Becoming a Movement

Countdown

Something fun (eg. Game, video, etc.). It is not necessary for this to have a tie in to the lesson, but it can.

Introductions

This is culture

Basic Opening Statement: Today is a special day. We are launching something brand new. Something I have been processing through over that last 6 months or so and I am really excited about it. So we are glad that you are here with us. Today we are changing our name. Ever since I got here this thing that we do has been called, bcsm. Bridgetown Church Student Ministry. Today that changes. Instead of bcsm we are now going to be a called bcsm, bridgetown church student MOVEMENT.

Huge difference, right?

Well, for me as I have been thinking about this change it has transformed my idea of what we are doing here and we are going to be exploring this over the whole next year. But we start TODAY.

Part of the reason we changed the name, was because we felt like it would encompass our four values a little bit better. So those have not changed. You still have community here. You have purpose here. You have a mission outside of here. And all of that is based on the truth of the Gospel. the truth that we want you to hear and share: God wants to have a relationship with you.

I am _______________ and before we start, let me pray.”

*Pray for God to use what you have to say to move someone further along in their journey towards Jesus.*

Story Time

Tell a quick story that introduces the message

Kenny had a pool in his backyard. It wasn’t huge. One of those 4 ft deep above ground numbers. But we would spend hours in there, Kenny, me and his two younger brothers, making whirlpools. I am sure you guys have done this once or twice. You all start walking around the edge of the pool. This gets the water all moving in the same direction, so you create a current. And as it builds up, eventually you can grab onto the side of the pool and the current lifts up your feet. Sometimes it is so strong you can’t hold on and you are forced to keep going. You can kind of just float around in a circle without much effort. Now if everyone stops walking around the pool, what happens? The current dies. Movement creates momentum or a current that effects everyone in the pool.

What are some currents you have seen flowing in your school ? in your family? Like if you just let go of the side of the pool, where would you end up? Would you find yourself closer or further from Jesus and his Kingdom?

How do you change the current or momentum in a whirlpool?

Our challenge, our mission here at the Bridgetown Church Student Movement is to turn the world upside down, to change the current, so it looks more like the Kingdom of God. The only way we can do that is through a movement that goes against the current and forms a new one.

Catch Up

Where we have been in the series. Where we are going.

So the big question is how can we do that. How do we create a movement? And that is a big question. I believe the answer is found in Holy Spirit empowered teaching, practice, and unity. Allowing the Holy Spirit that lives inside of us Christ followers to teach us, train us and form the different human beings in this room into a family, a singular unit. So we form a new current by living our lives differently. Turning the world upside down by turning our lives upside down for other people. When those things happen and we start to do the things the Holy Spirit, that Jesus wants us to do, other people will join this movement to turn the world upside down alongside of us.

Now that is a bit different than the way the world creates movements. The world creates movements through environment, common habits, interests and culture (through the current), not the wisdom of the Creator God. So most movements are primarily a popularity contest. Which is how you get movements like the Nazi movement in Germany in the 1940s.

All movements are started because people long for the things Jesus offers. But not all movements are based on the truth found in Jesus. We will base our movement on the truth found in Jesus. The reasons the Nazis took control of Germany is because people were afraid, they wanted security, they wanted identity. Jesus offers all of those things in a way the Nazi party never could.

So when you change the current towards the truth of Jesus, towards the Kingdom, it becomes contagious, people start to float towards the Kingdom to be confronted with the reality of the Kingdom.

Scripture

Read or summarize main Scripture with a little surrounding context. Ask a couple of questions to about the text.

Now a movement happens on two levels. The corporate or community level and then the individual level. Both levels are important, but right now I want to speak on the individual level. We have talked before that in order to participate in the Kingdom of God we have to become disciples of Jesus.

Disciple is a fancy word for student or apprentice.

When you think of an apprentice, what would you say they do?

There are three goals of an apprentice or disciple.

They spend time with the teacher.

Acts 4:13 (ESV)

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

John 15:4–5 (ESV)

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

2. They become like the teacher.

Luke 6:40 (ESV)

A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.

