CATALYST YOUTH- "The Sign of the Four in the Fire", Sept. 16, 2016

This week at CATALYST, we continued our series on Daniel by looking at one of the most famous stories in the Bible. In Daniel 3, Daniel's three friends (known to us as Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego) faced a bit of a predicament. The King of Babylon wanted to be worshiped by the people, so he constructed a 90 foot high gold statue of himself, gathered the people together, and ordered them to bow and worship him. To make the situation even more challenging, anyone who disobeyed the King's orders would be put to death by being thrown into a fiery furnace. Well, when it came time for this "idol worship service", hundreds of people bowed but only three stood standing. When they were brought before the king, the Bible says:

“Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, your Majesty. BUT even if He doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, your Majesty, that WE WILL NEVER SERVE YOUR GODS OR WORSHIP THE GOLD STATUE YOU HAVE SET UP!”

Of course, the king was so furious with them that he had them thrown into a furnace so hot that it killed the soldiers who pushed them in. But something miraculous happened. The king saw FOUR men walking around in the flames (we can presume, the fourth was an angel or the physical presence of God with them). This was impossible! When he called for them to come out, the three were found to be unhurt, their clothes weren't burned, and they didn't even smell like smoke. The king was so amazed by this that he decreed that no one in the kingdom was to badmouth their God and even promoted them despite the fact that they had directly disobeyed an order of the king.

THEY STOOD OUT BECAUSE OF THEIR FAITH- BECAUSE THEY LIVED OUT WHAT THEY BELIEVED

These three guys were super committed to following God. Even under the threat of death, they still refused to do what they knew to be wrong. When they were in the crowd of idol worshipers that day, they LITERALLY stood out from that crowd.

The question I wanted our teens to think about is whether or not they stand out from the crowd? While nobody likes to stand out or be different, if we're serious about following Jesus in the things we say and do, people are going to take notice. We're just not going to look and act like everybody else! In Matthew 5, Jesus actually said that we should stand out like a city on a hilltop or a light in a dark place. There should be some noticeable difference in our lives compared to people who don't know God.

Do people notice that you don't talk like other people around you? Maybe you don't swear or gossip like other people do? Are you known for being kind to others- even people who aren't that nice to you? Are you known for having self-control and patience, or do you lose your temper a lot? The Bible says that when we invite Jesus into our lives, the Holy Spirit starts to clean us up (to renovate us) and make us the best version of ourselves. Other people are bound to notice! When people notice that we're different, they might even start asking why and get introduced to Jesus themselves.

QUESTIONS FOR HOME

1. What are some examples of how someone who’s a Christian might be different than the people around them? What might they say that's different? What might they do that's different?

2. Ask you teen if they've ever stood out because of their faith (because they lived out what they believed) at school or around their friends? What did their friends notice that was different about them?

3. What are some things (some changes) that your teen would want their friends to notice about them this year? What are some things that they would want to be know for? What are some areas that your teen might want God to change them for the better?

4. Pray with your teen and ask that God would continue to change them for the better and help them to follow him in the things they say and do, even if it's really hard. Ask God that the changes he would make in their lives would be so big that people would notice and start asking why.

CATALYST YOUTH- "The Case of the Starvation Diet", Sept. 9. 2016

This week we started a new series looking at some of the adventures that Daniel and some of his friends experienced in the Book of Daniel.

In Daniel chapter 1, we're introduced to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. These four teenagers were people who loved and followed God. In fact, their names had meanings that were tied to their faith (for example, Daniel's name meant "God is Just").

When the city of Jerusalem was taken over by the armies of Babylon, Daniel and his friends were taken as slaves and brought to Babylon. They were then enrolled in a super strict high school that would train them to become the King's servants. While at the school, they were told to forget about God and were even given new names. The names they were given all had meanings associated with the many false gods of Babylon (for example, Daniel was renamed Belteshazzar which meant "Bel protects my life").

