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The Best Sex Ever: God's Word on Sex

We continued with our latest series called "The Best Sex Ever" last Wednesday at FUEL. The topic for the week was "God's Word on Sex". We looked at many passages that discuss sexual impurity and sexual immorality while using passages that discussed obedience to God and the protection of our bodies. We studied how sex was created by God to be great, not just good and that sex is not just an urge, but a real temptation for people. We also looked at how sex is not just physical, like the world says, but that it is fully spiritual. God's Word is clear to present the pain and consequences that come from pre-marital sex or adultery within marriage. Our beliefs influence our behavior when it comes to our sexul decisions. The question is... do we rely on culture/society, feelings/emotions, or God's Word/standards for making our sexual decisions. God wants sex to be a great thing for us but within the context of marriage between a man and woman. He created it just like He created us. We need to be obedient to our Father in all things, including sexual decisions.

The Best Sex Ever: Created in God's Image

Last Wednesday night we began our 4 week series on "The Best Sex Ever" with our student ministry. The first week was about being created in God's image. We discussed how culture and society influence us wrongly about sex, what the differences between guys and girls are, and how these things need to be embraced by teenagers. The overall theme for this week was about how God loves us no matter what and how each of us is unique in our own way. We have been given wrong information by friends and culture about what real love and sex are. Students today assume that love=sex which is incorrect and sets these kids on the wrong path. TV, movies, music, magazines, etc. cause mass confusion which leads to confusing thinking, and then confusing actions. This week's purpose was to lay a solid foundation for how God created us and what He had in mind for sex to be. I have a question box that allows students to ask questions they have about sex which could make for some interesting weeks to come!

Check this book out... "A Certain Risk"

Paul was born and raised in a village carved out of the jungle in Dutch New Guinea, where his parents were missionaries. With a bachelor's degree in history and a master's degree in educational leadership, Richardson is part of a group creating a network of state-of-the-art Christian schools in some of the most impoverished environments on earth. Richardson lives in southeast Asia with his wife, Cyndi, and their three children.

Paul served as an elder at Mosaic before moving back to Southeast Asia. His father Don Richardson is the author of "Peace Child."

In his memoir, A Certain Risk: Living Your Faith at the Edge, Paul will inspire you to engage the complexities of your world with creative solutions-with creativity that comes straight from the heart of the Creator. Drawing on stories from his life as a change specialist in the world's largest Muslim country, Richardson explores what causes you to be pinned down under personal apathy and disappointment, and he helps you seek the Spirit-fueled life that can set you free.


- Posted from Scott Huff's iPhone

Peace, Patience, and Self Control

These past few weeks in FUEL we discussed 3 of the "fruits" to finish the four part series on God's Extreme Makeover. We used Galatians 5 and the "fruits of the Spirit" to kick-off each message.
Peace is a good foundation for many of the other fruits. We need to maintain the peace that God offers us. We struggle to do this because of the "enemies of peace" that we have in our lives. These include: noise, fear, anger, information overload, and myself. We react on these enemies by worry, consumption, procrastination, and etc. God wants us to have a peace that would blow us away. It's a peace that can takeover our lives if we can just get our own selfish desires out of the way and allow for God's will to run our lives.
Patience is something we could all use a little more of in life. God teaches us patience through various ways such as the timing of events or answered prayers. God asks us to be patient so that He may accomplish His will. We need to keep our own desires and motivations out of His way. Quit pushing the issue in life and rely on God that He will succeed.
Self control allows us to see God's will come into fulfillment. We can't have self control on our own. It must be led by the Holy Spirit. We need to replace our kingdom with God's so that He can work in our lives. Self control keeps us from giving into temptation and will ultimately allow us find the available hope and love that God offers us. This topic wrapped up our series and is a great beginning to our next topic.

God's Extreme Makeover

We began a new series at FUEL this past week called God's Extreme Makeover. During our time of worship the Chic-fil-a cow showed up to celebrate my birthday with our youth group. It was a fun time and our youth enjoyed it too. We began by discussing the fruits of the Spirit and how they are free gifts from God that we can have if we are filled with the Holy Spirit. God makes these things available to us for free as long as we are relying on Him for the sanctification of our bodies. We all need and desire an extreme makeover. But, most all of us try to do this by changing our outside, appearance, and cosmetics. For a true transformation we need to begin on the inside because this is where it counts in the eyes of God. I am so looking forward to the coming weeks while we investigate what it means to go through a true "extreme makeover". Galatians 5 is what we are using as the main scripture passage for this study. It will be lasting 4 total weeks. We will be looking at 3 specific fruits of the Spirit: peace, patience, and self-control.


