Verse of the day
Syndicate
Winter Youth Retreat
Dates: January 1st – January 3rd (Friday – Sunday)
Subject: Spiritual Warfare (following the topic of peace in the home covered in NY youth group)
What is it: Youth retreat; time to study the Bible, fellowship with believers, praise/worship
Who attends: usually 80-100 youth (ages 12-adult) from Canaan Fellowship, other NY churches, as well as churches in Ohio, Washington, and/or Pennsylvania.
Location: Germantown activity building, off Route 9G in the town of Germantown
Host homes: people who live more than an hour or so away are encouraged to stay with a family in the church (having people over has been an incredible blessing to each of the host families so please you folks who live an hour and a half away, don't feel obliged to drive home in the evenings!)
Cost covered by the church (if you feel that you want to give you may speak to Mr. Teubl or Mrs. Hempel (Wendy)
Format:
Thursday afternoon/evening - out of towners arrive at host homes
Friday and Saturday morning:
- 9:00 meeting/teaching (Spiritual Warfare) (everyone, musicians especially, encouraged to arrive early so as to have time to grab some coffee and still start the meeting on time)
- Break mid morning/poster groups/presentations
- 12:00 Lunch at church
- Afternoon: activities
- 5:00pm Dinner at host homes
- Evening: usually praise/worship and or testimony/prayer time
Sunday morning:
- 10:00 church (entire church, not just youth)
- 1:00 lunch and fellowship
Poster sessions: we break up into groups of 6-8 and make a poster presentation discussing/illustrating what stood out to us from the teaching. This year we may be integrating skits into presentations rather than just posters.
Host homes for dinner: there will be 3-6 host homes that everybody is encouraged to return to for dinner so as to cut down on commute time to farther away homes; also, having dinner together is awesome fellowship time
Afternoon activities: we usually do some sports (ultimate Frisbee, football, etc), play inside games at host homes, nap (if you're one of the late nighters;), and Friday some of us go to the Thompson House (nursing home in Rhinebeck) and do some Christmas caroling (that's also generally a really incredible time to get to talk/share the word with some of the people who live there).
Church Notes 12-27-09
Bruce Hempel
Psalm 84:1-7 (tears)
Jerusalem is spirit of giving, Babylon is spirit of gaining – we have been brought into the kingdom of God.
Hannah (Samuel’s mother) prayed in the tabernacle in great distress – the Lord granted what she asked.
It’s good to pray aloud, there is something in the spoken word that brings faith. In the present, because I have faith, I can have a testimony. God does not want us to have fear, to be held back by worry of what people will think, etc.
Luke 1:67-79 - Zechariah (John the Baptist’s Father) – what strikes me about this is how he speaks of being free from fear. God does not want us to live in any fear. Fear has torment. Americans are fed, through the media, a steady diet of fear.
1 John 4:4 – greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. V18 – perfect love casts out all fear.
Back to Luke 1. Verse 74: Grant us that we, being delivered from our enemies, may serve Him without fear. From this say 2 things: 1. I am the Lords servant; 2. I should serve Him without fear.
God want to get rid of health fears, family fears, fear that I cannot change.
Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Previous verse talks of how Paul has learned to be content in all things – Paul does not fear poor and hard times.
1 Sam 17 – the meaning of “my soul will make its boast in Thee Lord” – God wants us to have this boast in our hearts.
Dr. Teubl - Stronghold of fear:
We must take every thought captive. The kingdom of heaven is not taken in passivity, rather activity. Although we should wait and be partly passive as we wait on the Lord. We are active, however, when we tear down the strongholds of the enemy.
Stronghold - we build a stronghold by collecting thoughts (though they are lies, they will hold an element of truth).
How do we build a stronghold of fear? As we gather ideas of fear, we build a stronghold of fear.
How do I bring down a stronghold of fear?
- You must identify the stronghold (a stronghold that is demonized, is hidden). Some of the things used to build a stronghold are built over time.
- Ask yourself, "why do I believe what I believe?" You have to take the stronghold down, not denying the truth, but taking down the fearful elements.
If you think that you have a fear (or any stronghold), make a two column list, one of lies and one of truths. The truth should include verses that state truths. Whenever you come up against that fear (or stronghold) declare that verse.
What does this have to do with the demonic?
When we build strongholds, they are not simply errors. Many strongholds become demonically occupied. When we rebuild the stronghold, we must be ready to be active in the spiritual.
When we can find verses that can address the specific issue, then we are enabled to be effective against the enemy. Praise is another way that strongholds are brought down.
Pick your battles, but plan to win them.
Church Notes 12-20-09
Bruce Hempel:
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Church Notes 12-20-09
Bruce Hempel
The ministry of encouragement: We must have faith for our trials, everyday situations, and what God is doing inside us. We can go through life with joy! God wants us to have a song in trials. Just visiting another fellowship is an encouragement to them. Visiting a nursing home is an encouragement to the residents. Making a phone call to a friend or relative is an encouragement.
Romans 5:1-11: It is good to read the same passage of scriptures day after day for a week; it helps make the passage "sink in". Notice how much hope is in this passage. We should absorb this spirit of hope so it is part of who we are. The seminar I took last week in Ohio taught faith, hope and love. Mankind is in need of the Savior. During the flight to Ohio we had a conversation with a man. I had the impression that many were listening all around.
What are the fruits of the Spirit? (Ans. - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control.) If someone meets you, are they struck by the fruit of the Spirit? If you are lacking joy, ask for Christ's life, the life produced by the Spirit, to produce joy in you. The scripture says, "Christ in you the hope of glory." (Col, 1:27) The glory of God is His character. Faith is believing that God is working in my life to bring me to the full stature of Christ. Often what we think is humility is actually unbelief -- "God can't make me like Him." God is bigger than the garbage inside of me. God's word is true. If God has done something in me so far, he can certainly do a lot more. Believing this can fill our hearts with joy. Without faith we have fear and doubt. If you have faith and hope you will have joy.
The joy of the Lord is our strength. In Nehemiah 8 Ezra read from the law and the Levities explained it. The people began to weep; they were deeply convicted that they had failed. Ezra told them not to weep because the day was holy to the Lord; instead, they were to rejoice and celebrate God's feast and give a portion to others. We learn from this that we should rejoice even when we have understood our failure! When we see we have failed God wants us to have joy because our faith is in Him to change us, and He has promised to do that.
Psalm 19:4-5: The bridegroom comes forth from his chamber with strength. He is focused on running the race with joy. Sure the race will require giving his all, but he fully expects to win.
James 1:2: Count it all joy regarding the trials! Have we ever groaned about a trial? The Lord wants to take the groaning out and give you joy. People also notice if we are joyful. Don't resist going through suffering. A broken heart and contrite spirit brings joy. Joy comes from nothing between us and God.
Psalm 51:8 "Make me hear joy and gladness. Let the bones which You have broken rejoice." Godly sorrow produces joy; worldly sorrow produces death. God lifts us up as a parent does when a child falls. God wants you to get up when you fall. He is the God of encouragement.
Psalm 117 and 118: Have you been in a trial where you have felt this is the end? Many verses talk about a trial in the past and God's blessing afterwards (example: Psalm 23 and Psalms 103). We may go through something hard but God brings us through to a wealthy place. The trial is temporary. Also see 2 Corinthians 3:17-18.
Psalms 118:17-20 "I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD. The LORD has chastened me severely, but He has not given me over to death.
Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go through them, and I will praise the LORD. This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous shall enter." The gate of the Lord is the trial we are in. Let us go through the trial! May the Lord give us strong joy and praise. Psalm 27:13-14 "I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the LORD!"