On top of that, when they showed up at the school cafeteria, they discovered that the food was stuff that God had told them not to go near. The reason for this was because the food was being offered to idols and used in sacrifices to false gods before it was served. Daniel and his friends felt that eating this food would be wrong, so they gave the leader of their school a cool challenge- the starvation diet challenge. Daniel said that they would live on a diet of only a few veggies and water for 10 days, while all of the others in the school could eat what they wanted. At the end of the 10 days, Daniel believed that God would ensure that they would be stronger and smarter than all of the other students. Daniel and his friends trusted that if they followed God and were obedient to him (even in something as seemingly insignificant as the type of foods they could eat) that God would take care of them and even do a miracle in their situation. That's exactly what happened. Even though they had barely eaten anything, they were found to be stronger and smarter than everybody else.

THEY WERE COMMITTED TO FOLLOWING GOD, EVEN IN THE "LITTLE THINGS".

Have you ever faced a decision or choice where you KNEW deep down inside that one of those options was the opposite of what God would want you to do? When Daniel and his friends discovered where the food had come from, they decided that even though it would be hard, they would choose to do what God wanted. Every day we face small, sometimes seemingly insignificant, choices where we can do what we want or what God wants. It might be tempting to tell a "little white lie" to avoid some trouble, to join in on some juicy gossip about somebody, to make fun of somebody who looks different, or to listen to music or watch a movie that we know God wouldn't be proud of. It can be especially hard to do what we know is right when everybody else around us is doing something different or pressuring us to do what's wrong. Our Bible story reminds us that when we're committed to following God and doing right (even in the small choices we face) , not only will God be super proud of us, but he'll also take care of us.

QUESTIONS FOR HOME

1. This week we talked about how we're faced with tough choices every day. We can choose to say or do what we know God would want us to say or do, or we can go our own way and follow the crowd. Ask your teen about some of the challenges and pressures that they face when they're at school or in their own circle of friends. What kinds of things might they feel pressured to say or do that are the opposite of what God might want them to do?

2. Take the time to pray with your teen. Pray that, like in the case of Daniel and his friends, they would be able to stand up against pressure and do the right thing even if it's hard. Thank God that he promises to be with us and take care of us when we follow him.

CONNECT: Family & Friends Devotional- "OPEN THE DOOR".

This past week, we wrapped up our CONNECT: Family & Friends group until the fall. Each time we get together we enjoy great food and conversation, but also have a short devotional and opportunity to pray for needs. The following is an expanded version of the devotional I shared.

In Revelation 3:20, Jesus says, "Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in. and we will share a meal together as friends".

This verse tells us that Jesus wants friendship with us. He wants to be a part of our lives. When you invite someone into your home for a meal, it's an act of vulnerability. When you do that, you're letting people be a part of your lives. You're extending friendship to your guests. You're telling them that you want to get to know them better-- that they're worth your time and effort.

Here, Jesus is knocking on the door of our lives, and we can either turn off the lights, crouch down and pretend that nobody's home-- leaving him on the outside, or we can open the door and invite him in as a friend. While often this verse is used to talk about how Jesus wants a friendship with people who aren't yet Christians, what's so interesting is that Jesus is actually saying these words to a church-- to a group of Christians. What that says to me is that we can know and love Jesus but still be a bit distant from him. We can accept what Jesus did for us on the cross, but still feel disconnected from him. What Jesus is reminding us here is that he wants more than just a business arrangement with us. He doesn't just want us to be acquaintances. He wants to have a real friendship- a relationship- a closeness.

Friendships take some work and effort to ensure that they're healthy and strong. Here are just a few practical ways we can "open the door" and maintain a close relationship with the God who loves us.

