THE RUNDOWN
Weekly Information for CBC YOUTH MINISTRY (Houston, Texas)
PASSION WEEK // HOLY WEEK
CBC YOUTH & PASSION WEEK
And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. (1Co 15:17-19 ESV)
In the history of the Christian church, this week that we are beginning starts one of the most important weeks in the church calendar. We begin with Palm Sunday (today) and we go all the way up to Easter. Our role as CBC YOUTH Ministry is to equip youth, leaders, and families in spiritual depth and we believe that this week is extremely important and will greatly benefit you if you follow along. We ask that you and your family and friends join us as we orient our minds and our hearts around the Gospel as it invades every part of our lives.
MONDAY // Guided Devotional
Supplemental Reading: Matthew 21:12; Mark 11:22; Luke 19:45
TUESDAY // SONG HIGHLIGHT
CHRIST OUR HOPE IN LIFE AND DEATH // https://www.gettymusic.com/christ-our-hope
Christ Our Hope in Life and Death is a modern hymn that expresses the comfort and assurance that flow from trusting Christ, who has conquered death and guaranteed our future by his resurrection.
We want you to watch the background video, absorb the lyrics, and then sing along with it (by yourself, with your friends, with your family).
For centuries, believers have learned the Christian faith beginning with that question. It’s the first article in the Heidelberg Catechism of 1563. Why start there? Because death is our common fate. Unless Jesus returns first, we will all die. To find comfort in life, we must know how we can face death. Hope comes only in trusting the one who died to take the curse of death and who crushed the power of death by his resurrection. “Christ has been raised from the dead” (1 Cor 15:20). That is the only statement that can transform how we live each day and how we prepare for our earthly life to end.
The hope of the resurrection spurs us to sing. That’s why a group of songwriters from Getty Music wrote the modern hymn “Christ Our Hope in Life and Death.” Like the Heidelberg Catechism that inspired it, this song is honest about death. There is no need to shrink back from mentioning death in our hymns, because we know the Living One who has conquered death forever. The Christian can sing hallelujah, because Christ assures us of our glorious future. Now and ever, we confess: “I am not my own, but belong—body and soul in life and in death—to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.”
What is our hope in life and death?
Christ alone, Christ alone.
What is our only confidence?
That our souls to Him belong.
Who holds our days within His hand?
What comes, apart from His command?
And what will keep us to the end?
The love of Christ, in which we stand.
O sing hallelujah!
Our hope springs eternal;
O sing hallelujah!
Now and ever we confess
Christ our hope in life and death.
What truth can calm the troubled soul?
God is good, God is good.
Where is His grace and goodness known?
In our great Redeemer’s blood.
Who holds our faith when fears arise?
Who stands above the stormy trial?
Who sends the waves that bring us nigh
Unto the shore, the rock of Christ?
Unto the grave, what shall we sing?
“Christ, He lives; Christ, He lives!”
And what reward will heaven bring?
Everlasting life with Him.
There we will rise to meet the Lord,
Then sin and death will be destroyed,
And we will feast in endless joy,
When Christ is ours forevermore.
Words and Music by Keith Getty, Matt Boswell, Jordan Kauflin, Matt Merker, Matt Papa
WEDNESDAY // MESSAGE & EXHORTATION
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/247901349?pwd=RXJpU09mNEJoSmo5MnBYNk5Sck9Hdz09
Meeting ID: 247 901 349
Password: 0963
THURSDAY // PERSONAL DEVOTION
1. Set yourself up for success as you do this devotion. Get away from distraction. Turn off your device. Mentally prepare yourself for this.
2. Once you have everything set up. Open your time with a prayer for asking the Lord to speak to you. Set up your conversation by asking him to speak and ask that you might hear and hear him speak to you.
3. Open your bibles to John 13:1-20 and read it all the way through one time. Then read it again slowly while writing down notes and questions. Ask the following questions as you read:
- What are some key words that appear?
- Who are the characters in the story?
- What does this verse reveal about Jesus as a person? his character? his attitude and actions?
- What is the context of this passage? Time, place, setting, etc.
- What is the main idea of the passage?
4. As you finish up part 3 start connecting the dots
- Where is the Gospel in this passage?
- What is God trying to teach you about yourself in this passage?
- What are the principles in this passage that should affect our youth group?
- What do you need to do after studying this passage?
5. Finish this devotional with a time of commitment. Pray that God will move you towards action right now after this. And then...go, be faithful to what God is telling you to do.
FRIDAY // FAST & FOCUS
It is Good Friday and it was on this day that Jesus said the words
"Father, forgive them" (LK 23:34)
"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mt. 27:46)
"It is finished" (John 19:20)
It is the darkest day in history past and brightest day in history present for we know there was no other way of salvation with the shed blood of Christ and for the Christian, the redemption of our souls, the redemption of the world hangs on that historical Friday where the Son of God becomes the one and only sacrifice.
As a youth group, we want to focus on truth that defines us. We will collectively FAST today from things that distract our minds and hearts from what Christ did. We will call you to REMOVE yourself from:
- Social Media
- Video Games
- Shows
- Essentially anything that would distract you from the importance of today.
In order that you may FOCUS on the things of God. We ask that when you feel the desire of running back to social media, video games, your phones, shows...that you would instead PRAY and pray for:
- Our intentional rebellion even though we know Christ died for us
- The sins of our youth group and our leaders
- Reminder of the cost of the Gospel.
We will come together Friday night 8pm live as a community and talk about what God did to us as we Fast and Focus.
Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/407252358?pwd=dEVvTkxZQ0dka21DdTI3ZUowd2V3UT09 Meeting ID: 407 252 358 Password: 0963
SATURDAY // SOLITUDE
But for us, we know Sunday came and we rejoice but we don't want to just skip Saturday. For us what we want to do is to lean into this space of silence. So what we're going to do as a youth ministry is to ask you:
Spend 30+ minutes by yourself in personal solitude and think. Think about and process...maybe use a journal or a notebook but get alone and think. Ask yourself honestly
1. Where has your heart been these last few weeks? What is this time revealing about your heart? Is it anxious? Is it depressed? Is it hurting?
2. Where is your hope? What have you been placing your hope in? Is it another person that you're expecting to fill your heart? Is your hope in science and discovery? Is it in yourself? Is it outside of yourself and in God or another form of deity?
3. What are you living for right now? If you say you're a Christian, does your life really and actually reflect that? Is Jesus really your Lord? Does he get to decide how your life works? Does he get a say in restricting you in certain things?