MUST READ

http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2012/09/its-time-to-stop-being-authentic-christians.html

THAT GIRL THING 2012
NOVEMBER 9TH-11TH
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Messages for Girls

http://www.churchleaders.com/youth/youth-leaders-videos/145292-messages-for-teenage-girls.html

Before reading on I encourage you to read Deuteronomy Chapter 1:1-8


Just across the Jordan River was the Promised Land that God had promised to the Israelites.  They had spent 40 years in the wilderness.  Moses tells the Israelites what God said at Horeb.  In verse 6 Moses tells the people "You have dwelt here long enough at this mountain."  In verse 7 he uses the words; turn, take, and go.  In verse 8 he says see, go, and possess.  All these words are action words and they required the people of Israel to act, to do something.  Like the Israelites maybe God is telling us to stop just sitting around and get out and tell others about what He has done for us.  God is calling us to action as disciples.  In Matthew 28:19 he tells us to Go into the world and make disciples.  Again God calls us to action as He did with the Israelites.  What is God calling you to do?  Have you been at the "mountain" to long?  Are you willing to put action to your faith?

Pastor Josh Caines
Senior Pastor at Gethsemane Baptist Church, Summerville, SC

Great Article for Youth Leaders

http://www.churchleaders.com/youth/youth-leaders-articles/159175-3-common-traits-of-youth-who-don-t-leave-the-church.html#.T2yL3mcPECA.facebook

The Samaritan Woman

 Notes from the TGT 2011 Friday Night Message

7 “Give me some water to drink.”

9 So the Samaritan woman said to him, “How can you—a Jew—ask me, a Samaritan woman, for water to drink?” (For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans.)

1.)    Considering she was woman, an adultress, and Samaritan, why do you think Jesus asked her for water? What do you think His motive was behind His asking?

2.)    Think of people that you try to avoid . Would you ask them for assistance? If so, what might be the purpose for your asking? Would your purpose be different from Jesus’s purpose in this story?

3.)    Identify the thoughts and the emotions that this woman must have been facing after being asked for assistance by this Jew.

4.)    Think of people that have shunned or rejected you in the past (or who currently do). What thoughts and emotions would you have if these people asked you for assistance? What do you think their motives would be? How would you respond?

5.)    Now knowing that there is a possibility that she was not the cause for her 5 divorces, how has your view changed about the woman at the well? How do you think she felt about herself? (Note- in those days, a woman did not have the option of divorcing her husband. A husband was the only spouse who could make the decision of divorce).

6.)    Can you identify with this woman in regard to a vicious cycle that keeps repeating in your life such as broken relationships?

10 Jesus answered her, “If you had known the gift of God and who it is who said to you ‘Give me some water to drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”

11 “Sir,” the woman said to him, “you have no bucket and the well is deep; where then do you get this living water? 12 Surely you’re not greater than our father Jacob, are you? For he gave us this well and drank from it himself, along with his sons and his livestock.”

13 Jesus replied, “Everyone who drinks some of this water will be thirsty again. 14 But whoever drinks some of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again, but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life.”

15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.”

16 He said to her, “Go call your husband and come back here.”

17 The woman replied, “I have no husband.”

Jesus said to her, “Right you are when you said, ‘I have no husband,’ 18 for you have had five husbands and the man you have now is not your husband. This you said truthfully!”

1.) Why do you think Jesus does not reveal to her directly who He is?

2.) Why do you think Jesus does not directly explain to her that “water” is a symbol of salvation?

3.) What emotions do you think the woman experienced when her sin was brought to light by this Jew? Why?

4.) Has there been a time in your life when you tried to hide a particular sin from someone? Why did you feel it was necessary to hide this sin? How did the other person respond when this sin was revealed? How did you feel once the sin was revealed?

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

26 Think about the circumstances of your call, brothers and sisters. Not many were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were members of the upper class. 27 But God chose what the world thinks foolish to shame the wise, and God chose what the world thinks weak to shame the strong. 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, what is regarded as nothing, to set aside what is regarded as something, 29 so that no one can boast in his presence. 30 He is the reason you have a relationship with Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.

1.)    Think of people that you feel demonstrate great potential to be a leader for Christ. What characteristics and/or skills do they exhibit that make you feel this way?

2.)     Now based on the above characteristics and skills you listed, write “I can’t” or “I don’t” beside what you feel you don’t possess or “like.” (Example- I can’t sing; I don’t like speaking in front of people..etc)

3.)    Now beside every “I can’t,” finish the phrase “but I can,” and beside every “I don’t,” finish the phrase “but I do.” (Example- I can’t sing BUT I can paint ; I don’t like to speak in front of others BUT I do like talking to people one on one.

4.)     Now using your list from above, write specifically how God can use the “ I cans” and “I dos” to reach others for Him.

Matthew 28:19

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

1.)    Who is God calling you to “GO” to? If you have been hesitant up unto this point to do so, Why?

2.)    We need to “earn the right” to share Jesus with them. How can you earn the right to share Jesus with this person (think about their interests..what they understand..etc)? Make sure to utilize your list of “I cans” and “I dos” from earlier.  Write your plan of action.

  1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us, 2 keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:1-2).

1.)    What “secret sin” is holding you back from truly giving of yourself to the Lord?

2.)    Write your plan of action for ridding yourself of this sin. (Example- choosing not to be around the people that condone this sin, asking a friend to hold me accountable..etc)

3.)    In reference to the person that you identified earlier, what biases, if any, have affected your willingness to share Christ with this person?

4.)    How can you rid yourself of these biases and see this person the same way Jesus saw the woman at the well (as someone who is just as in need of salvation as anyone else)? Write your plan of action.

Suggestions for bible studies and personal reading

Lies Women Believe: And the Truth that sets them Free- Nancy Leigh DeMoss

Do you think I'm Beautiful? The Question Every Woman Asks- Angela Thomas

Authentic Beauty- Leslie Ludy

Notes on Prayer- Elisabeth Elliott

Becoming a Woman of Influence: Making a Lasting Impact on Others- Carol Kent

Lady in Waiting: Developing your Love Relationships- Debby Jones and Jackie Kendall

Secrets of An Irresistible Woman- Michelle McKinney Hammond

Knight in Shining Armor: Discovering Your Lifelong Love- P.B Wilson

Every Woman's Battle- Shannon Ethridge

Passion and Purity- Learning to Bring your Love Life under Christ's Control- Elisabeth Elliot

When God Writes Your Love Story- Eric and Leslie Ludy

What to do until Love finds you- Michelle McKinney Hammond

A Woman after God's Own Heart- Elizabeth George

Loving God with All Your Mind- Elizabeth George

Breaking Free- Beth Moore

A Woman and Her God- Beth Moore