Weekly Update- August 20

Highlights This Week

NEW Attachments: Details Below!
Update on Volunteers Needed: Details Below!
Midweek Fall Kick Off: BRING FRIENDS, there are also incentives for doing so! Details Below!
The Stand: This Sunday, sign up if you haven't. Spot are filling up fast. 
See You At The Pole: New!

Volunteers THIS Week
(if you are listed and cannot make it, please let us know ASAP.)
Security for Midweek: Kyle & Sandra Terrell
Snack Shack for Midweek: Callie Linville, Jourdain Bagby, & Savannah Thrasher
Snack Shack for Small Groups: Amy Sisco & Samantha Morris


Announcements
New Attachments: Please see the attached "GO DEEP" sheet for students to have a simple way to get in to God's word this week. There is a daily study to read and a spot to take notes. Each day reflect back to something related to the Midweek message for this week. There is also a simple New Testament reading plan on the back page. 

Volunteers Needed:
1- Fall Kick-Off THIS Wednesday: We are good for adults. If you emailed and said you would help, we are counting on you. We should have plenty of adults around from 5:45 to 8:00. If you are a small group leader and can make it the whole time, that would be helpful!

2- The Stand: We are good for adults, but we still need a bus driver for the 14 passenger. You don't have to have a special CDL for this bus. 

3- Tailgating: We are looking good for adults. We could use a couple more high school students to come if possible. 

4- Small Group Leaders: We have had a few people express some interest in stepping into a small group leader opening but no one has confirm yet. If you would be interested in this, please let me know, we NEED you!

5- Snack Shack: We have a great start for this, but could use a couple more folks willing to help out. We also still need someone who might be interested in taking charge of this for us. Great chance to serve! This will require showing up early for midweek and small groups. 

6- Security: We have had 3 adults volunteer for this, so we could use several more. We have a BIG building and a lot of students. We need adults who will just be here keeping an eye on kids making sure they are not going and doing something they shouldn't. We will need people especially for Midweek and for events we host at the church.

August 21: Midweek Fall Kickoff- Be here at 6:00 for FREE hot dogs/chips/icees. We will start the service at 6:30 in the FC. Our goal is to get 100 students Wednesday night. As incentive, the student who brings the most friends to the Fall Kick Off will get to come to Winter Retreat for FREE! Also, if we break 100 students, the top three who bring the most friends will get to pie Joe, James, & Kate in the face! We can easily get to 100 students, but it will require everyone bringing friends.Parents, PLEASE encourage your kids in this!

August 25: The Stand- please sign up at the Kiosk or email Joe/Kate to register. We only have room for 30 and those spots will fill up fast! Right now we only have 8 spots open! We will meet at Ridgecrest at 5:20 and drive together to the event in our buses. For more details about the event, check out their website

August 30: Tailgating- w/ the MCU (Mobile Church Unit.) High School students, we need your help with this! This is a great outreach opportunity and we want to use it to minister to your friends as well as an opportunity to engage and invite them to Midweek and other events. 
Aug 30- Kickapoo vs Parkview
Sep 6- Nixa vs Belton
Sep 13- Kickapoo vs Waynesville
Sep 27- Kickapoo vs Glendale (5th Quarter at Ridgecrest following the game)
Oct 4- Republic vs Carthage
Oct 11- Nixa vs Ozark
Oct 18- Republic vs Neosho
Oct 25- Nixa vs Republic (5th Quarter at Ridgecrest following the game)

September 25: See You At the Pole- do you know when and where your school does SYATP? Could you please let us know so we can make sure to spread the word about times/locations at all the area schools?

September 27 & October 25: 5th Quarter after the Friday night high school football games. 

November 9: Project Springfield

November 16: Student/Parent Dinner

December 6-8: Winter Retreat

Midweek August 21

Series: Hipster Jesus & the Cray Things He Said
This Week: Happily Ever After- a study through the Beatitudes. 

Matthew 5:1-12

Happy are...
1- The Humble
2- The Sad
3- The Gentle
4- The Hungry

Small Groups August 25

This week will be up to each individual small group to plan some "get to know you" activities. All of the students will be promoting in to their new classes, many with new teachers. 

 

rbcstudents needs your help!

Hello students!

