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 2011-2012 year we will be exploring the Apostles Creed and doing an overview of the Bible.
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 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
This Week's Devotions
January 30 to February 5, 2012
MONDAY: Mark 1:29-39. Jesus spent a lot of time healing people but it wasn't his first priority; preaching was evidently more important. The obvious truth is that every single person he personally touched and healed have all died. Healing the body is only temporary but God's word has the power to change our spirits forever and yet despite its lower priority Jesus took pity on the sick and healed them. As Christ's followers we should do the same and show pity by helping people with their temporary needs while remembering to point them to the eternal healing of our sins in Jesus.
TUESDAY: Isaiah 40:27-31. It is impossible to whine and complain and be thankful at the same time and there is just nothing good anyone can say about an unthankful person. So why do we do it? Because our focus tends to be on what we want and not what we already have. This is why prayer is so important in our lives because we should always start our prayers out with a list of everything we are thankful for starting with the salvation won for us by Jesus' sacrifice; pretty hard to complain once you've done that. Go ahead, pray your thanks to God right now.
WEDNESDAY: 1 Corinthians 9:15-23. What is your focus in life? What do you want to do more than anything in the whole wide world? Was serving God your answer? It doesn't matter if you want to become a doctor, a teacher or a pilot the common thread in all these things is to do them to serve God somehow. How do you know if you want to do them without involving God? If you do them because you want to be: rich, respected, powerful, independent, cool, famous, etc. Does your life focus need a change? Talk to God about it.
THURSDAY: Matthew 9:1-8. If you got one wish and you knew it would come true what would you ask for? The paraplegic would probably ask for the ability to walk first and yet Jesus chose to forgive his sins first; was Jesus confused? Jesus knew the man's physical health was temporary, eventually he would get old and die but by forgiving his sins Jesus gave him eternal life. Pray the Lord's Prayer right now and notice what is right in the middle of it all: a plea for forgiveness.
FRIDAY: Acts 10:37-43. T.G.I.F! What and who are you thankful for? It is Friday, make it a Thankful Friday! Close your eyes and make a mental list of everything you can be thankful for. Now smile, God has been good to you!
SATURDAY: Proverbs 6:12-15. Does this remind you of anyone you hang out with? Maybe it's time to find new friends.
SUNDAY: Psalm 147:1-11. Let's sing our praises to God together in church today!
