Come As You Are...
Listen to the Message...
Lead Me To The Cross, Part 2
Come As You Are, Jay Higham Recorded on Sunday, April 16th, 2017 (Easter Sunday) At Hickory United E.P Church
As you think about the wonderful reality of being able to come to Jesus as you are, take a few minutes to listen and watch, Come As You Are, as performed by David Crowder.
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It's the Best Kept Secret Part One I started a teaching series last week called, It's the Best Kept Secret. This week, I want to share this series as a study, so I am going back through the material and reshaping it as a daily study. My hope is that as you think about your relationship with Jesus Christ, you might also consider how you live for him. So I hope this helps you as you chase after Jesus. What does it look like to live a balanced healthy life, a life that passionately chases after the things of God? What does it look like to live a life of worship? How does one grow as a disciple? And when it comes to ministry, how do you serve those around you? Like many church leaders, I was drawn to the idea that there was some miraculous method or model to inspire and accomplish growth. I wanted to see growth in both my personal spiritual life and growth in my ministry. So I read books, a lot of books. And I went to seminars, a lot of seminars. And I hoped, boy did I hope that I would find the secret that I though some many already knew. I read books like... - The Purpose Driven Youth Ministry, Doug Fields… - Sustainable Youth Ministry, Mark DeVries… - Thriving Youth Ministry in Smaller Church, Rick Chrome... - The Purpose Driven Church, Rick Warren… - Leading with Love, Alexander Strauch… - Spiritual Leadership, J. Oswald Sanders… - Evangelism Explosion, D James Kennedy… - Radical, David Platt… - Multiply, Francis Chan… - The Church Planter, Darrin Patrick… - The Irresistible Church, Wayne Cordeiro… - Simple Church, Thom S Rainer and Eric Geiger… - 7 Practices of Effective Ministry, Andy Stanley, Reggie Joinier, Lane Jones… - Nine Marks of a Healthy Church, Mark Dever… - The Power of a Whisper, Bill Hybels… - The Circle Maker, Mark Batterson… - Verticle Church, James MacDonald… Now these aren’t books that I’ve just read. These are books that I have studied, dissected and pondered over. I was amazed by the stories that told of tremendous growth and ministry. Stories of how churches jumped from a handful of worshipers to the gathering of thousands celebrating together in weekly worship. With each book, I kept looking for some secret ingredient, a model or structure, a particular strategy or look, a common tread that ran through each church or growth story, something that would spark the growth in what I was doing. And after years of looking and studying, I think it’s safe to say, I found it. But to my surprise, I didn’t find it in any of these books. Despite all the experience, know-how, stories, methods, and models, the answer to my deep quest for understand the church and church growth wasn’t found in any of the books I read. In fact, it all comes down to not a method or a model, not even a strategy or a vision statement. It comes down to what we see happening in the early church as it is shared in Acts 2:42-47. So let's look at Acts 2:42-47. Acts 2:42-47 English Standard Version (ESV) The Fellowship of the Believers 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. (ESV) We see something special in the early church. Something that if we look close enough, we too will see. Growth doesn't comes because of a model or a method or a strategy. Growth comes as we pursue three things. Worship. Discipleship. Ministry To Think About...Worship. Discipleship. Ministry. How would you define these terms based simply on what you understand as you consider the concept of WORSHIP, DISCIPLESHIP and MINISTRY. Print out the .pdf using the link below and answer the simple questions provided and keep them with your bible. See you tomorrow.
I saw this video in my Facebook feed this morning. Because the title had millennials in it, I had to watch it. Being a GenX'er, and a pastor who has worked with and continues to work with students who now fall into the millennial age bracket, and the next generation, I am always interested in what's being said about the generational breakdowns.
Simon Sinek is an author, speaker, and consultant who writes on leadership and management. (Wikipedia bio) His websites, SimonSinek.com and StartwithWhy.com, are chalked full of tips, how-tos, tools, and resources for leadership and management, including his books, Start With Why, and New York Times and Wall Street Journal best seller, Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t..
What struck me about the video was his assessment of the Millennials. Simon suggests four characteristics that millennials deal with; "failed" parenting, technology, impatience, and environment. Please take a few minutes to watch the video below.
So, is this true of all Millennials? Or is this a glimpse of a larger problem that has infected society with a deeper cultural issue?
As I watched Simon describe his four characteristics of parenting, technology, impatience, and environment, I found myself agreeing with his assement. The realities are "failed" parenting, increasing use of and addiction to technology, lack of patience, and the lack of conifidence in social and corporate settings are trends that we have seen in our student ministries and community families for a number of years now. But is it just the Millennials?
I think Simon is on point with his assessments, but I believe it's more than just a millennial issue. For instance, as a parent to parents, I would strongly suggest that we consider our roles as parents. I believe that there has been some break down in fulfilling our responsibility to parent our kids. I think it's time that we stop coddling our kids and instead begin preparing them for the realities of life; relationships, careers, success, failure, and soforth. To continue to deprive them of these realities is only going to prolong the problems we see already developing in our society.