3. They do what the teacher does.

Matthew 4:19 (ESV)

And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Tension/ Main Point

What is the rub? Create some questions and feeling in the minds of your students around the main point of the lesson.

So our goal is to start a movement that will turn the world upside down by turning our lives upside down for other people. It is a movement that is built on top of a community of apprentices to Jesus that spend time with Jesus, try to become like Jesus and do the things Jesus did, by utilizing Holy Spirit empowered teaching, practice and unity.

I have said a lot today. I don’t expect you to remember everything. But if you hear me say nothing else today, your big takeaway is we are here to change the current. That is not an easy task, but I have faith that amidst the many starts and stops that we are likely to see over the next year in this mission, we are going to see progress.

Why do I believe that? First of all, we have the Holy Spirit empowering our movement, with Him on our side anything is possible. But almost as important, I have faith in all of you to do something with this, to make an impact on your friends and family. I really think that you guys can do amazing things if you will just let yourself. I am excited for the day a year from now where we will celebrate and share all the amazing stories that come out of this movement. It is going to be a party!

Response

We respond every week with an invitation to baptism and communion.

So that is the mission. That is the vision for the next year.

Good.

Like I said this is a movement built on a community of apprentices. Anyone can be a part of the movement as long as they are willing to turn their lives upside down for other people. So whether you believe everything we believe or not, you can still help us turn the world upside down. In fact we welcome you. We are better off with you than without you.

But let me just tell you, the best stuff is when you become a part of the community of Jesus followers or apprentices or disciples. When you get to experience what it is like to have the Holy Spirit animating your efforts, empowering your current-changing actions. If you believe that Jesus is who He says He is, the way you “get in,” the way you declare your citizenship in the kingdom is through baptism. That is not the end of your journey, its just the first step. But if you have not done that, I want you to know we can do that today.

One of the ways we celebrate the community we have here with each other and with God Himself is to gather every week around the bread and the cup.

This helps us remember the cost of this relationship with Jesus, this Holy Spirit living inside of us. Jesus died on a cross to satisfy the God’s full Justice and Extreme Mercy all at the same time. The bread reminds us of his broken body. The juice reminds us of His blood poured out for our sakes. I am going to play a song and I would just ask you to feel free to move to grab communion, or if you want to talk with one of the adults, if you want to join the community here or you want someone to be praying for you, that is what we are here for. Just let us know. If you don’t want to move and just want to listen to the lyrics of the song, or pray, or read the Bible you can do that as well.

Song

Pick a song that centers around the main theme of the lesson.

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE- Bethel and Dante Bowe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b23h_tNF8RE

Discussion

Complete the Amazing Floating Hula Hoop challenge.

Everyone gather around the amazing floating hula hoop and extend your pointer fingers on each hand at about waist high. The goal of this game is to lower the hula hoop to the ground but your fingers must remain straight, the hula hoop needs to remain level, and every finger in the circle needs to be touching the hula hoop at all times. Straight fingers touching a level hula hoop. The leader will now lay the amazing floating hula hoop on your fingers and you will try to lower it to the ground with straight fingers touching a level hula hoop.

How is the amazing floating hula hoop like a whirlpool?

This is your community. Part of being a community is caring fo one another and one way we can do that is by praying for each other. Does anyone have something we can celebrate with you this week? What is heavy for you this week?

Pray together

What do you think it would take to actually change the current in your school/ workplace/ family?

What do you think of the new name?

Does the word movement actually feel different than ministry to you? Why or Why not?

What does it mean that the movement we are trying to start is built on a community of disciples/ apprentices?

Family Worship

Hey, welcome to Family Worship.

This week we changed something fundamental in bcsm. We changed our name. What was Bridgetown Church Student Ministry is now Bridgetown Church Student Movement.

What do you think the difference is between a ministry and a movement?

The goal of the Bridgetown Church Student Movement is to turn the world upside down by turning our lives upside down for other people. This movement is built on top of a community of disciples or apprentices of Jesus who are trying to spend time with Jesus, become like Jesus and do the things Jesus would do.

