Thursday, December 18, 2008

The Giant of Idolatry

Last night we went after the giant of idolatry in are youth church. God did some awesome things in our hearts as we smashed idols through true worship in the presence of Jesus. I thought I'd share with you all some of the questions we asked to investigate whether we're really worshiping Jesus or another false god.

Questions to Investigate the Worship in your Lifestyle

  1. How do you make your decisions?
    1. The basis for your decisions points directly to the god you worship.
  2. How do you spend your time?
    1. Look at the things that take up most of your free time. There’s a good chance you’re worshipping there.
  3. What are the meditations of your heart?
    1. What are you thinking about? Writing about? Reading about? What consumes your thought life? It will be the thing you’re worshipping
  4. What do you dream about?
    1. In your sleep and during the day…
  5. How do you spend your money?
    1. Jesus said, where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Remember whatever really has your heart is your god.
  6. How do you choose your friends?
    1. The friends you picked probably give a good indicator to what god you’re worshipping.
  7. What clothes do you choose to wear?
    1. Your dress communicates what you value. Often times it’s an obvious indicator of what you worship.
  8. What music do you listen to?
    1. Music was created to carry the spirit of worship. All music is worshipping something. Something is being exalted through the message in the song. Usually you can find an idol in the midst of someone’s music collection.
  9. What stirs the most passion in you?
    1. What is it that you burn for? What is the thing that just set’s you on fire? Your affections will flow toward the god that you worship.

These are some questions that are worth asking ourselves due to the deceptive nature of idolatry.

What would you say the biggest idol in youth culture is?

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Stir Up the Gifts - Part 2

2 Timothy 1:6-7 - Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

We quote verse 7 all the time in the church. We did a whole series on this verse last year at Family Life Church. We preached against fear. We unpacked power, love and a sound mind. It was an awesome series with some incredible revelation. But for some reason the two verses never really tied together in my mind.

The fact that God hasn't given us a spirit of fear is in the context of the gifts He's given us.

Realizing this I've come to a conclusion: The number 1 reason that people choose not to stir up the gift of God in their life is fear. Fear is what binds people up in routine and religion. It's fear of the unknown. Fear of what people will think. Fear of being wrong. Fear of failure. All kinds of fear. And all of that fear is not from God.

God instead gave you the Holy Spirit. The giver of the gifts. He has given you the ability to stir up and employ your gifts in incredible ways. They are meant to be powerful and miraculous. They are meant to be used in love to build people and bring comfort. They are meant to be used strategically and in a way that makes sense.

Next time you are headed to church make this commitment to the Lord. "I will stir up the gift of God that I've been given. I will not let fear stop me from functioning. Somebody needs my gift."

Tomorrow I will step on stage for another 2 services of leading worship. I have the choice of staying in the box and singing through a list of songs or really letting the Spirit of God lead the church freely in fresh worship. You know what tries to keep me in the confines of my list? Fear. Every time. I get afraid that it will be awkward. I fear that the band won't follow me. I fear that Pastor Steve will be unhappy. I fear that it just won't work and I'll fall on my face in front of everyone.

But no more. Tomorrow I will choose not to receive a spirit of fear from the enemy and instead stir up the gift of God that has been given to me. I'll operate in power, love and a sound mind. I'm believing God for an incredible day in His house. And as for me, my gift will be in operation.

The revelation for me in these verses is so simple yet radically life changing. We don't have to wait for the right moment, atmosphere, or worship song to move in our gift. We actually just reject fear and choose to stir up the gift - then go minister it. It's really that simple. God never takes the gifts away. There are always accessible for use to build the kingdom of God. Why don't you decide not to go another week without stirring up your gift? The world needs it!

Any stories of the gifts in operation? Feel free to drop a comment...

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Current Prayer Requests

For anyone following our lives and ministry that prays, I thought I would offer up some current prayer requests that we need to focus on in prayer during this season. Feel free to pass these on to friends or family members and lift these areas before the Lord.
  • Pray for continued healing in young people's bodies, souls and spirits. We've had some major healing take place lately on many levels. Pray that God would continue to pour out His healing power and touch hearts and lives.
  • Pray for more leaders to step into leadership. We're in a season as a youth ministry where more leaders are required in order to go to the next place that God has called us to. Pray for young men and women who are faithful.
  • Pray for the grace of God in the area of organization and administration. We're doing more work at a higher quality than we ever have before and need help from the Lord to administrate it all. Pray for help with accomplishing our tasks in a timely and organized manner and for excellent communication within the team.
  • Pray for grace to start new ministries in 2009. We're going to be taking major steps forward in several of our ministries and starting a couple brand new ones. Especially target campus ministries. But there will be major upgrades in the areas of worship, small groups, prayer, pastoral care, video, events, and discipleship. We're really excited about our plans in these areas but need grace to stay tuned in to the will of God in every area. Pray for right timing, right leadership, and excellent implementation as the ministry moves forward.
  • Pray for supernatural provision for Family Life Church as a corporate body as well as for the individual members. God is our source and provider and we're full of faith that as we ask Him to meet our needs that He will. When God brings a vision, He will also bring the provision.
  • Pray for the activation of the gifts of God in the life of the youth church. Many young people are coming to our gatherings on Wednesday nights, in small groups, and other times. We need young people to stir up the gift of God that was given to them (part two of that post is coming soon), and activate their gift to build the local church and reach a lost and dying generation. Pray for the ability to identify their gifts, be equipped and trained in their gifts and to activate their gifts.
  • Pray that young people would have the faith and determination to slay personal giants in their lives. We're in a preaching series right now called "Giants in the Land". We're attacking the giants of rebellion, idolatry, apathy, sensuality, immorality, pride, and insecurity. I'm believing God to empower young people to slay these giants in their own lives and then go after them in our youth culture at large. We need a revolution!
  • Pray for our Christmas Party this Friday night (12-12-08). It's going to be awesome. Our preparations are in order. We need students to desire to come and bring many friends. Also pray for deep relationships to be established and souls to be saved.
Thanks so much for praying for us. We can feel the prayer support in our lives.
How about printing out this blog and praying through these things right now? It's as good of a time as any. Bless you!

Friday, December 5, 2008

Mark Thornton at Living Waters


So I'm trying to get into the video blogging trend. My new flip video camera is making that easier.



Check out these videos from Pastor Mark Thornton's concert at Living Waters Coffee Shop in Nampa. We had a good time and it was great to see people from all over the Valley show up to worship and support Mark and Capital worship team.




Mark Doesn't Apologize from Danny Schulz on Vimeo.


Kim - Holy, Holy, Holy from Danny Schulz on Vimeo.


I Will Bow Down On My Knees from Danny Schulz on Vimeo.

Yeah. Pretty sweet. I'll be trying to capture more video of what's going on here in Nampa with the youth minsitry, the whole church and of course the wonders of raising two boys. Look forward to more!!