FAMILY NIGHT 2023

INTRO:

WELCOME! Thanks for being here on the first day of school, some people just got back from vacation (you’ll notice others are still on vacation), BUT it means so much that you came tonight and I promise it will be worth it!

PLAN - tonight you will have an opportunity to connect with staff leaders, we will play a games, sing, hear from the word, learn about this semester and FINISH off with ICE CREAM!

PRAY

Staff Connection - In a moment I will dismiss all the parents to go find their students small group leader. Each leader has a sign with the corresponding group, you’ll follow them to a spot where we have snacks and drinks for you. BUT when you get there, you’ll have 15 minutes & the staff are prepared to share 3 THINGS with you -

1. Their testimony

2. Why they are in HS min

3. Their plan for the semester

THEN they can answer any questions you have & please use any remaining time to get to know them more, grab their phone number, etc.

STUDENTS - you stay RIGHT HERE because I’m going to talk to YOU about CREW

After about 15 minutes I will call you back on the microphone so that we can continue with the night.

GO!

CREW

Crew is not just something we do bc we need help carrying the weight - its intentionally designed for 3 reasons

Your Growth

Reach the Lost

Own the ministry

1. Grow -

2. Evangelize -

3. Own -

2 requirements

That you are faithful

That you will serve

This Sunday right after 2nd service for 15 min we will do a quick CREW POW WOW - to talk about who is on what teams

Next wednesday we are MOVING - we will have a crew meeting at 5:45 ON THE DOT

GAME: Strong man (10 min)

Jesiah & Mario

Johnny & Aaron

Karston & Chris

Transition: Pray & Worship

Sermon

Intro: Well I say it often but I’m so thankful to be doing what I do in this ministry - I believe that this is one of the most important ministries in our church - I am thankful for the way God has used this ministry in my life to bring me to salvation through campus ministry, then youth group and then a winter camp.

He used this ministry to grow me, teach me and set my heart on fire for ministry.

And I hope that you would be excited about this ministry and join whats going on here however you can.

I don’t want you to like HS min, serve HS min,

My purpose in this short amount of time is to give you 3 REASON why you need HS ministry.

out my 3 reasons, 1 is for Parents, 1 is for students & 1 is for both

Now you may say - “I already believe in HS ministry thats why I am here” well then I want to move you to be ABSOLUTLEY CONVINCED you need HS min

If you are already on board then great!

I want you excited about this ministry

1. Get Support (5 min)

You have a HUGE GOD ORDAINED TASK as a parent which is to TEACH your children the commandments of the Lord (deut 6) AND to bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (eph 6)

Now it does not come to you as news... that is a difficult task and if there is a good source of support, why wouldn’t you access it?

Illus: Brooke and I have a baby coming in Oct and naturally we have been getting LOTS of advice, what to do, what not to do BUT what we find to be SO COMFORTING & HELPFUL is that we have people around us who just want to help - they have already offered to baby sit, to come over and change diapers, make food - we know that when the baby comes, we will want an extra set of hand

And I think thats how you should view HS min, an extra set of hands. Not here to TEACH you, not here to TAKE OVER, but here to come alongside & support you as you fulfill your role as the PRIMARY discipler of your student.

So we want to know what you see at home, your concerns, we want to know where your struggling or where your thriving w/ your students so that we can come in push them in the right direction

APP: Which means we need GOOD communication between staff and parent - regular phone calls, text messages, Sunday morning talks on the patio & really prepare to lead those conversations - if you could come with really practical & specific ways we could support you THAT would be a major help

Its funny sometimes you will tell your student something OVER AND OVER AND OVER and they just won’t listen. But then when the younger godly discipler says THE SAME THING! The light bulb goes off, they do it - and they come home and say “My staff leader is so wise they said this and now thats what I am gonna do!” and you will think WHAT?!

I think its helpful to remember that your student did not get to watch you in your 20’s - and now bc of this ministry they get to watch someone live the Christian life in their younger years - and sometimes for whatever reason that will be impactful for them.

I also think that HS ministry will support and facilitate your student getting a well rounded exposure to the body of Christ

Rom 12:4-6 “For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly...

Variety of Gifts

In order for your student to grow to be more like Christ, they need to be around the BODY of Christ. Now, you may be a hand in the body but they need to also be around the foot, the mouth, the eyes - so that they are being exposed to, molded by, and imitating after people w/ a variety of gifts.

