Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Vertical

"Hear this, you kings! Listen, you rulers! I will sing to the LORD, I will sing; I will make music to the LORD, the God of Israel.

Vertical music invovles an element of interaction bewteen God and humanity. The distinctive feature about Christian music is that it strives to connect humans with the reality of God.

This Week's Challenge
In the comment section of this post list:
1. Evaluate five artists from this link. (were they good or bad, why? Oh, yeah, After Edmund is there!)
2. Pick one new worship song you think we should do as a youth group.

Music Mania

For the next couple weeks we will be diving into the topic of "music" for our Wednesday Bible studies. Respond to the online challenge and you will have a chance the to win an iTunes gift card at the next Bible study.

February 13- Vertical
February 20- Horizontal

Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang.
-2 Chronicles 5:13

Monday, February 11, 2008

A balanced Spiritual Journey

What is the goal of a youth group? What is the goal of church? What is the goal of Christianity?

These are important questions that must be asked to help us on our spiritual journey. Renovare presents several categories of a "balanced vision" for this Christian journey. Take a look at these categories and ask yourself if this is what we should hope for and expect from church and in our own lives. If so, how balanced our you between these various areas?

Contemplative: the prayer filled life...focuses upon intimacy with God and depth of spirituality. This spiritual dimension addresses the longing for a deeper, more vital Christian experience.

Holiness: the virtuous life...focuses upon personal moral transformation and the power to develop "holy habits." This spiritual dimension addresses the erosion of moral fiber in personal and social life.

Charismatic: the spirit filled life...focuses upon intimacy with God and depth of spirituality. This spiritual dimension addresses the longing for a deeper, more vital Christian experience.

Social Justice: the compassionate life...focuses upon justice and shalom (peace) in all human relationships and social structures. This spiritual dimension addresses the gospel imperative for equity and compassion among all peoples.

Evangelical: the word-centered life...focuses upon the proclamation of the evangel, the good news of the gospel. This spiritual dimension addresses the need for people to see the good news lived and hear the good news proclaimed.

Incarnational: the sacramental life...focuses upon making present and visible the realm of the invisible spirit. This spiritual dimension addresses the crying need to experience God as truly manifest and notoriously active in daily life.

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

D-Now Pictures

We've got pictures from Disciple Now available on the D-now blog.