Let's rethink our decisions when it comes to the availability of technology. Yes, I am one that deeply believes in the value of technology, but as a tool for life and not as a way of life. Having 3 teens with smart phones and tablets, I am all to aware of the dangers of unlimited access. To enhanse the problem even more, 3 of our 5 have been given laptops from the school for their studies. That would be great if the district had a more comprehensive plan for the technology, but the reality is, they now have a new device to watch videos, check social media, and surf the web with. And let's be honest, not only are they doing it at home, but their doing it at school as well. But it's not just parenting and technology. As a youth worker to youth workers, if you served students between 2000 and 2015, we are just as quilty as the parents. Because for many of us, we have created a student ministry bubble within our churches that has supported the same kind of harmful thinking. We have catered to our students in creating attractional, entertaining, and consumer driven ministry models that have separated an entire generation from the the large body of the church. Over the last 20 years, we have become super influencial with our students. Students listen to what we say. They watch what we do. And they make life changing decisions based on the influence we've had on their beliefs, principals, practices, life styles, and purposes. I'll talk more about this in an upcoming blog series I am researching and preparing for about student ministry and the church. Look of it starting in 2017. We have created the problem.
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Jay Higham is a veteran youth worker of over 25 years; having worked with students in the local church and Christian camping settings. Jay is currently the Student Ministry Director at Hickory Church, located in Western PA. Jay has been married to Amy for 20 years. Together, they are raising 5 kids, (4 boys and 1 girl). Jay is an aspiring author, blogger, speaker, a vlogger, and social media junkie. He is passionate about student ministry, family ministry, and training youth workers to love and serve their students with passion and excellence.
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Sometime around the third or fourth round one of the party-goers, make a clear and shameless break for the big box. I believe the comment was made, Go big, or go home!
Well…
The wrapping paper was torn off. The tape holding the box closed was cut, and we’re all wondering, What could there be in such a big box? I mean, really, there could be just about anything in the box. It was a big box. And so your mind just goes crazy thinking, waiting, wondering.
So with all eyes trained on the box, the flap is pulled back, and then we heard it, “OH, NO!!!”
Hangers. Old Wooden Hangers. The box was filled with them. Various sizes. Some with clips to hang pants or a skirt, some without. Well, the room exploded with laughter. Maybe something you had to be there to see, but there’s a lesson or two in this for us. 1. It’s true, bigger isn’t always better and, 2. sometimes when you go BIG, you go home with a large box full of hangers. |
Some of the BEST gifts
come in the SMALLEST packages
Some of us might already know this to be true, especially if you’re someone who receives jewelry at Christmas time. I remember early on in my relationship with Amy, we would spend Christmas with Amy’s family. We would sit and practice their tradition of opening gifts and when we were done, Amy’s dad would surprise Amy’s mom with a little package that contained some kind of shiny-something.
But here’s my question, do we believe that the best gift that’s ever come, has come in the smallest package.
While in Bethlehem, Mary, heavy with child, has delivered.
The angels have proclaimed.
The shepherds have visited.
The wise guys are on their way.
In some ways, we might find ourselves in s similar place, asking similar questions. We know the story. We know what Mary and Joseph were told. We know that Jesus was born. We know what the angels said of him. We know that the shepherd and wise men came.
But do we know what this means? Are we fully aware of the significance of the birth? And…do we believe it? I mean, do we really really believe it?
As I think about the significance of this morning, this season, the reason we remember and celebrate Christmas, I think of these verses in John 1.
The Word Became Flesh 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. |
In the beginning was the Word…Jesus. He was with God, he WAS God. He was there at the start of everything, with God, and through him, Jesus, all things were made, and nothing was made without him.
John says, Jesus is God.
But it’s more than that. John tells us that in him, the Word, Jesus, there is LIFE, as in LIFE. Not that he simply was alive, but that in Jesus was the ability to create and sustain life. More importantly, the ability to give life. And this life-giver is the LIGHT to which all men are to live by.
So what we have here is this grand declaration of who Jesus is.
Now why is it that we time to consider this?
The angel, Gabriel, said it to Mary, in Luke 1:30-33. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary asks, “How?” Verse 35. 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. The angel of the Lord goes to Joseph. Matthew 1:20-21. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Then to the shepherds the Angel says. Luke 2:10-11. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. |
Today we celebrate no ordinary baby, nor some ordinary birth. Today we celebrate God, coming to earth with the purpose of rescuing us.
Look back with me to John 1, verse 14. "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us..."
The Word became flesh.
- God took on Flesh.
- Skin and bone. A heart. Lungs. Stomach. Intestines. A Liver. A brain.
- His body core tempt was 98.6˚.
- He would cry, get hungry and grow tired.
- He would laugh and make jokes.
- He would eat and drink and spend time with friends.
- And he would feel the hurt of hate and the pain of death.
He was just like us.
He became one of us.
