New Song and Video Posted

Hey friends,

Just wanted to let you know that I have posted another video that I found on YouTube.  It is a great song that is related to last week's lesson.  Here it is!

Homework Questions Are Posted

The homework Questions from November 28 are up.  Check them out here!

Bonus Memory Verses

Here is the list of bonus memory verses.  Each one is worth 5 bonus points! That is a ton of points up for grabs.  Here you go!

Ephesians 4.17
Ephesians 4.22
Ephesians 4.24-25 ( 5 points total)
Ephesians 4.29
Ephesians 4.31-32 (5 point total)
1 Corinthians 15.33-34 (5 point total)
Psalm 1.1-3 (5 point total)

There you go.  That is a maximum of 35 bonus points available to anyone who wants to try and memorize extra verses.  Go to it!

Review From November 28

    

Hey gang!

      This is such a great unit.  I think peer pressure is a very real issue in all of our lives.   To have a chance to discuss it and to equip ourselves with a plan to deal with the issue of peer pressure in a way that pleases and honors God is time well spent. Our topic this time around was "Would Jesus fit in with my Friends?"  The question kept coming up "what would your friends think if you told them you were bringing Jesus to your hanging out activity?"  That question was met with answers ranging from "they'd be cool with it" to "they'd make fun of me".  But the thing to remember is that if we have chosen to follow God and live truly as Christians, well then we are bringing Jesus with us wherever we go.  
       We talked about some scenarios where we would be hanging out with our friends (playing sports, at the mall, having a sleepover, surfing the web, watching movies, video games, texting)  Does the way we interact with our friends show our desire to please God, or do we try to fit in and compromise our standards to be the same as the worlds.  Think this through carefully and be honest with yourself.  As Switchfoot sings - this is your life, are you who you want to be?  If the answer is yes, then continue to grow in your relationship with God and stay strong against the attacks of the enemy. If your life doesn't demonstrate who you want to be, then this is the time to choose to make some changes.
       We started our discussion time by looking at 2 Timothy 2.22 (Our primary memory verse for the week).  This verse challenges us to pursue holiness and to hang out with others that are pursuing holiness too.  Does this mean that we should only have Christian friends?  Not necessarily. But we cannot compromise on God's standards, and if our friends are putting obstacles in the way of us developing a strong relationship with God, then we may have to make some changes in our friends.
       Next, we read Psalm 1.   In these verses, we read that God blesses those who delight in the teachings of the Lord.  He is like a tree planted by a stream that produces fruit in season and does not wither.  We talked last year in Club 56 about John 15 and being branches attached to the vine (Jesus).  This relationship gives us strength and life, whereas away from God, we are fruitless and wither)
       We continued by turning over to 1 Corinthians 15.33-34.  Here, we read that bad company corrupts good morals.  That means that we do need to be careful whose company we find ourselves in.  We become more and more like the people we spend time with.  That is why it is so important that we spend time every day with Jesus.  This will help us be more like Him.  We also thought about what characteristics we would look for in a good friend.
       Finally, we read Ephesians 4.17-32.  In this passage,  we are encouraged to not live like the people of this world.  If we have chosen to follow God, we have a different standard to live by and make choices by.  The way everyone else does it just doesn't cut it.   People who do not know Christ are on a path of destruction.  We can help them find their way off that path by being different and being strong in our beliefs. 
       It was a great discussion time.  And as promised, I will be adding a few extra memory verses for bonus points from the verses that we read.  The competition is pretty close, so this could be the deciding factor.  But even more importantly, the verses that we read on Sunday are great and important ones to put into our brains anyway.  The bonus points are just meant as an encouragement.
I hope that you are being challenged to choose God's way over the worlds way, to resist temptation to give into peer pressure and to live a life ALIVE for God.

P.S.  I hope the blue bonus star caught your attention.  I am about to post the bonus verses.
Remember, each verse is worth 5 bonus points.  This could be huge in determining the winner of the competition.  Hope you are ready to memorize!

New Homework Questions Posted

Click here to get the latest homework. Remember homework earns points for your team, and points will determine the winner of our 1st quarter prize.  There are only 2 weeks left in this point competition.  Do your work and get points for your team.

Review from November 21

Hope your week is going well.  Here is the review from last Sunday's Club 56.  Our numbers were down a little because of the bad weather, so here is what you missed, unless of course, you were there, in which case, this is a refresher of what we talked about. 

We started by looking at a handful of scenarios.  I challenged you to honestly consider what you would choose, and I was glad to have you show such honesty.  Our topic of the day was "What if saying yes makes me popular?"  We talked about helping a popular classmate cheat, graffitiying a wall, swearing, skipping or tuning out church, watching inappropriate things.  It is so easy to go with the flow and compromise our standards so that others would like us.  God wants us to stay faithful to Him.  The choice is ours.

