Student Ministry This Week
HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN VSM
VSM MidWeek Worship Night This Wednesday
Following our worship time, we'll have a 3v3 basketball tournament in honor of Brandon's scoop and score move that he has made famous.
Serving With Urban Purpose, This Sunday Afternoon, 2:30-4:30 PM
High School Up All Night, March 9
Registration for our High School Up All Night is officially underway! On March 9, our high school students will climb at HighPoint, throw some bowling balls, shoot some lasers, hoop it up, collect some tickets, and more. The cost is $45, and it will be a very memorable night. You can register your student by clicking the link button below.
2018 Beach Retreat Registration Now Open
Location: Laguna Christian Retreat Center, Panama City, FL
On April 27 our students are heading to Panama City Beach, FL, for a weekend of fun, worship, and drawing closer to God. We'll head out Friday night and return Sunday evening. As a part of the weekend our students will spend time in groups working through what it looks like to practice spiritual disciplines. We can't wait to experience this weekend and see what God has in store for our student ministry.
Other Details:
- Cost: $125
- Transportation: We'll be taking charter buses down to Florida.
- Lodging: The retreat center is a very secure facility directly on the beach with a full service cafeteria and humongous bunk rooms.
- Registration: You can register using the link below
Family Devotional Reading
Read Matthew 20:17-19. Every Jewish man was expected to visit Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover, which was just a few days away. Jesus and His disciples had begun their journey there. Interestingly, Jesus seemed to be a little ahead of the disciples instead of walking with them. Had the disciples been attentive, they would have noted the difference. What was Jesus thinking? He knew what was about to happen. How could He help His disciples understand the gravity of the coming events? He pulled them aside and, again, explained that He was going to be betrayed into the hands of the religious leaders, who would beat Him and then turn Him over to the Gentiles, who would crucify Him. The disciples were shocked. They had not expected this end to their three-year pilgrimage with the Master. Jerusalem was a holy place; the religious leaders were holy men. Surely Jesus was mistaken. If He was who He said He was, why did He have to suffer and die? If Jesus did not suffer, He would not understand our humanity. If Jesus did not offer Himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins, He could not save us. If Jesus did not die, He could not give us victory over the grave. We must travel to the cross to understand the depth of God’s love for us and the magnitude of the gift He provided in His one and only Son.
Lent is a forty-day journey toward the cross. The Lenten season provides an opportunity for us to examine our lives and to focus our attention on our relationship with our Lord and Savior through prayer and self-denial. May God pour out His blessings on you and show you His favor as you seek Him.
1. Discuss a time when something completely unexpected happened at church. Why was it so surprising? How did you respond?
2. How would you describe Jesus? What do you think He looked like? What was His personality like? What do you think was His most noticeable attribute?
3. How does the knowledge that Jesus suffered betrayal and unimaginable pain give you the confidence to trust Him with the pain you feel?
4. How would you describe your relationship with Jesus? What steps are you ready to take to deepen your faith in Him?
Prayerfully commit to focusing on your relationship with Jesus this Lenten season.
Help Us Help Your Student
Students are free to have their phones with them, just not out of their pockets or purses during the group time. This will help create a distraction-free environment for all students. This also means that students should remember to bring their Bibles so that they can fully participate.
Looking Ahead: Summer 2018
Guatemala Mission Trip (11-12th grade): June 23-30
Summer Camp @ Covenant College: July 11-15
About VSM
Email: students@valleydale.org
Website: valleydale.org
Location: 2324 Valleydale Road, Birmingham, AL, United States
Phone: 205.991.5282
Facebook: facebook.com/valleydalestudents
Twitter: @vcstudents