Sunday 12/11

High School
Have you ever been uncomfortable? You know, like really uncomfortable? I'm sure we all have amazing stories from our lives that involve us being a little out of our element. This past Sunday we looked at an obscure biblical character who was asked by God to do something really uncomfortable. He was asked to reach out in the name of the holy spirit and heal Saul. Doesn't seem too bad, right? Wrong. Saul persecuted Christians, that was his thing, some times even ending in death and this man Ananias was asked to seek him out because God had big plans for him. We see from the story of Ananias, that following Christ may result in us having to do things outside of our normal comfort zone. I shared a story of an experience I had that brought this passage of scripture to life. I had taken a group of students to YWAM (Youth with a Mission) San Francisco. Upon arrival, a fight had broken out directly in front of the building we were staying at. My students were nervous, myself included, we parked the car and settled in. We were met by staff that shared all the do's and don't's of the tenderloin district. We spent the weekend serving the people of the district and when it was over, we couldn't wait for God's next uncomfortable challenge. God, if you allow Him, will grow you in ways you never thought possible. Being uncomfortable for the Kingdom of God not only brings you closer to Him, it teaches you about yourself.....   


Key Scripture:
Acts 9: 1-19a
Philippians 4: 10-13


Junior High
This Sunday the JH Students had a question/answer time with Caleb. He opened the floor for them to ask any questions they might have relating to the Bible or God. Caleb was very surprised at some of the things the JHers brought to the table. This was an awesome ice breaker and all around win for student ministry. My suggestion, ask your kids what their questions were that day and ask if they might have anymore on the subject. They might surprise you the same way they surprised us.


In His Grips,
Kevin Hasenfus
Pastor of Student Ministries
First Christian Church SM
805-922-8479 ext. 107

Sunday 12/4

 Don't be an elephant 

That was our student focus on Sunday. We took a deep look into the world of shame. Shame, it just weighs us down and if we allow it to can eat away at our hearts til one day we take a good look at ourselves and we don't know how we got to this point. I shared some stories of people I knew that discredited themselves, they thought that because they were holding onto this shame that they weren't worthy of being used by God. God gives us freedom from this in the death of Christ Jesus, we are meant to learn from our mistakes and short comings, not dwell in them. Philippians 3 says it best, " Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Don't be an elephant because an elephant because an elephant never forgets. 


Key Scripture:
Isaiah 65:15-16
Philippians 3:13-14
Ezekiel 39:26


In His Grips,
Kevin Hasenfus
805-922-8479 ext. 107

Final Surrender Video 11/30

WOW!!! That's all I have to say. Over the last month, we have had the pleasure of watching a video series put together by Francis Chan on the topic of Surrender. The 4 topics were as follows: stuff, status, sin, and self. This was amazing, thought provoking, and life changing for some of us. If we got anything out of the series my hope is that it is this. God's love is so overwhelming, He doesn't want just a piece of us, he wants the whole thing. We all need to start each day thinking not what can I get done today but what can I do for God today.


If your students have any questions or you would like to read over the material yourself. it is available to you. Just contact me and I will get it into your hands. Have a blessed day.


In His Grips,
Kevin Hasenfus
805-922-8479 ext.107