Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. – Acts 4:12

Being a Christian is made up of two different kinds of knowledge. Head knowledge and heart knowledge.

John Wesley called head knowledge “mental assent,” which means something like agreeing within yourself that something is true. Heart knowledge he called “assurance of salvation” or “an experience of Christ.” This means you have had a real encounter with the risen Jesus and have come away changed.

This moment or season of life dramatically shapes the way you follow Jesus. It changes your perspective or reframes how you see the world. Sometimes, it even gives you a new name for Jesus.

When you are finally able to see this event from the other side, you can craft a story from it. You can see how God worked in your life and in your heart. You can see how you changed.

And when you finally tell the story, you are sharing your testimony.

Some of you are already able to shape and share a story of testimony. This week, we will hear from Nick Hansen as he shares his testimony, and in small groups, we will begin to shape and share our own stories of assurance in faith and experiences of Christ.

Discussion Questions:

1. What name or title for Jesus seems most relevant to your story right now?
2.  How would you describe your testimony story right now? A high point? Low point? End of a chapter? New beginning? OR Do you not yet feel as if you have a good testimony story and why?

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. – Acts 4:12

As disciples of Jesus, we are offered the wonderful gift of salvation through his death and resurrection. As amazing as this is, it can sometimes be difficult to understand and even more difficult to express in our own words.

When I was in college, I was having lunch with some friends and we started talking about what Jesus meant to each of us (pretty heavy stuff for the dining hall). My roommate said she’d always viewed Jesus as her best friend. Another classmate said he’d always felt unworthy of Jesus. That’s when I realized each person has a different perspective of Jesus based on their own experience.

Over the next three weeks, we will be exploring mystery Jesus and personal salvation. Each week a students will hear a different name or title for Jesus used as a way to frame a person’s testimony. Some people see Jesus primarily as Liberator setting the soul free while some people see Jesus as Peacemaker calming inner spiritual storms.

We will also develop our own testimony stories. Week one will be myself, Kena Newkirk, week two is Nick Hansen, and week three is Jordan Hart.

We will also address other issues surrounding salvation such a other religions, doubt, temptation, and suffering.

Looking forward to our new series: No Other Name!

Discussion Questions:

1. What question about Jesus or salvation do you still have that bothers you? Why does it bother you?
2. What name name or title for Jesus seems most relevant to your story right now?
3. Without digging into the details, how would you describe your testimony story right now? A high point? Low point? End of a chapter? New beginning?

This week we will hear from Kate Crowford who is the coordinator for Digital Learning and Media Services for FCBOE.  Her presentation is called “Digitial Tattoo:”

A tattoo is permanent, much like the information we post online…(this presentation) gives its top tips on making sure your child’s online reputation is just as good as their offline one. The photos we share, the comments we write, the videos we ‘like’ all say something about us to other people. Even if we delete them, they may still be out there – saved and shared by others, or even kept by the site or app itself. (ParentInfo.com)

We will discuss questions such as:

• What does the content you post online say about you?
• Why should I be concerned?
• Can a digital footprint be a good thing?

We will also give students an opportunity to ask questions anonymously about social media and online safety.

Parents, if you have time, check out this Good Morning America segment on teenagers and cell phones so you can follow-up the conversation at home.

Small Group Discussion Questions:

• How do you deal with peer pressure concerning cell phones and social media?
• Do you find cell phones and social media to be stressful? Why or why not?
• Do you think your parents understand the importance or influence of cell phones and social media in your life? Why or why not?
• Do you have any unanswered questions about cell phones or social media?

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

John 15:13

What’s incredible about friends is that you get to choose them. If you like someone, be their friend. If you don’t get along with someone, set them free and move along. If things change, you have a falling out, or one of your friends starts dating your ex – no big deal, just drop them out of your friend’s list. Remove them from your group message. Unfollow them on Instagram (just kidding, keep following them so you can still stalk them so hard). Honestly, many of your friends will come and go over the course of your teenage years.

But FAMILIES, on the other hand … you don’t get a choice.

