WHAT GOES ON AT YAM?

The Gathering--a gathering of young adults trying to figure out how to make God look good 24/7, Sundays at 10 AM, on the TFB campus, in the Young Adult room

Plain wRap--a pencil and paper, bible and brain bible study led by Laura, Sundays at 5 PM, at Pastor Charlie's

Experience--an alternative worship event, Every couple of months or so

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IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK

NEWSFLASH!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tom Witherill joins the YAM team (hey, Tom, how about a bio next week?)

The Gathering—The Mighty Meek
Plain wRap—Wrapping up the Dangerous Gospel
Know God— Praying around the world

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UPCOMING EVENTS

College Briefing at Forest Home, August 30-September 2

Hermen Who? September 8 to October 6, Sundays, 5 pm, “Friends in Christ” room

What’s happening on October 12? Forty days of purpose—or was that porpoise?

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THE GATHERING (A.K.A. Sunday School)

Walk . . . this way
The Mighty Meek
Matthew 5:5 NASB "Blessed are the gentle/humble/meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”

What’s it mean to be meek, anyhow? Does it mean you’re the type of person who let’s people kick sand in your face at the beach? Does is mean going along with what everyone else believes? Well, not exactly! Two people are called ‘meek’ in the bible. The first is Moses (Numbers 12:3). You know, the murderer, talking face to face with God, leading millions of complaining Hebrews through the wilderness Moses. The second is Jesus (Matthew 11:29). This is the Jesus who womped the money changers in the temple court, made the Pharisees so mad that they had him killed, had Roman centurions recognizing him as a man of authority, and had gruff ol’ Peter pleading, “Get away from me for I am a sinful man.” Not exactly Herman Milquetoast.

Meek is doing what God wants, even when it’s not what you want. It’s submission. How do you get there? First, recognize that you’re messed up—the bible calls this ‘poor in spirit’ (Matthew 5:3). Second, shed some tears over your broken condition—the bible calls this ‘mourning’ (Matthew 5:4). Then, after you have realized your own desperate need, you’re ready to bow before Jesus, the Master. Or you could take Jonah’s route—run the other way, get on a ship that ends up in a huge storm, have the sailors through you overboard because the whole storm is your fault, get swallowed by a big fish, spend three days there, get barfed up on shore, and end up going where God wanted you to go anyway. Make’s realizing your brokenness and repenting sound a lot better, eh?


Wanna get a headstart on August 25? Read Matthew 5:6 and ask, “What am I really hungry for?”

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PLAIN WRAP UPDATE for August 18, 2002

Well, Stephen turned the tables. After 50 verses rehearsing Israel’s checkered history, he spins around, pointing his finger at the collective chest of the Sanhedrin, and accuses them of blasphemy and of killing the Messiah! Ouch! The got a bit upset—duh! Then the topper, Stephen has a vision of Jesus, standing in heaven at the right hand of God. That was over the top. Without announcing a verdict, the Jerusalem court rushes Stephen outside the city, and stones him. All the while, Stephen has his eyes on Jesus. . . “receive my spirit . . . forgive them.” Then he falls asleep (what a way to describe the death of someone who just had basketball sized rocks thrown on them). What’s the point of it all? The gospel is dangerous. When you stand up and speak it for what it is—that God came as a human, lived, died, and rose from death to pay for our sins—it forces people to make a choice: reject (like the Jerusalem court) or accept (like the thousands of Jews, Samaritans, and Gentiles who come to trust Christ in the remainder of the book of Acts). Here’s something to think about: which is harder? Living for Jesus or dying for Jesus?

Next study is August 25. Acts 7 – Wrapping up the Dangerous Gospel

We’ll take a look back at Stephen’s whole speech—what made his gospel dangerous? What happened next?

Wanna prep for the study? Read Acts 6-8. How would you answer the question, “What’s the big deal about Stephen?”

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KNOW GOD--RESOURCES FOR WALKING THE WALK

Praying around the world

Here’s an online resource from Operation World to help you pray for our brothers and sisters around the world.