1. Meet together as the church regularly.

When we get together once a week on Sundays, we are carving a specific time out of our schedule to make room for Jesus. There are many other ways we can spend that time, but when we dedicate our Sunday mornings to God, we're saying that he's important- that we value his friendship and believe that it's a non-negotiable. Have you ever had a friend make time for you even when they were really busy? Whether it was a just a phone call or a face-to-face meeting, I'm sure it made you feel loved, valued, and important. When we get together on Sundays, that's what we're saying to Jesus. On Sundays, we take the time to pause and reflect on what the Bible says and what it means for our lives. We have an opportunity to respond to that message through worship and prayer, and we can also foster friendships with other Christians. If you're a parent, your commitment to Sundays communicates something important to your kids. Not only will they experience the same things that you do (Bible teaching, prayer, worship and community), but they will clearly see that your relationship with Jesus is a priority and that nothing else is worth interrupting that time.

2. Read the Bible throughout the week.

Something we started really early with our kids was reading a Bible story together before bed. As a treat, we sometimes use the free Bible App for Kids. One thing we've noticed is that simply by spending 5-10 minutes each day reading the Bible together, our kids have learned and grown so much in their faith. They've learned about God's history with humanity, and that he loves us despite the fact that we fail. They've seen how Jesus wasn't just an ordinary person, but proved that He was God by doing the miraculous- forgiving people's sins, and even rising from the dead! These times with the Bible have also molded their sense of morality, where they know the difference between right and wrong and are encouraged to follow Jesus in everyday life. Imagine what would happen if us grownups did that too? Just a few minutes of looking into God's Word each day can make a significant spiritual impact on our lives.

3. Worship God throughout the week.

I used to be a huge listener of non-Christian music. While my friends in college were listening to churchy stuff, I was listening to Radiohead, Pavement, The White Stripes, and a slew of other indie-rock bands. While I still really love a lot of that stuff, something strange happened a few years ago. Right before I had kids, I really felt that God wanted me to devote more of my time to worshiping him, particularly whenever I was driving in the car. I started buying modern worship albums and by listening and singing along to those, I found that my relationship with Jesus felt a lot stronger and healthier. I also discovered that, whenever I was driving in the car with my kids, they were learning the worship songs (many of which are based on Bible passages) and singing along too! These days, it's not unusual for me to be in the next room and to hear my 4-year-old daughter making up songs about Jesus and how much God loves us. Take advantage of some of your down time when in the car or commuting to work to express your thanks to God. Pick up a few worship albums that the whole family can enjoy, and keep them on constant rotation as you go about your day!

4. Talk to God on a regular basis.

In the old 1960's Batman TV series, Commissioner Gordon had a weird red phone on his desk. The phone didn't have any dials or buttons, but whenever he picked it up, it was a direct line to Batman. We have that same kind of direct connection to God. We can talk to him at any time! It's really hard to maintain a friendship with someone if we never talk to them. Is it any wonder that we start to feel distant and disconnected from Jesus when we haven't maintained an open line of communication? This is something I've tried to model for my kids. Whenever we hear of someone in need, we take the time to stop what we're doing and pray for that person or situation. One of the odd traditions we started while driving in the car is that, whenever we see an ambulance, we pray that God would give the paramedics and doctors wisdom, that God would heal the person who is sick or in trouble, and that through that situation the person and his/her family would come to know Jesus. These days, even when I'm a bit tired or don't feel like it at the time (and we all have those days), my kids are the ones who will spot an ambulance and demand that we pray. How can I say no to that kind of  request?

This summer --and beyond-- think about how Jesus is knocking on your door. By taking some time to invest in your friendship, by opening the door and inviting him into your lives, in just a few small and simple ways, you'll feel closer and better connected to him, you'll be able to hear his voice and the leading of the Holy Spirit far more clearly, you'll have the strength to fight temptation, and you'll notice that you and your family will have grown and matured in your faith.

CATALYST Youth Flashback- April 29th- HOT TOPICS Guest Speaker

On April 29th, we had one of our young adults, Yelena, tackle a question about knowing what God's plan is for your life and what to do when a potential job might ask you to do something that's contrary to your morals or beliefs. For those that missed it, here are the notes.