You’re stuck with your family. You’re stuck with your parents.

Wednesday is our Parent Open House, and guess what?! We are going to talk about how our parents and parental figures are a crucial part of our Squad!

We will look at how parents have laid down their lives for their student, and we will be honest about how students can do the same for their parents.

Parents are the number one factor in determining whether or not a young person will remain active in their faith after high school graduation.  That’s why it is crucial that your whole family make God a priority, and find a way to get involved in faith.

Learning Goal: Becoming a better squad member’s with our parents and other family members

Discussion questions:

• The 10 Commandments say to “honor your father and mother,” (Exodus 20:12) what does the word honor mean in this sentence?  What is the difference between ‘honor’ and ‘obey?’

• What is one thing you wished you parent understood about being a teenager in your household?

• What is one thing you can do to bring peace to your family’s squad this week?

 

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

John 15:13

Last week we covered your squad – how great squads, great groups of friends, are created by sacrifice, loyalty, and love for each other.

For those of you who couldn’t make it, my squad decided to drive 7 hours from Raleigh, NC just to surprise all of us! Their names are Cathy and Kendra, and when they heard I was going to talk about how they are my “squad,” they decided to do what squads do best, the showed up and supported me.

As it turns out, last Wednesday, August 15th was the thirteenth anniversary of the death of a member of our squad, her name was Alyssa. Some of you know that a member of my youth group died in a car accident when I was going into high school.  She was in our small group and my experience with God and the church in the years following her death is the reason I wanted to go into ministry.

If you want to make a good group of friends a great group of friends – take the squad goals challenge from last week and make sure Acceptance, Trust, Dedication and Honest are in your life as well.

This week, we are going to continue to talk about our Squad Goals, and look at the adults who are in your life to support you as well! We will look at the role of a Shepherd or Small Group Leader (SGL) and Rev. John will be with us too!

Learning Goal: Identifying the adults who are important parts of your personal squad.

Discussion questions:

• Why is it important to have supportive adults in your life?

• What makes an adult a member of your squad?

• Name five adults (outside of your parents) who you can trust to be there for you. Why these adults?

• Are you reaching out to your Squad (and Squad Leaders)?

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

John 15:13

Welcome Back to FFUMC Youth on Wednesday Nights!

This week we will kick-off ‘The Foundry,’ our new name for Wednesday student programing.  “The Foundry” may sound like a cool new coffee place, but it was actually the name of the first Methodist church building.

For those who don’t know, John Wesely’s movement first started out as a series of small groups.   After a while, these small groups decided they wanted to worship together, so they purchased an old foundry building and it became first building owned by a Methodist group.

This fall, our Wednesday program will be making an old tradition new again.  The Foundry is where we will focus on the old Methodist traditions of small groups and worship.

On Wednesday, we’re kicking off a brand new series called Squad Goals – this is a series about the relationships we have in our lives, specifically our friendships. We will talk a lot about how our youth group and small groups should be supportive and reliable Squads.

We will also talk about the four virtues that our Youth Leadership Team has decided we should embrace if we are to become as strong and supportive squad as a whole.

Acceptance, Trust, Dedication, and Honesty

Discussion questions:

• What does it feel like to be outside of the Squad? How is that made worse at youth group?
• What does it take to have the kind of friends that have an amazing closeness?
• What will it take for your Squad (either small group or youth group) to achieve amazing squad goals?
• Are you giving your Squad your all?

“John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

‭‭-Luke‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Next week we begin a new journey together! When the first followers of John Wesley decided to meet together and where ship the only building they could afford was an old foundry. This year, we will take a lesson from our Methodist roots for our Wednesday night worship.

A foundry is a place for metal is worked and refined under intense heat. In the Gospel of Luke, John the Baptist Remind his followers that when Jesus comes he will baptize them with the fire of the Holy Spirit.

As we begin this new journey together, I hope that you will pray that the Holy Spirit will be present among us. Pray that the foundry will be a place of real community. Pray that all of us may have hearts on fire for Jesus.

There is still time to register for bus pick-up if you click here!