lamb, kill it, and wipe the blood on their doorposts. When the Angel of Death saw the blood that had been shed for that family, he passed by that house and spared the firstborn. Jesus is our spotless passover lamb - He lived a sinless life and died for us. Because of His blood covering us, we are permitted to pass from life on earth to life in heaven when we die as believers in Christ. Death has no victory over us! 1 Corinthians 5:7 says, "For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed."
Scriptures were shared about what heaven will be like:
Philippians 3:21 teaches that our bodies will be transformed to be like Christ's glorious body;
John 14:1-3 teaches that Jesus is preparing a place for us in heaven, and that we will be with Him there.
1 Thessalonians 4:17 "Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord."
Pastor Dan spoke to the students about some of the basics of Christianity, to help them explain their faith to others. The main question to be answered was, "Who is Jesus?". A central answer is: Jesus is the director of all things. An example was given through the Palm Sunday account in Matthew 21:1-11 where Jesus told the disciples to find the donkey and colt on which he would ride into Jerusalem, fulfilling one of the sixty prophesies about Himself. All sixty were fulfilled in His life on earth, which is statistically impossible by chance, illustrating that Jesus is indeed directing all things according to His plan.
The students were challenged to think about one of the main differences between Christianity and the other religions: we have Jesus. None of the others have the Son of God, who came to earth to die in their place, for their sins. The other religions teach that their deeds will earn them a place in heaven.
The account of the Passover is a good way to explain salvation. When the Angel of Death was going to come through Egypt to kill the firstborn sons, Moses instructed the Israelites to take a spotless lamb, kill it, and wipe the blood on their doorposts. When the Angel of Death saw the blood that had been shed for that family, he passed by that house and spared the firstborn. Jesus is our spotless passover lamb - He lived a sinless life and died for us. Because of His blood covering us, we are permitted to pass from life on earth to life in heaven when we die as believers in Christ. Death has no victory over us! 1 Corinthians 5:7 says, "For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed."
Scriptures were shared about what heaven will be like:
Philippians 3:21 teaches that our bodies will be transformed to be like Christ's glorious body;
John 14:1-3 teaches that Jesus is preparing a place for us in heaven, and that we will be with Him there.
1 Thessalonians 4:17 "Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord."
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Parents: You're invited to Focal Point!
Focal Point
Where all things become clearMiddle School and High School students are invited, along with interested parents, to attend this special Good Friday event. There will be worship, communion, and four breakout sessions led by guest speakers and high school students:
1) Authenticity of the resurrection
2) Medical suffering of Christ
3) How to share Easter with my friends
4) Gospel generosity
Please sign up in advance, in the Info Zone.
When: Good Friday, April 22
Cost: $5, lunch includedTime: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Weekend teaching summary: April 9-10, 2011
Afterlife: Mormonism
In the 1820's a man named Joseph Smith found himself frustrated with the differences in Christian denominations, not knowing which was right or wrong. He decided to seek wisdom from God and spent some time praying. In his prayer time he reportedly saw a vision of God the Father and Jesus as separate beings, and he was told by the Father that none of the denominations were accurate. He then dictated the Book of Mormon, which described itself as a chronicle of early indigenous Americans, portraying them as believing Israelites, who had a belief in Christ many hundred years before his birth. Smith claimed he translated over 500 pages in about 60 days, and that it was an ancient record translated "by the gift and power of God". By 1830, Smith reported that he had been instructed that God would use him to re-establish the true Christian church and that the Book of Mormon would be the means of establishing correct doctrine for the restored church.
Mormons believe:
As Christians we believe in the Bible as the inspired Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16). We believe that God is three-in-one: the Trinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as one God (Genesis 1:1). We believe that God is the Creator of all things; He has always been and always will be God over everything. We believe that salvation comes from grace through faith, (Ephesians 2:8-10) and that heaven will become home for all believers by the work Christ performed on the cross (1 John 4:10).
In the 1820's a man named Joseph Smith found himself frustrated with the differences in Christian denominations, not knowing which was right or wrong. He decided to seek wisdom from God and spent some time praying. In his prayer time he reportedly saw a vision of God the Father and Jesus as separate beings, and he was told by the Father that none of the denominations were accurate. He then dictated the Book of Mormon, which described itself as a chronicle of early indigenous Americans, portraying them as believing Israelites, who had a belief in Christ many hundred years before his birth. Smith claimed he translated over 500 pages in about 60 days, and that it was an ancient record translated "by the gift and power of God". By 1830, Smith reported that he had been instructed that God would use him to re-establish the true Christian church and that the Book of Mormon would be the means of establishing correct doctrine for the restored church.
