Adventist Youth Program Idea #5

Personal testimonies should have a special place in the Sabbath program. Each Sabbath, the congregation should be encouraged and educated in a way that throughout the coming week they will be able to live and create fresh experiences that will strengthen their personal bond with Christ. These experiences, when shared with the church in the Sabbaths to follow, will in turn inspire and encourage others in their daily walk with the Saviour.

More often than not, though, the program leader will have a problem finding someone from the congregation to share an inspiring experience with the church. There are two possible reasons that could account for this.
First, the members do not have such experiences. Second, they are too shy to come up front and share the experiences they do have.

One way to deal with both problems is through this simple activity.

PROGRAM IDEA: Group Testimonies

Objective: To encourage the congregation to share their personal experiences as a Christian.

Materials Needed: None

Mechanics:
Divide the congregation into as many small groups as reasonable. Ours did well with four. Instruct each group to gather experiences from the members for each of the following categories:
1. Answered Prayer
2. Helping Others
3. Witnessing to Others
4. Conversion
5. Overcoming Temptation

You could also add other categories or come up with an entirely different set of categories. Give the group about ten minutes to gather these experiences. Time pressure is sometimes necessary to motivate the members to volunteer their experiences. Also, dividing them into smaller groups will encourage them to contribute. Plus, there’s the assurance that he/she won’t be the only one to do it.

At the end of the allotted time, have the group representatives come up to share their experiences with the bigger congregation. It’s also advisable to set a time limit for each group to present. The adult males at our church had more than five representatives, and we only then discovered that the “quiet” ones have a lot happening in their lives that are worth hearing!

At the end of the afternoon, we heard at least 20 different experiences from our members, most of them sharing for the first time.

Optional: Have the entire group come up front at the beginning of their turn to sing a hymn, serving as intermissions between the mini-speeches. We did this at our church so the non-representatives could still take part in the larger program.

I hope this helps your AY Program plan for this coming Sabbath. If you do use this program idea, do share how it goes. I would very much love to hear from you.

God bless!

Check out other AY program ideas in this blog by clicking here.

Walk with God... to Work

The two hours I spent walking to work this morning gave me lots of time to think of reasons why walking to work is good:
   
     1. Saves me money (about PhP800 a month)
     2. Puts my legs to work, thus preparing them for more work (i.e. overnight mission trips to remote areas that cannot be reached by cars or even motorcycles)
     3. Improves my breathing
     4. Allows me time alone with God

How I manage that fourth one is by listening to a sermon that I saved earlier on my smartphone. Today it was "Tools for Perfection" by Pastor Patrick Herbert of the Gilead Institute of America and the International Association of Free Seventh-day Adventists. The message was too wonderful to keep to myself, so I'm sharing the highlights here for you.

The world today has been deluded into believing that humans can't be perfect. This is altogether contrary to Bible teaching which expressly asks us in Matthew 5:48, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." This is Jesus asking us to perfect and we know He would never ask us to do something that is impossible for us to do. All the Lord's biddings are enablings.

He didn't say the road to perfection would be easy, but He promises to be there to give us all the help we need to make it. He gives us tools:

1. Laws. The Ten Commandments. "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple." Psalm 19:7. To convert = change = transform. We can be like God, not in power, but in character. The laws have been provided to bring us back into the image and likeness of God.

2. Affliction. "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy."  1 Peter 4:12. Hardships, trials, temptations, difficulties are tools in the hands of God. Jesus learned obedience and perfection "by the things that He suffered." Hebrews 5:8,9. Afflictions help us realize our need for God and draw us closer to Him.

3. Work. Both our evangelistic effort and the performance of daily duties. "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." Matthew 16:24. Do your work with all your might as if doing it for God, take it up even if you don't like it. Deny yourself. Jesus was a Prince in heaven, but He worked at Joseph's carpentry shop many years. Adam and Eve were given work after they sinned because it was a way back to God. Work not just for yourself, but for the salvation of others as well.

4. Sanctuary. The church. Jesus wanted His children to be united under one name. "Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we [are]." John 17:11. Jesus wants His children to be together, to work together. "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." Hebrews 10:25. The church is to be a means for us to be exhorted and corrected, that we may be edified to perfection.  

