JUNIOR HIGH SUNDAY SCHOOL

Yesterday we looked at Giving our whole heart to God - Loving God. Our main verse was Matthew 22:34-38,

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." This is the first and greatest commandment.

We considered what it meant to love God, talked about different ways we can express our love for God;
- spend time talking to God
- show some love to someone in the name of God
- obey God in an area of our lives where we've been disobeying him
- spend time getting to know God better in the Bible
- giving some money to God's work
- spend time worshipping God
- write a prayer or poem to God
- other:

We chose one of these to practice over the next 48 hours.

SENIOR HIGH YOUTHQUEST

HOW DOES BELIEVING IN GOD AFFECT MY MORALS?

- No one should judge another person based on their sexual orientation
- If someone sincerely believes that their religion is the right one, they should be entitled to their own opinion
- Whether a mother has her baby or not should be completely up to her
- If I am a good person, that's all that is really important
- If two people really love each other, no one has the right to tell them they can't live together
- Claiming Christianity is the only path to God is intolerant and arrogant
1. What do you think of these statements? Do you agree or disagree with the thinking here?
2. Have you ever heard someone say that there is no moral absolute truth? If so, what has your response been in the past when you've heard that?

THE ORACLE - read Matthew 25:31-46

1. How does Jesus describe the actions of those who follow him (the sheep)?
2. If Jesus described the actions of sheep in today's culture, what types of activities do you suppose he would include?
3. How does Jesus describe the actions of those who are not genuine followers (the goats)?
4. If Jesus described the actions of goats in today's culture, what types of activities do you suppose he would include?
5. Jesus talks a lot in this passage about 'the least of these.' Who were ' the least' in this passage?
6. Does Jesus' teaching match up with what you would have thought the moral standard is supposed to be for a Christian? Why or why not?
7. Notice how integrally Jesus tied the idea of moral behaviour with how we treat people. How does that impact the way you think about moral behaviour?

SELF REFLECTION
1. What is it that determines your moral behaviour? Is it rooted in anything concrete, or (in all honesty) does the way you happen to feel today influence what you believe is wrong and right?
2. What stops you form looking to Jesus for moral guidance?
3. How would your life look different if you decided to follow Jesus' words?

* taken from Following After God - What difference does God make? By Daniel Hill

DEEP THOUGHTS

Never try to have more faith... just get to know God better. And because God is faithful, the better you know him, the more you'll trust him. The way to get to know his trustworthiness is to risk obeying him - John Ortberg

JUNIOR HIGH YOUTH RETREAT

This past weekend, the junior highs went to Muskoka Sports Resort for a retreat. There were over 500 junior highs there and we had a great time of getting to know each other and being challenged by the sessions which included great worship music from the band Esoteric.

DEEP THOUGHTS

I am only one; but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; I will not refuse to do the something I can do – Helen Keller

CORNERSTONE YOUTHQUEST BASKETBALL

Another great night with a large group of boys out. Congrats to Shane and Osei for winning MVP honours. They showed honesty during the games and all night!

JUNIOR HIGH SUNDAY SCHOOL

Yesterday, our Sunday school class was about love - "SHOW THE SIGN." our main verse was JOHN 13:34-35,
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Our goals were: To learn that loving one another should be the distinguishing mark of Christians, to discuss implications of our youth group being loving to each other and to agree to a group application of holding each other accountable to love. Our dare was a group dare. To show love and unity.

JUNIOR HIGH YOUTHQUEST

On Friday (February 13th). We had a great night of wacky games, (mafia, picture broken telephone and hug tag). The hug tag introduced the lesson we would be studying on Sunday - based on John 13:34-35. We also watched a preview video of a series we'll be starting in the New Year called "Quest."Quest is a seven session DVD series designed to engage youth in discussion of spiritual issues from a Christian perspective. We also had discussions on who is God and who is the Holy Spirit - based on our Sunday school lesson from the previous week.

