Thursday Night
RECKLESS PURSUIT
By Kourtney Brownlow Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts. [2 Timothy 2:22] Do you pursue stuff? Like really go after things? I mean get your mind set on something and know that you have all of the determination in the world to do whatever it takes to make sure you get there? I believe you do. I have seen it time and time again. You are some determined people. I have seen many young people with dreams of a career in a specific field. As a little kid they know what they want to be when they grow up – they talk about it, think about it, dream about it. Then when they get older they start trying to make this dream a reality. When you go to college to get a degree in business, finance, education, religion, medicine, etc. there is a lot involved in it. You don’t just become a Dr. or a teacher or an accountant overnight. You have to study, obtain knowledge, shadow others in the field, and learn hands on what it really takes to be what you want to be. Pursuing a dream takes intentionality, determination, time, energy, and effort. Pursuing God is no different. It is one thing to be a Christian – it is another to pursue God. Anyone can be a Christian – it’s pretty easy. Few, however, truly seek after Him. To pursue God is to be intentional and determined.
Thursday Night
RECKLESS PURSUIT
You must study about Him; you must learn about Him through prayer and meditation. You must find other believers who are deeper in their faith than you are, learn from them, and be mentored by them. This journey does not happen overnight. In fact – our pursuit of God never ends. We can never attain God, but it is our ideal as believers to look as much like Jesus as we possibly can. We must desire to take on as many characteristics and attributes of this man, Jesus, upon whom our faith is built.
Reflection: What are some characteristics that Jesus has that you want for yourself and feel that Christians should obtain?
What are some ways in which we can pursue God and become more like Him?
What will it take for you to be intentional about seeking after the things of God?
What stands in your way? Take some time and pray about 3 commitments that you are going to make in pursuit of a deeper relationship with Jesus. Make them attainable and write them down.
Friday Morning
RECKLESS GIVING
Be a Kid by Holley Potts “Give, and it will be given to you. You will have more than enough. It can be pushed down and shaken together and it will still run over as it is given to you. The way you give to others is the way you will receive in return.” [Luke 6:38] We often think of giving as a teaching for “grown-ups.” I mean, adults are working and have a regular income, right? You may be thinking “I don't even get an allowance, how am I supposed to give?” But I think kids are way better givers than adults. Think about little kids... they are naturally generous and don't worry about saving. What I mean is this-- if they are drinking a big glass of chocolate milk there's no measuring it out... slowly-- they just turn the bottom up and empty the whole thing. When using paint or glitter or any such craft, they don't shake or squirt carefully, saving some for later, but just happily pour or dump the whole container on there. To them, everything comes from a never-ending source. If the milk is all consumed, that's okay-- more can magically appear in the cup. There's more glitter, or paint, or cookie frosting, or stickers just around the corner... right? The sad part is that the older we get (even as teenagers) we begin to forget that God will take care of our needs, and we start to worry about our lives. Trusting that your every need will be met is what allows you to give recklessly. And we're not just talking about money here. Giving includes our time, our energy, our talents, our work.
Friday Morning
RECKLESS GIVING
Reflection: What keeps me from giving my time, talents, or my money to something?
How would my giving change if I really trusted in the endless source that is found in Jesus?
What kinds of things might I be able to give to that would show love to others and serve God? (for example, what could you do at your school, in your family, at your church?)
Friday Night
RECKLESS HUMILITY
Leading From the Floor by Nic Billman “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside His outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around His waist. Then He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around Him.” [John 13:3-5] We all have different callings from God the Father. Maybe you're called to the nations as a missionary. Maybe you’re called to be a kingdom minded business person or a school teacher. Maybe you're called to be a pastor or you have a heart to preach to stadiums full of people like Billy Graham. Regardless of your calling I want to tell you two things you will surely need to live out the destiny God has for you; a towel and a basin of water. That's right! Following the model that Jesus showed us not only with His disciples in John 13 but on the cross, we must be willing to go to the lowest place so that we may lift others higher. I love in this passage how the Bible says that all things had been given into Jesus' hands. That means all authority, all power - all things! And what did he do with that authority and power? He didn't stand up and announce to his guys how spiritually buff He was or remind them of His authority. He took off his outer garments, the garments of a rabbi, put on the towel of a servant and positioned himself in the lowest place in the room. At the feet of His disciples.