God come down to man.
Better, God became man.
Today we remember and celebrate that the gift of his life would mean life for us. That a Savior, a Messiah, the perfect sacrifice for all men would lay down his life and die, that his blood would be the complete and sufficient covering for sin.
Today we remember and celebrate that just like his first coming, he will come again. That just as the heavenly hosts appeared and declared the praises of heaven, in the twinkling of an eye, and at the trumpets blast, Jesus will come again. And for those of us who are found in him, we will be raised up into heaven to be with him for ever and ever.
Is it because there are presents to open, family to visit, or food to consume? Or is it because today, maybe more than any other day, there is this longing inside of you that says, I need to be near my Savior, my Lord, my Messiah, my Jesus! Because today is about our Savior.
Today is about Jesus.
Jay Higham is a veteran youth worker of over 25 years; having worked with students in the local church and Christian camping settings. Jay is currently the Student Ministry Director at Hickory Church, located in Western PA. Jay has been married to Amy for 20 years. Together, they are raising 5 kids, (4 boys and 1 girl). Jay is an aspiring author, blogger, speaker, a vlogger, and social media junkie. He is passionate about student ministry, family ministry, and training youth workers to love and serve their students with passion and excellence. |
A Teenage Girl and the Son of God
Awe & Wonder - A Christmas Series
Were you the popular one, who everybody flocked to be around? Or were you the quiet one, more comfortable on you own? Maybe you felt more like the outsider, never quite feeling like you fit in.
Have you ever thought about how Mary felt about her teenage years? While we don’t know exactly how old Mary was, most traditions put her in her teenage years, those awkward and turbulent years.
We know little of Mary’s life prior to Luke chapter 1. And what we do know is even more limiting. We know that she is living in Nazareth. We know she is a virgin. (That helps with the age thing.) We know she is betrothed (or committed to be married to) a man named Joseph. And we know that she is has found favor with God.
“You will conceive in your womb and bear a son… He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:31a, 32 & 33 ESV)
Now I don't know about you, but these aren’t the dreams and life goals of normal teenagers. I have worked with teenagers for years. I have a couple teenagers of my own. And I can tell you, none of them have ever said to me, boy, I sure hope I get pregnant and give birth to a son who rules over the world for ever and ever.
Mary asks one question. “How? How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
It's an odd question. We’d expect something a little more objecting. Maybe we would expect Mary to slam on the brakes, looking around for the hidden, you’ve just be pranked, cameras. But no, she simply asks, How?
Now I know that we can’t read the emotions that she might have been feeling in that moment. We really have no way of knowing how she may have looked, responded, or what she did. But as I read her ultimate response in verse 38, I have to wonder, what was going on in her heart? Because in the black and white of print and page she seems so calm.
But then I think, “and why not?”
Why not trust?
Why not believe?
Why not say yes?
Why not obey?
Maybe this is why God chose Mary in the first place. Maybe the reason he so highly favors her is because he knows that she will say YES!
And maybe that’s the point?
Maybe the reason he so highly favors her is because
he knows that she will say YES!
No hesitation. No thinking. No weighing out the options. No considering how it will impact your retirement plans? Just a simply answer, Yes?
Awe and wonder is more than just being speechless in the midst of God doing something in your life. Awe and wonder is also found in the ask. At 16, I know without doubt, that God spoke a purpose into my life. 25 years later I am still doing what he called me to do. There have been times when I wanted to say no, and times when I wish I did say no. But I am always in awe and wonder as I think about just how faithful and amazing God is.
So as Christmas approaches, I think with awe at how Mary was so quick to say yes. And while I can’t even begin to know or understand what the following nine months may have been like for her, I wonder, what did her relationship with look like during that time?
Take a few minutes to consider these questions.
1. What do you remember during those teenager years? How have they shaped who you are today? 2. What can you learn from Mary’s obedience to God’s plan? 3. When was the last time God asked you to do something that required you to step out in faith? What was it, and what did you do? 4. The Nativity story is filled with moments of Awe & Wonder. How are you in awe of God right now? |
Jay Higham is a veteran youth worker of over 25 years; having worked with students in the local church and Christian camping settings. Jay is currently the Student Ministry Director at Hickory Church, located in Western PA. Jay has been married to Amy for 20 years. Together, they are raising 5 kids, (4 boys and 1 girl). Jay is an aspiring author, blogger, speaker, a YouTuber/vlogger, and social media junkie. He is passionate about student ministry, family ministry, and training youth workers to love and serve their students with passion and excellence. |
Author
Jay Higham is a veteran youth worker of over 30 years; having worked with students in the local church and Christian camping settings. Jay is currently serving as the director of family ministry at a church, located in West Virginia. Jay has been married to Amy for over 25 years. Together, they are raising 5 kids, (4 boys and 1 girl). Jay is an aspiring author, blogger, speaker, vlogger, and social media junkie. He is passionate about student ministry, family ministry, and training youth workers to love and serve their students with passion and excellence.
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