How to put Fires Out in Youth Ministry

Christopher Wesley has a great post about how to put out fires in youth ministry. Here is a link to the article!

http://www.christopherwesley.org/putting-out-fires.html

Reboot of the blog

I am really excited about the possibilities for this blog. I have not taken the time in the last few years to blog. I have instead chosen to get busy with a move to Michigan, a new ministry, and life in general. Well I really feel that it is a good time to start anew and share my random thoughts.

I am now living in Climax, MI. I am the Pastor of Youth Ministries at Faith Baptist Church in Battle Creek, MI. The Lord has taught me alot in the past two and a half years. The main thing I have learned is to be desperate for Him in my life. I have realized that it is easy for me to just do things without really going to Him.

Here is a link to our youth ministry website:

www.seektheking.org

We have a facebook page as well and the link is:

https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Kingdom-Seekers-Student-Ministry/252327871444266

Please pray for our youth group! We are small right now but pray that the Lord will help us to be faithful and that He will bring more into our fellowship!

We need to be like Nehemiah!

I have just completed reading Nehemiah in my daily devotions and I was deeply impressed by Nehemiah's personal holiness. He was a man after God's own heart. In the first chapter, Nehemiah reveals his concern for his nation and their corporate relationship with the Lord. His own prayer in Nehemiah 1:5-11 shows a deep personal relationship with God. It is the overall theme of his life. He seeks out God and constantly desires to please Him. Nehemiah's life is a deep challenge to all believers and I pray that I might be careful to live my life in a way that honors the Lord.

"O Lord, I pray, please let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name; and let Your servant prosper this day, I pray ..."

Nehemiah 1:11a

Allow Jesus to calm the storm

I hope that this lesson that the Lord has given me will bless those who read it.

Mark 4:35-41 Wind and the Waves Obey Jesus

v 35-36 After a long day, Jesus decides to get some rest and retreat from the large crowds near Capernaum of Galilee.

The other side of the lake was not very populated, known as the region of the Gaderenes.

Note – verse 36 states that other little boats were with Jesus’ boat, The crowds were following along.

v 37-38  A great windstorm – the words used here denote a hurricane-like storm.

The boat was filling up, starting to sink! Matthew 8:24 notes that the boat was covered with waves!!

When life’s storms arise, what is our natural tendency?

ü To try to bail ourselves out, by our own strength

ü To question or blame God, asking Him if cares.

“Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” verse 38

-         Jesus was sleeping at the rear of the boat!!

The disciples were probably asking for help bailing water, not the miracle that would take place.

v 39 Jesus rises and rebukes the wind and the sea. “Peace, be still!”

Jesus reveals His power to control the natural forces around Him:

Psalm 65:7, 89:9 notes how God rules the waves, the seas and stills them

-         Great calm comes when you ask Jesus for help in the storm!               

Psalm 107:25-29

 25 For He commands and raises the stormy wind,
         Which lifts up the waves of the sea.
 26 They mount up to the heavens,
         They go down again to the depths;
         Their soul melts because of trouble.
 27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man,
         And are at their wits’ end.
 28 Then they cry out to the LORD in their trouble,
         And He brings them out of their distresses.
 29 He calms the storm,
         So that its waves are still.

v 40 - Jesus questions/ rebukes their lack of faith in Him.

Matt 8:26 states “O you of little faith”, It was used by Jesus to:

§  Evaluate the trust of people in God and measured faith in a relative way. – i.e. “little”

§  As a rebuke from an all knowing God who knew their hearts.

v 41 – From fear to Fear – Being in the presence of God!

“Who can this be, that even the wind and the waves obey him?”

When one realizes he is in the presence of the Almighty, Godly reverence or fear is the immediate response!

Do Not Be Afraid, Only Believe! Sermon - preached 8/15/10

Here is a sermon that I preached at Morgans Baptist Church on 8/15/10 during the 11 am service. The text preached is Mark 5:21-42.

Please click on the link below to listen.

Do Not Be Afraid, Only Believe! Sermon - preached 8/15/10

Welcome to my blog!

My name is Michael Marshall. I am the part time youth pastor for Morgans Baptist Church in Moneta, VA. I have started this blog to share sermons, devotional thoughts, and insights from the Lord during my ministry. I look forward to any comments or thoughts that any visitor of my blog may have.

May the Lord richly bless you!

Philippians 4:13,

Michael