MAN UP! – Guys Retreat

Man Up!  I’ve heard this phrase used many times in my sports playing.  Many times my coach would say it because I wasn’t being strong with the ball or I was playing timid.  So when we landed on this as a title for our guys retreat, I immediately thought of my experiences with this phrase and was excited in seeing how we could use it as a catch phrase for teaching our guys how to be men of God in their households, schools, sports teams, and in our youth group.  Our goal for this weekend was to pair a small group of students with a male adult and let them discuss different aspects of what it takes to be a man of God.  Joe Hunter and Jeff Simmons led our large group sessions on Saturday, speaking about Christian leadership and keeping Go first.  Our leaders taught 2 bible study lessons on what it takes to be a man and how to keep God first in our relationships.  After session, our students would break into their small groups to discuss the different topics.  This weekend was a special experience with our students.  We stayed in a rustic camp with very few heaters, which made our “Man Up” experience all the more real.  We also had a special time where our students gathered in a man made sweat lodge to talk about the commitments they’d made and ways they could go back home and “Man Up” around the house and their school.   It was an incredible, God-filled weekend for our guys and we look forward to seeing God move through our students, your sons, over this next season.

-Nathan

Posted in Nathan McDivitt, Uncategorized by Chase Baker No Comments

Girls really do know how to have fun…especially when it comes to the ladies in our student ministry.

This weekend I had the wonderful opportunity to spend time with them at our winter retreat.  The theme for the weekend was “Live for Love”.  In our large group sessions we discussed everything from how to love others, why we are suppose to love everyone, the need to have a reputation for Christ, experiencing God’s love, and even a discussion on how being a part of God’s family requires love in action. The girls were led in sessions by Kim Goin, Kelly Dale, and Joni Derrick.  All three of these women were able to share Scripture into the girls’ hearts and about love in their own lives.  After each session, we split into small groups to allow time for discussion.  These groups were lead by other women who volunteer in the youth group.  It was great to see the girls really gravitate towards these women and make relationships with them.  Ultimately these women will continue to be apart of the girls’ lives and this weekend was just a spring board for those relationships.

When I think back on the weekend there are two things that truly pop-out in my mind as memorable. The first being our times of worship together, led by Camee Burdin and Sarah Nierste.  Through Camee and Sarah, the girls were shown what loving God through worship means and how to incorporate that into our lives. This was a time they became excited for. I will say that watching 18 6th through 12th graders worshiping the Lord without hinderance and distraction is a memory I will hold onto for a while.

Other sweet moments from the weekend that stand out include the bonding time the girls had.  There is just something about spending 36 hours straight together-sleeping, reading, playing, studying, exploring, and worshiping-that just gets me excited about Girls Ministry.

-Maria

Posted in Maria Williams, Uncategorized by Chase Baker No Comments

FLYTE: 5th and 6th grade
For the past 10 weeks, we’ve been journeying through FLYTE – a curriculum designed especially for preteen students. As disciplers, it is essential to understanding our students’ culture, struggles, and issues so that we can meet them where they are. In this study we’ve been developing biblical answers to tough circumstances and issues like eating disorders, puberty, sex, bullying, emotions, and most recently familial relationships. What does the bible say about divorce? What is God’s mandate for the family and what does it look like to follow it? This past week our 5th and 6th graders were learning the biblical principles of becoming more Christ-like brothers, sisters, sons, and daughters.

Small Group: 7th-12th grade
We are currently in a series titled “Difference Makers,” which walks students through different social issues, and how students can show God’s love in interactions or conversations about poverty, racism, and same sex marriages.  Last Sunday, our main question was Why should we help the poor?  We talked about how God wants to use us to meet help meet their physical needs and open doors to tell them about Christ.  We discussed how meeting their needs brings joy and is rewarding, but also that it is ministry and most importantly, it honors God.  Ask them about the different ways we talked about how God rewards us when we are obedient to his call to help the poor and serve others.  This question was one of the most rewarding parts of our lesson, and it was so neat to hear them talk about tangible ways they can meet the needs of those around them.

Wednesday Night
Over the past several weeks we have been leading students through a teaching series called, “Magnetic.” Tomorrow night is the last night of the series. We will continue to talk about how we can live a magnetic life attracting people to Jesus. The main passage of scripture we will be using is Act 2:42-47. In verse 47 we see the results of when people are transformed by Christ, “and each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.” That is exactly what we want to happen within our church.

Posted in Jarred Boyd, Maria Williams, Nathan McDivitt, Student Pastor - Chase by Chase Baker No Comments

M-Fuge Summer Camp: June 13-17 @ University of the Cumberlands. Cost $295. You can’t beat Summer Camp. Camp is a great opportunity for students to get to know other students outside the context of everyday life. Camp is not only filled with funny photos, laughter, and fun games, it truly takes it shape when students serve others, worship, study God’s Word, and connect with other students. Summer Camp can be a life changing experience for a student. Do not hesitate, SIGN UP!