DEEP THOUGHTS

Failure does not shape you; the way you respond to failure shapes you. (John Ortberg)

YOUTHQUEST BASKETBALL

Tonight was another great night of ball. We had a great turnout, great games of basketball and a good times all around. Congrats to

Bassel and Chris for winning MVP. They showed that character matters by showing honesty during the games and throughout the night.

JUNIOR HIGH SUNDAY SCHOOL

Yesterday we talked about the big dare - GOD'S LOVE. Our key verse was John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
We talked about understanding Jesus' dare to believe, to consider what and who were are being dared to believe in and to write a personal statement of belief.
These are the questions we asked and some thoughts shared by the students (anonymously)

1. What do I believe about God?
- I believe that God is the giver of life and is our Creator. He has made everything
- He is the one who made the world from scratch
- I believe that God loved the world and sent His one and only son that whoever believes in him may not be lost but have everlasting life. I believe he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
- He is real. He created the world and us. He cares for us
- everything he creates does and destroys helps guide our lives and forgives us even though we sin
- I believe that God is real, and is everywhere and that he can answer all your prayers
- I've read about him in the Bible and I just know he's there
- God is good. God is real

2. What do I believe about the Holy Spirit?
- It is the redeemer and has given our soul purpose and meaning. Without it we are soulless
- It will protect me from evil and darkness
- I believe in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
- It is part of God and will stay with us
- I believe that the Holy Spirit is God and Jesus is one
- same as God
- Holy Spirit is holy and a spirit

3. What do I believe about the Church?
- church is where we meet with God and learn... where others meet and communicate as one...
- it is a place of peace and happiness. A place to praise God
- I believe that the church has a Christian Faith
- take time off and pray to God
- church is where people show their Christian belief
- they teach me about the Bible and about God and Jesus
- Church is a place of God

4. What do I believe about how a Christ follower should live?
- a Christ follower should believe in God but not challenge Him in any way. Accept his gift and not ask for anything
- try not to sin and praise God
- I believe that a Christ follower should live according to how God wants us to live
- listen to God's word from the Bible
- they should live without sin and pray...
- they should be caring, friendly, Jesus like...
- we should live a good life

SENIOR HIGH YOUTHQUEST

FOLLOWING AFTER GOD - SESSION 3

How does believing in God affect How I view people?

On Friday we talked about how society elevates some people - movie stars, athletes, etc. and downgrades others - special needs', immigrants, poor, etc. We talked about how this is in contrast with how much God values each individual life. We looked at the 3 parables in Luke 15 - The parable of the lost sheep, lost coin and lost son.

Here are the questions for self reflection:

1. If I had to paint a picture of how I view God and how I think God views every individual person, what would that picture look like?

2. (Based on Luke 15) How does this reading affect how you view God and how you think God views each individual person?

3. If what you read is true, how should you respond to such incredible love?

4. How should this truth change the way you view and treat other people?

EXPLORE YOUTH EVENT!

This Saturday (November 7th), come check out the new Immigrant Youth Centre (IYC). From 11:00am - 3:00pm. It's open to all immigrant youth.
Free admission
Fun activities
Open mic event
Prizes and giveaways
Program registrations
Special performances
** First 30 immigrant youth that bring a valid 'permanent resident' card will receive a free welcome package.

5284 Highway 7 E, Unit 2
Markham On,
(Northeast corner of HWY 7 and McCowan)
Fro more info. Please call Amir 905 294 8868 ext 202
email: amir.akbari@cicscanada.com
website: www.cicsiyc.org

JUNIOR HIGH SUNDAY SCHOOL

Today we look at faith - "Believe It!" Our goals are to: Understand the dare from Jesus that we exercise more faith, to consider what a teen exercising more faith looks like and to choose an area of our lives where we need to exercise more faith and write a prayer to God about it. Our main verses are Mark 11:23-24

"I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.