Willamette Students
Middle School
Torah: highs & lows from the first 5 books of the Bible
Aug 1st
Jarred as our tour guide on the truth train
On Sunday we taught through the first five books of the Bible, the TORAH (aka, The Law, or the Pentateuch; ‘penta’ means five). Here we get a foundational understanding for who God is, who we are (made in His image), why the world is the way it is, and what He desires for His people.
There’s so much truth and history packed in these key books! Jarred was our helpful, trusted tour guide on the truth train as we saw the sights and sounds (and the highs and lows) in the first 5 books of the Story of God.
Here’s a summary from the ‘Weekly’:
Many of the students indicated they will be reading one of these five books starting this week.
New Beginnings: what’s next? [video clip]
Jun 20th
We are excited to have Chris Nye join our Staff team as High School Pastor. This morning we borrowed him to teach our middle schoolers. Here are some of his closing remarks after preaching on “New Beginnings” from Colossians 2:6-10 [NLT, ESV].
What’s next …?
We are excited to welcome Chris and his fiancee Ali serve with the Willamette family. Chris has been faithfully helping to lead the youth since the New Year. (They celebrate their wedding this Summer, in case you are wondering what he was talking about in his story. Ali is the lady he mentions about the changing experiences of life to then live with his new wife once they are married.)
Welcome to the ROAD
May 22nd
We want to point out the new site we launched last weekend with some helps for enjoying God and His Word: the ROAD.
Some of the helps include:
• What is ROAD?
• GOD’s Story (visual and summary)
• Good questions to ask
• Daily Bible reading reflections
• [future] Scripture snapshot videos
I underscore with the students that the Bible reading plan (which is the last half of the booklet) is the exact one I use. It has some unique features, like reading 3 chapters (1 in the NT, 2 in the OT), and going 3 days on and then a day off. Also, some of the slower narrative books have been pulled aside with a future video coming to explore its significance and place in the story. That way students and parents don’t feel lost on the ‘trees’ and can also see the ‘forest.’
Some of the helps include:
- What is ROAD?
GOD’s Story (visual and summary)- Good questions to ask
- Daily Bible reading reflections
- [future] Scripture snapshot videos
I underscore with the students that the Bible reading plan (which is the last half of the booklet) is the exact one I use. We’re not asking them to practice anything we’re not committed to doing with them. We encourage parents to join on the journey, to get on the ROAD. A good place to start is here.
The Bible reading plan has some unique features, like reading 3 chapters (1 in the NT, 2 in the OT), and going 3 days on and then a day off. Also, some of the slower narrative books have been pulled aside with a future video coming to explore its significance and place in the story. That way students and parents don’t feel lost on the ‘trees’ and can also see the ‘forest.’
Enjoying God and His Word, with you,
Pastor Jeff
ASK [almost] ANYTHING.
May 2nd
What is your Question?
This morning we worked through answering students questions about life, Jesus, following Him, the Church, and issues facing middle schoolers.
As one might expect, they have some good questions. Like:
- Why do people stereotype others?
- How do I talk about Jesus with my friends?
- If we are made in the image of God, why is there sin?
- Who created God?
- Is there more to the Christian life than accepting Jesus and going to church?
- Wanna be a ninja?
- Why are we writing down questions?
We actually started with that last one, since it may seem odd to ask questions in church. Why is that? Perhaps we have been programmed to not think too deeply or too much, but just go through the motions. Yet, we all have questions, and Jesus welcomed people to ask Him questions. Every few weeks we plan to give space and time to wrestling with life questions.
When we don’t ask questions our minds simply run with the preconceived notions running around in their (our thoughts, attitudes and desires), which come out in our words, lead to actions, and ultimately form and display our character. Just like we taught about last week:
About My Heart, Christ’s Home
Apr 23rd
Last Sunday we launched a new series with your middle schoolers. “My Heart, Christ’s Home” centers around the booklet of the same title by Robert Boyd Munger. The goal is to explore each “room” of our lives to discover if Jesus is welcome there, and how He can take full ownership of our lives. We’ll be exploring through May. Parents: drop by and get a copy of the booklet each student is receiving, and see the front of a house John Sramek built in the Student Center.
Teaching clip: Nehemiah 9-10
Mar 7th
Ever wonder what the middle school students are being taught each Sunday?
Currently we are wrapping up a series in Nehemiah (just like in “big church”), and this weekend learned Nehemiah 9-10, entitled “Remember What Got Us Here.”
Here Chris Nye uses an analogy to describe our need for dependence on Christ:
Never going back (Galatians 5:1)
Apr 18th
We are prone to wander from the Truth. Habits are hard to break. We grew up thinking that if we just tried harder, we’d make it to God. Or, that it doesn’t really matter and God accepts us just as the slobs we are. Isn’t He gracious or something?
Yes, God is full of grace! And He purchased the rights to bring us back to Himself through the payment of His Son. Christ came and did the Law perfectly, loved God and loved people all the way, and now we are free to love God and others. Our chains are gone!
God now — because of Jesus – treats us always, at every moment, on the basis of grace. We haven’t earned it and we never well. So we must swim in the deep-end of God’s grace and learn to relate to Him how we sees us.
We must stand firm, because we are prone to wander. Every day we must preach the Gospel to ourselves. Here’s a reminder of what we must fill up our brains. Let’s read Galatians 5:1:
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
- Paul tells us we used to be slaves. Why would we ever want to go back?
- Think on this: How does it make you feel to know you’re free?
The only way to be free (John 8:31-36)
Apr 17th
Ever been locked up someplace? Whether for a night, an hour, or even for a few minutes, being trapped someplace is not fun at all. As the youngest of three boys there were times when I was tricked and trapped (all in good fun).
There is only one way to be truly free. We are trapped in our performance mindset (earning our way to God), and thinking that our own way is better than God’s. We are slaves of our selfish nature, and cannot change ourselves. Our minds must be renewed, and our true selves become new.
Jesus is the One who frees us. Let’s read John 8:31-36:
31To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
33They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”
34Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
- Think on this: What’s the only way to be free? Why does this work?