living up to commitments.

upside down. that's what we're learning in the high school ministry that as Luke teaches through the sermon on the mount that Jesus teaches in a way that turns the perspective of the world upside down... literally.

this was the scripture he taught from on sunday (sorry i'm a bit tardy:))- matthew 5:31-37

Divorce
"It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of ual immorality, makes her commit ery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits ery.
Oaths
"Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.' But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything more than this comes from evil."

ok, so how do you make this applicable to high school students. none of them are married... although many have grown up in homes that have a link to divorce... it's a touchy subject... let's face it. should we ignore it though?! no. but, how do you address it in a way that they can move forward etc.

well let's start with this.

we have become a somewhat 'flaky' society. what does that mean but that when an evite or facebook invitation goes out that the majority of responses are 'maybe.' not yes, not no.. but a response that offers the idea that 'i'll come to what you're offering only as long as i don't get a better invitation.' let's face it, we've all done it. but when you're the one planning the event it stinks to think that no one thinks your thing is going to be good enough and that you can't buy food or drinks... but that leads to insecurity which is a whole 'nother can of worms... let's stay on topic.

but, let's turn the scripture specifically looking at the last verse and turn into people that say yes and no and those words actually mean something. or in other words ask yourself this question: am i a person who does what i say i am going to do?

convicting, huh?

luke then taught through about 10 things in which the high schoolers could potentially look at in their life and think about the fact that they need to work on an area... how practical right... even for us s.
here they go...
1. hygiene (remember there are 14 year old boys in the group;))
2. reading the bible
3. drive like you are sane
4. media
5. purity
6. academic honesty
7. do what's best for your friends
8. tell the truth
9. honor your country - citizenship
10. share your faith.

to make our lives count & really stand for Christ we need to live with these things in line. when we don't live with yes's & no's it chips away our opportunity to shine for Jesus Christ.

i've been thinking about it my yes's & no's & maybe's... will you? i want to be a person whose yes's & no's actually mean something.

trying to live up to my commitments,
kg:)