5. Study. "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15. When you begin to study, you begin to understand the things that God reveals to you on a very personal level. So make time for study. 

6. Obedience. "If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land." Isaiah 1:19. Canaan on earth and Canaan in heaven requires the same thing: willing obedience. We have to do what we believe to be right. What you know could kill you or save you, depending on what you do with it. Ask the Lord for help to be obedient. Without the Spirit, it is impossible to obey.  

7. Prayer. "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh [is] weak." Matthew 26:41. Praying is communion with God. By constant beholding we are changed.

There you have them. Seven tools. Seven - the Lord's number for perfection and completeness. And for Seventh-day Adventists, did you notice? the first letters of these seven tools form the acronym LAWS-SOP. Every tool we need God has provided. And when we begin to use and apply them, God will have a people prepared to meet Jesus when He returns.

If you want to hear the entire sermon, just leave a comment below with your email address and I'll get the sermon across to you. :)

Meanwhile, the walk also gave me opportunity to see the wonders of God's creation in the flowers along the way.

have a happy weekend! :-)

Raise the Standard High

People running to and fro

Not really knowing where to go

Just living from day to day

With no guide to lead the way

  

To  the left or to the right

People strive for earthly heights

Blind to the end this world will meet

Or to heaven - the promise sweet

Pain and pleasure this world will lend

No, Do not bow, Do not blend

Lift high Christ who died

Live up to His standards high

Tell the world, let them know

Christ in you, to them show

By your words, by your deeds

Plant the truth as precious seeds

Dare to share, be not shy

Raise the standard high

Raise your voice in loud a cry

Raise God's standards high

10.27.2012

Adventist Youth Program Ideas

Idea # 4: A Church Ministry for You

Objective: To find a place for every church member in the work of God. This is also useful for Ministry Heads to identify possible recruits for ministry projects.

Materials Needed: A list of all the ministries in your church (Prison Ministry, Radio Ministry, Publishing Ministry, Welfare Ministry, etc.), active and otherwise. Names of the ministries written in individual signboards. You can also have the option to make a list of the activities, projects, and plans of that ministry to go along with the signboard.

Mechanics:  Before the start of the activity, group seats according to the number of ministries in your church and place a signboard at each seat group. Have assistants stationed at each location. It might even be better if you can ask the Ministry Heads to act as your assistants for this activity. Begin by saying that the Church is organized for missionary purposes and that every member is called upon to be a missionary. Briefly introduce the ministries you have at your church. Instruct the congregation to take a tour of the different stations and find the ministry they feel they are best suited for. They are then to stay at that station with the others who chose the same ministry. When everyone is already seated, the assistants/Ministry Heads will begin to ask each person at his station to say why he/she chose that ministry and what he/she thinks he/she could do to contribute to that ministry. Ideas for new projects may also be gathered. Allow about 20-40 minutes for the discussions, depending on the size of the groups. If you have small congregation (like we do at my church), you can skip the regrouping and just ask the members to come up to the microphone one by one. When everyone has had the chance to share, end by saying that there is a place in the church's work for everyone and that God would be very happy if all would enlist and share in the burdens and joys of the church.

And that's it. Everyone participated, everyone found out what they can do for the church, and the ministries found a fresh batch of possible recruits. Make sure to do a follow up with the Ministry Heads regarding projects and activities.

If you try this at your church, I'll be glad to know how it goes.

Enjoy your AY Program!

Adventist Youth Program Ideas

Idea # 3

Music is a huge part of any worship service. It is a gift that God wants us to use and enjoy to His glory. These days, the gray area between good church music and otherwise has widened along with the musical generation gap. It probably also happens in your church: the older members complaining that church music now just isn't as good as in the old days. But God has bestowed musical talents just as wisely on this generation as in previous ones. So this is what today's AY program idea is about: bridging the musical generation gap.