I am posting/emailing because we have several things coming up and we need some help from you. If you are interested in serving in any of these areas, please let me know ASAP! You can call the church or you can email jnelson@ridgecrestbaptist.org

Tailgating: We are tailgating all season long, but our first Tailgate of the season is August 30th at Kickapoo. We need some students to come and help with this event. I do not want it to be only adults out there. It would be even better if you went to school at Kickapoo. Let me know if you are interested. Also, let me know if you are interested in others but just cannot make this one. 

On-going opportunities to serve

1- Snack Shack: We need students willing to help our adults work our new concession stand on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. I would love to get a student teamed with an adults to take charge of this ministry, but I would also hope to get a rotation going with students. This is an easy area but will require you to arrive plenty early to sell snacks before services start. I have Jourdain Bagby and Savannah Thrasher all ready volunteering for this, but I could really use a couple of more for the rotation. 

2- Worship Team: If you play an instrument or sing and would like to join our student worship team, talk to James Copeland! 

3- Sound Booth: We have several, but could always use more students interested in running sound, computer, and lights during midweek and for the intro part of Small Groups as well as for special events like 7th Grade Welcome Weekend. If this is something you might be interested in, let me know!

Weekly Update- August 13

Highlights This Week

Parent Email List: Details Below!
Volunteers Needed for New Ministry: Details Below!
Midweek After Party: Details Below!
Midweek Fall Kick Off: Encourage your students to bring friends, there are also incentives for doing so! Details Below!
The Stand: New Details Below!
Tailgating: NEW! Details Below! Need Volunteers

Announcements

Parent & Student Email List- If you are interested in receiving this information (and other important information) via email every week, we need to know it! We would like to not only post things on the blog, but also be able to email you with attachments such as event flyers and permission slips. Please email Joe Nelson at jnelson@ridgecrestbaptist.org to be added to the list. 

Volunteers Needed- We are starting a "snack shack" at Midweek and Small Groups. We will sell cheap snacks out of the serving window of the kitchen in the FC. We need students and parents who can help sell snacks prior to services. This would mean showing up early and helping to organize things. We also need students to serve as a "First Impressions Team" to greet students as they come in, show them to the check-in computers, and even walk them through the process. Finally, we need parents/small group leaders who will serve as sort of a "security" team. Our building is huge and students could easily wonder off and get themselves in to trouble. We need adults to just hang out in the lobby during Midweek and at other events making sure this does not happen. If you are interested in serving in ANY of these, please email Joe or Kate. 

August 14: Midweek After Party- We are hosting "Water Wars" so prepared to get wet and bring a towel. There is no cost for this event, just stay after midweek and have some fun outside together. We will shut things down at 9 since it is a school night for most students. 

August 16-17:  7^th Grade Welcome Weekend

August 18: Bilyeu Family Concert- Sunday morning at 9:00 & 11:00. Our Pastor has a great vision from the Lord to see 100 people come to Christ at this concert. Please pray about someone you know who needs the gospel that you could bring with you. Pastor Hosea promises that gospel will be systematically presented in word and in song. 

August 21: Midweek Fall Kickoff- we hope to have a big kick-off event this Fall for Midweek. We want to do Midweek BIG! There are a LOT of things in the works for this night. Our goal is to get 100 students that night. As incentive, the student who brings the most friends to the Fall Kick Off will get to come to Winter Retreat for FREE! Also, if we break 100 students, the top three who bring the most friends will get to pie Joe, James, & Kate in the face!

August 25: The Stand- please sign up at the Kiosk or email Joe/Kate to register. We only have room for 30 students and those spots will fill up fast! We will meet at Ridgecrest at 5:20 and drive together to the event in our buses. For more details about the event, check out their website

August 30: Tailgating- w/ the MCU (Mobile Church Unit.) We need adults and students to come serve food, engage the people at the game, and setting up/tearing down. Email Joe if you are interested in helping with any of these. The schedule for the season is as follows: (the first school on each game is the location of the game)
Aug 30- Kickapoo vs Parkview
Sep 6- Nixa vs Belton
Sep 13- Kickapoo vs Waynesville
Sep 27- Kickapoo vs Glendale (5th Quarter at Ridgecrest following the game)
Oct 4- Republic vs Carthage
Oct 11- Nixa vs Ozark
Oct 18- Republic vs Neosho
Oct 25- Nixa vs Republic (5th Quarter at Ridgecrest following the game)

Midweek August 14

The Issues: Media

We will be wrapping up our summer series "The Issues." This week we will be taking a Biblical look at media. 

