iWill is a series about making wise choices.  We will look at the four relationship themes as areas of growth: God, You, Community, Others. Here is a view of what we will be talking about:

Week 2) iWill discover who God says I am

Week 3) iWill take my place in the Community of believers

Week 4) iWill reach out and share Christ with Others.

Today) iWill put my relationship with God above all else

Often times as a student / adult we find ourselves trying to be accepted in different life situations.  We are challenged to compromise what we know to be right for the sake of acceptance or popularity.

Noah heard God speak to him and it caused him to do something unpopular but something that would ultimately save his life……build a ginormous boat because supposedly tons of rain was about to come and flood the earth.   Check it out….

READ Genesis 6:9-17

Now why did Noah find favor, I mean why did God approve of Noah and nobody else?….Because Noah was more concerned with doing what was right in God’s eyes than doing what was popular at the time:

YOU

So could God say that about you?  I mean are you willing to skip what’s popular and do what you know is right in God’s eyes?

Have you found favor in God’s eyes like that?

When was the last time you felt God telling you to do something that seemed crazy?

You see in many cases being a follower of Christ will cause you to choose between what’s right in God’s eyes and what’s popular at your school, with your friends, at your job.

Making wise choices between what’s right and what’s popular is part of being a follower of Christ.  God calls us to make these wise choices -- to boldly take a stand when everyone else gives in and compromises…

iWill

Movi is an OUTCOME...it's what happens when we READ and OBEY the written Word of God.

Attached are the Movi Scripture Verses for the week of February 21st - 27th!

See the attachment below for the SLU 2010 Application!  Completed applications are due on March 14th.

Informational meetings are being held on February 28th and March 14th from 10:30-11:00am in the Andrew's Chapel.

Last night we spent time Chronicling our stories of our encounters with Jesus.

We started with our Origins or beginning. What was life like before our encounter with Jesus? 

Next we journaled our encounter. What led you to Jesus?  Was it some tragedy in your life that led you to think about God or your purpose in life?  Where were you when you made a decision to follow Him?

Lastly we wrote down what are the movements in your life as a result of your encounter with Jesus?  

How is your life different now from your beginning?  

We believe our stories should reveal something as we tell them. They should point to the identity of who Jesus is.  Not as a mere man, or prophet, but as Son of God, Crucified and resurrected and living.  One who has transformed  our lives.

Jesus is not a sales pitch.  

He has transformed us and since our encounter with Him we have never been the same. 

This is what we desire to tell others on our journey.  

SUCCEED 2010
A Youth Transition Network Event!
February 27th at Randall Baptist Church in Williamsville, NY

Over 70% of youth group grads exit the body of Christ by the end of their college freshmen year.  Youth Transition Network provides the needed bridge to their next spiritual home by motivating, preparing, and connecting you to existing churches, ministries, and Christian roommates.

A Youth Transition Network event for teens going away to college outside of WNY is being hosted by Randall Baptist Church:  See the following website for an informational video: http://www.youthtransitionnetwork.org/succeed.aspx

Go to the following link to register for this event:  http://www.youthtransitionnetwork.org/SucceedContent.aspx?p=registration_cost

Every Wednesday and Sunday MOVI inserts are available for you to pick up.  These sheets provide scripture verses for you to read, study and journal on for every day of the week.

Attached are the verses for the week of February 7th - 13th!

We began tonight reading Matthew 22:37-39..."Love your neighbor as yourself."

We began to ask WHY though?  Why love your neighbor?  Yes we know its a commandment, 

but do we ever do anything we are commanded to do if thats the motivation?  When we are commanded as children to clean our rooms, yes we do it, but do we keep up with it.  Yes its a commandment but perhaps there's more behind this when it comes to motivation. 

So before we can answer, WHY love your neigbhor, we asked the question WHY did Jesus come to die?

We did this  through music, reflection, poetry written by one of the teens gathered, another teen sharing their story of how making a decision to follow Christ has changed their life. Candles gleamed and the atmosphere was just right. The Cross stood tall as a great reminder of sacrifice. 

A short video challenged us to think

Do you remember the moment you loved God with all your heart?

Do you remember the moment when you "got it", when you first realized you loved God with all your heart, mind and soul?

Teens where challenged and asked if you "got it"  have you ever taken the first step to go public with your belief and be baptized?  

So where did this all lead us to?  WHY love your neighbor?  WE asked why were our small group leaders here?  Do they have an agenda?  Is there a checklist of good deeds they have to do and one of them is spend time encouraging teens on Wednesdays?  Do they just look at the teens as a "project?"    OR is there another motivation than just commandment.

For our leaders its Love.  First their love for God in response to what God did for them. They "got it"  they know why Jesus came to die and they desire to show our teens God's love and share His story with them. 

Love is a great motivator.  WE love, because HE first loved us. 

Leaders took time with their small groups and shared their story of how making a decision to follow Chirst has changed their lives. 

And that love motivates them to be here every Wednesday at 2t2, showing the Love of Christ and sharing His story with our teens.... and thats what makes twotwenty2 a great community. ..