|
Youth
Reaching out to young people and meeting their needs is a priority of our church. Our goal is to model and teach the gospel of Jesus Christ so that they may come to know our Lord and serve others as Christ as taught us.
The Youth Ministry at Manly Memorial Baptist Church includes youth in grades 6 through 12. Their ministry is broad-based . . . from dynamic Bible study and discipleship, to missions, music, and recreational activities. We have fun in the process of helping young people grow in their personal relationship with Jesus.
Our youth meet each Sunday afternoon for Bible Study and fun. They participate in a mission trip each summer. In past years they have participated in PASSPORT at Wingate College in North Carolina. They have also attended “Acquire The Fire” Rallies; have gone to the “Solid Rock Cafe” in Staunton; and have done service projects at the Baptist Children’s Home in Salem, VA. Through these, the youth grow closer to each other as they grow closer to God. Jimmy and Cheryl Crowder are the church’s Ministers to Youth
Security of Children and Youth
In order to be assured of your child's safety, Manly Memorial Baptist Church has taken certain security measures. All staff and workers have agreed to a criminal background check, sexual abuse check and have taken a "Reducing the Risk" class.
Sunday School Lesson
by Jerry
Genesis 24:64 NASB
64 And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac she dismounted from the camel.
VERSE 64: And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac she dismounted from the camel.
Rebekah lifted “up” her eyes. If we are going to see Christ, we must life “up” our eyes. I have found that too often my eyes are drawn down to earthly things. The account of David and Goliath is a good example (1 Samuel 17). While King Saul and Israel’s army had their attention drawn “down” to their problem Goliath, David’s eyes were drawn upward toward God.
And David said, "The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "Go, and may the Lord be with you." 1 Samuel 17:37 NASB
David had been out in the fields doing his day to day job, tending the flock. In the course of his work he had opportunities to trust the Lord. Likewise, as we go about our daily activities, we too have opportunities to trust Him. Have you ever thought that God is with you, teaching you about Himself and yourself daily? God does not charge us a fee to learn about Him. We don’t have to go to a multitude of conferences (though they couldn’t hurt), if we are willing to be taught by Him daily. If we are willing, He will teach us how to lift up our eyes toward Him just as He had the apostle Paul instruct us:
Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. Colossians 3:2
As a side note, I would point out that the time to meet with the Lord is not during the battle but before. It does no good to pick up your shield after you’ve been hit by an arrow. David had been previously in a quiet place, minding his own business, being faithfully obedient to his father before he was sent out to the battle. He was not going out as a busy body, but to bring food to his brothers under the direction of his father. Likewise, we are told:
make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you; so that you may behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need. 1 Thessalonians 4:11b-12 NASB
And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac she dismounted from the camel. Here we also see that when Rebecca lifted up her eyes she saw Isaac. When she saw Isaac, she dismounted her camel.
It would not do for Rebecca to be looking down on Isaac. Isaac was to become her master and so it was important for her to take her proper place. You might say that she ‘got down off her high horse.’ He was to become her master and she voluntarily got down. Isaac did not force her.
This is how it must be for those who follow Christ. There is a lot of irreverent talk nowadays. People refer to God as their “buddy” or “the man upstairs” or as a “co-pilot.” We should get this straight, God is not our “buddy”. He is the Lord Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. Yes, He is a friend to us, but not our “buddy.” He is not the ‘man upstairs’ but the ever-present God. He is not a ‘co-pilot’, He is the pilot. If you are having difficulties in your relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ, it may be because you are trying to be the pilot. It’s time to take a back seat and let Him fly your plane. It is written:
5 Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: "He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us"? 6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "God
is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. James 4:5-10 NASB
Do you see how this passage from James meshes with today’s passage from Genesis? God jealously desires us! He wants you and He wants me and God did not spare even His own Son so He could have us!
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, Romans 8:31-32 NASB
You and I should feel pretty special, yet, to enter into this special relationship with Jesus Christ, we must humble ourselves as it says in James. Rebecca got down and is about to submit herself to Isaac. Likewise, James tells us to submit to God. Isaac could not take her into his tent until she got down. Christ alone is the exalted One. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. We have a choice just as Rebecca had a choice. We can either voluntarily humble ourselves and submit to His authority, receive His love and protection now, or we can ignore His gracious offer and be forced to submit to His authority and be cast out of His kingdom for eternity. If you haven’t made the choice already, now is the time to make the choice to receive Christ as your King. Choose your kingdom, the kingdom of God or the kingdoms of this world. Jesus said, “ The kingdom of heaven is near, therefore, repent ” (Mt 4:17) .
20 "Gather yourselves and come;
Draw near together, you fugitives of the nations;
They have no knowledge,
Who carry about their wooden idol,
And pray to a god who cannot save.
21 "Declare and set forth your case ;
Indeed, let them consult together.
Who has announced this from of old?
Who has long since declared it?
Is it not I, the Lord?
And there is no other God besides Me,
A righteous God and a Savior;
There is none except Me.
22 "Turn to Me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth;
For I am God, and there is no other.
23 "I have sworn by Myself,
The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness
And will not turn back,
That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance .
24 "They will say of Me, 'Only in the Lord are righteousness and strength.'
Men will come to Him,
And all who were angry at Him shall be put to shame.
25 "In the Lord all the offspring of Israel
Will be justified, and will glory." Isaiah 45:20-25 NASB
|
