Weekly Update May 6

This Wednesday at Hyfi we will continue to share with kids the simple truth, “I Am Here to Share Jesus.” In our Bible story from John 1:43-51, we will learn about a man named Philip who met Jesus and wanted to become His follower. Philip went to find his friend, Nathanael, and told his friend, “Come and see!” Philip was so excited to share Jesus with his friend! We pray kids will know that they can share Jesus with their friends too! Plan a playdate this week! Meet up with a friend at a park or at one of your houses. Before the playdate, take time to pray that God would shine through your words and actions. Use this time to see the incredible way your kids—and you—can share Jesus with friends.

This Wednesday at Refuge Students we will be finishing our study on the book of 1 John by studying all of chapter 5. In 1 John 5, John reminds his readers of one simple truth. If you believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, then you can be assured of your salvation. It doesn't matter whether or not we can remember a specific moment when we were saved or said a prayer. What matters is that we are currently resting in all that Jesus did for us on the cross. What a freeing truth! We can be assured that our faith is rightly placed because God himself bore witness to Jesus at His baptism and crucifixion. The result of our assurance is that we can have confidence before God, confidence in prayer, and confidence that we have overcome the present evil world. Since our assurance hinges on our continued resting in Jesus' work on the cross, John finishes the book of 1 John by warning us to stay away from idols (God substitutes). This chapter is extremely pertinent to your youth. They need to understand that their salvation rests not in a decision they made in the past to follow Jesus, but in what Jesus already did for them. If they fully trust what Jesus already did for them (which includes accepting Jesus as king of their lives) then they can have assurance today that they are saved. I think there are many who sit in church pews across America who do not truly understand what the word "grace" means. These people are still trying to earn grace rather than simply accepting what Jesus has already done for them and says about them in the gospel.

As with Sunday Night, Refuge Students will start meeting in the college room on Wednesdays (large room on the middle floor of the fellowship hall building) instead of the youth room. Please be sure that when your youth go downstairs after the meal on Wednesday they go down to the college room because the youth room will be locked.

This Sunday at Sunday School we are going to take a look at Peter's miracles in Acts 9 that showcase the power of the Holy Spirit at work within the early church. Though the people who witnessed and heard of these healings and resurrections were amazed and intrigued, Peter did not perform them to wow the crowd or even illustrate his own strength. Rather, he met people’s needs as a means of demonstrating God’s power at work, so that more might come to saving faith in Jesus and truly believe Him to be Messiah and Lord. These miracles performed by Peter point to the reality of Jesus’ power and to the proof that He is still alive within His followers. The usual patterns of sickness and death were not the final endings for the folks Peter healed; rather, the miracles were the work of the Lord’s restoration and redemption—pointing to the reality that everlasting life is ours through the power of Jesus. And through these events, we are encouraged to remember the hope we have in Christ, who is making all things new. As you talk with your kids this week, remember that you also get to share the good news of hope and healing to the next generation of young disciples. Just as Peter “called the saints and widows and presented [Dorcas] alive,” you are also proclaiming the gift of everlasting life in Jesus to your children.

There will be no Refuge Hangout this Sunday, 5/12, in honor of Mother's Day!
May the Lord bless and keep your family this week!