Mormons believe:
- God is exalted man, and that God is not the creator, but was created by another God who was created by another God, and so on.
- God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are three distinct persons, rather than the Trinity.
- Human beings have the ability to become God, and God was once a man who lived on another planet..
- Jesus was begotten by physical union of God and Mary.
- False prophesies from Joseph Smith.
- Salvation is attained through good works.
- Three levels of heaven based on the level of a person's belief in Mormonism.
As Christians we believe in the Bible as the inspired Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16). We believe that God is three-in-one: the Trinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as one God (Genesis 1:1). We believe that God is the Creator of all things; He has always been and always will be God over everything. We believe that salvation comes from grace through faith, (Ephesians 2:8-10) and that heaven will become home for all believers by the work Christ performed on the cross (1 John 4:10).
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Good Friday event
Focal Point
Where all things become clear
Fusion (High School) students are invited to attend a special event on Good Friday, April 22, from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Cost: $5
Worship, Communion, Lunch, and Breakout sessions:
1. Authenticity of the resurrection
2. Medical Suffering of Christ
3. How to share Easter with my friends
4. Gospel generosity
Breakout sessions are led by adults with a special interest or passion for the specifc area of discussion.
Where all things become clear
Fusion (High School) students are invited to attend a special event on Good Friday, April 22, from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Cost: $5
Worship, Communion, Lunch, and Breakout sessions:
1. Authenticity of the resurrection
2. Medical Suffering of Christ
3. How to share Easter with my friends
4. Gospel generosity
Breakout sessions are led by adults with a special interest or passion for the specifc area of discussion.
Easter Weekend in the Zone
For Easter weekend, April 23-24, parents are invited to join students in the Zone for worship and a LIVE simulcast sermon from Pastor Donn. It's the same service as downstairs, but in the Zone with an adult worship team (leading in the same songs!) and Pastor Donn on simulcast. It'll be fun to worship with the students in their space!
Service times:
6:00 p.m. Saturday
9:00 & 11:00 a.m. Sunday
Service times:
6:00 p.m. Saturday
9:00 & 11:00 a.m. Sunday
Middle school summer camp: Basic Training
Parents, check your calendars and pre-register your middle school student for summer camp! Early bird deadline ends May 1. Registration forms are available in the Info Zone.
Fund-raising information is also now available in the Info Zone. You can challenge your student to pay for camp themselves with fund-raising!
Fund-raising information is also now available in the Info Zone. You can challenge your student to pay for camp themselves with fund-raising!
Weekend teaching summary April 2-3, 2011
Afterlife: Hinduism
Eastern religions and philosophy can be difficult for us to understand since it takes a completely different approach to thought and logic. However because of an over accepted of all religions we see more and more of Hindu ideas becoming more common in our culture. From movies lime Star Wars which teaches there is a universal, impersonal force present everywhere to Avator which shows a godlike presence not only everywhere but in everything. So now things are not just created by a creator but everything is actually part of the creator. This term in Hindu called Brahman is the concept that God is not personal and cannot be known, but more like gravity. Mankind is therefore part of Brahman like water drops in an ocean and the afterlife is our continual process of trying to be reconnected to Brahman. This process invovles reincarnation and finding enlightenment through multiple and varying paths. In Hinduism all paths can lead back to Brahman you just need to be faithful to the path you choose.
From a Chrisitan perspective we would reject the notion that God is impersonal and we hold to the fact we can have a relationship with Him (Gen.1:26; 2 Cor. 5:18). That is why we can call God Father and we can have a personal relationship with Him. We know Scripture teaches that we only have one life and there is only one path to God (Heb. 9:27; John 14:6). It is not intolerant to say Jesus is the only way but we are thankful THERE IS A WAY back to God.
May we continue to understand why Jesus is so important to our faith and how different his claims are to all other religions.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Fusion movie night
Fusion (High School) will be meeting at the Wynsong Theater in Delmont on Wednesday, April 13 to see the movie "Soul Surfer". Students are encouraged to bring a friend!
When: Wednesday, April 13
Time: Meet at the theater at 7 p..m; Movie starts at 7:15 p.m.
Cost: $9.00
FUSION will not meet in the Zone on April 13.
Time: Meet at the theater at 7 p..m; Movie starts at 7:15 p.m.
Cost: $9.00
FUSION will not meet in the Zone on April 13.
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