What has caused the greatest spiritual growth in your life?

A Growing Christian SUBMITS TO GOD.

In our last article we talked about the importance of seeking God if we desire to grow in Him.  We seek Him in the Scriptures & in prayer as we ask His Spirit to guide us.
As important as honestly seeking God for His truth & guidance in our lives is our willingness to submit to God by follow where He leads, respond to His guidance & to obey what He says.  Jesus said to His disciples, “If you know these things, you will be happy if you do them!”.  This follows the wisdom in Proverbs 3:5-6 which instructs us to:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart &
lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge Him and
He will make your paths straight.”

That takes a commitment to submission of our will & understanding to His will, but it also comes with a promise:
“He will make your path straight.”
In the New Testament book of Ephesians submission is also put in the context of the Body of Christ as a result of being filled with the Spirit.

“Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with songs, hymns, spiritual songs.  Sing & make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (5:18-21)

I believe that submitting to God and one another is a key to our growth especially in the context of the Body of Christ, His Church.  God’s will is confirmed in corporate prayer & God’s Spirit working through our brothers & sisters in Christ who know us, love us & want God’s best for us.  That is why we encourage everyone to be involved in the Fellowship of the Spirit in home groups, small groups & prayer groups.  It is there that we can seek God & encourage one another to submit to God as we “Trust in Him with all our Hearts.”

Growing together in Him!
Pastor Marc

Youth Group Summer Schedule

Youth Group Summer Schedule

July
22nd – Wednesday – last day of youth group for the summer

August
2nd – Sunday
HS Summer Camp recap
Youth Staff mtg after church

5th – Wednesday – No Youth Group (VBS Week)

8th – Saturday – Picnic & games & campfire @ Church from 2-8pm

9th – Sunday – Outdoor service & baptisms 10am-2pm

12th – Wednesday – Service Project– All day (maybe campout–stay tuned)

21st – Friday – Serve @ food kitchen/Memorial Lutheran 4-10pm

September
9th – Wednesday – 1st day of school

16th – Wednesday – Youth Group Kickoff

Take the rest of the summer to grow in your relationship with Jesus & your friends
-have a bible study
-hold a movie night & discuss what messages the movie was trying to communicate
-find a service project to do & do it
-go swimming
-roast marshmallows
-write a friend a letter telling them how you appreciate them
-memorize a verse, chapter, or book of the bible
-read a good book
-start a prayer journal & record what Jesus has done in your life
-make some goals for next school year
-go on a hike & thank God for giving you the senses to enjoy nature

WHATEVER YOU DO, HAVE FUN AND HONOR JESUS!