We read Judges 16.4-21
Samson compromised what he knew was write and gave in to Delilah.  He made a bad decision.  But as we continue the story, we see God forgive him and help him to make the situation write. 

Next, we read Psalm 37.1-11.  This is a great passage.  It reminds us not to get caught up in what others are doing.  Instead, trust God and follow Him.  All the others (whose opinion we care too much about) will fade away.  We need to keep our focus on God. 

Finally, we read Psalm 119.1-3 
In this passage (in one version of the Bible) it talks about not compromising with evil"  What does this look like?  What do we need to do to keep ourselves strong in our beliefs. 

Our challenge this week is to trust God and follow Him even when it is unpopular. 

Next week, we talk about if God would fit in with your friends.   Hope you have a wonderful and happy thanksgiving. 

Remember - we are serving in 2nd service Kids at 11.  

Bonus Point
From Pastor Ivan's Sermon

2 great stories David vs. Goliath - which we know well,
and Jonathan and his Armor Bearer.  What amazing thing did they do in 1 Samuel 14. (2 points)

What greek word means brotherly love? (1 point)


Steph and I would like to wish you a very happy thanksgiving.  Travel safe if you are travelling, and
may your time be filled with celebration, reflection, and gratitude. 

CP
 

New Link is Up

I have linked to my youtube channel.  There isn't a lot there yet, just a couple of power point slideshows for some of the songs we have been singing on Sunday mornings.  You can find the link on the "For Links" tab.  Some of you have made some song requests - either for Sunday morning Songs, or for songs you want me to check out.  Keep `em coming and I will check them out and let you know what I think. Leave a comment on the blog with your suggestions, or email them to me.  It may take me a couple of days, but I will check your suggestions out!

CP

New Homework Questions Posted

Click here to find the homework questions from last Sunday.  Remember, you can bring the answers to me on Sunday, or you can email them to me. 

CP

Review from November 14

Hey all,

Hope you are having a great week so far.  Here is a review from last Sunday's Club 56 lesson.  Our topic was "What if I am the only one saying "no"?"  It was the first week of our new unit on peer pressure.  Peer pressure is something very real that we all deal with. 

We started by talking about the future, and what would happen if new laws came to be that made some significant changes that we don't agree with.  Changes like no more schools, lying, cheating and stealing are ok, you can watch, listen to whatever you want and all churches are banned. We had a volunteer take a stand against one of the changes that were happening, and the others in the class pleaded, argued and tried to persuade the volunteer to give up their stand and accept the new rules - and follow them. It is easy for us to say we will take a stand and hold to it - for God, or for what's right, or whatever, but then when we are in the situation, it gets harder to stay strong.

In Discussion time, we looked at the story of Daniel. (Daniel 6)  Jealous rivals didn't like how much the King liked Daniel, and plotted to take him out.  They had the King  - who liked being popular and worried a lot about what others thought of him - sign a law that only let people pray to him.  Daniel knew that obeying God and following Him was more important.  So he broke the law, and kept praying to God after the law was passed.  He was arrested and thrown in the lion's den.  He knew what was right and did it, even though it got him into trouble. 

Matthew 12 was our next stop.   We read the story of Jesus casting out a demon, and being accused of working for Satan.  He finished by sharing our memory verse for the week.  Matt 12.30.  Jesus offers us this challenging verse.  Anyone who is not working with God - is working against God.  That means that, even when we are facing pressure from other people, choosing God's way is the only way.  Caring what others think enough to let it weaken our stand for God is working against God.  What a challenging verse.  I don't want to be working against God.  We can ask for His help in being firm in our stand for Him. 

It was a good discussion, and next week's promises to be, too.  Our topic will be "What if saying yes makes me popular".

Bonus point time:
From Pastor Ivan's sermon.  
  He gave us 3 things to do that demonstrate Authentic Godliness.
Fill in the blanks for the bonus points (1 point for each)

   Bring H___________
   Bring L___________
   Bring G________  to ________

Bonus Point Time!!!

It is Thursday night, and that means time for a bonus point opportunity from Sunday's sermon.

Remember, it has been a very close competition so far, so bonus points could be the deciding factor in who wins the reward at the end of quarter. 

We have 4 weeks left,  and it is still anyone's competition to win.

Here is the bonus point that is available to you. 

Does going through hard times mean that God has forgotten us; that we are not following God's plan for our life?  If not, then what can it mean?

Email your answer to me or bring it with you on Sunday. 
Hope you were listening!!
CP

New Homework Questions Posted

Hey all,

Just a quick note to let you know that I have posted the homework questions for next Suunday.  Click here to get them!