3 Biblical Principles for Media in our lives...
1- We should put “good” things in. Philippians 4:8, 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22, Psalm 101:3-4
2- Everything we do should be done for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31
3-  We should be careful not to offend those around us. 1 Corinthians 10:32-33

Small Groups August 18

NO Small Groups! 

Weekly Update- August 6

Highlights This Week

Parent Email List: Details Below!
Project Springfield:TOMORROW! Email Jnelson@ridgecrestbaptist.org if you are coming!
Midweek After Party: Details Below!

7th Grade Welcome Weekend: We need PARENTS Saturday morning, Aug 17 for a small parent panel. Please email Joe if you can help. 

Announcements

Parent Email List- If you are interested in receiving this information (and other important information) via email every week, we need to know it! We would like to not only post things on the blog, but also be able to email you with attachments such as event flyers and permission slips. Please email Joe Nelson at jnelson@ridgecrestbapist.org to be added to the list. This is for parents and students!

August 7: Project Springfield- Our FINAL Project Springfield of the Summer is THIS week! We will be working at a couple of local high schools... cleaning up their campuses, as well as praying over the campuses and the students that will soon be starting classes. The cost is $10 and you need to bring a lunch & shower stuff. We will cover your dinner, Chick-Fil-A! 

August 7: Midweek After Party- We are headed to the park to hang out and play some games. There is no cost so round up all your friends and come hang out! We will play some football, ultimate frisbee, and a BRAND NEW game Joe will teach us. Its like Volleyball and dodgeball and basketball combined, you will LOVE it!  

Please let us know ASAP if you are coming so we can prepare for transportation and ministry.

August 8-9: Leadership Summit- Apprentices and Interns need to meet in front of Remingtons at 8:10 AM to get your tickets and so we can sit together.

August 16-17:  7^th Grade Welcome Weekend- We need a few parents to serve on a parent panel! We will only need you Saturday morning in the FC from 10:30-11:30. Please email Joe ASAP if you can help with this. Thanks!

August 18: Bilyeu Family Concert- Sunday morning at 9:00 & 10:30. Our Pastor has a great vision from the Lord to see 100 people come to Christ at this concert. Please pray about someone you know who needs the gospel that you could bring with you. Pastor Hosea promises that gospel will be systematically presented in word and in song. 

August 21: Midweek Fall Kickoff- we hope to have a big kick-off event this Fall for Midweek. We want to do Midweek BIG! There are a LOT of things in the works for this night. Our goal is to get 100 students that night. As incentive, the student who brings the most friends to the Fall Kick Off will get to come to Winter Retreat for FREE! Also, if we break 100 students, the top three who bring the most friends will get to pie Joe, James, & Kate in the face!

August 25: The Stand- please sign up at the Kiosk or email Joe/Kate to register. We only have room for 30 students and those spots will fill up fast!

Midweek August 6

The Issues: Dating

We will take three weeks and finish our summer series "The Issues." This week we will be taking a Biblical look at dating. We started this last week, but only got through the first 3 points.  

5 Biblical Principles for Christian Dating...

1-    Don't rush it. Romans 12:9-10; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7; Jeremiah 29:11

2-    Involve your parents. Ephesians 6:1-3

3-    Date only Christians. 2 Corinthians 6:14-15; 1 Corinthians 15:33

4-    Keep yourself pure. 1 Corinthians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5; 1 Corinthians 7:1-2

5-    Glorify God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

Small Groups August 11

Week 6 of 6 on a series called “The Secret Gospel”

This Week: Christ-like Mission is Gospel Centered
Mark 8:27-9:1

1.    Jesus us the Messiah.

2.    Jesus is a personal Savior.

Follow up questions for parents
- Why is the gospel "good news"? What's the bad news?
- How can we help others understand that Jesus was the one told of in prophecy to save the lost through dying on the cross?
- What is one situation you anticipate this week when you might have the opportunity to confess that Jesus is the Christ to those around you?
- In what ways can we help each other take up our cross?

