When we return January 10th we'll be refreshed and ready to start off the new year with a BANG!
- New Series January 10th
- High School D-Groups Start January 24th
- ReNew 2010 High School Retreat - February 19th-21st
New Series Starts January 10th
Thursday, December 31, 2009
No Exchange This Sunday - January 3rd
In an effort to make vacation as relaxing as possible as well as give our student ministry leadership team some breathing room as we prepare for 2010, I've decided to cancel the Exchange this Sunday.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Four Christmas Songs By the Exchange Band Now Availible
Four Christmas songs are posted on our MySpace page.
* O Come All Ye Faithful
* O Holy Night
* O Come O Come Emmanuel
* Joy to the World (All of Creation)
http://www.myspace.com/exchangeworship
* O Come All Ye Faithful
* O Holy Night
* O Come O Come Emmanuel
* Joy to the World (All of Creation)
http://www.myspace.com/exchangeworship
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
What Do You Do When You're Losing Faith? PART I
We received this question via text message, and I firmly believe this is one of the most important questions for us to answer. In fact, I'll likely preach a sermon (or series) answering this question next Spring.
The reality is that virtually all of us will have times where we feel like we're losing faith or we have serious doubts. There's no simple solution to doubt, and there's no single reason people lose faith. Therefore, this list isn't meant to give you THE ANSWER to lose of faith. Instead the point is to help you process and work through your doubts and struggles.
Find a Mentor:
Find someone you trust who is older than you in the faith who can help you work through your struggles. They need to be someone who you can trust, and who has pure motives in trying to help you.
This person will help you work through the questions below (not that the questions are a set formula).
WORK THROUGH THESE QUESTIONS
1) What is causing me to lose faith? What is causing me to doubt
Often times there is a specific issue which is causing you to lose faith. They come in many different forms.
A lot of times the stuff that causes people to doubt isn't even real. After The Da Vinci Code came out, supposedly a great many people started to doubt their faith due to the content of the books. Those doubts could have been easily answered simply by doing a little research and realizing that The Da Vinci Code is filled with bad history.
Some issues are easier to answer than others, but it's very difficult to address a concern if you don't even know what it is.
2) What sin in my life am I not fighting? What sins do I need to confess?
Romans 6:23a
23For the wages of sin is death,
Sin by definition is rebellion against God. It is choosing to find satisfaction in something besides God. If you have unconfessed sin in your life, that is like a wedge between you and God.
Think about it this way. Imagine you're facing a mountain range. You can actually see exactly how beautiful it is. Then imagine you turn around and face the opposite direction (sin). The mountain range is still there, but you can't see it. It hasn't change, but you have. As soon as you turn around (repent) the mountains will reappear. Of course, this is just an illustration, but it seems to reflect my experience.
When I'm surrounded by sin and distractions, God can seem very far away. I think this is one of the reasons that people feel closer to God at youth retreats and during events like the Great Adventure and mission trips. You're pulled away from the sin and distractions of everyday life and you're put in a place where you can pursue God. In that environment, suddenly you're seeing God in ways you've never seen Him before. God hasn't changed, but your perspective of him has changed.
3) What spiritual disciplines and normal Christian activities are you ignoring?
Joshua 1:8
8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
There are certain behaviors and activities which are central to the Christian life.
Points 4 and 5 coming soon
The reality is that virtually all of us will have times where we feel like we're losing faith or we have serious doubts. There's no simple solution to doubt, and there's no single reason people lose faith. Therefore, this list isn't meant to give you THE ANSWER to lose of faith. Instead the point is to help you process and work through your doubts and struggles.
Find a Mentor:
Find someone you trust who is older than you in the faith who can help you work through your struggles. They need to be someone who you can trust, and who has pure motives in trying to help you.
This person will help you work through the questions below (not that the questions are a set formula).
WORK THROUGH THESE QUESTIONS
1) What is causing me to lose faith? What is causing me to doubt
Often times there is a specific issue which is causing you to lose faith. They come in many different forms.