And let me tell you, the people on this staff are not just anybody… they aren’t an appendix that serves no purpose - we’ve got the vital organs here

You want your student around:

Ultra servant: Nicolai

Ultra wise: Max Maitland

Ultra godly: Lexi

and so many others

So you have probably recognized that you don’t display Christ perfectly (none of us do) but when members with variety of gifts and personality come together, it represents Christ better - and that is why you want your student in HS ministry -

HS ministry can be the context in which your student gets a front row seat a variety of gifts

Illus:

So Parents I hope you see that HS ministry is your friend

2. Growth (student) (5 min)

Word - 1 Peter 2:2 “like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,”

Most of you are in the VERY BEGINNING of your christian walk - and you need nourishment. babies can’t eat once a week on Sunday morning and then hold out til next sunday - so you MUST feast on the word on Sunday mornings - but you need a mid week meal on Wednesday - you need the protein bar of small group bible study.

You need food even when you don’t feel like eating - there will be times where you’re too tired, too busy, no ones going tonight, I’d rather go to this movie, concert, etc - but the Bible doesn’t say LONG for the milk of relaxation or entertainment, or comfort - LONG for the WORD - bc thats what will make you grow!

Discipleship - intentional relationship for the purpose of growth

It is not: a baby sitter, a second parent, paid position

They are people who love Jesus & love you. They want to be your friend, ally & counselor. They want your best. So they do things like small groups meetings, come to youth group, meet up one on one, text you, call you NOT because they have to BUT because they want to!

So you should SOAK up these relationships while you can - what can be more beneficial to your growth than someone who you can model your life after? Someone you can learn from? Someone who will help you apply the Bible to your specific circumstances.

Relationships - 1 Cor 15:33 “Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.””

The sad reality is there are more bad friends out there than good ones. And they say you’re the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with (idk if thats true) BUT this ministry is the place where you can find good friends who love Jesus and will encourage you NOT corrupt you.

*disclaimer - that doesn’t mean you wont get offended, that doesn’t mean every student in the youth group is a solid believer - but friendships in this context, I believe, will be the most beneficial and long lasting BC they are not founded on school, sports or social group - they’re centered on the common relationship we have in Jesus Christ - so these relationships will be deep

3. Great Commission (both) (5 min)

Everything we do in this ministry is so that students would know Christ and become more like Him.

Matt 28:19 ““Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,”

This ministry is your opportunity to be a part of Gospel ministry

Just take a look at the list of recent people who have been baptized, it seems as if every baptism we have multiple students getting baptized

Whether its students that grew up in the church, ones that come right out of the world and everything in between - this is where it is happening

We’ve watched generations come through this ministry and be impacted so greatly that they continue on as church interns, to the training center, to desire full time ministry

and so I don’t ask you to simply sign up your name on a list to do a task, I’m not asking for you to just “help out” BUT I want you all to see how this ministry is a platform for the gospel advancing throughout the next generation

The studnets that come here on Wednesday nights are the future husbands, wives, dads, moms, church leaders - so you can see why this ministry is SO VITAL

There are lots of ways you can be inlolved

MAD CREW at camp - construction, medical, admin

EVENTS - there will be events that even if you can’t serve - put in your calendar, show up, watch, have fun with us AND Serve if able

PRAY -

So one major way you can join is through CAMPUS MINISTRIES - this semester we plan to go on 4 campuses every week to preach the gospel and invite students to church

NOW - the ONLY way students will come is 1. If they are invited and 2. If there is food

So students - I’m asking you to go absolutley crazy inviting your friends - to decide today that your reputation does not matter and your friends eternity does - so you should not just be attending BUT inviting

PARENTS - If all you can do is give financially for us to get food than we will gladly accept it BUT I’m asking for those who can to BRING the food, step on campus with me AND be a part of whats going on. Be praying.

CONCLUSION:

Parents what could be a better plan to point your student to Christ than to have them be here?

Students, can you name a diffeent strategy that will help you grow during HS than to be plugged into this ministry?

To everyone - will you join this ministry in advancing the gospel - by inviting, supporting and praying over the next semester

I hope that you now clearly see why YOU NEED HS MIN!