Winter Xtreme Wrap up
Josh Newton | Jan 22, 2010
Winter Xtreme Wrap up
Winter Xtreme was a huge success this year. I was encouraged by the weekend and I think that our students connected God and to each other in a powerful way. I wanted to take this time to share with you what was taught and what we hope our students took away from this incredible retreat.
Greg shared with us the Gospel and then gave simple illustrations on how to live out the Christian faith.
Session 1 – Freedom in knowing Jesus
Greg Speck started by preaching the gospel and offering an invitation to others to accept Christ as their savior. He shared his own testimony including the 4 things one of his friends told him in High School:
- John 3.16 – God loves you and Jesus’ love for you lasts forever
- Romans 3.23 – You have messed up, you are a sinner and your sin has separated you from Christ (Ask your students to tell you the illustration of sin and separation from God)
- Romans 5.8 – While still a sinner, Christ died for you
- John 1.12 – If you believe in him and receive his name you can become a child of God
It was refreshing to hear the gospel presented to our students in such a clear and simple way. It was also encouraging to see the response of many to the Gospel.
Session 2 – Fearless Living
What does it mean to live fearlessly? Greg Speck encouraged us to live out Micah 6.8 in light of what God has done for us. God has called us to act justly, love mercifully and to walk humbly with your God. But what does this look like?
- Act Justly – we were reminded that there is a difference between being a moral person and a person of character. The moral person does not do what is wrong and is often judgmental. This is a very passive way to live. The person of character does what is right, lives out their faith actively.
- Love Mercifully – we were challenged to forgive rather than seek revenge and to treat others the way that Jesus treated us. Jesus forgave us, in light of this, we should be able to forgive others.
- Walk Humbly with your God – glorify God by making him look good. By our lives we make God look good, or we make him look bad.
Session 3 – Courageous Love
Greg Speck encouraged us to love one another, calling some students out by saying that they could be very mean (anyone who has lived or worked with middle school students has seen this). We examined 1 John 4.7-11 and resolved to keep our peer groups horseshoe shaped and open to others rather than circular and closed (ask your student to explain what this means). We also took a look at the 5 ways we can care for others (from the 5 love languages):
- Service – Men were called to be gentlemen by holding doors open for women. Women were called to respect men by affirming, building up and encouraging men.
- Words – we were called to use them to build up even though it is our tendency to tear down
- Gifts – we were called to not just give flowers to dead people
- Time – we were called to listen like it says in James “Be slow to speak, slow to become angry and quick to listen.” Greg also called some of us out saying we talk too much
- Touch – Not perverted or painful but in the purest sense.
Session 4 – Going home and continuing to live for Jesus
This message hit home to many of our students as they asked for prayer in being courageous as they returned to school. We were reminded that faith is more than a feeling because God will never leave us or forsake us. Feelings may come and go but we are called to follow no matter how we feel.
- Walk with God (1 John 2.6) – anyone can run a sprint but Jesus has called us to a marathon and to do that we must develop a relationship with him. (Your children may need help and encouragement in knowing where to start, I encourage you to talk with your child and help them by maybe choosing a book of the Bible to study and a time that they can do it uninterrupted. Tell them about what you study and how you commune with God).
- Be holy (Leviticus 20.7-8) – This is a result of obedience.
We were reminded that we do this not to make God love us more but because of how much we love God and because of what he has done for us. Greg finished by challenging us to examine our lives and start something God wanted us to start and stop something God wanted us to stop.
Be encouraged, we did have one student start on the Christian journey this weekend. Praise God for bringing one more from our group to Himself! Thank you again for entrusting your kids to the leaders and me, we are honored and humbled to be given the opportunity to help your students on their spiritual journey.
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