Main Thoughts

This past Sunday we started a new series called “The Space Between: Me & My Parents.”  The title is based off of the idea that parents and their children often come from different perspectives in life.  In the first week of the series I wanted our students to realize that every one of them is a gift from the Lord to their parents (Psalm 127:3), and that they are a gift that comes with great responsibility.  God calls parents to do many things and their “job” is not an easy one.  Here are 5 Things I told the students God calls parents to do:

1. To Love You (Titus 2:4)
2. To Train You (Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:4)
3. To Teach You about God (Deuteronomy 11:19; Isaiah 38:19)
4. To Provide for You (1 Timothy 5:8)
5. To Pray for You (1 Chronicles 29:19)

I finished our time together by sharing three thoughts and one challenge:

1. How often do you make your parents’ “job” more difficult?
2. You can’t control whether or not your parents do all of this (5 Things).
3. Help your parents know what you need

Challenge – Think about what’s going on in your life and ask your parents to pray for you.

Parents, I challenged the students to share their request with you before they went to be Sunday night.  If they didn’t, I want to challenge you to go to your child and ask them how you can be praying for them (struggle going on, difficult test, problem with a friend, etc).

Parent Questions – How would you say you’re doing in light of the 5 Things above?  How can we help?

Next Week @ Ignite – Why is correction important?

Ignite News

http://www.vimeo.com/31605390

1 Month Snapshot

• November 20 – Compassion Day – Food Drop (Click Link for more details)
• November 23 – No Fusion (due to Thanksgiving)
• November 27 – No Ignite – students go to service with your families (due to Thanksgiving)

Nov3

This Sunday we are starting a new Ignite series.  Here are the details:

It’s not a surprise that parents and their children often come from different perspectives in life.  In this 3 week series we hope to help our students begin to understand the great responsibility parents have and challenge them to do their part in helping their parents.  Here’s a quick overview:

Week 1 – A gift from the Lord
Week 2 – Why correction is important?
Week 3 – Offering forgiveness is not an option

Main Thoughts

So far in this “Trapped” series we have looked at two prophets (Jonah & Elijah) who experienced feelings of being trapped because of their sin.  This past week we looked at the prophet Jeremiah.  Unlike the previous two, he experienced being trapped (physically and emotionally) because he followed God’s plan for his life.

Sometimes truly following Jesus will result in persecution.  Remember what Jesus said, “God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right…God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.  Be happy about it!  Be very glad!  For a great reward awaits you in heaven.  And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.”

We closed our time by looking at five thoughts:

1.  All of you are young – but you CAN do great things for God.

2.  Sometimes you may get “trapped” if you follow Jesus.

3.  God will bless you if you stand up for Jesus.

4.  God will deny you if you deny him.

5.  How will you stand up for Jesus?

Parent Questions – Have you ever experienced persecution because you follow Jesus?  If not, why not?  If so, how did you respond?

Scripture Passages (link)

• Jeremiah 1:4-9
• Jeremiah 37:13-15
• Jeremiah 38:2-6
• Matthew 5:10-12
• 1 Timothy 4:12
• Matthew 10:32-33

Audio Link for Message – do not have this week due to technical issues

Ignite News

http://www.vimeo.com/30015933

Next Week @ Ignite – Trapped Finale (Daniel)

1 Month Snapshot

• October 7th - 5th Quarter (Click Link for more details) – Northridge at Concord – Event at Church: “So You Think You Can Dance?”
• October 14th – Halloween Thing (Click Link for more details)
• October16th – No Ignite due to the Halloween Thing
• October 23rd – Ignite back on
• October 30th – No Ignite due to Fall Break

Main Thoughts

This past Sunday we  spent some time talking about the Old Testament prophet Elijah.  Elijah was one of the greatest prophets in the Bible and yet even he struggled with fear.  Ultimately he ran for his life and failed to trust God.

Just like Elijah there are plenty of times where we allow fear to trap our faith.  Sometimes we’re afraid to do the right thing and stand up to our friends who are gossiping or doing something they shouldn’t.  Sometimes we’re afraid to share our faith because people might make fun of us.  Fear comes in many different directions and sometimes we get trapped just like Elijah.

I left the students with three questions:

1.  Is something causing fear in your life right now?

2.  Whose voice are you listening to (God’s or someone else)?

3. What choice will you make (follow through on how God is leading you)?

Parent Questions – Does fear ever keep you from following God’s path for you?  How so and what can you do about it?

