This week was week 3 of the Big Give!! God has really been doing some neat things in our time. This last week concluded our Gifts of Grace for East Plano kids, it was awesome seeing our students come into church with gifts for kids. I really look forward to worshiping with our students each week. Our student worship team does such a great job.
This week we encouraged students to get involved in a couple of mission projects. One is teaching ESL to kids at Meadows Elementary and the other is helping raise funds to build schools in Uganda, in partnership with Invisible Children (invisiblechildren.com). Note – the second opportunity in Uganda was inspired by one of our students who shared how she was getting involved in a project called schools for schools. She did a great job and her story fit so well with the talk. Here is the outline with pictures we used to drive home the point that you have to stay focused.
THE BIG GIVE
How to Give!
December 7TH, 2008
“‘So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.’” John 13:34-35 (NLT)
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
1. It takes FOCUS!
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.” Hebrews 12:1-2 (NLT)
What do you see? Look at the pictures very closely!
“I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” Philippians 3:14 (NLT)
2. It takes SACRIFICE!
“We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.” 1 John 3:16 (NLT)
3. It takes COMMITMENT!
“Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” Matthew 5:37 (NIV)
4. It takes FOLLOW-THROUGH!
“As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. 8 And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:6-8 (NLT)
Excited to see what happens this week as we talk about Where to Give Big.
This weekend we started a new series called the big give. Kinda stole the idea from Oprah. My wife and I caught a couple of episodes of the show and as I watched I couldn’t help but think how students could get involved in something like this that allows them to see a need and meet a need. This weekend I challenged the student to do these three things
What is required to get involved in the Big Give!
You have to DREAM BIG!
You have to LIVE BIG!
You have to SERVE BIG!
We will have some organized opportunities for students to get involved with but the general idea of the series is to look at the needs around us and to get involved. This week we talked about Gifts of Grace.
This is how Gifts of Grace- Toys for East Plano was started and where I need your help blog land:-) Please, Please help a child in need. All you have to do is 3 simple steps!!
Dan Gould 