Road Signs: Rest Stop

Yesterday was a great Sunday in The Warehouse. We had an incredible time worshipping together and heard a "good word" from LeeAnn Miller. LeeAnn presented the idea that whatever gets the bulk of your attention is where you will move in your life.

Many times in our lives' we think we can be a good influence on other people. LeeAnn went to an artsy girls preparatory school. Her parents hooked her up with a more rowdy girl so they could ride to school together - with all good intentions of LeeAnn being a good influence on this friend. Over time the complete opposite happened - LeeAnn was the one who really started changing who she was and making choices she knew weren't the best.

Why do we sometimes believe the lie that we can spend time giving our attention to things that we know aren't the best without being influenced ourselves? It's a lie. Just think about your life - whatever you give the bulk of your time or attention is what becomes most important in your life. It's not too hard to see how this principle is so true in our lives.

Think of yourself. Who in your life do you spend the bulk of your time with? How is this person having an influence on you? How are they helping you become a better person?

Can you think of a time where you were influenced to do, say, or be something you really weren't? Talk about it.

Read Proverbs 4:25-27,
25 Let your eyes look directly ahead
And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
26 Watch the path of your feet
And all your ways will be established.
27 Do not turn to the right nor to the left;
Turn your foot from evil.

What do you think it means to fix your eyes straight ahead? What are you fixing your eyes on?

How do we fix our eyes on Jesus? (Live how he wants us to live, Pray, Reading the Bible to know how to live, Be involved in small group so we do life together)

Road Signs

Hey - Check out this teaching video from yesterday at church! Watch this with your student, then talk about these questions with them...

Read Proverbs 27:12 together.
“The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it” (Proverbs 27:12 NIV)

How would you describe someone who is “Prudent” and someone who is “Simple”?
(Answer: Prudent = Wise while someone who is Simple = Naïve)

What is the difference between the “prudent” and the “simple”?
(Answer: BOTH the simple and prudent SEE the caution sign. The prudent/wise person “takes refuge”, but the simple/naïve person “keeps going and suffers” the situation)

How does this scripture relate to JD’s story of almost being bitten by a rattle snake?

It’s pretty easy to change paths when there’s a poisonous snake in the way!! But why is it so much harder to change paths when the “caution signs” of LIFE “rattle” to give us warning?

Why do you think it’s important to turn around as soon as you notice a warning sign in your life?

Road Signs: Yield

Yesterday we talked about what it means to yield to God. In our life we are faced with decisions every day. Sometimes we make the wise choice, but sometimes we make decisions that aren't so wise. The Bible gives us clarity about how we can make decisions in our life.

If you're anything like me whenever you are facing decisions in life it's easy to go to your friends, parents, or a mentor. All of us humans like to talk it out. I don't know what it is, but maybe we feel more safe if we get a tangible answer from a physical person. Many times the last person I go to is Jesus. Sad, but true. I will talk it all out with other people, then, when I'm at the end of my rope it dawns on me that Jesus is out there ready to hear what's on my heart.

King Solomon wrote about this in Proverbs. In chapter 3 verses 5 and 6 he says, "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 path straight." Want to know how to make good decisions in your life? Learn to trust in God. Learn to lean on Him and the advice from His Word. Many times we go through life getting advice from our friends when really we need to acknowledge God in our life.


Who do you usually run to when you need advice?

Why do you sometimes go to other people before God?

What area of your family's life to you need to trust God? (a job change? school starting? friendship issues?)

Where do you need to acknowledge what God has already done for you? Where has God showed up in the past?

Roadsigns: One-Way

Hey everyone!

We just started a new series this past week called "Roadsigns". Through this series, we're talking about how God provides us with different signs in our own lives that we need to remember as we're trying to live our lives for God and to make wise decisions. Each week will be a different road sign that helps illustrate our walks with God.

This past week, we talked going "one-way", and JD and Susan talked to us about the Path Principle. Basically, it says that our direction determines our destination. If you're going to turn left, you'll end up somewhere left of where you were going. Same goes for turning right. The same goes in life. Depending on what choices we make, we'll end up at different places in our lives. But sometimes it's hard for us to make the right choice because we can't always see where each path will lead us because our perspective is limited. So JD and Susan encouraged us to take a step back and look at our lives with a "Second-Story Perspective", as though we were to look down at ourselves from a second-story building. That perspective is viewed through God's eyes, and helps us to determine where we should go.

What are some paths in your life that you either need to consider or reconsider?

Are you heading in a direction that pleases the Lord? Is it a wise and good direction?

How can we figure out what God wants for our lives? Where should we turn for the Second-Story Perspective?

Who is someone in your life that helps put you on the right path?

Go '09 and Annoucements

Hey everyone!

This week, our HSM students, along with our Aqua group at Newpointe, traveled far and abroad Amish Country all the way across the street to the Norma Johnson Center and participated in Newpointe's Community Impact Day called Go '09. There were no services Sunday morning, but instead, the entire church traveled to different places around the area to show the love of Christ by serving the community. We spent the day clearing trails around the center, building a dock to put in a lake, and even forging a new trail around the perimeter of the lake! It was a blast seeing the students get so involved and to see how readily they wanted to help out their community. Personally, I thought it was especially neat to see tons of neon green t-shirts (our Go '09 shirts) around the area helping in different places. What a neat way to really be the church outside of these walls!

We've got some exciting stuff coming up in HSM soon, so we wanted to give you an update on announcements!

Party at the Lake - August 16th, right after church until 6pm
To celebrate the end of a great summer, we're having an event especially for our HSM students and for current 8th graders that will be going into high school in the fall! The event is free and includes food, transportation, swimming and tons of fun!! If you want to, you can bring some extra cash for things like paddle-boats ($2), putt-putt ($2), and Par-3 ($3). We can't wait and would love to see you there!

Buckeyes vs. Illionis Game - September 26th
Mark you calendars and come hang out in the Warehouse as we watch the Buckeyes dominate Illionis! Time is currently TBD, but as soon as we find out, we will let you know. The cost is $3 and includes pizza and wings.

Laser Tag - October 17th
Yes, that's right. Laser tag. Right here in Newpointe in the Big Room. It will be awesome! The cost is still TBD, but will be under $5 and will include not only laser tag, but food, drinks, worship and more! Bring your friends!