Elevate Blog

Elevate 4/11 Recap

Last night we took a look at John 13:1-17 and the story of Jesus bending down in the posture of a servant and washing His disciples feet. Jesus says that the last will be first and the first will be last. It is so easy for us to always want the attention on us, and we seek popularity. But biblicaly, we need to be bending down serving others. Puting others above ourselves. We then used our time of worship doing a foot washing, where our small group leaders washed the feet of our students and then prayed for them. We then split into our small group rooms and talked a little more about the importance of puting others before ourselves and serving those, even if we are in a position of leadership.

Elevate 3/1 Recap

Last night we came to a beginning of our climax. After two months, we finally started on Acts 2. As we continued talking about community within the church. We took a look at Acts 2:43-47 and worked backwards. We wanted to take a look at what the result was first when we live as a Christ centered community. We took a focus on how "the Lord added to their number daily" because of transformation was happening and the power of the Holy Spirit was on them. This community was attractive! I asked the students what it would look like if people were continuously living a life like the Acts 2 church. We then took some time to split into their small groups, and then we played a fun game of sprout ball (some type of dodgeball game) that ended up going till about 8:50.

Announcements:
Banana Night, Next week! $3 per person. Bring a friend, and Bring Yellow. 6:30-9:00pm!

What Song Was That?
God Is Alive - Fee
Holding Nothing Back - Jesus Culture
We Will Run - Gungor
Dance With Me - Jesus Culture

Elevate 2/22 Recap

Hey Elevate,

Last night we took a look at the reality of what goes on in our youth group. And we realized that as much as it seems like youth group is fun and everyone wants to take part in it, it isn't always the case. We took a look at how we can easily get in our cliques and ignore people in our youth group because we don't want to get to know them. We then took time to repent corporately of the things we have done wrong in our youth group. Remember, repenting isn't just saying it, repenting means for a new life to happen. Things will change for the better! Repenting is to say it, then live it out!

Key Verses: Joel 2:12-17

Announcements:
Banana Night: March 8th at 6:30pm in the gym! It's $3 and Bring your friends!

What Song Was That?
-Sing Sing Sing - Chris Tomlin
-Hosanna - Hillsong
-Beautiful Things - Gungor
-We Will Run - Gungor

Elevate 2/15 Recap

Hey Everyone,

Thanks for all you who came last night. We talked about Forgiveness and how we need to give forgiveness out just as God forgave us. We looked at how forgiveness is a key part of the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6, and we also checked out the parable of the Unmerciful Servant in Matthew 18:23-35. We'll see you guys next week!

If you guys were at the retreat, you guys were awesome over the weekend! I had an amazing time and I believe it was the best Jr. High retreat I've ever been too. Stay strong...take what we got at the retreat and transfer it to Elevate! If we love each other in Elevate like we did at the retreat, Elevate will be transformed!

Announcements:
One quick one...Banana Night is March 8th!

What Song Was That?
- Your Love Never Fails - Jesus Culture
- Glory To God Forever - Fee
- Lead Me To The Cross - Hillsong
- Dance With Me - Jesus Culture
- Grace Like Rain - Todd Agnew

Elevate 2/1 Recap

Hey Elevate!

It was great to see you guys last night and thank you for flowing with the change-up. We may do something like that again, but probably not for awhile. Last night we talked about being judgmental and how Jesus loved, instead of showed judgment towards people. We looked at the passage in John 8 where Jesus said, "He who is with no sin can cast the first stone." Then we talked a little bit about how the church can easily fall into being judgmental because we can think we are better than others because we have Jesus. But the point is, instead of thinking we're better and holding Jesus to ourselves, try to get others to know about Jesus.

Announcements:
- The Hood retreat at Ghormley Meadows is coming up in 2 weekends. Make sure you turn in your forms THIS SUNDAY, February 6!!!! Cost is $95 for the retreat and you can get the forms at the church.

What Song Was That?
- Happy Day: Tim Hughes
- I Will Follow: Chris Tomlin
- Cannons: Phil Wickham
- How He Loves: John Mark McMillan

Elevate 1/25 Recap

I had such a great time with you guys last night. You guys really know how to worship God well! Last night we talked about James 2 and how favoritism is wrong in the eyes of the Lord. We looked at things that the world would say is normal, but with God, things are flipped. Our job is to serve the poor and love your neighbors. Even if it is uncomfortable. We then broke off into an extended worship time, which was an amazing time. We'll be sure to do that again.