Friday Night
RECKLESS HUMILITY
In their culture they would typically have a basin of a water and a towel positioned by the door. It was the job of a servant to wash the feet of the guests at an event. Remember that these guys wore sandals and they walked everywhere. I'm sure they had some nasty dirty feet and they probably didn't smell like roses. In this story, we don't read that any servant washed their feet as they entered because Jesus had other plans. This dinner was one of Jesus' last intimate times with his disciples. What message did He want to leave with them? He had already taught them how to operate in power and compassion, how to heal the sick, cast out demons, and raise the dead. They had even witnessed and been a part of miracles such as food multiplication and walking on water. But this message was a little different. This message was to teach His guys, and us, that we lead from the floor; we go to the lowest places as we serve others, even those who serve us, and we lift them up. Later in the story we see that Peter didn't want Jesus to wash his feet, but Jesus tells him, "If you don't let me wash you then you can have no part of me." Peter responds, "Then not just my feet but my head and all of me!" We must first receive from Jesus so that we may then be poured out on the floor, in the lowest place, serving others in the same way that Jesus served us. If you are called to be a leader, a pastor, a missionary or an evangelist, you don't need a microphone and a stage, you just need a towel, a basin of water and a heart that longs to serve others and lift them up into their destiny. The best leaders are the ones who go lower to lift others higher, just as Jesus went to the lowest place on the cross to lift us into victory.
Friday Night
RECKLESS HUMILITY
Reflection: Have you ever washed any one’s feet before? If so, what was that experience like? If you haven’t washed anyone’s feet before how does the thought of doing so make you feel?
Why do we find it difficult to be humble at times?
How is Jesus calling you to be a servant to others? How can you do so by leading from the floor?
Take some time to reflect and pray on what God is revealing to you.
Saturday Morning
RECKLESS PRAYER
By Kyle Lock There was once a man named George Washington Carver. You know, the peanut guy. Carver almost single-handedly revolutionized southern agriculture. The man was a brilliant scientist. He found hundreds of uses for the peanut that no one had ever thought of before. He did other things, too, but the peanut is what he is most known for. Carver had an interesting habit. Every morning around 4 or 5 a.m. he would wander into the woods by himself, and he would pray. He would communicate and dialogue with God. It is said that early in his research his supervisors were unsure about his confidence in the peanut being a profitable thing to farm.
His response to their doubts fascinates me.
“All my life, I have risen regularly at four in the morning to go into the woods and talk with God. That’s where He reveals His secrets to me. When everybody else is asleep, I hear God best and learn my plan … This morning I asked Him why He made the peanut.” I have a friend whom also communicates with God in the woods, but he is a little different. My friend will wander alone into the woods and shout at God. It's not in a mean or angry way, unless he is actually angry with God. But that's not why he shouts. He shouts like a kid who can't find his dad in a crowded mall. A kid who is scared, alone and knows he is lost without his dad. My friend shouts because he desperately wants to find his Dad.
Saturday Morning
RECKLESS PRAYER
I think we are very superficial in our view of prayer. We have made it something you do before meals, sleep and occasionally when someone is sick or you have "quiet time." But prayer is so much more than that. Prayer is real communication with the Creator of the world. I think Carver understood that. And I think my friend feels that on a very deep level. I challenge you to try something new. Pray like you never have before. Believe in the real power of prayer. Trust that God is listening.
And He may even talk back.
Saturday Morning
RECKLESS PRAYER
Reflection: What does your prayer time with God look like? Who does the talking? Do you talk to God formally or informally? Do you ever feel awkward? (why or why not)
Do you pray out loud? Silently?
What do you think prayer accomplishes? Why is it important that we pray?
Spend some time and write out a prayer to God for what He might do in your life today.
Saturday Night
RECKLESS OBEDIENCE
Eggs in a Basket by Lorin Pedigo “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” [Proverbs 3:5-10] I have two passions in life: one is preaching the Gospel, and the other is cooking. I take great joy in feeding the bodies and souls of those around me. Recently, my wife asked me to make something that I had never made before: Eggs in a Basket. It is a simple dish; all that is required is bread, butter, salt, pepper, an egg, a knife, and a small pan. Then you simply cut a small hole in the center of the slice of bread, butter both sides and place it in the pan. Next you break the egg into the hole, add salt and pepper and cook the egg to your desired doneness. It’s simple and delicious! As we began to make eggs in a basket at our house, I was reminded that over and over again in my life I had been told, “Don’t put all your eggs into one basket.” Yet as I read these verses from Proverbs and others throughout the Bible, that is exactly what God is asking us to do. God’s desire for us is to put all of our eggs into His basket, to trust in Him with all of our heart. You see, when we trust God with all of our heart He becomes the chief decision maker, and not us. We stop asking God to bless the plans we have and allow Him to direct our paths.