- Posted from Scott Huff's iPhone

"Man vs. Wild" Series: Part 3

We finished up our "Man vs. Wild" series last night at FUEL. It was great to walk through the story of Jesus in the wilderness and to see the tempations He faced. The 3rd temptation that we covered was idol worship. Satan tells Jesus He can have all that He sees if He would bow down and worship him. Jesus denies Satan while saying, "Fear the Lord your God, and serve Him only" which comes from Deuteronomy 6:13. We looked at the issues of the idols in our lives; the things we put before our relationship with God. This can include money, power, fame, possessions, etc. I encouraged the (40+) students to spend their time focusing on God rather than on earthly, temporary things. We all want more of the things we do/don't have, but we struggle to want more of God. We fear Satan because of what he can do, but we don't fear God the one who has defeated Satan. Why do we do this? Why do we worry about what people think more than what God thinks? The only thing that matter for eternity is our relationship status with God. The things of this world make no difference in our eternal life. We must seek after the God who loves us and desires for us to be with Him once we depart from this place. "No one can serve 2 masters" (Matthew 6:24) and we must choose between God and the "junk" of this earth. What will you choose?

"Man vs. Wild" Series: Part 2

We addressed the 2 temptation of Matthew 4:1-11 this week in FUEL. This temptation was to make God resuce Him. Jesus was asked to throw Himself off of the pinnacle of the temple and to make God save Him. Satan quoted that God would not allow Him to be harmed by sending His angels to protect Him from harm. Jesus then quotes Deuteronomy 6:16, "you shall not put the Lord your God to the test." This part of the series focused on not testing God but simply relying on Him through our faith to protect us and guide us in all of situations that come in life. We all come from different life circumstances but we all must rely on God because of what He has done for us and what He promises to do through us. He doesn't need us but we definitely need Him. He does want us because we are His children and He desires a deeper relationship with each of us. His sovereignty is what makes it possible for us to follow Him through each adn every situation because we know He is in charge and in control of all things that happen here on earth. He is our God whose authority is unquestionable and unchallengeable beause He is the Creator and Sustainer of the entire world.

Strength To Stand Conference in Pigeon Forge, TN

I am still tired from one of the best weekends yet in the life of our student minstry. We took 38 students, 2 children, and 10 adults to the Strength to Stand Conference in Pigeon Forge, TN on 1/16-1/18 which is organized by the Scott Dawson Evangelistic Association. This was a great weekend filled with great worship led by Rush of Fools and preaching by Jay Strack, Jared Herd, Scott Dawson, and David Nasser. The theme this year was "STIR" based on 2 Timothy 1:6. We are called to stir the gift and stir the world as followers of Christ. The most exciting part of the weekend came when 3 of our students accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. This came on Sunday night when Scott Dawson presented the Gospel to 7200+ students and adults. I had the privilege of leading our students in their decision during this time. There were tears and hugs and smile galore as these students made the greatest life-changing decision ever. We also had several students recommit their lives to Jesus Christ as they had fallen away from His authority in their lives recently. I will be praying for these students and their new-found faith in our Lord!

"Man vs. Wild" Series: Part 1

In FUEL this week, we began our new series called "Man vs. Wild". This is going to be a 3 part series detailing Jesus in the wilderness and will include "survival" games. We played a game of who could eat the raw fish (sushi) faster this week. In part 1, we addressed His forst temptation: Hunger. We looked at how Jesus did not give into Satan's temptation of turing stones into bread so that He would not be hungry anymore. We analyzed how Satan would have ruined God's plan for a sinless Savior and thereby eliminating our ability to gain access to heaven. This is an event where Jesus was able to demonstrate His trust in God's provision and ultimately God purpose for Jesus and all of mankind. Jesus also demonstrated waiting on God's timing for things to happen. We often struggle with this and we want to push the envelope ourselves and make things happen. God has a perfect timing for everything and we have to trust in that because He is God.

Where Do I Find Truth?

We had a great night at FUEL this week. We had 40 students show up for a normal Wednesday night service. The atmosphere was great with some great praise songs led by a student, Kelli Crawford, who did a wonderful job. The feeling in the room was awesome with the students watching and listening with great intent. I shared with the students about "Where Can You Find Absolute Truth?" We looked at several passages of Scripture regarding the Word of God. I used 2 Peter 1:12-15 as the main passage to show how Peter had such a great desire for people to read God's Word even up until his impending death. I shared my personal experiences with the Bible and how it is life-changing, transforming, and encouraging. I explained how the we, as believers, need to get alone and in silence with the Word of God. The Words will come to life and we should tremble at His Words (Isaiah 66:2). I pray that we all learned how we need to be alone with God so that He can transform our lives. I also pray that we have a passion for each other to grow in the Lord. We need to have an accountability to one another for us all to be like Christ.