How do you know when you have become an adult? Is it when you can legally drive a car? Is it when you reach the age 18? Is when you turn 21 and can legally drink alcohol? Or is it after you have had your first sexual experience? One thing is sure: our society, and much of the Christian community, does not have any idea when adulthood is reached much less a system to bring about and celebrate a child becoming an adult.

This Thursday we will compare and contrast the biblical life cycle to the modern secular life cycle. We will examine when the Bible deems an individual to be an adult and how we can practically apply that truth today in a culture that is very different than that of the Bible. We will also discuss the importance of a rite of passage in the life of an individual and how this concept is being applied at Emmaus Christian Fellowship.

I’m really looking forward to discussing this concept with our students and helping them to understand that they are an integral  part of the fellowship that happens in our church.

For more information on our approach to rite of passage see our resource page.

-Phil

Thursday, we will be discussing the importance of knowing and understanding doctrine. Many Christians will accept non-biblical doctrines or teachings about important issues because they don’t take the time to study and learn the word of God for themselves. This Thursday, I will present various statements about a particular issue and we will discuss whether or not the statement is based on biblical doctrine or of the world. We will also examine the power associated with correct biblical doctrine and the ramification of false doctrine.

Hope to see you there!

-Phil

This Thursday we will be examining the gospel message found in the scriptures. There will be two primary objectives for our study. First and foremost we must be confident that we understand the gospel message and what it requires of us in its entirety. Therefore, we will take time and discuss thoroughly the good news of Jesus Christ. The second objective, we will focus on is how to share the gospel with others. Many people are intimidated with the idea of talking to others about Jesus Christ. We will discuss how this process can be rather simple. We will review a number of bible verses that can be used to help guide a simple conversation about the saving grace of Jesus Christ. In addition, we will discuss how it’s not our responsibility to change the hearts of men and women but to share the hope that we have in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:6).

Hope to see you there!

This week we are going to extend on what we briefly discussed last week. Question 12 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism tells us that after God created Adam and Eve He entered into a covenant relationship with them. Through the history of mankind the Bible records various covenants God has entered into with individuals and large groups of people. All the covenants found in scripture can be categorized as either a covenant of grace or a covenant of works. God has revealed His redemptive story of mankind through these covenants. Those who are relying upon their works to achieve righteousness and acceptance before God are in a covenant of works. Those who rely on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for their righteousness and acceptance before God are in a covenant of grace. On Thursday we will briefly discuss why the Adamic and Noahic Covenants are primarily categorized as covenants of works and why the Noahic, Mosaic, Davidic, and New Covenants are primarily categorized as covenants of grace. We will also examine our responsibilities as believers in the covenant of grace

Sorry for the late posting but tonight we will be examining the Westminster Catechism questions #11-15. I’m looking forward discussing these great scriptural truths with out middle and high school students.

Q. 11. What is God’s providence?
A. God’s providence is His completely holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing every
creature and every action. (Ps 145:17; Ps 104:24; Isa 28:29; Heb 1:3; Ps 103:19; Mt 10:29,30,31)

Q. 12. What did God’s providence specifically do for man whom He created?
A. After the creation God made a covenant with man to give him life, if he perfectly obeyed; God told him not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil or he would die.
(Gal 3:12; Ge 2:17)

Q. 13. Did our first parents remain as they were created?
A. Left to the freedom of their own wills, our first parents sinned against God and fell from their
original condition. (Ge 3:6,7,8,13; Ecc 7:29)

Q. 14. What is sin?
A. Sin is disobeying or not conforming to God’s law in any way. (1 Jn 3:4)

Q. 15. By what sin did our first parents fall from their original condition?
A. Our first parents’ sin was eating the forbidden fruit.
(Ge 3:6,12)

There will be no youth this week since everyone is on vacation from school. We are planning on having a wiffle ball game at the Zerebny’s house on Thursday. Time is TBD. Contact Phil if you are interested in playing.

There will be no youth this week. Merry Christmas everyone. Remember to take some time to pray and reflect on the significance of God humbling himself by coming to Earth as a baby and eventually laying down His life as a perfect sacrifice for the sins of those who call upon His name.

This Thursday, we are going to be examining and discussing the “one another” commands found in the New Testament.  The “one another” commands are what Jesus introduced in John 13:34-35, “A new command I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” There are three concepts we will be focusing on this Thursday. First, the one another commands instruct how believers are to act and treat other believers. These commands are “in house” rules to help foster healthy relationships between one another and to be a light to the world. Second, we will examine the numerous “one another” commands found in the New Testament and see how they can be categorized into five categories: Love one another, serve one another, forgive one another, encourage one another, and accept one another. Third, we will discuss how our actions in these areas is a great indication of the condition of our heart and what we need to do to bring about heart transformation.

Be ready to think and discuss. Hope to see you there!