Sunday, August 4th // Recap Post

Sunday Morning Recap
By: Alex Dowell (intern)

This week rbcstudents continued in the series entitled, “The Secret Gospel.” Our key take-away in this lesson was to recognize that a Christ-like mission is comprehensive—Jesus knew people needed more than just physical healing. Our primary focus on this concept came out of Mark 7:31-37.

Taking care of others is quite popular in 2013. More than ever, people are giving to the poor. They are buying TOMS to help give people shoes. They are going on mission trips to help build houses and dig wells. Adoption has become so popular that countries with high orphan rates are making it harder to adopt. This generation of young people cares and they want to show how much they care by giving, and helping, and doing things for others in need. But there can be a danger if the help ends by meeting only physical needs. Caring for people must lead to caring for their spiritual needs as well.

Jesus healed a lot of people, including a deaf and mute man in the passage discussed this past Sunday. But he didn’t leave it at that. What good would it have been for Jesus to give the man his hearing, but not giving him something worth hearing?

We can recognize that Jesus does meet people’s physical needs. Miraculous healings are not limited to biblical times. Jesus wants all of us to have a higher quality of life—in fact, life abundantly. But Jesus recognized the crucial fact of meeting people’s spiritual needs. Everyone who Jesus healed or brought back from the dead eventually died physically. But by coming to die on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins, He was inviting us to never experience spiritual death ever again.

How do these truths about Jesus impact the way you love and live amongst others who are in need? Take time this week to see how you can meet the needs of others around you, both physically and spiritually.

Project Springfield // August // Details

Project Springfield
August 7th

9:00-          Meet at RBC


9:10-          Team Building in The FC

9:45-          Load Buses

10:00-       Campus clean-up & prayer at New Covenant
                  Academy

12:00-        Lunch
                   (we’ll eat at NCA, so bring your lunch on the bus!)

12:45-        Depart NCA

1:00-          Campus clean-up & prayer at Kickapoo High
                    School

3:00-          Depart for Chesterfield Family Center

3:15-          Shower at Chesterfield Family Center

4:00-          Head back to RBC for feedback time in The FC

5:00-        Dinner
                  Free Time

6:30-          Midweek

8:00-          After Party

9:30-          GO HOME!

Sunday, July 28th // Recap Post

Sunday Recap
By: Alex Dowell (intern)


The Secret Gospel: Mark 5:21-43

This past Sunday we continued in week four of our six week series entitled “The Secret Gospel” in which we study the ways Jesus tried to keep His ministry under wraps for a period of time and why. Our primary focus in this lesson was to recognize that a Christ-like mission is unhurried; Jesus always made time for people.

Even when His disciples seemed frustrated by His effort, Jesus rebuked them and made them aware that His purpose was to do the will of His Father which trumped every other motive in their lives. In the book of Mark there is a powerful story of a man who needed Jesus to help his daughter. Jairus needed Jesus badly and his need was urgent. Jesus answered the man’s need and went with him, but He didn’t go so quickly that He ignored the needs of those around Him.

As we look at the life of Christ through various moments in which He chose to remain secret, we can learn about how being unhurried helps us to see the needs we can meet and opportunities we can be a part of for His name sake. Our Christ-like mission is to be obedient to His calling, not the business of our busy schedules.

By reading and understanding Jesus’ focus behind the story in Mark 5:21-43 we can take away two major points.

First, Jesus sets us free from evil and destruction. Through His work on the cross, Jesus set us free from all the evils that entangle us forever. The war has ultimately been won. Therefore, we can slow down and seek to serve others and meet their needs first because our Lord has met all of our needs already and has everything under His control in the beginning.

Second, Jesus can make us whole. We don’t have to be hopeless in life, no matter what we have been through or what lies ahead of us. While we may have to live with long-lasting consequences of our actions or suffer from the pain of a broken world—through a perfectly loving and capable Lord and Savior we can smile at the storm.

Seek to encourage your friends and peers with these truths which can only be found through the Gospel of Jesus.

Weekly Update from Joe...

Highlights This Week

Project Springfield: THIS Wednesday! Email Jnelson@ridgecrestbaptist.org if you are coming!

Midweek After Party: THIS Wednesday! Andy's Frozen Custard

Small Group Leader Meeting/Training: August 4th from 2-5 pm Details Below!

