Informing, Encouraging, Challenging, and Equipping Parents & Students

Parents and Students,

This week’s REFORM covered chapter 5 of our Summer Book Study — God, My Heart, and Clothes. Below is a link to the Modesty Heart Check provided in the book. 

Ladies I encourage all of us to review this once again, print it off, post it in our bathroom and examine ourselves often.  May we be a blessing both to God and the men in our lives. 

Modesty Heart Check

Love in Christ

Natalie

1 Timothy 2:9-10 

 ⁹Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments,  but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness.

Parents & Students,

You may have heard some rumbling over the past few weeks regarding ‘Bible Quizzing’ so before the season progresses any further let me bring you up to speed a bit.  Bible Quizzing is simply a Bible memorization ministry where teams of students come together to competitively quiz (Scholar Bowl style) over large portions of Scripture.  It’s quite a challenge but a lot of fun!  The reward is invaluable!  Student Ministries has done this before (though not for several years) and it seemed to be quite profitable, not to mention popular.  We’re bringing it back so this group of students might ultimately develop/re-develop the discipline of hiding God’s Word in their heart and experience the joy of doing so.

The quizzing season will run from June through October with anticipation of a weekend retreat in November.  Students have been signing up and teams will begin forming soon.  For now, large group practices will take place on Wednesday evenings at 6.00 in the youth room, just prior to REFORM, beginning June 9^th.  As teams form, they will likely have their own separate practice.  We’ll be striving to memorize the entire book of Philippians (NAS 95) this year and there will be a quiz meet over each chapter plus one over the entire book.  Meets will take place on Sundays after Sunday School after a picnic style lunch.  Please mark your calendar with the quiz meet schedule below.  Parents attendance at these meets is most encouraged!

• Sunday, August 15 – *Quiz Meet #1 (Chapter 1) 
• Sunday, August 29 – *Quiz Meet #2 (Chapter 2) 
• Sunday, September 12 – *Quiz Meet #3 (Chapter 3)
• Sunday, September 26 – * Quiz Meet #4 (Chapter 4)
• Sunday, October 24 – *Quiz Meet #5 (entire book)

Quizzing is not the ‘main thing’.  I hope that’s obvious.   Quizzing is just a fun means to encourage Scripture memory that students and families might ultimately be conformed to the image of Christ.  We don’t want to pretend that there are no inherent dangers to this ministry (e.g., pride, etc.), but we believe the potential for life change is huge.  For that reason, we strongly encourage each family to participate.  We are aware that many could be intimidated at the thought of memorizing large portions of Scripture, but we believe any student who memorizes even 5 verses has done something most worthwhile.  As the season progresses, please do not hesitate to contact Jeff Miller with your questions.  In the mean time, please pray with us that God would receive the glory through Bible Quizzing 2010.

“How can a young man keep his way pure?  By keeping it according to Your Word…  Your word I have treasured in my heart that I might not sin against You.” ~ Ps 119: 9,11

Grateful for your partnership,

Berachah Student Ministries

          The apostle James asks a penetrating question in the first chapter of his book: Does the Word work? Answer: Yes, it does, if it is received (v.21).  He uses an interesting word. It basically means to put out a welcome mat. 

        Do you welcome the truth into your life?  Do you invite it in the door and let it do its work on you?

          You see when we leave church on Sunday morning, the issue is not what did the preacher say, but rather what are we going to do as a result of what he said?  But often we hear a sermon or go to a Bible study and hear a tremendous lesson that is very convicting—yet what do we do?  We walk away from it and say, “When’s the next Bible study?”

          James says, “Look, you’ve got to embrace biblical truth.”  And he offers an interesting illustration to make his point—the analogy of the mirror (vv.23-25).  Most of us spend considerable time in front of a mirror every day, making the most of whatever we’ve got to work with.  James talks about a person who does just the opposite.

          “Good night,” a guy says looking at himself in the mirror. “I need to wash my face.  In need to shave.   I need to comb my hair.”  But after noticing all of that, he walks off and does nothing.

          Imagine that he goes down to the office, and pretty soon his boss walks in, takes one look at him, and says, “Hey, what’s up with you? You out of razors?”

          “No,” the fellow replies.  “In fact I just bought a fresh pack of them yesterday.”

          “Well, you’d better do something with them,” the manager warns, “or you won’t be long in the employ of this company.”

          That’s the situation James is describing.  Every time you study the Word of God but are not changed by it, it’s as if you look in a mirror and see that you’re in a mess, yet you walk away and do nothing.

          There’s an alternative.  “But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does.” (v.25).

          All of us want the blessing of God.  But are we responding to the revelation of God?  Join us tonight as we look at how God’s truth transforms our lives.

Students as you know Big Move Tuesday will run a little differently this year.  This year all of us will pitch in, students being responsible for bringing messy items for Big Move Tuesday.  Many of you have already signed up for 1-2 items on the list (Thank You!) and have asked for a reminder of what you signed up for.  Below you may find a link to this list.  Check the list, find your name and remember:

1. All items are to be turned in this Sunday, May 30 in the Sunday School room
2. If items are not signed up for and brought — those items will not be used (potentially limiting some of the games we have planned) 
3. And please remember, this is to be a collective effort — ALL pitching in.  This evening is not to fall on the shoulders of a few.  If 30 students each bring at least 1-2 items, that will be a great start to our supply list.

BIG MOVE TUESDAY 2010 Sign Up List (2)

See you at REFORM

Parents and Students

In the event that you missed session #2 of SM’s Hermeneutics Study below are the notes to the session.  Parents, if you are able, we continue to encourage your presence with us at REFORM during the month of May. 

Students Living by the Book – Session #2

Session #2:

2 Reasons people fail in Bible Study:

       –  They don’t know how to ___read___

        –  They don’t know what they are ___looking for___.

6 Things to Look for Every Time you Open Your Bible

1. What things are emphasized? (thumb)
2. What things are repeated? (index finger)
3. What things are related? (middle finger)
4. What things are alike? (ring finger)
5. What things are unlike? (pinky)
6. What things are true to life? (palm)

v Bible Study Exercise for Next Week:

• Examine Acts 1:8 writing down as many observations as you can.
• Remember that my main concern in observation is, “What do I see?”

Acts 1:8

But you shall receive power

          when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;

and you shall by My witnesses

          both in Jerusalem,

          and in all Judea,

                   and Samaria,

          and even to the remotest part of the earth.