What are some ways that we can know what God’s will is for our lives? Some vocations are clearly wrong and some are clearly right. What do we do about the vocations in-between ( military, cop, doctor to preform abortions etc)

This is a two part question that we need to tackle. These are questions that many of us will be asking ourselves for most of our lives. Even when we have seemingly figured out what we are “meant” to do, there could be questions lingering - this is called doubt. What is important to remember, is that we may (and most likely won't ) have this answer the day we graduate from high school. Hey, we may not have this answer after we graduate from university. That’s okay.

 
 How do we know God’s will for our lives?

There are FOUR  things that we need to remember when it comes to figuring out what God’s will is for our lives.

1. The first and most important thing we are called to do is to serve God and spread his good news.

                        Take a look at:

•   MATTHEW 28:19 - 20

•   ROMANS 12: 1-2

•   PROVERBS 16:3

At the core of our lives, the reason God created us to serve him. To spread his good news. This is important, because if we forget this, we are not doing what God called us to do - not acting out this will.

2. Look at what gifts God has already given you

•   1 PETER 4:10

God will not call you do be an engineer if you can’t stand math. God would not call you to be an artist, if drawing a stickman is complicated for you. What are you naturally good at? This is a question that many may ask well into their careers, where they are just not happy. God doesn’t want you to be miserable, he wants us to be joy filled. If we are not happy people, we are not going to be able to spread the good news. It may be attractive to work in a field the may make you more money, or give you more “power”. The truth here, is that money, power, fame - its all temporary. It won’t last, and if your roots are there, it will be swept up quickly.

Take a look at what you're passionate about as well. It is no mistake that you love the things that you do. I am OBSESSED with figure skating - literally if I hear figure skating from across the room (and I will) I’ll be gone with the wind. Its not a mistake that i love this sport. I am supposed to do something with it. Take a look at the things you love, and maybe can’t explain why. There could be the seeds of God’s will for your life.

3. Look at the "through" moments in your life.

We have all gone through something. All of us. Never discount the hardships in our lives. There is a huge reason we go through the things that we do. God gives us these difficulties, to teach us. Our trials are catered to us. I like to think of it this way: would a lawyer go to medical school to become a lawyer? Absolutely not - it doesn't make sense. God is testing you because it has something to do with your calling. Maybe to teach you a trait - such as being humble, or teach you how to stand up for yourself in the face of a bully. The things that we go through (and learning/growing from them) can help us to become the people God wants us to be.

4. Last, but absolutely not least: Pray.

           

Constant communication with God is how we get our answers. Read the bible, speak to other Christians, seek out advice from mentors. We can do all of the above, but if we aren’t connected to God, we may not ever know what we are meant to do.

Remember, that everyone has a unique mission, and calling. I know at this age its easy to want to do something just because your best friend is doing it. But just because your friend is an engineer, does not mean you have to be. Know that in whatever God’s will is for your life, you answer to him.

                         COLOSSIANS 3:23

What do we do about vocations that are in-between?

Let's first remove the idea that there are vocations that are “clearly good”. This is not true. Any vocation can become “wrong” if you are doing it for the wrong reasons. You could be an incredible Pastor, but if you are doing it to be popular, it loses its “good”. The minute you forget about God and his call for us to spread his word, our vocations are no longer “good”

There are definitely vocations that can seem wrong on the surface; such as the examples given above.  We need to remember that God needs his people everywhere. That is why some people may be called to work in the military, be cops, politicians, and other tough vocations. This is not to say it will be easy, it will be tough, and you may be constantly asked to compromise your values. This is where you need to stand strong, and rooted in God. I put it this way, you are not forced to do anything; you have a choice. Remember this when you make decisions. If you feel that you have to compromise what you know to be true, in order to do everyday work, it is important to get out.

But also remember this, God will take care of you. He will protect you.

Jeremiah 29:11