Announcements

July 24: Project Springfield- Our second Project Springfield is tomorrow and we need everyone to participate! Kate has planned some great ministry for us. We will be doing some evangelism training, prayer ministry at Kickapoo High School (as well as cleaning up around campus), and a block party at Lake Shore Apartments in Chesterfield Village. The cost is $10 and you need to bring a lunch. We will cover dinner and Andy’s for the after party. Please let us know ASAP if you are coming so we can prepare for transportation and ministry.

July 24: Midweek After Party- we will be loading up on the buses and heading out to Andy's Frozen Custard this week. Bring money for your ice cream tell your parents to pick you up at Ridgecrest at 9:15. 

August 4: Small Group Leader Meeting/Training- we are rolling out a new small group curriculum church wide and need to train our leaders. If you currently teach or would like to teach a student small group, we need you at this event. Please RSVP with Joe or Kate to let us know you are coming! Besides training on the new curriculum, we will also do some student ministry brainstorming together. Joe would like to hear from you on many things about student ministry. This will also give him a chance to share with you a little about his vision for student ministry and the important role you play as a volunteer. 

August 7: Project Springfield- More information coming soon! Mark your calendars, though!

August 8-9: Leadership Summit- Register online if you haven't yet!

August 16-17:  7^th Grade Welcome Weekend- We need the incoming seniors to sign up as leaders! Talk to Joe or Kate about this.  We also need two host homes; one for 7^th grade boys and one for 7^th grade girls.

August 18: Bilyeu Family Concert- Sunday morning at 9:00 & 10:30. Our Pastor has a great vision from the Lord to see 100 people come to Christ at this concert. Please pray about someone you know who needs the gospel that you could bring with you. Pastor Hosea promises that gospel will be systematically presented in word and in song. 

August 21: Midweek Fall Kickoff- we hope to have a big kick-off event this Fall for Midweek. We want to do Midweek BIG! There are a LOT of things in the works for this night. Our goal is to get 100 students that night. As incentive, the student who brings the most friends to the Fall Kick Off will get to come to Winter Retreat for FREE! Also, if we break 100 students, the top three who bring the most friends will get to pie Joe, James, & Kate in the face!

August 25: The Stand

Midweek July 24

“Fanning the Flame”
Acts 2:42-47

We started this last week and only got through the first point! We have experienced God in some big ways this summer through mission trips and camp. The challenge now is how do we continue this passion and zeal we have come home with? We will look at Acts 2 to see how the early church “Fanned the Flame” after they had encountered Jesus.

The believers continued to…

1-    Be Devoted to God’s Word V. 42

2-    Pray V. 42

3-    Spend Time Together V. 42, 44, 46, & 47

4-    Experience the Power of God in Their Lives V. 43,47

5-    Sacrifice for the Cause V. 45-46

Small Groups July 28

Week 4 of 6 on a series called “The Secret Gospel”

This Week: Christ-like Mission is Unhurried

Mark 5:21-43

1.     Jesus sets us free from destruction and evil.

2.     Jesus can make us whole. 

Follow up questions for parents

- On several occasions in Jairus' story, his faith in Jesus could have crumbled. What are some things today that threaten or discourage your faith in God's ability and desire to meet your needs?

- Why is it a struggle for us to look beyond ourselves to the helpless and hopeless?

- Who in your life needs your support and encouragement in the midst of their struggles?

Weekly Update- July 23

Highlights This Week

Project Springfield: THIS Wednesday! Email Jnelson@ridgecrestbaptist.org if you are coming!
Midweek After Party: THIS Wednesday! Andy's Frozen Custard

Small Group Leader Meeting/Training: August 4th from 2-5 pm Details Below!

Announcements

July 24: Project Springfield- Our second Project Springfield is tomorrow and we need everyone to participate! Kate has planned some great ministry for us. We will be doing some evangelism training, nursing home ministry at Quail Creek, and a block party at Lake Shore Apartments in Chesterfield Village. The cost is $10 and you need to bring a lunch. We will cover dinner and Andy’s for the after party. Please let us know ASAP if you are coming so we can prepare for transportation and ministry.

July 24: Midweek After Party- we will be loading up on the buses and heading out to Andy's Frozen Custard this week. Bring money for your ice cream tell your parents to pick you up at Ridgecrest at 9:15. 