Read

Read John 15:5-6

Understand

Who are the branches? (15:5)

What did Jesus say would happen to the branches that did not remain in Him? (15:6)

Apply

When is it difficult to spend time with Jesus?

Why is it important?

As bcsm embarks on this journey, we want your family to join us. We believe that with the Holy Spirit’s help we can turn our schools, workplaces and families upside down by turning our lives upside down for other people.

Every week we will be posting three different challenges for your family to complete. Something just for fun, something you can practice together, and something you can do. Read them all and commit to accomplishing at least one of the three each week.

Challenges

Fun: Have a contest to see who can stand on one leg the longest without falling. Trying to turn the world upside down with Jesus and the Holy Spirit is like trying to stand on one leg. Eventually you’ll get tired and give up.

Practice: Have each person set a timer for 5 minutes every day this week and pray until the timer runs out. Every time you eat dinner together this week, talk about how that’s going for each person.

Do: Sign your family up for the Prayer Canopy by going to bridgetownchurch.com/prayer-canopy

Daily Devotions

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Read

Read John 15:5-6

Understand

Who are the branches? (15:5)

What did Jesus say would happen to the branches that did not remain in Him? (15:6)

Apply

When is it difficult to spend time with Jesus?

Why is it important?

Pray

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Read

Read John 16:33

Understand

What did Jesus want for His disciples? (16:33)

Why did Jesus tell the disciples to take heart? (16:33)

Apply

How does knowing Jesus has overcome the world allow you abide or trust in him?

Pray

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Watch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcZS_-Yc170

Read

Read Psalm 71

Understand

Compare the song and the Psalm. What is the same? What is different?

Apply

How can you depend on God more this week?

Pray

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Read

Read Luke 4:42; 5:15-16

Understand

What was Jesus’ response to His popularity? (5:16)

What challenges would Jesus have faced to carve out time to be alone with himself and God? Do you face any similar challenges?

Apply

What challenges do you face in carving out time to be with God?

How can you overcome those challenges?

Pray

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Read

Read John 10:1-6

Understand

What do you think John means by “He calls his sheep by name, and they know his voice”?

Apply

Do you think you have ever heard God’s voice? What was that like?

What does it mean to listen to God? How can you do that?

Pray

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Practice

Put away your phone for 10 minutes and settle in a nice quiet place.

For most people, sitting with your back straight, shoulders relaxed, legs on the floor is a good start. Others do better lying on their back in a relaxed position. 

Close your eyes. Take long, deep, slow breaths (if you want, count 4 seconds in, 4 seconds wait, 4 seconds out, repeat). Inhale through your nose, exhale through your mouth. Start to pay attention to your breathing. Just “watch” your breath go in and out. Release the constant chatter in your mind. Let each thought go as quickly as it comes, and just focus on your breathing. Your mind will seize this opportunity to run wild with thoughts, feelings, memories, to do’s, and distractions. That’s okay. Don’t judge yourself, feel bad, give up, or worry. When you notice your mind start to wander, just recenter with a quick prayer, like, “Father…” and come back to your breathing. Do this for about 1 minute.

Spend a few minutes “abiding in the vine”

Transition from your breathing prayer to “the practice of the presence of God.” Notice God’s presence all around you, in you. For some people it’s helpful to imagine the Father is sitting in the chair across from you or on a throne. Welcome his love, joy, and peace from the Holy Spirit. If you want, open your mind and imagination to listen for God’s voice, or get something off your chest in prayer. But the main goal here is simply to “be with Jesus.” Don’t feel like you have to “do” anything. Just relax and enjoy his presence.

Close in a prayer of gratitude and commit the rest of your day to the Father

A few things to note:

You can’t “succeed” or “fail” at this practice. All you can do is show up. Be patient. This takes some people years to master. Resist the urge to say, “I’m bad at this” or “This isn’t for me.” Don’t judge yourself, especially if you’re an overachiever type. 

If sitting still is just death for you, you might want to try this while doing a stretching exercise or going on a walk somewhere quiet and distraction free (like a park or short hike). Apply the same idea to a walking prayer, and just focus on your walking instead of your breathing.

Adapted from practicingtheway.org