Scripture Passages (link)

• 1 Kings 19:1-13

Audio Link for Message

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Ignite News – unable to load video – we’ll get this uploaded in the near future

Next Week @ Ignite – Trapped from Persecution (Jeremiah) – Jeremiah 38-39

1 Month Snapshot

• October 7th – 5th Quarter (Northridge at Concord) – Event at Church – “So You Think You Can Dance?”
• October 14th – Halloween Thing
• October16th – No Ignite due to the Halloween Thing
• October 23rd – Ignite back on
• October 30th – No Ignite due to Fall Break

Main Thoughts (thoughts & message by Drew Richey

This past Sunday we  started a new series titled “Trapped: What Choice will you Make?” In this series we are examining the various ways we can be/feel trapped by looking at the lives of various Old Testament prophets. We started the series by looking at the story of Jonah. Jonah was trapped in sin (and a whale) because he thought it was easier to run from God than obey Him.

We looked at 3 different statements:

1.  We often think it’s easier to run than obey.

• Jonah ran because he knew God was compassionate and he didn’t want the city of Nineveh to be spared.
• We think it’s easier and often times more fun to sin or disobey God.

2.  We often wait until we hit “rock bottom” before we ask for forgiveness.

• Using a clip from Veggie Tales, we discovered that Jonah hit “rock bottom” in the belly of the whale and asked for forgiveness in Jonah 2.
• We discussed what it looks like/feels like to hit “rock bottom” in our own lives.
• Students were reminded of the parable of the Ten Bridesmaids from the previous week, and encouraged not to wait too long to ask for forgiveness (because waiting until Jesus returns will be too late).

3. God will forgive you.

• We serve a God of second-chances. All we need to do is ask for forgiveness, and we will be forgiven.
• Students were given time to quietly do work with God, repenting of anything in their lives.
• We celebrated that if we had just done work with God, we weren’t trapped anymore. We are free.

Parent Questions – Do you ever find yourself running from God? Have you ever hit “rock bottom”?

Scripture Passages (link)

• Jonah 1
• Jonah 4:2
• Micah 7:19
• Psalm 103:12

Audio Link for Message

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Ignite News – This is our student announcement video

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Main Thoughts

This past Sunday we looked at Jesus’ parable “The Ten Bridesmaids”.  In this story we met 10 bridesmaids who were waiting for the groom and his party to arrive for a wedding.  Ultimately five of the bridesmaids were ready for the groom to arrive, and the other five were not, which in the end caused them to miss the wedding and the wedding feast.

Here’s the point of the story – one day Jesus is going to come back to the earth and take everyone who is ready to a great “feast” in heaven for all eternity.  All who are not ready will be locked out.

We ended our time by looking at two questions and some application points:

1.  Are you ready for Jesus to return?

• Have you made a decision to follow Jesus?
• If you have made a decision to follow Jesus, how is your relationship with him right now?

2.  Are those you love and care about ready for Jesus to return?

• You can’t make those you love and care about get ready?
• You can pray and lead those you love and care about to Jesus

Finally I challenged our students to write down the names of 3 friends that they’d be willing to commit to pray for and invite to the Halloween Thing Outreach.

Parent Questions – Are you prepared for Jesus to return?  What about those you love and care for?

Scripture Passages (link)

• Matthew 25:1-13
• Romans 9:1-3
• Romans 10:14-15

Audio Link for Message

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Ignite News – This is our student announcement video

Next Week @ Ignite – Are you ready for Jesus to return?  Matthew 25:1-13

1 Month Snapshot

• Fusion Times Have Changed – JH Fusion meets from 6:30-8:00pm and HS Fusion meets from 7:30-9:00pm
• September 14 – Week 2 of JH Fusion Series – “Pulse” (Food Night)
• September 14 – Week 2 of HS Fusion Series – “Uniquely You” (Food Night)
• September 16 – 5^th Quarter
• September 18 – New Ignite Series Begins – “Trapped: What choice will you make?”

Main Thoughts

This past Sunday we looked at a parable that focused on the prayers of two people.  One prayer was from a Pharisee who thought “he was All That” and looked down on everybody else.  His world ultimately revolved around himself.  The second prayer was from a tax collector who knew he was a sinner and definitely wasn’t “All That”.  In the end the tax collector was forgiven and the Pharisee would be humbled.