August 4: Small Group Leader Meeting/Training- we are rolling out a new small group curriculum church wide and need to train our leaders. If you currently teach or would like to teach a student small group, we need you at this event. Please RSVP with Joe or Kate to let us know you are coming! Besides training on the new curriculum, we will also do some student ministry brainstorming together. Joe would like to hear from you on many things about student ministry. This will also give him a chance to share with you a little about his vision for student ministry and the important role you play as a volunteer. 

August 7: Project Springfield- More information coming soon! Mark your calendars, though!

August 8-9: Leadership Summit- Register online if you haven't yet!

August 16-17:  7^th Grade Welcome Weekend- We need the incoming seniors to sign up as leaders! Talk to Joe or Kate about this.  We also need two host homes; one for 7^th grade boys and one for 7^th grade girls.

August 18: Bilyeu Family Concert- Sunday morning at 9:00 & 10:30. Our Pastor has a great vision from the Lord to see 100 people come to Christ at this concert. Please pray about someone you know who needs the gospel that you could bring with you. Pastor Hosea promises that gospel will be systematically presented in word and in song. 

August 21: Midweek Fall Kickoff- we hope to have a big kick-off event this Fall for Midweek. We want to do Midweek BIG! There are a LOT of things in the works for this night. Our goal is to get 100 students that night. As incentive, the student who brings the most friends to the Fall Kick Off will get to come to Winter Retreat for FREE! Also, if we break 100 students, the top three who bring the most friends will get to pie Joe, James, & Kate in the face!

August 25: The Stand

Midweek July 24

“Fanning the Flame”
Acts 2:42-47

We started this last week and only got through the first point! We have experienced God in some big ways this summer through mission trips and camp. The challenge now is how do we continue this passion and zeal we have come home with? We will look at Acts 2 to see how the early church “Fanned the Flame” after they had encountered Jesus.

The believers continued to…

1-    Be Devoted to God’s Word V. 42

2-    Pray V. 42

3-    Spend Time Together V. 42, 44, 46, & 47

4-    Experience the Power of God in Their Lives V. 43,47

5-    Sacrifice for the Cause V. 45-46

Small Groups July 28

Week 4 of 6 on a series called “The Secret Gospel”

This Week: Christ-like Mission is Unhurried
Mark 5:21-43

1.     Jesus sets us free from destruction and evil.

2.     Jesus can make us whole. 

Follow up questions for parents
- On several occasions in Jairus' story, his faith in Jesus could have crumbled. What are some things today that threaten or discourage your faith in God's ability and desire to meet your needs?
- Why is it a struggle for us to look beyond ourselves to the helpless and hopeless?
- Who in your life needs your support and encouragement in the midst of their struggles?

Sunday, July 21st // Recap Post

The Secret Gospel: Christ-like Mission is Discerning
Sunday, July 21^st

^{By: Alex Dowell (intern)}  

Have you ever had a moment in which you knew what someone was up to even though they tried to hide it? Maybe a friend knew a secret and weren’t supposed to tell you but you knew they were holding back. When you can tell something is up behind the scenes, that is called discernment. Some people are really good at this, others take a little time before they clue in to the situation, but everyone has some level of discernment.

When it comes to Christ-like mission, what every Christian is called to, we can use discernment to help reach people. But this goes beyond simple intuition, it is empowered by the Holy Spirit. Through the Holy Spirit’s guidance, Christians can discern the needs of others, be prompted to share their faith, or even know the words to say.

Discernment played a role in the life and teachings of Jesus. He chose moments to keep His mission a secret versus sharing it with His followers because He could discern how it would impact it in the long run.

In Mark 3, we see Jesus discern from the Pharisees their concern only with following the rules instead of doing good and showing love to those in need. He radically transforms the common perception that man should follow rules in order to be close to God, and instead heals a man on the Sabbath to truly demonstrate God’s heart.

In this chapter, Jesus also taught and healed multitudes, but when demons were exorcised and professed Him to be the Son of God, He rebuked them and told them not to speak. Jesus wanted people to learn from His teaching and Himself who he was. He discerned that people should respond to Him not by His healing and what demons said about Him, but by their own desire and knowledge to want to follow Him because they knew He offered more than just physical healing.

