Check out this lively bunch of awesome students and equally awesome adult leaders enjoying life at Student Ministry Fall Retreat 2010.

We started our weekend with a challenge from 1 Samuel 8. Verses 19-20 make an astute observation about human nature. The people of Israel wanted a king so they could be like all the other nations. Samuel fought their desires because they already had an almighty King in God. In the end, their response was clear.

But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”

Have you ever wanted something just because someone else had it? Have you ever fought to make your life and your relationships look like the standard of the world? If you answered no to either question, that probably makes you a liar. If you answered yes, it makes you human. Comparison is part of our sin-disease. Students need to learn that but adults do too.

We started our weekend off with a challenge not to try and look like the world or mimic what the world has. The best she offers is lousy compared to the richness of Christ. 1 Samuel 8 is clear. When the world is king, it makes us peasants. 1 Peter 2:9 is equally crystal. When God [our Father] is our king, it makes us royalty.

We ended our weekend with Ephesians 5:1-2.

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love…

How do we know who our king is? Well, who do we follow? We imitate God as kids who are loved. After all, who wants to grow up to be just like their dad? Kids with great dads. With a heavenly Father like our YHWH, who would want to imitate anything or anyone else?! Love is the indication of Lordship. It’s not about looking like everyone else. It’s about looking like HIM. And that was what Fall Retreat rang out about!

Thanks RHCC for letting us have student ministry and do cool stuff! It’s worth it!

Posted in Parents, Small Groups, Student Interns, Student Pastor - Nic Allen by Nic Allen No Comments