IMPOSSIBLE

Youth conference fall 2008 is this Friday and Saturday. Here's the details:

We will be departing from the McDonald's parking lot in Bishop's Corner, West Hartford (on the corner of Albany Ave and Main St). The van/cars will be loading at 5:15p.m. and will pull out of the lot at 5:40p.m. Dinner will be provided at the conference. We will return between 7 and 8 o'clock on Saturday. Leaders will have cell phones, so that calls can be placed by the youth to let parents know more closely what time we will be returning. We will be meeting parents at the Knotts' house at 12 Sage Park Road, Windsor. All meals will have been provided on Saturday.

The cost is $55 per person. If you have particular financial constraints, and would like to send your youth, please contact Tim K.

Packing List:

Sleeping Bag/Pillow

Towel and shower gear (mandatory!)

Bible Watches

Pen/Pencil

Warm clothes (long pants/sweatshirt)

One or more changes of clothes

Closed toed shoes for running in

What Not to Bring:

Electronic devices (except cameras)

Food/Drink (it will be confiscated)

Cute fluffy pink things or bunnies (unless you are Adele)

Welcome to Acts!

Hi Guys,

This week we took a look at Acts 1:1-2. Luke makes a point of saying to his gentile friend, Theophilus, that he had previously written about the things that Jesus BEGAN to do. This is quite odd, not only from a worldly point of view but from any other religion's point of view as well. Christ had fulfilled His early ministry and had been taken up into heaven, but Luke makes it clear that He is continuing to work.

Luke goes on to refer to Christ's commandments given to the Apostles WHOM HE CHOSE. This should ring some bells, going back to Gladman's excellent teaching on Christ and His apostles.

In order to understand what Luke was talking about in v. 2, we had to go take a look at what the commands were that Jesus had given to His apostles before his ascension. We found these instructions in Luke 24.

In that passage, Jesus opens the minds of the apostles to understand everything that the old testament has to say about Him. He showed that the Christ HAD to suffer and rise again. He then stated the ongoing mission: to take the message of repentance for the forgiveness of sins to all nations. That's where the apostles come in! As we go forward in Acts, keep in mind that this is the central message of scripture from the Law of Moses through Christ's own commandments to his apostles right before he ascended to heaven!

The Twelve Apostles

It’s good to be back and last week we learned about the [twelve] apostles. Our teaching was from Luke, and having introduced Luke and seen his expressed purpose for writing this gospel account (under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit), we dove into Luke 6:12-16 where we examined the realities concerning the choosing of the apostles of Jesus Christ:

1. Jesus prayed fervently to God before naming the apostles (this was important…and things had also become hostile);
2. Jesus called His disciples (learners/followers); [ponder – are you a disciple of Jesus Christ?]
3. Jesus named twelve of them apostles (sent ones); eye-witnesses of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection who would teach, preach and write the gospel of Jesus Christ in the New Testament under the power and inspiration of the Holy Spirit;
4. Jesus chose mere men (and we remembered not to neglect the list of names and peeked at a few aspects regarding some of these men)

It was easy to conclude that it was/is all about Jesus Christ, and from that we see the key place of the apostles, who preached not themselves, but Christ and Him crucified...even unto us. [ponder - is it all about Jesus Christ in your life?]

Yo!!! Welcome to WonbyOne. 08-09!!!!!!! We're extremely excited about this year, and are ready for fun times, great worship, and learning from God's word!!! We hope you're as excited as we are!

From this past Friday, we were in John 19:17-30, the cricifixion account in the gospel of John! We saw that at the cross, even though it was painful, gory, very sad and extremely evil; God's sovereign plan, decreed in eternity past was in perfect harmony with the events that took place!!! In fact, we said that the climax of human history took place as the incarnate second member of the Trinity died on the cross!!! God's grace for sinners through Christ was fully revealed, and the world was ready for the gospel!!! And God had prepared the known world for the preaching of the gospel! We looked at 5 of God's accomplishments that prepared the world for the preaching of the gospel:

1) The rise of the Roman Empire. No borders to cross, no language barriers for Greek was the dominantly used language in normal social interation, and a highway system that made getting around much easier (unless the disciples drove a Jeep).

2)The rejection of the Messiah by the Jewish religious leaders!!!

3)All prophesy related the Messiah's first coming, and crucifixion, satisfied literally!!!

4)A perfectly sinless human life (Jesus Christ's) for God to credit to sinners!!!

5)Definite attonement!!! God forgives sin, but He is just, and His perfect holy wrath was demonstrated on the cross, as Jesus Christ bore the guilt of the sin of all those who would ever be saved!!!!!

Looking forward to Friday!!! See you then!!!

2nd Timothy

Welcome back, wonbyOne.! Things will get rolling this Friday night at the usual place, at the usual time! The leaders are really looking forward to another great year or fellowship, fun, and especially study of the Word.

Start planning now! Youth Conference (with a name to be disclosed later) will be September 26-27 at DOAC. Invite your friends!