Review From November 7th

Hello 56ers

Here is the review from last Sunday, and if you stay tuned to the end of this review, there will be some bonus point opportunities.

Our topic of the day was "Is there anything God can't do?

We began by looking at some crazy stories that I tested you on by asking if you believe the stories happened or not.  ( I have posted links to the stories in the "for students" section , or see them by clicking here.)
We then started our discussion by looking at Luke 1.26-38.
Here, we read the story of the angel Gabriel visiting Mary to inform her that she will soon be mother to God's son Jesus. This in itself is a mind trip, an angel, telling a young girl (a teenager) that God's son will be born to her.  Mary says it isn't possible for her to have a child, but God makes it happen.  Do we trust God even when the situation seems impossible.

Next, we read Jeremiah 32.17 & 26-27
We explained these verses in our own words.  We looked at the relationship with oil and water.  There is something that God cannot do, we learned about.  God cannot go against His nature.  He cannot lie, sin or become unholy or impure.  We looked at a bottle that had oil and water in it.  No matter how much I shake it and try to mix it, it will not mix.  Water and Oil repel each other, like God and sin.  They don't mix.

We looked at Leviticus 19.2
We discussed "holiness" and what that means. It means "set apart, completely other" God is holy, and he asks us to be, too.  We are to be set apart for God and His purposes.

Next, we read Numbers 23.18-19
Here we read about somethings that God cannot do.  He will not lie.  We asked if knowing that there is something that God "cannot" do, does that change the way we think about him?

God is able to do anything, which encourages us as we go through hard times in this live.  But he also cannot be around sin, or be unholy.  Our challenge this week is to trust in the Power of God and be confident that you cannot give Him a problem that He doesn't know how to deal with, or have a solution.

We finished by singing "Mighty to Save" by Seventh Day Slumber.  I have also posted a Seventh Day Slumber video (of a different song) on the blog.  Click here to check out the article. I will give a bonus point to anyone that can give me the names of the 4 members of the band Seventh Day Slumber (you can find them through the links)
Check back on Thursday to find another bonus point opportunity.

CP

New Link Added

Hey guys.

I've put a new link in the link list.  Click here to check it out.  If you can tell me (as part of your homework) what new link I added (hint - it is at the bottom of the link list) then I will give you a bonus point!

Homework Question Posted!

CLICK HERE to get your questions for this week -- answer them and EARN POINTS for your team!!

Review from October 31

Hey 56ers,  Hope you are having a great week.  We had a really good discussion on Sunday morning, -Our topic was "Why does God let bad things happen?" it was a tough topic, but at the same time, there is hope that can be found, no matter how hard life gets.

We spent a lot of time looking at the story of Job - found in the Old Testament.  Job was a man who had a lot, a large family, lots of livestock, land.  He then lost it all.  We read in chapter one that Satan had to ask permission to attack Job, and God allows him to do it, but he limits what Satan can do to Job.  Anyway, Job loses almost everything, bang bang bang bang bang! and  his reaction is, in our memory verse (chapter 1.20) he got up, tore his robe, and worshipped God.  WOW!! really!  He doesn't curse God, he doesn't turn away, but he trusts God and chooses to put him first!  

We also glimpsed quickly, but ran out of time to get really deep into the story of John the Baptist from Matthew 11 and 14.

John the Baptist and his followers have been looking for the Messiah, and they think Jesus is him, but John asks for confirmation because he is in prison and knows that Jesus could free him.  Jesus confirms to John's followers that Jesus is the Messiah, and that people are getting healed.  A couple of chapters later, John is executed.  John was Jesus' follower, he was doing great things to let people know about Jesus, so why didn't Jesus miraculously free John from jail?  Maybe John was wondering if God even care? But John stayed true to God.  John didn't get to see the end result of his hard work, but God used him.

Our final passage was Isaiah 43. 1-5  God promises to be with us no matter what we go through.  He knows us,  he has paid the ultimate price for us.  We are precious to him and He has our best interests in mind.  

It is a hard topic to discuss.  We want our God to make our life easy.  That isn't the business that He is in.  He cares more about our heart and our devotion to Him than He does about our comfort.  We need to trust Him like He is the only one that can help us, because He is!  He is in control and He is on our side. That alone is worth worshipping. 

Bonus Point Opportunity

As mentioned, I will give 5 bonus points to each person who can answer the following questions about pastor Ivan's sermon on Sunday.  Here it is:

Pastor Ivan gave us 8 "dynamics of temptation" (8 things to know to help us battle against temptation)  name 1 of those 8 points.

email your answer to livealifealive@gmail.com or write it down with your homework questions and bring it to me on Sunday.

CP