From all of this, we should “discern” two important application steps:

1) Biblical discernment helps us make good decisions—By listening to the Holy Spirit’s leading, intentionally reading and interacting in God’s word, and praying and seeking His council, we will be lead to the proper response in our situations and decisions.

2) Biblical discernment empowers us to help others—Again, by listening to the Holy Spirit, we can be prompted to obey God to share with a certain person, better help them in their needs, and best communicate the Gospel for them to receive it.

Ultimately, discernment comes from the Holy Spirit, and leads us to recognize people’s needs and how we can respond them in the best way possible, and help us make the best decisions possible in order to be conformed into the image of our Lord and Savior.

CAMP2013 // Recap Post #8

CAMP2013 Recap Post #8
By: Jessica Stone

CAMP 2013: My Experience

3 Things the Lord taught me at CAMP

So many moments from CAMP 2013 will be embedded on my heart for years to come.  There are three particular lessons and/or reminders that the Lord clearly impressed upon my heart though. 

1.    Things happen in His timing.

     Not only is this true in my personal life, but God showed me so clearly that this is true in my professional life as well.  So many life happenings that have occurred in my life did not occur on my timeline.  Actually, very few things in my life have gone according to my timing.  Go figure!  But, most recently, this whole developing relationship and moving to a new state situation really was not in my plans; however, I’ve been so blessed by it.  Professionally, I got to see God do some things that really didn’t happen when I wanted them to.  Thursday before dinner, I’d been sharing with a couple of lovely ladies that I was so saddened to leave rbcstudents, partially because goodbyes are tough in general, but mostly because I’d been hoping to see some restoration and growth, and quite frankly, it just hadn’t happened yet, at least not like I thought that it should.  Little did I know that some MAJOR restoration would take place in just a few hours…  During worship that night, the Lord brought me to the point of surrender with Him, showing me clearly that whatever happens in rbcstudents has got to happen solely because of Him and NOT because of me.  He is so gracious to deal with me on those things, those heart matters.  And so at that point of surrender and that point of heart abandoned to Him and His timing, the Lord so graciously allowed me to see friendships reconciled and relationships restored!  Praise Him for those changes! 

2.    This next phase of life is going to be tough, but worth it.

I’ve said it before and I will say it again:  tough isn’t bad, tough is just tough.  Some of the most growth-producing times in my life have been the toughest times, the seasons that I really could not physically endure on my own.  And I cherish those times more than words can say.  It’s in the tough times that I’m forced to realize my own helplessness and rely fully on His strength, provision, and hope.  If I don’t go through those tough times, I will never learn to fully rely on Him, and I will also miss the blessing of seeing His grace and provision along the way.  Also, tough doesn’t mean wrong.  Just because I face challenges and trials doesn’t mean I’ve done something wrong.  In fact, more often than not, it’s when I’m walking the closest with the Lord that I find myself facing more obstacles.  It’s when I’m following Him that my flesh—and the flesh of some around me—tends to be resistant and tension ensues.  All of these elements of tough were reestablished in my heart this week at CAMP.  And the absolute best part of tough stuff is next in my list of lessons learned at CAMP…

3.    I am His daughter.  Period.  End of story.  No matter what.

As I’m staring down the barrel of a ton of change, my mind has really struggled to fill in the gaps, the missing pieces of what my new life will look like.  Where will I go to church?  Who will be my friends?  What will my daily life be like?  Who will I fit in with?  The answers to these questions may be tough to find or tough to accept.  But, I know that I don’t have to handle any of the tough stuff on my own!  The most beautiful blessing I’ve received in my life is the gift of salvation.  Thankfully and humbly, the Lord reminded me of that so sweetly this week at CAMP.  Regardless of where I go, what I do, or who I’m close to or far from, my identity never changes:  I am His daughter.  My Father never ceases to be my Father.  He will always call me His.  I will always belong to and with Him.  That is so comforting to know at any point, but especially in the face of so much unknown.  Even in the midst of the unknown, I am known by my Father.  And that’s pretty cool. 

I’m sure as I continue to reflect on and process all that God did in CAMP 2013, I’ll realize I’ve left out something valuable.  But, for now, this is my reflection, my take away, my application.  This is my CAMP 2013 experience. 

Sunday, July 21st // The 411