Meet the piper: Kaleb Forr
Pipe lesson notes…
Our Identity is in Christ
Matthew 19:10-12
Genesis 1:26-27
Matthew 22:36-40
Introduction: What are the 3– 4 top questions that you are being asked relating to your future?
Where are you going to college? What are you going to major in? What are you going to do when you grow up? Have you met someone?
People often define us by what we do! (Doctor, lawyer, teacher, etc.)
“I’m not concerned with what I am going to do. I am more interested in who I am becoming. I want to be a lover of God and people.” —Shane Claborn
“Do not worry about your career. Concern yourself with your vocation, and that is to be lovers of Jesus” — Mother Teresa
Tonight we are going to focus on one of those questions! How many of you feel like there is pressure to meet a significant other? Where does this pressure come from? Why? How do you feel when all of your friends are dating and you are not? Have any of you been close to someone and they started dating someone and you rarely saw that person again? Then there is the breakup and the awkward reaquaintance stage that occurs.
A prime example of an unhealthy balance of relationships.
Life in the Middle East: Your parents might determine who you would marry!
What Society and church teach us
Social interaction occurs early in elementary school and on into dating in the teen years. Then we are taught to go off to college and decide what we are going to do for the rest of your lives. There we meet someone to spend the rest of our lives with, get married and then live happily ever after.
That’s the mold.
If you do not mold into that summary then it can become awkward.
Personal examples: Cheryl – Freshman year and senior year
Mom – He is not gay!
Credential Board – Do you feel called to a life of being single?
Log on any website and unfortunately you will find people of all ages desperately searching for a mate.
· School hallways are full of confused students searching for someone to fulfill their unmet needs. · Bars are full of people looking to meet someone.
· Churches have special ministries for singles.
· Match.com/ e-harmony are just a couple examples of websites. Matthew 19:10-12 – Some have chosen not to get married for the sake of the kingdom. Paul talks about it also in 1 Corinthians 7.
It is ok to be single! It is often better to be single for the sake of the kingdom!
Can you imagine what life would have been for many if Mother Teresa would have been married? Don’t get me wrong: I AM NOT OPPOSED TO YOU DATING AND GETTING MARRIED SOMEDAY! Just do not get caught up into a life of going with the flow! Jesus seemed to always go against the flow. HOW DO YOU MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TIME ALONE?
- Discover who you are in Christ!
- a unique individual who is loved by God.
- created in the image of God. Gen 1:26-27
- How can I develop the character of Christ?
- Develop the whole person!
- Physically – what are you doing to be your best. Exercising gives you more energy & your mind works better.
- Socially – Develop your social skills. Learn to ask questions, interact and learn from others in a social setting.
- Emotionally – Learn enough about yourself that you understand your strengths and weaknesses. Know when to pull away and when to give your best to others.
- Mentally – Feed your mind as often as you feed your body.
- Spiritually – Learn to view life through eyes of faith.
Conclusion: The majority of you will commit to someone else someday, don’t you think that you should give that person your best!!! The habits that you are developing now are instrumental in determining if you will give someone you’re best. Give all of your relationships your very best – friendships– parental– dating – future relationships SEEKING OUT YOUR IDENTITY IN CHRIST! Discover the mysteries, adventure, ups and downs of a faith filled life with Christ. Matthew 22:36-40 – Two Greatest Commandments! “Love is to reveal the beauty of another to themselves” Become a lover of God.Become a lover of people. “I am learning that my love for God is determined by my love for others”.
Peep this, Sunday School Pipers…
Here are the notes from this morning’s lesson. I invite any thoughts and comments you would like to share.
Christ’s love is revolutionary (Luke 6:27-36)
Scripture (from THE MESSAGE):
27-30“To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.
31-34“Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that’s charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that.
35-36“I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You’ll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we’re at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind.”
Revolutionary thinking
To be a revolutionary thinker, one must be willing to challenge dominant ideologies. Consider the legacies of these men and women: Martin Luther King, Karl Marx, Haile Selassie, Malcom X, Martin Luther, Thomas Paine, Ernesto Guevara, Nelson Mandela, Steven Biko, Ghandi, Michael Collins, Harriet Tubman, et cetera–each and every one a true believer.