We ended our time by looking at two questions and some application points:

1.  What should I do if I “think I’m all that”?

• Get real with God and seek forgiveness
• Begin to care for others – especially people not like you

2.  What should I do if I think I’m the opposite of “all that”?

• Get real with God and seek forgiveness (if reason is sin in our life)
• Remember that God loves you and has great plans for you (if it’s a self-esteem issue)

Parent Question – How do you help your kids when they’re tempted to make life all about themselves?

Scripture Passages (link)

• Luke 18:9-14
• Psalm 51:1-3, 10
• Philippians 2:3
• Proverbs 28:13
• Psalm 139:13-14

Audio Link for Message

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Ignite News – This is our student announcement video

Next Week @ Ignite – Are you ready for Jesus to return?  Matthew 25:1-13

1 Month Snapshot

• Fusion Times Have Changed – JH Fusion meets from 6:30-8:00pm and HS Fusion meets from 7:30-9:00pm
• September 7 – New JH Fusion Series Begins – “Pulse”
• September 7 – New HS Fusion Series Begins – “Uniquely You”
• September 15 – 5^th Quarter
• September 18 – New Ignite Series Begins – “Trapped: What choice will you make?”

Sep2

As you know, many changes were implemented in the Student Ministries at River Oaks this school year with Ignite (Sunday Alternate Service) and Fusion (Wednesday Night Small Groups).  Change is never easy and I want you to know that we are committed to continue evaluating these changes as we progress throughout the school year.  We are now two weeks into these changes and most of the feedback has focused on the start times for Fusion and the move in general from Sunday night to Wednesday night.

Main Thoughts

This past Sunday we looked at a parable that Jesus used to show His followers that they should pray and not give up.  We then looked at 5 Thoughts on Prayer:

1. Is prayer an important part of your life?
2. You don’t have to be a “prayer expert” to pray.
3. Make sure your prayers are not always about you.
4. There’s power in prayer, so ask for help.
5. Prayer is a privilege, so get in the praying game.

After that I challenged the students to pray each night before they went to bed.  I even gave them a list to work off of that they could keep next to their bed:

• Sunday – pray for the week ahead of you
• Monday – pray for your parents and siblings
• Tuesday – pray for your friends who don’t have a relationship with Jesus
• Wednesday – pray and thank God for all the ways he has blessed you
• Thursday – pray for the people in your small group
• Friday – pray for anything that is on your heart
• Saturday – pray for the Ignite service on Sunday

Parent Question – what role does prayer play in your life?

Scripture Passages

• Luke 18:1-8
• James 5:16
• Psalm 6:6-10

Audio Link for Message

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Ignite News – This is our student announcement video

2 Month Snapshot

• September 7 – New JH Fusion Series Begins – “Pulse”
• September 7 – New HS Fusion Series Begins – “Uniquely You”
• September 15 – 5^th Quarter
• September 18 – New Ignite Series Begins – “Trapped: What choice will you make?”
• October 7 – 5^th Quarter
• October 14 – Halloween Thing
• October 16 & 30 – No Ignite

Main Thoughts

This past Sunday we began a new series called “Parables: The Stories of Jesus” by looking at two brief parables.  In each parable we met a person who found a great treasure, and then sold everything they had in order to have the treasure.

From there we talked about 2 kinds of treasures – Heavenly Treasures that last and Earthly Treasure the fall short and fade away.  Earthly treasures can be found all over the place (wealth, and even in everyday life like clothes and food) and is basically anything that is more important to you and pushes God to the back.

Finally the students were asked “What do you want most in this life?” and were left with 2 Treasures Worth Seeking:

1. Get to Know Jesus Personally – I challenged students to spend time getting to know God and directed them to the One Minute Bible – selling them for $3 each.
2. Get to Know Jesus with other People – Here I encouraged our students to make Ignite and Fusion (Wednesday Night Small Groups) a priority for this school year.

Scripture Passages

Matthew 13:44-46

Matthew 6:19-20

Matthew 19:20-22

Matthew 6:25, 21

Philippians 3:7-9

Audio Link for Message

This is where you’d be able to listen my message – unfortunately we were unable to get it recorded this week.

Ignite News – This is our student announcement video

2 Month Snapshot

September 15 – 5^th Quarter

October 7 – 5^th Quarter

October 14 – Halloween Thing

October 16 & 30 – No Ignite