Hope Youth Affirmation Project Revolution

HYAPR (pronounced "hyper") may be better known to you as confirmation, affirmation of baptism or catechism.  This three-year exploration is open to anyone in 7th grade and above.  Here the youth affirm their faith in Jesus Christ and further their education in the purposes God has for their lives.

The overall mission of HYAPR is to enable students to have the courage and knowledge to publicly proclaim Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and that is where the "revolution" comes from.  It becomes necessary to revolt against our pride, our fears and the world’s ways in order for us to give ourselves completely to Christ.  To be a Christ follower is to not be a world follower which is the revolutionary idea that got Jesus killed.

 

For the 2010-2011 year we will be exploring the Lord's Prayer and what it means to live a life of faith.

MINI RETREATS: These Sunday afternoon gatherings will begin after church is over and will start with lunch together before launching into an exploration of the roots of our faith. 

 

There are all kinds of habits in this world; good habits, bad habits and downright weird habits.  None of these habits happen overnight but the more you desire the habit the easier it is to form.  Our challenge is to develop the habit of spending some time every day in reading the Bible and prayer.  Check this page out every week for both middle school and high school directed readings to help you do that.

 

Why do we want to read the Bible daily?  When you join a team you want to study the playbook and listen to the coach so you know the plays and can truly be a part of the team. In the same way, as members of God’s team we want to study his playbook, the Bible!

Do you have a hard time talking to God?  Sometimes there is nothing better than hanging out and talking with your friends. Think of talking to God in the same way.  God looks forward to conversations with you and He is there to listen to you day and night.

Eugene H. Peterson’s “The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language" is available free to everyone in Hope Student Ministries.

     “There’s nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation

     through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one

     way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes,

     training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up

     for the tasks God has for us.” 2 Timothy 3:15-17 The Message

  

Daily God Time

 

August 31 to September 5, 2010

 

TUESDAY:  Luke 14:25-33.  This is a hard saying from Jesus but this is how even your everyday life works.  If your best friend in the world wants you to sniff glue with them you must break the bond of friendship enough to say "no".  In this instance your health comes before your friendship.  Here Jesus is saying your faith in God must come before your family, friends and fun.  In what area of your life do you put following Jesus in second place?  Pray for both forgiveness and the strength to put God first.

 

WEDNESDAY:  Deuteronomy 30:15-20.  God seems to be full of threats and mean words in this reading leaving us to wonder, "where is the love?"  The love is there however.  God first of all is not keeping us in the dark; He openly tells us what is good and what is bad and what happens when we choose one or the other.  We don't have to guess with the fear of being wrong.  Secondly God lets us make our own choices; He treats us all like adults.  Now that is true love.  Pray for the strength to choose the good way; God's way.  (and now you know where Sid the Sloth got his "I choose life" phrase!)

 

THURSDAY:  Philemon 4-7.  I bet this guy Philemon was both surprised and pleased to learn that Paul was praying for him.  Who do you pray for?  Choose one of those names and let that person know you pray for them; it will make their day.

 

FRIDAY:  Matthew 8:1-4.  What if Jesus had said, "I don't want to" to the leper and left him sick?  It would be a shocking moment and would change how we viewed Jesus.  We would wonder if it were possible he might not choose to forgive us when we asked.  But that is not what he said so we can remain confident in the God that wants, more than anything, for us to love Him and to spend eternity with Him.

 

SATURDAY:  Proverbs 18:21.   Who is nearby that you can you give a compliment to or encourage with your words?  Choose to get up and say something nice to them right now!

 

SUNDAY:  Psalm 1.  I pray that you have found a moment each day this week to "chew" on God's Word in the Bible.