Announcements:
- Ghormley Retreat - THE HOOD! February 11-13th, 2011. Forms are due Sunday February 6th! Make sure you hit the deadline, because this year we are not taking late forms!
- Scholarships are available for the retreat. Make sure to fill out a scholarship form with your parents and turn them in by THIS SUNDAY! Don't let money hold you back from going. If you need help with money, we want to make sure you go!

What Song Was That?
- Holding Nothing Back - Jesus Culture
- Glory To God Forever - Steve Fee
- Kingdom and a King - Robbie Saey Band
- Hosanna - Hillsong
- Dance With Me - Jesus Culture
- The Stand - Hillsong

Elevate 1/11 Recap!

Hey Elevate!

We had a great night last night. Completely different from what we are used to. We only had two songs of worship, and I only spoke for 10 minutes! (Perfect Jr. High Talk, huh?) We spoke on what it meant to be the body of Christ, and how we all have different abilities and we need to care for each other in the Church family even if we are different. I encouraged you guys to branch out from just hanging with your friends and getting to know others in the group, and making newcomers welcome. We then participated in an exercise that lasted the rest of the time where everyone had one body part, and they could only use that one body part, and you needed your other group members to complete the task.

Announcements:
-Hockey Game is tomorrow (Thursday). Meet at the church at 5:30. We have the tickets for you. We have about 5 more tickets left, so call me if you want to go still. (509-881-4578)
-The Hood, at Ghormley Meadows Camp near white pass. February 11-13, 2011. $95 for the retreat and you have to turn in your form and money by the deadline February 6th, otherwise you won't be able to go! If you need financial assistance, you can call me as well, or talk with Joe on Tuesday.

What Song Was That?
-All Because Of Jesus - Steve Fee
-Happy Day - Tim Hughes

Thanks guys, I won't be there next Tuesday, so you'll have the one and only Joe Luna speaking to you guys! I'll see you in two weeks!

1/4/11 Elevate Recap!

Hey Guys,

We're finally back at Elevate. It was great to have all of you there last night! There were some ups for everyone, and downs for an 8th grade girls small group who grew too big and had to be split. :(

We had a great time with Pastor Steve last night as he spoke on how loving God and loving people are inseparable. There is no way where you cannot love God and not love all people. Or vice versa. he used the image of the cross, and how the horizontal part of the cross represents loving people and the vertical part of the cross represents loving God. We'll see you all next week as we talk about body parts! This will be a week you won't to miss...seriously.

Announcements:
-Wild Hockey Game is next Thursday! It's $13 for the event, and bring that in by next Tuesday at the latest.
-Elevate Winter Retreat - "The Hood" is coming up next month, February 11th-13th! Forms are out and make sure you sign up as soon as possible. Cost is $95. Scholarship is available, so talk to Tyler.

What song was that?
-Sing, Sing, Sing - Chris Tomlin
-Ain't Nobody - Reggie Coates
-Your Love Never Fails - Jesus Culture
-Burning Ones - Jesus Culture

Merry Christmas!

Just wanted to say a Merry Christmas to you all! Make sure you look past all the gifts you get, and realize that Christmas is not about the morning where you get a lot of things and have great food. Remember that the greatest gift is from God, and that's His Son who came down to earth and is still living today, even though He endured the cross. Celebrate Him during this time!

Elevate 11/16 Recap

Hey Everyone,

Last night we had another great night talking about the lies the Enemy tells us that we are not good enough. Steve talked about how the Enemy secretly puts thoughts and sin in your life until it's too late when you notice it is running your life. He also talked about how the Enemy speaks into your life that you aren't good enough at things. But the God voice says that you guys can live up to high expectations.

Announcements:
Turkey Bowl: Thanksgiving Thursday at 8:30am at the WVC soccer field. Bring a canned food item to play!

What Song Was That?
Ain't Nobody
All Because Of Jesus - Fee
Your Love Never Fails - Jesus Culture
Kingdom and a King - Robbie Seay Band