We continued this week with our discussion on Character. 

With all that is going on in Haiti, we know that teens are asking questions.

Why?  Why God?  During these times often we as Christians may say things that are not consistent with the character of who God is.  Things like, "God is punishing those people."  These kind of comments can be devistating to peoples understanding of who God is.  Thats because what we "say" is directly connected to peoples understanding of who God is.

This week my Pastor Jerry Gillis communicated to our staff some thoughts on this topic and on His blog.  Two things specifically where very insightful to share with people when they begin to ask these questions.  We talked about them tonight and in small groups. 

Point people to action and point people to the Cross. 

During this time our initial response should be on of action.  Helping those in need.  We asked the question tonight,  

What are you going to do?

Second as people wonder why, you can point them to the Cross.  

The Cross is a place where you can share what is consistent with God's character. 

His love for humanity.  How He suffered with us.  His compassion for us.  

Those are things you lead people to with confidence.

We opened up the Gospels tonight in small groups reading passages about Jesus Character. 

In times of crisis, like we currently are in, don't let what you say be hijacked by the "Why God assassin?"  

What you say is important, it may be someones only understanding of who JESUS is. 

Attached are the daily movi scriptures!

"Peoples understanding of who Jesus is, directly related to who we are."

This is why we are looking at character. We began last week to examine ourselves asking the question,

"Am I a good Christ?"  

Our small groups opened up the Gospels and wrote down the Characteristics of Christ.

This week we discussed the forces or obstacles to having Christs' character. 

We talked about the small compromises we make in our daily decisions that begin to affect our character. We draw a line in the sand,  and then we make small compromises and creep towards that line, eventually crossing it and then making a new one.  At the end we often find ourselves have done things we never indented to doing, and find ourselves looking nothing like Christ.

People often drift away from God not because they don't theologically believe He exists, but because their current behavior.  Often we choose to change our beliefs before we change our behavior.  This often begins with small compromises that begin to creep in our character. 

In small groups we took this principle and applied to the music we listen to.

Groups opened up the scriptures and began to ask questions, like, "is there a such thing as Christian music?" 

Examine your own life? Are they're areas where compromise has crept in?   

Who you are is important!  It will affect who people think Jesus is.

The Missions Trip Itinerary and Packing List are attached below.  If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask! 

Mchiaravalle@thechapel.com631.2636 x265

Peoples understanding of who JESUS is..........is directly related to who we are. 

This is why our character is important.

Many people know nothing of the written Gospels and who Jesus was.  And they connect who He is directly to who we as “little Christ’s are. 

Based on our character people may see Jesus as, kind, rude, humble, prideful, selfless, self-serving and the character traits continue.

The next 4 weeks we’re going to be having spiritual conversation about assassins of Character, and why CHARACTER is important.

 Tonight we read 1^st John 2:2-9.

We began to ask the question, “Am I a good Christ?”
Do I look anything like Jesus?

 In small groups, we began to write down according to what we understand from the Gospels the characters of Jesus. We then contrasted it with our own character. 

 Teens were encouraged to reflect:

·     Do you passionately love Jesus, but do you really want to be like Him?

      You admire His Humility, but do you REALLY want to be that Humble?

·     You think it’s beautiful that He washed the feet of the disciples, is that where the direction of Your life is headed.

How about you? Are you a good Christ?  

Would people say the below about You?

If not, begin moving in that direction.
Peoples understanding of Jesus, is connected to your life. 

twotwenty2 begins again TONIGHT!  Grades 9 - 12 please join us from 6:15 - 9pm at The Chapel for our High School Gathering!