Holiday World: Day trip, July 13. 6am-11pm. Cost $40, bring money for food and other activities. All rides, water park, and transportation included in the cost.

Youth VBS: July 19-22, 6-8:30pm. Cost “Free 99!”, come, it is no cost to you. 5th-8th graders are invited to participate in a VBS experience geared towards their age group at Rolling Hills.

If you would like further information on any specific or all of the items above, contact Chase at chase@rollinghillscommunity.org.

Posted in Missions, Parents, Student Interns, Student Pastor - Chase, Summer 2011 by Chase Baker No Comments

This past Wednesday night we began a new teaching series called “Snapshot” The purpose of “Snapshot” is to encourage students to take a closer look at every relationship in their life: self, others, and God. We are going to ask the question, “if someone were to take a snapshot of each relationship in your life (self, other, and God), what would they see?” The theme verse is Matt 22:37-40, “Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Wednesday night we focused on “loving self.” Nathan McDivitt spoke about how loving yourself may seem easy, but loving yourself in light of how God looks completely different. God has called us to love ourselves in such a way that makes Him look good. God create each of us as a masterpiece, fearfully and wonderfully made. All of us are unique and have gifts and talents that are extraordinary and from God. Pride can never be the way we love ourselves the way God has called us to. On the other side, neither can thoughts of unworthiness, ugliness, or self pity. We are His creation and we have every right to boast, not in ourselves, but in Him and Him alone.

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10

Posted in dock@1810, Nathan McDivitt, Student Pastor - Chase by Chase Baker No Comments

Last Wednesday, we continued our new series “Revealed”.  The first week of the study, Chase highlighted the story of the adulterous woman’s experience and her encounter with grace through the person of Christ. This past week as we continued our study of John chapter 8, we took a look at a different side of the story….the pharisees point of view.  We discovered that when we see Christ for who He is, we’ll begin to see ourselves for who we are.

Join us this week as we focus in on John 8:12 and talk about the life Christ wants us to have….not one that stumbles around in the darkness but that lives life to the fullest walking in the light of Christ.

Posted in Alex Derry, dock@1810 by Alex Derry No Comments

Hey Parents – Check out the following resources available to you from the writer’s of our student ministry small group curriculum. These downloads will help you engage students with the topics we cover on Sunday mornings. It’s a way you can build on and further develop the lessons we teach. As you seek to raise great students who honor Christ, we want to supplement your efforts as much as possible. This is just one way you can engage your students spiritually. Choose the appropriate grade links below and use the downloads as a tool to trigger spiritual conversations in the car, around the table, before bed, and any other time you spend with your students.

November 2010 Small Group Family Devotions

November 2010 Junior Senior Small Group Family Devotions

9th and 10th grade guys and girls (CHECK BACK SOON)

November 2010 Small Group Family Devotions 8th grade

November 2010 Small Group Family Devotion 7th grade guys

November 2010 Family Devotions 6th grade guys

November 2010 Family Devotions 6th&7th grade girls

December 2010 Small Group Family Devotions

December 2010 Junior Senior Small Group Family Devotions

9th and 10th grade guys and girls (CHECK BACK SOON)

December 2010 Small Group Family Devotions 8th grade

December 2010 Small Group Family Devotion 7th grade guys

December 2010 Family Devotions 6th grade guys

December 2010 Family Devotions 6th&7th grade girls

Posted in dock@1810, Parents, Small Groups, Student Interns, Student Pastor - Nic Allen by Nic Allen No Comments

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

Hey Parents – Check out the following resources available to you from the writer’s of our student ministry small group curriculum. These downloads will help you engage students with the topics we cover on Sunday mornings. It’s a way you can build on and further develop the lessons we teach. As you seek to raise great students who honor Christ, we want to supplement your efforts as much as possible. This is just one way you can engage your students spiritually. Choose the appropriate grade links below and use the downloads as a tool to trigger spiritual conversations in the car, around the table, before bed, and any other time you spend with your students.

October 2010 Small Group Family Devotions

11th & 12th Grade Guys & Girls

9th & 10th Grade Guys and Girls

8th Grade Guys & Girls

7th Grade Guys

6th & 7th Grade Girls

6th Grade Guys

Posted in Alex Derry, Meredith Cromer, Parents, Small Groups, Student Interns, Student Pastor - Nic AllenTags: October 2010 Family Devotions | by Nic Allen No Comments

Fall Retreat 2010 Registratiion Form

Click on the link above to download the (completely accurate and thoroughly spell checked) Fall Retreat Registration Form!  It’s going to be awesome! If you need something to help convince you to go to the Fall Retreat then check out our video below.

Posted in Alex Derry, Upcoming Events by Alex Derry 1 Comment