Saturday Night
RECKLESS OBEDIENCE
Last night many of you made a commitment to be recklessly obedient to God. I hope you did not make that decision lightly; it will come at great cost. It will require you to put all your eggs into His basket. When our eggs are in His basket we have to trust God knows what He is doing. When it gets hard to remain obedient, remember that Jesus put all of His eggs into our basket so that our sins would be forgiven, and to make a way for us to put all of our eggs into His now empty basket (see [Phil. 2:5-11]). Then when you want to give up, Luke 9:62 needs to be a continual spiritual 2X4 where Jesus said, “No one, having put his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God.” All of us have reached the point of no return, we have said we will be obedient regardless of the cost; our eggs need to be in His basket. When I made the decision to follow Jesus and serve Him in full time ministry, I intentionally left no open doors to do anything else. I am all in, are you? Or are there areas of your life that you still need to surrender to Him in order to be recklessly obedient? Areas like, but not limited to: relationships, entertainment, your own wisdom and intellect, finances, friends, job, or your future. The reason we should put all of our eggs into His basket to be recklessly obedient is that, when we do, God rewards those who faithfully follow Him. Our passage tells us that when our eggs are in God’s basket, God will give us three things: 1. True fulfillment in life by walking God’s path. (verse 6) 2. Health and Strength (verses 7 & 8) 3. Abundant Provision (verses 9 & 10) Once you have made the decision to follow him, rise up from where you are seated and walk in reckless obedience with the God who created you for Himself. (See [Col. 1:16]).
Saturday Night
RECKLESS OBEDIENCE
Reflection: Are there any “eggs� you are still holding on to? What are those?
Why is it so hard for you to let go?
What does walking in true fulfillment in life look like for you?
Spend some time in conversation with God.
Sunday Morning
DEVOTIONAL
All weekend we have talked about being Reckless in our faith in Jesus Christ. We have heard many speakers and attended different sessions as well as small groups. God has poured a lot into you this weekend. God is also calling you to pour out. Take a moment and write your own devotional on what you think it means to be reckless in your faith. Then commit to sharing this devotional with someone.
Personal Quiet Time
GETTING AN UPGRADE
Have you ever had to upgrade an operating system, an app on your iPod, or maybe your phone? When you are asked to upgrade, it’s usually because there have been changes made to the phone or iPod to make it better. Often, new features have been added or a bug has been fixed on the app. Upgrading your phone or iPod is an important thing to do to make it work better and to help you enjoy your device more. Just like its important to upgrade your phone or iPod, its important to upgrade your time spent hanging out with God. As a teenager, it’s easy sometimes for you to not know where to begin when spending time reading your Bible or praying. Or maybe you already spend time with God, but you’d just like to upgrade what you’re already doing. This devotion has you covered.
Personal Quiet Time
GETTING AN UPGRADE
Here are some tips for upgrading your quiet time with God:
1. Just do it. Sometimes when you read the Bible, it will feel like God is really speaking to you and you’ll have goose bumps and get really excited. Other times, your time with God will feel dull and you’d rather be talking to others on Facebook. The key here is not to worry about whether your quiet time with God feels inspired or not. What’s important is that you make a habit of getting to know God and talking to Him. Just set aside some time each day to spend with God. As you make it a habit, you’ll find that you really get more out of your quiet times.
2. Read books other than the Bible. Sometimes picking up a book about Jesus or a Bible topic that interests you is a great way to upgrade your quiet time. There are lots of devotional books out there that are written for teenagers. Find one that looks interesting to you and start reading. You can learn a lot about God and upgrade your quiet time by reading a book geared for teens.
These are just a few tips to help you upgrade your time with God. Spending time with God is one of the best things you can do. Start making your time with God a priority in your life and you’ll come to know Him in a fresh and new way!