Represented in that group are liberation theologists, adherents to political ideologies, religious leaders and even a journalist (imagine that).
Revolutionaries have come in all shapes and sizes, but tend to share one thing in common: each has subscribed to a way of thinking that, at least at the time, was eccentric at best, heretical at worst.
And then there is Christ, the greatest revolutionary of them all, who espoused world-historic principles of human behavior that transformed the world.
Case in point: Loving people who have no intention of loving you back is a revolutionary idea.
Who to Love
It may seem surprising that Jesus commands his followers, “Love your enemies.” The first surprise is that he does not include people we most frequently imagine should be the central focus of our love—our children, our spouse, our friends. He doesn’t say, love the kindly little old lady who lives next door and bakes you cookies every Christmas.Jesus fails to mention these people not because they should not be loved, but because loving these kinds of people is simply a normal and natural thing to do. A person who does not love his own children or kindly neighbors is seen as abnormal, or maybe subnormal, by unbelievers and believers alike. While it may not always be easy to love some of these individuals, it is always expected, if not admired.
Here Jesus commands us to be different, to do more than just what we’re supposed to do–and there is wisdom in this eccentrism. To the world it is foolishness, but not to followers of Christ.
Love is a verb
None of you are old enough to remember the old song, so you will just have to trust me.
The love I have for Christ transcends my love for anyone or anything. In this way, my love goes far beyond simple feelings of affections. I don’t just “like” Christ, to use the parlance of Jan Brady and Marsha Brady, “I like him like him.”
Jesus is not talking about feelings in this chapter, not even close. When He explains how this principle is to be obeyed, he does not talk about whether we feel attraction or affection toward another person. He talks about certain ways to act. He talks about things to do and things not to do. Turn your other cheek. Give your cloak and tunic. Do good in circumstances where people are not likely to do good back to you.The reason Jesus can command us to love is that the love he has in mind is based on a decision you can make to act in a certain way, regardless of how you feel. As you read through the examples he gives, notice that none requires you to feel a certain way. Jesus does not ask you to feel the same way about someone who cruelly hurts you and the kindly neighbor who brings you cookies. What Jesus commands is that we choose, regardless of our natural impulses, to act and react toward others based on what would be best and most helpful for them.
Why Love
Many have observed that in time, behavior like loving your enemies, doing good to them, and lending without expecting to get anything back can turn your enemies into friends. It can motivate some to open their hearts to God. While this may be true, Jesus does not give this as a reason to love. He never promises that such good things will inevitably happen. Jesus does say that if we do such things, our reward will be great. But even this should not be the central motivation. He commands us to live out love. He commands us to turn the other cheek. He commands us to respond to curses with blessings. These are the way the followers of Jesus must act in the world. The most obvious reason is because our King has commanded it. No one confessing Jesus as Lord can ignore his commands. Beyond obedience, though, is the fact that unilateral unconditional love is inherent in the nature of God. God is kind to the ungrateful. God is merciful to the sinner. “Forgive them,” is spoken even as nails pull painfully against flesh. So, the nature of those who would be known as children of God is as mercy givers. Like Father, like Son. Like Father, like sons and daughters.
¿Sabe usted donde wayne es?
Where’s Wayne?
christmas club pipe photos…
Where’s Wayne now?
pipe fall retreat video!
Peep this PIPErs…
Now where’s Wayne?
If you know where Wayne is, text or call Jim at this number: 810-444-2275
Wayne will be in a different location, sporting his Santa gear, every Tuesday and Friday during the holiday season. The first person to respond with his current location will receive an ITunes gift card!!
Where’s Wayne?
If you know where Wayne is, text or call Jim at this number: 810-444-2275
Wayne will be in a different location, sporting his Santa gear, every Tuesday and Friday during the holiday season. The first person to respond with his current location will receive an ITunes gift card!!
Here’s a hint: He’s not anywhere near Stephanie Skaff’s closet, so don’t even think about it!
Wayne's World 
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