- Apparent contradiction in scripture
- Contradiction between science and scripture
- Philosophical issue
- Feeling that God isn't there
- A passage in scripture is unsettling to you
- You can't reconcile certain events with God's character
- Compelling scientific arguments
- Hypocritical behavior in Christians
- Difference between what you see in scripture and what you see in churches today
- Etc.
A lot of times the stuff that causes people to doubt isn't even real. After The Da Vinci Code came out, supposedly a great many people started to doubt their faith due to the content of the books. Those doubts could have been easily answered simply by doing a little research and realizing that The Da Vinci Code is filled with bad history.
Some issues are easier to answer than others, but it's very difficult to address a concern if you don't even know what it is.
2) What sin in my life am I not fighting? What sins do I need to confess?
Romans 6:23a
23For the wages of sin is death,
Sin by definition is rebellion against God. It is choosing to find satisfaction in something besides God. If you have unconfessed sin in your life, that is like a wedge between you and God.
Think about it this way. Imagine you're facing a mountain range. You can actually see exactly how beautiful it is. Then imagine you turn around and face the opposite direction (sin). The mountain range is still there, but you can't see it. It hasn't change, but you have. As soon as you turn around (repent) the mountains will reappear. Of course, this is just an illustration, but it seems to reflect my experience.
When I'm surrounded by sin and distractions, God can seem very far away. I think this is one of the reasons that people feel closer to God at youth retreats and during events like the Great Adventure and mission trips. You're pulled away from the sin and distractions of everyday life and you're put in a place where you can pursue God. In that environment, suddenly you're seeing God in ways you've never seen Him before. God hasn't changed, but your perspective of him has changed.
3) What spiritual disciplines and normal Christian activities are you ignoring?
Joshua 1:8
8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
There are certain behaviors and activities which are central to the Christian life.
- Spend time in the Bible (Joshua 1:8)
- Prayer (1 Thess. 5:16-18)
- Gathering with other believers
- Giving & Serving
- Communion
- Baptism
Points 4 and 5 coming soon
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Video - Drew Greenway "Hear Our Praise"
The worship leader from Boot Camp this past summer has been signed to a local record label. Here's a video of him performing his song, "Hear Our Praise" live and acoustic.
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Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
Exchange Setlist: December 6th
We started a new series this week and continued the Christmas season.
O Come, O Come Emmanuel - Electronic Arrangement by Riley Pruitt
Joy to the World - Elevation Worship's Arrangement of Steve Fee's Arrangement
Sing to the King
O Come All Ye Faithful
Little Drummer Boy - The Almost
Sermon - Our King Has Come...with a Mission
Here is Our King
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Middle School Christmas Madness!!!
We're celebrating Christmas with a bang! Come join us for one wild
Christmas party! There will be a white elephant gift exchange.
A white elephant gift is a silly or funny gift which is worth $5 or less.
Who: All Middle Schoolers and Your Friends!
Date: December 12th
Cost: Free BUT you need to bring a white elephant gift to give away
Time: 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Where: The Albers Home
Christmas party! There will be a white elephant gift exchange.
- Inflatable slide and moon walk
- Video games
- Free pizza
- White Elephant Gift Exchange
- And more!
A white elephant gift is a silly or funny gift which is worth $5 or less.
Who: All Middle Schoolers and Your Friends!
Date: December 12th
Cost: Free BUT you need to bring a white elephant gift to give away
Time: 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Where: The Albers Home
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Exchange Setlist 11/29
Joy to the World - Elevation Worship version of Fee's version
Here is Our King
O Come All Ye Faithful - Original Arrangement
Marvelous Light (slow version)- Passion 07 iTunes EP Part III
Jason's Testimony
Child of Zion - Three Nails Short
Here is Our King
O Come All Ye Faithful - Original Arrangement
Marvelous Light (slow version)- Passion 07 iTunes EP Part III
Jason's Testimony
Child of Zion - Three Nails Short
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