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This week we will be looking into how to invite friends to youth alpha…
Yup, God’s got a sense of humour. If you’re looking for it, you can see that throughout scripture, and there’s a good few preachers that will tell you about it today too! I wonder what God was thinking when he let us have church notices…
Look out for God’s gags as you read the Bible this week!
I was having a conversation today with a friend who suggested that this time of year is far more sensible to make new year’s resolutions than some time in January. So along with hundreds of others, most of you have committed to read the Bible in a year – starting today!
What’s more, you’ve got some help online at thebibleinoneyear.wordpress.com and with all of us supporting each other and chatting each Sunday we’re well away. This Sunday, by the way, is when we’re kicking things back off with the wonderful world of 24/7 – so pop down to RPBC on Sunday at 6:30pm to find out the latest and greatest stories from Grapevine, Soul Survivor, Creation, The Fall, Noah, Jesus Birth and more!
In the summer term we’ll be following the Freedom in Christ series of teaching, produced by YFC and Freedom in Christ Ministries.
“Every young disciple is looking to engage with Jesus in a way that will change lives. This innovative, exciting course will help young people discover the truth of who they are in Christ and be set free to be all that God has made them as a result.”
Mike Pilavachi, Soul Survivor
We’ll be starting with a fun Launch Night on 25th April which will be from 6:30-9 at Russell Park Baptist Church, and will include games, snacks and drink. It’s a relaxed ‘taster session’ that is easy to invite friends along to. Watch this space for more info on the rest of the term, coming soon!
Theme: God & Homosexuality
Aim: To consider what the Bible says about same-sex relationships
God created us as sexual beings with the capacity to be sexually intimate with one another. The “traditional” view held by many Evangelical Christians states that God’s ideal is for the gift of sexual intimacy to be enjoyed exclusively between one man and one woman, for life, within the context of marriage. However, today more and more voices from both within and without the church are calling for change. What about sexual intimacy between those of the same sex? Why should two committed men, or two committed women not be allowed to enjoy the gift that God has given them? In this session we will seek to explore, in a non-judgemental atmosphere, such things as what God says about same-sex attraction and sexual intimacy, are Christians guilty of homophobia and how should we act towards our friends who are gay.
Key Bible Verses: Romans 3:23, 1 Corinthians 6:9
Theme: Staying Single
Aim: To explore the pros and cons of being single and how to cope with temptation.
We are all made for relationships with other people. Many people therefore find it difficult, or see themselves as a failure, if they are not in an intimate relationship. This can often lead to poor choices in our lives that gets us into trouble.
Our priority should therefore always be our relationship with God. If we get this right, the rest will be much easier.
Key Bible Verse: Luke 10:27
Theme: Hope
Aim: To recognise the hope that we have, and realise its importance to others
We have an important gift from God. It’s hope. It’s the knowledge that God is in charge, and that he’s for us, he cares about us, that he has plans for us. This week we’re going to focus on remembering that hope that we carry inside of us, and realising it’s power to transform lives, personally, locally and globally. We’ll be considering some organisations using the word ‘hope’ in their titles too: the challenge laid out by the Hope 08 initiative and how that continues locally, and an inspiring strategy from the organisation Hope HIV.
Key Bible Verses: Jeremiah 29:11-14
We’ve got an exciting opportunity to join up with other local churches to go to Soul Survivor this year. We’d love you to be involved, so for more information read the letter.