MUSIC: OLD AND YOUNG

Materials: writing board and chalk or papers and pens (for copying song lyrics)

Mechanics: Group the congregation into two or more (depending on the size of the congregation). Make sure that each group has enough young members as well as older ones. Instruct the older members of the group to teach their younger members a song from the old days - one that the youth are not familiar with. Also, ask the youth to teach their older members a song that is from their generation. Allow practice time. Now, each group will be given time to perform both songs - the older ones singing the new song, and the younger ones singing the old song.

Now you have young people learning and singing old songs and older people learning and actually singing new songs! This may just start everyone on a road to appreciating music from different generations. Plus, you   just gave them an avenue to interact and work with each other toward a common goal.

At my church, everyone enjoyed the activity, especially the older ones as they sang their newly-learned song while their young teachers looked proudly on.

The important thing to emphasize here is that the sacredness of the musical gift cuts across generations. God designed for music to be as much a part of worship as is prayer. In the words of the Apostle Paul:

I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. 1 Corinthians 14:15

What do you do to bring out the good music at your church?


Check out other AY Program Ideas in this blog by clicking here.

Adventist Youth Program Ideas

Having been thrown into AY leadership at the age of 15, with virtually no leadership education and no idea what to do, I basically know how it is to dread Adventist Youth Programs that I have to plan as leader.

So here are a couple of ideas that I hope will help leaders out there to make programs interesting and educational without taking away the sanctity and solemnity of a Sabbath afternoon. Both these ideas are centered around an exploration of the Bible, with the congregation working in small groups. Groups can be made according to the seating arrangement, age levels, gender, existing grouping, or whatever works for you.

Program Idea #1


MY BIBLICAL BODY

Materials: White Board and Marker (or Chalk board and chalk), Eraser, several Bibles in each group, pen and paper

Mechanics: Have groups look up Bible verses that mention different body parts and how these parts are supposed to be used to glorify their Maker. Give a few examples. Allow about ten minutes for this. After ten minutes, have a representative of one group come up front to read their collection of verses. Another group member will be assigned to draw on the board the body parts they found verses for until they can complete a whole human being. When all the groups have had their turn, check to see who has the best and most complete drawing. Close by reading Psalm 139:14, 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20, Matthew 18:8, 9.

Important Note: Take care to clarify to the groups that the verses must not only mention a body part but also contain a message on how that body part is to be used or not used or how it is to be taken care of. For example, Daniel 2:32-34 isn't valid because it only mentions the body part but there's no message on how that part can glorify God. Also make sure that they look up verses that refer to HUMAN body parts. One group in my church used Genesis 1:2 which mentions "FACE of the WATERS."

Examples of valid verses:  
Job 31:1 I have made a covenant with mine EYES...
Psalm 51:15 O Lord open thou my LIPS; and my MOUTH shall show forth thy praise...
Ephesians 6:15 And your FEET shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace...
Psalm 144:1 ...which teacheth my HANDS to war and my FINGERS to fight...
Revelation 2:7 he that hath an EAR let him hear...
Ezra 9:5 i fell upon my KNEES...

How the drawings turned out at my church. Thanked God for designing me. :)

Program Idea #2


BIBLE STORIES FROM NATURE


Objective: To refresh the congregation's minds about Bible stories and to help them see objects around them as reminders of our God's power and our Biblical heritage.

Mechanics: Have each group choose an object of nature (e.g. soil, rock, flowers, tree/branch, leaf, water, etc) obtain a sample of such object. Each member of the group must now recall one or two (depending on the number of members and the time available) Bible story/ies that involved that object. Give the groups 7-10 minutes to list down the stories. At the end of time given, have one group come to the front with their sample. The first member holds up the sample and recalls a Bible story involving the object, beginning with "This is the rock/flower/soil/water/etc....". The sample is now passed on to the next member who also shares another story and so on. Have the other groups do the same.

Example: Water
The group can bring a glass of water.
Member 1: This is the water that Jesus turned into wine at a wedding in Cana. (passes the glass to Member 2)
Member 2: This is the water that Elijah poured over the altar he made for God in Mount Carmel. (passes the glass to Member 3)
Member 3: This is the water that Jacob drew from a well to feed Rachel's animals. (passes the glass to Member 4)


I hope these ideas help somehow. If you have more ideas, please do share.